Husqvarna 455 on Craigslist

[WarmGuy]

OK, here's another chainsaw I'm considering:

(broken link removed)

The emails I received are below. I probably wouldn't go about $300, but it certainly what I'm interested in. Any comments on this saw?

Thanks!

--------------------

Hi,

I bought the chainsaw about a month ago so my son could cut firewood for me. He cut half a log of downed fir, (without hitting the ground, of course) then got a job in Idaho and took off. I'm an old lady, and the thing scares me. I'm never going to use it. I think it's a Ranger 460, but I'll have to go out to the garage to look at it to make sure. I'll send you another email when I know for sure.

Hi again,

One thing I forgot to tell you. My son said it's very important to store the chainsaw without any gas in it, so he ran the engine until all the gas was used up before he left. He has used chainsaws alot and knows about the right mixture for the oil in the gas and all that.

--

It is a 455 Rancher. It was bought in August at Curry Electric for $429, including tax. It really was used just once. The $481 price is what Curry is asking now for a new 460. Sorry for the mixup. I'm going to change the posting on Craig's List. Thanks for emailing me. I don't know anything about chainsaws.

Evelyn

 

[bartlett7516]

I own a 455 its a great saw I have cut for 3 years with no problems you can buy them new a t Tractor Supply for 399.

 

[Gooserider]

Not a bad saw, but it is Husky's intermediate / homeowner grade saw, not a "pro-saw" - The guy's on Arboristsite tend to rate it as heavy and slow compared to the fancier models, but it is OK for use as a bucking and occasional felling saw...

Gooserider

 

[smokinj]

I just look at one today at lowes they do fill a little heavy but run great! and hushy rates it at land owner grade if your doing less than 10 cords a year its a grate sawhushy has 3 grades, home owner land owner,and pro

 

[Dill]

I like mine. I use it for lighter cutting or when I'm sick of lugging the 372.
I insure a guy who does powerline maintence and he swears by the 55 ranchers, and he cuts hard.
They are a popular saw, but one that you can find with very little use on them.

 

[SnaykeByte]

They are ok for occasional home owner use and a little wood cutting a couple times a year. But as was posted earlier, they are not a pro saw.

 

[smokinj]

They are ok for occasional home owner use and a little wood cutting a couple times a year. But as was posted earlier, they are not a pro saw.

Ok i got to know what are you bucking in indiana with a 28 in bar?

 

[Dill]

screw the 28.
What are you using that 120cc with a 42 on?
Thats a monster.

 

[smokinj]

screw the 28.
What are you using that 120cc with a 42 on?
Thats a monster.

I was thinking the same thing biggest tree i have ever measure around here was 56 in. and that was done easy enough with a 28 in bar

 

[Dill]

I've done some really big maple the last couple years, but I haven't run into anything where I can't reach the middle with a 24".
Just roll the log over and make another pass. I've been meaning on posting this in its own thread. But a peavey is a very useful tool.

 

[smokinj]

I just cut off the back side and come over the top and stright down 56in takes 2 min to cut in clean wood(28 in bar)

 

[Gooserider]

I've done some really big maple the last couple years, but I haven't run into anything where I can't reach the middle with a 24".
Just roll the log over and make another pass. I've been meaning on posting this in its own thread. But a peavey is a very useful tool.

Yes and no - In theory you can cut anything up to 2X the bar length of whatever you are running, but in practice it can be a challenge - I know that I've found it can be tricky to get the cuts to line up all the way across so that you have a clean cut instead of a "spiral sliced log" A veteran cutter that does this sort of thing all the time makes it look easy, but it's more of a challenge for the rest of us.

In practice I find that I don't like cutting something thats more than about 1.5X to 1.75X the bar length, which is still pretty darn big (w/ my 20" nominal Dolmar bar, about 30" (I loose a couple inches due to the agressive dogs that Dolmar puts on their saws - which I like as it makes it easier to use the bar as an 18" measuring stick...)) If I get something bigger, which isn't very often, I will break out my 28" bar, which will easily let me do 40-50". After that I figure the darn rounds are going to be to big to move anyway, and will start ripping them into sections. (No way am I expecting to ever DROP something that big...)

Gooserider

 

[valleyflyfisher]

The 55 is a great little saw that will suffice in most situations any wood cutter will find themselves in. I have used mine to fall trees up to 3' in diameter with a 28" bar, quickly and efficiently. I find that by running it a tad on the lean side with a sharp chain, I can achieve surprisingly good chain speed without losing too much bottom end power, more than enough for most situations I have encountered.
One thing to remember when pondering bar length, the longer the bar, while a little heavier, it is easier on your back due to the fact that you will be bent less while bucking, or limbing.

 

[Gooserider]

The 55 is a great little saw that will suffice in most situations any wood cutter will find themselves in. I have used mine to fall trees up to 3' in diameter with a 28" bar, quickly and efficiently. I find that by running it a tad on the lean side with a sharp chain, I can achieve surprisingly good chain speed without losing too much bottom end power, more than enough for most situations I have encountered.
One thing to remember when pondering bar length, the longer the bar, while a little heavier, it is easier on your back due to the fact that you will be bent less while bucking, or limbing.

