Which Saw to Buy

I'm looking to buy a new saw but Which one?
The 555 feels nice and light to pick up but will it have the power if it encounters 24" wood?



The 365 feels heavier to pick up ( 1.7 lbs ) but will definitely have more power for cutting wood in the 2ft diameter.
For bigger wood I have a 390 with a 36" bar.

I have thought of putting a 28" bar on the 390 but the mechanic says it could damage the saw by over revving in smaller wood.

 

Buy the triple nickel & get it ported. I'm not real up on Husky's, but a good woods port on a 60cc saw will make it feel like 70cc stock. My huskihl ported 036 is a vicious saw. It'll run with a stock 70cc I think & do it well. Just a thought.

 

I call BS on that one Allan. Properly tuned that saw will just do what it does. It should be tuned to a set RPM on the high side & stay there when throttled. I'm not afraid to run my MS 660 in an 8" round, it just looks silly.

 

I'm not sure what ported means?

 

Thanks was thinking possibly the same!

 

Which one feels better in your hands? You can always use a shorter bar and cut from both sides as well. My go to saw has been my 365sp but liking the 562xp. I agree with others using the 390 on smaller wood will not harm the saw. Pictures when you pick it up.

 

My 562xp has no problem in 24" hardwood. I can't see where the 555 would be any different.

 

Is that a 24" bar on it in the picture?

 

If you are using a 555 with a 20" bar you can always cut your rounds from both sides.

 

I like the feeling of the 555 in my hands! Thanks for the comment on the 390 !

 

If the 555 is the saw ,I will get it with the 24" bar.

 

Yes that will work just take your time with it.

 

It has to do with changing the airflow in and around the cylinder to improve performance. There are a few people on the site who do that kind of work.

 

I bought my son the older pre-xtorq 365 special. I have to admit, it wasn't very impressive stock. Pretty heavy for its power. After getting it ported, it's a totally different animal. It would out cut many saws way above its cc class. It's almost like putting a supercharger on a car. Many times you'll see a 40% decrease in the time it takes to cut the same log!

That said, I'm not a fan of the 3 series x-torq Huskys. If I were in your shoes, I'd pick the 555. Those 5's really are smooth cutting saws.

 

If you have a 390, the 555 in the 60 cc class would be a good compliment for firewood duty. Personally I like the 357XP better being old school.

I am going out to cut in a few minutes, taking one 357, the 562 and 288. It's is cold today, the 562 is the "G" model and is pretty nice before the blood gets pumping.

 

The above explanation is perfect. Way more performance from the saw. Getting to it's full potential basically.

 

Another way to look at it is take a drinking straw and breathe through it, then do the same with a 1/2" pipe, which is easier
Cars in the 70's had big displacement engines that would make very little power compared to size, hot rodders would rework intake and exhaust to allow things to breathe more efficiently thus making more power
Obviously you can over do it and reliability becomes an issue but thats not what is being discussed here (max power)
Just improving what the manufacturer designed
But there's always a price to pay for power
More noise, higher fuel consumption, more fun!!!

Look at modern vehicles, make amazing power for size and will last way longer, run cleaner than those large v8s of the past
Hope this helps

 

Yes it is. Needed it for the last 8 feet of that hickory.

 

That's impressive !