great deal or TGTBT

[RustyShackleford]

So, many of you followed the saga of my one and only chainsaw, a 41yo Shindaiwa. Well, it's running ok. But YOLO, and it's a tool I use almosy every day for half the year. So I pulled the trigger on a Husqvarna 550XP Mk II, for $570 with a good sale Bailey's was having (I believe today is the last day).

Apparently it uses a narrow-kerf bar and chain, so even though my old chains are all also 0.325"/0.050"/72-links ... they won't work. So I'm looking to get a few chains, and found this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBW76HSK/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=&psc=1

Pretty amazing deal. which apparently vanished while I was writing this post :-(. It was like $20 or so, for 3 chains, Oregon brand. So either it was a great deal, or to good to be true.

This off-brand looks pretty good: https://www.walmart.com/ip/3Pack-FO...Zi__Do4Ax5vmVuxCYmHEKn-cjS1AE-tUaAt3mEALw_wcB

Which begs the question, is discount brand saw chain just as good, or should one stick the Oregon an one name-branded for your saw ?

 

[EbS-P]

Chain deal is gone

I think it depends on your expectations and how you sharpen. I got a 25’ roll of cheap chain. It’s fine. Cutters are really hard so it hard to sharpen by hand and dull my file real quick. If you have time to futz around while sharpening something that too hard or two soft cheap chain is fine. I’d rather have an extra loop or two to finish what I started that may not be the best chain than not have any extra. But that said, have you worn out a chain yet??

Jealous of the 550. That’s a good deal. I wish I had something hat size. But I don’t cut enough to justify it.

 

[John Mc]

You don't have to use a narrow kerf bar on the 550XP. You need a bar with the K095 mount. The Oregon 180VXLGK095 18" .325 pitch, .050 gauge bar will fit.

Bailey's also sells some WoodlandPRO bars that are less expensive than the Oregon bars.

I have not had luck with the ultra cheap chains. The heat treating on them seems to be wildly inconsistent. Some teeth are soft, some are so hard you'll ruin a file trying to sharpen them. The hard ones can also be brittle, chipping or breaking off. For me, the low price was just not worth messing with.

 

[Whitenuckler]

So, many of you followed the saga of my one and only chainsaw, a 41yo Shindaiwa. Well, it's running ok. But YOLO, and it's a tool I use almosy every day for half the year. So I pulled the trigger on a Husqvarna 550XP Mk II, for $570 with a good sale Bailey's was having (I believe today is the last day).

Apparently it uses a narrow-kerf bar and chain, so even though my old chains are all also 0.325"/0.050"/72-links ... they won't work. So I'm looking to get a few chains, and found this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBW76HSK/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=&psc=1

Pretty amazing deal. which apparently vanished while I was writing this post :-(. It was like $20 or so, for 3 chains, Oregon brand. So either it was a great deal, or to good to be true.

This off-brand looks pretty good: https://www.walmart.com/ip/3Pack-FO...Zi__Do4Ax5vmVuxCYmHEKn-cjS1AE-tUaAt3mEALw_wcB

Which begs the question, is discount brand saw chain just as good, or should one stick the Oregon an one name-branded for your saw ?

From what I have been reading it's a pro built saw and still 50cc. Good for you !

 

[RustyShackleford]

You don't have to use a narrow kerf bar on the 550XP. You need a bar with the K095 mount. The Oregon 180VXLGK095 18" .325 pitch, .050 gauge bar will fit.

Oh, interesting, I was wondering about that. So I could throw the bars and chain from my old saw onto it and it'd work fine.

Except I dunno if they mount the same. If I google K095 it looks pretty familiar though.

Bailey's also sells some WoodlandPRO bars that are less expensive than the Oregon bars.

The saw came with a bar, of course, a narrow-kerf one. Maybe I could've asked for a regular bar, but too late now.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Jealous of the 550. That’s a good deal. I wish I had something hat size. But I don’t cut enough to justify it.

Maybe more saw than I need, but it weighs about the same as my Shindaiwa.

 

[RustyShackleford]

That chain deal on Amazon (link in OP) popped up again. Just a few left. I went for it. Hopefully not counterfeit chains (if there is such a thing).

 

[Whitenuckler]

That chain deal on Amazon (link in OP) popped up again. Just a few left. I went for it. Hopefully not counterfeit chains (if there is such a thing).

Looks real:


This reviewer seems picky:
"I was so pleasantly surprised when first box of the turned out to be in 3 individual Oregon bags that I just ordered 2 more 3 packs. You can’t sharpen a chain for this price per unit, and they are the real Oregon chains."

It makes sense to have extra chains. Could save your engine and clutch.

 

[RustyShackleford]

It makes sense to have extra chains. Could save your engine and clutch.

Of course, with one of those nifty Pferd sharpeners, you barely need more than one or two.