As I said, the pro's give mixed reviews on the 455. It isn't bad as "big box" grade saws go, probably one of the better ones you will get from that sort of store. However it is reportedly heavy for the amount of power it gives. Generally they say it's OK for occasional use, can be used for felling, but is best suited for bucking.... It also seems a bit erratic in quality, I've seen lots of problem reports and lots of raves about reliability - and like most all plastic case saws, it usually costs more for major repairs than a pro-saw does.

That said, I would agree that it isn't a bad choice for a homeowner saw that will be used for bucking moderate amounts of wood. A pro-grade would be better, but is also likely to cost significantly more...

As to bar length, I would agree to a point, but only to a certain degree... You ideally want the saw to balance fairly close to the left hand grip, so that you aren't fighting to keep the tip off the ground. Likewise you don't want a bar that is so long that it wants to be grounding all the time. While it depends to some degree on the height, etc. of the user, and the length of the powerhead, I'd say for most the "sweet spot" length is probably around 20". Shorter than that and you have to bend over a bunch to get stuff on the ground, longer and it gets harder to keep the tip off the ground, and the weight starts making the saw nose heavy.

I know on my Dolmar, with the 20" bar it balances almost perfectly, so it's easy to carry w/ one hand (engine off of course!), starting is easy, and I can cut close to the ground w/o bending over, while still keeping the tip a safe distance in front of my feet. It also gives me a nice comfortable reach length for limbing and higher stuff. If I put my 28" bar on it, the nose is heavy enough that I have to use both hands to carry it, starting is more of a challenge, and I have to work all the time to keep the tip off the ground... The only time I'll use the 28" bar is if it's on a round that's big enough to need it...

Gooserider


Gooserider

 

[SnaykeByte]

They are ok for occasional home owner use and a little wood cutting a couple times a year. But as was posted earlier, they are not a pro saw.

Ok i got to know what are you bucking in indiana with a 28 in bar?

I regularly get maples that make my 3120 real handy. I have two logs now that both exceed 50".

 

[SnaykeByte]

I agree that making a couple passes on something that exceeds the bar length isn't an impossibility, but I have a bigger saw, and it's easy to grab it up and just lop off the block with one pass.

 

[Gooserider]

I agree that making a couple passes on something that exceeds the bar length isn't an impossibility, but I have a bigger saw, and it's easy to grab it up and just lop off the block with one pass.

Absolutely, which is why I got a 28" bar, and a saw that could drive it (In retrospect I should have gone for the 32" bar, but the 28" will do...)

That said, the 20" I mentioned earlier as the "sweet spot" for handling length will also do quite nicely for most of what I get - it will cut most stuff in one pass, and what it doesn't get in one is an easy second... I think that's the case for most of us that aren't doing the pro-thing in the PNW...

Gooserider

 

[SnaykeByte]

PNW???

 

[crazy_dan]

I believe that PNW is pacific north west. I think he was referring to logging in Oregon as a profession.
I also like my 455 it is a good saw. I still don't get all the people who have pro saws and snub their nose at a mid grade saws and they only cut up to 5 cord a year themselves.

 

[smokinj]

I believe that PNW is pacific north west. I think he was referring to logging in Oregon as a profession.
I also like my 455 it is a good saw. I still don't get all the people who have pro saws and snub their nose at a mid grade saws and they only cut up to 5 cord a year themselves.

I was thinking the same thing if it gets the job done for what you need its a great saw..........

 

[smokinj]

They are ok for occasional home owner use and a little wood cutting a couple times a year. But as was posted earlier, they are not a pro saw.

Ok i got to know what are you bucking in indiana with a 28 in bar?

I regularly get maples that make my 3120 real handy. I have two logs now that both exceed 50".

50 in plus maple are not uncommon biggest one ive cut 56in but, had no problem with a 28 in bar Are you doing this for a living?

 

[Dill]

I forgot that there is difference between the 455 and my 55. I ran a friend's 455 this weekend, its a bit lighter, but at the same time bulkier. And since I rarely use the compression release on my 372, I don't see a need for it on a 56cc saw.

 

[RJP Electric]

The chain is very aggressive and has to work through hard stuff sometimes. I am happy with mine. I just had a new oiler put in after 2 years and 20 cords later.

 

[SnaykeByte]

They are ok for occasional home owner use and a little wood cutting a couple times a year. But as was posted earlier, they are not a pro saw.

Ok i got to know what are you bucking in indiana with a 28 in bar?

I regularly get maples that make my 3120 real handy. I have two logs now that both exceed 50".

50 in plus maple are not uncommon biggest one ive cut 56in but, had no problem with a 28 in bar Are you doing this for a living?

No, I don't cut professionally, I just cut for myself and a couple other people and sell a few cords for a little extra. And I wasn't "snubbing my nose" at anybody.

 

[pinewoodburner]

I bought mine brand new for $289.00 at Costco this spring. Don't know why they where selling them so low, everywhere else they are about $389.00.
I think it is a good saw for the price I paid.