Stihl or Husqvarna?

I bet this has already been done but just curious as to which company more people like. I know there both good saws but which one do you prefer. Personally when I bought my saw the stihl's were on sale so thats what I ended up with. So I guess I prefer stihl even though I have never tried a husqvarna saw.

I extensively researched when buying my saw, between the Stihl MS290 Farmboss and the Husqvarna 455 Rancher. I will freely admit I never had the opportunity to try the rancher in person, but I read countless reviews and went on tons of forums, and really felt that the Sithl was the way to go. On top of that my uncle had the MS290, and I just fell in love when I tried it.

Not saying the 455 Rancher is a bad saw by any means, I just personally really love the MS290. I have cut about 5 cords with it so far, and it is just fantastic. I did the muffler mod also, which made it even more of a fun saw.

Just one opinion though!

For whatever reason I like Husqvarna. Only have two saws but they both run great.

I am partial to Jonsereds. I know, I know, its a Husky with better colors.
I have a wicked old 455 Jred that runs great but I just broke the handle. Braced it with aluminum and we're back in business.
I am looking at a 2159 that has been on Craigslist up here for a long time. Looks brand new with a 20" bar but he's at $500. I think $300 is more realistic.

I have had several Husqvarnas and several Stihls... I Love my Stihls more... But...

I honestly do love my 455 Rancher (Husqvarna). I use it the most out of any saw. But thats only to ensure my Stihls live a longer life

My BIL has a new 562XP and it is a nice saw. But I still would rather have an 036-362 series saw (similar displacement). My 036 will run with it all day. But my 460 is the "Fav" of them all..

I have all 3 big Saws on the kitchen island right now. This is where my good sharpening goes down (read: Timberline)

Ive only has Huskys but I guess I would have to try both brands of similar saws before I could pick one. Went to buy a Stihl last weekend and came home with a Husky, just ran so nice and felt so comfortable, one day I will try a Stihl though.

Echo gets no respect.

I have six chainsaws of six different brands, including pro saws from both Husqvarna and Stihl, and I love my old Echo 510EVL ("Five-Ten Evil"). It's a little power plant that simply NEVER fails to work.

One local dealer who carries all three told me a lot of folks soured on Echo saws in the late 1990's / early 2000's, when they put out the early CS series saws, which were less than impressive. He said they seem to have righted those wrongs in their recent models, but public perception can take many years to swing back in their favor. Most local dealers and landscapers seem to consider them and Stihl neck and neck on other equipment (trimmers, edgers, blowers, etc.).

I spent way too much time on the end of Echo weedwackers as a kid. They are tough, and easy enough to run all day. My dad still runs two little 21cc straight shaft units and he swears by the 2 top-handle saws he has. I've run a few of their blowers as well as their hedge trimmers and all in all they have a great line-up. But there are very few stand-out machines from a performance/power standpoint and Echo has never been one to pursue all-out performance. RedMax and Stihl are engaged in all-out war with the backpack blowers and the Husky vs. Stihl competition for saws is nowhere near finished.

If I ever get my hands on a 610EVL (The Evil Twin, ) I will be one smilin' sonovabitch. I have a line on a Deere 66SV (Same saw, different paint) that needs help and has been disassembled (by a professional, although he's pushing 90 these days) but needs a crank supposedly.

I can see a larger saw in my near future, maybe next year. Either a Rancher or a Farm Boss. I know the jury is Stihl out on the Husky/Stihl pro saw debate, but what about the homeowner debate? I have been looking at the features of the above mentioned two. Can't decide...

Ive run both and loved both of them. Came down to buying a Stihl and couldnt be happier. But wouldnt complain if I had a Husky either. Both are a huge step up from the 35cc craftsman I ran before. Like getting onto a Harley Davidson off of a tricycle.

Didn't vote . . . I've used both before and have been very happy with both makes before . . . the only reason I have a Husky instead of a Stihl right now is that the local dealer switched to only selling Huskys . . . and I like keeping my business local as they have always treated me right with pricing and quick turn-arounds on repairs.

Honestly . . . it doesn't really matter to me as to the make.

I can't speak for the Rancher, but here is what I like about the Farm Boss:

• The anti vibration works really well, it was immediately noticeable when I upgraded from my Poulan. I was exhausted after using my Poulan for a long time, and despite the Farm Boss being bigger and heavier, it doesn't wear me out at all.
• I know some would say its not powerful enough, but for me, it is incredibly powerful. I have a 20" bar on it, with the RSC chain, and a muffler mod, and that saw has all the power I can honestly ever see me needing. I cut about 5 cords a year, and it has honestly been a pleasure ever since I got this saw. Now I can noodle with ease, and cut way faster than before.
• On my Poulan, I constantly had to adjust the bar tensioner, and on my Stihl, no kidding, I never have to adjust in the middle of cutting. It never loosens up on me, it stays exactly where I set it.
• I personally like the air filter design on the Farm Boss, its easy to clean and very easy to get too.
• I have never had a problem with the oiler jamming up, and I like that it has an adjustable oiler.
• It has always been easy to start for me, starting within a few pulls, I have had it about 1.5 years now.
• I personally like the flippy caps though I know some do not, compared to my Poulan that swelled over time and was impossible to get on or off, these are always the same tightness, and "lock" in so I know they are set and won't leak.
• When noodling, I never have a problem with the noodles getting jammed up, I have never had that happen, if it starts to jam it always clears itself within a second or two.

I would honestly put some negatives down if I had any, but I am just incredibly happy with the saw.
Let me know if you have any further questions!

My choice GM!

Ford! Dodge!

Mine better!

Tastes better!
Less filling!

I bought a Stihl because of the availability of local dealer support. Only place to buy Huskies around here is TSC.

My experience with both was back some 25 years ago when I was running a FS fire/fuels crew. We ran Stihl O38 AV Magnums and Husky 266 XP's.

The Husky's were strong and fast. They did seem to require more maintenance (parts replacement) and I recall seizing at least one piston.

The Stihls were not as fast as the Husky's, but were stone reliable and easy to maintain. The only thing I recall breaking on the Stihls were air filter covers and the retainer.

I have always owned Stihls, mostly because of my familiarity with them, and their reliability.

I have two Huskies- my 51 and a 55 rancher. Both are used, and the price was right. I like that I can swap just about any part between the two. My father just got a 455 rancher and I have to admit, that I don't much care for it. Starts hard, and I really don't like the new throttle lock/primer bulb setup.

I also have an Echo FS-235 trimmer that I mow around my 1 acre pond with, and it is mediocre. It just doesn't like turning a steel blade instead of trimmer line. Next time, I'm going with the biggest Sthil I can afford.

Just pulled some images on this saw, out of curiousity. Holy crapola, man!

Wow

That saw is probably older than most of the trees it cuts through.

I know a lot of people that love their Ranchers, & Farm boss saws, until they run a 260/261, or an XP series saw. By larger saw if you mean heavier, you'll get that with either. I know, I know, I'm sounding a little snide here, & I really don't mean too. I had a very nice MS 290 years ago, muffler modded & running a 16" bar. It did well, & was pretty well bullet proof, but I found an old 034 AV Super for $ 30.00 put it back together with some used parts, & the 290 went on the shelf. I finally swapped the 290 for an 026 in good condition, & wouldn't trade back for anything. If you get the chance, run the pro series saws before you buy so you can make a real comparison. Otherwise, at least consider the MS 390, more power for the same weight. Don't be afraid of the Husky's either, they're good saws, I'm just not as familiar with them. A C

Ha, yep that's a good one, may be heavier than most of the rounds it cuts too.

Yup to all of the comments!!

I can do about an hour with it, no more. Thing is a monster, but has that nice old school 2 stroke growl that you only got out of the really big old 2 strokes. A buddy of mine has another one, but his doesn't have the holes in the bar to keep the weight down.

About all I do with it now is take it to old equipment shows and make a couple of cuts with it... always draws a crowd.

Guess I am odd man out, got started on Dolmars, that is about all I have had. oh there was a little poulan 35cc, and I have a joneserd 45cc also. The p&j are the ones I loan out so my good saws don.t get trashed. after 20 years the p is just plain worn out. the J which is also some 20+ years old is ok yet. Most of my cutting is done with 64-80cc saws as I get a lot of big sections that a lot of people can't handel.