Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: stickbuck on April 08, 2020, 04:40:37 PM
-
Thinking about picking up the Husqvarna 460 Rancher with the 24” bar. Curious if anyone has had the chance to use this saw yet. Thanks!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I would by a Stihl....
But thats not what you asked :chuckle:
I have not personally used a Husky rancher 460 but if that was the saw i was looking at i would seriously look at the Echo CS-590 Timberwolf, and most likely i would buy the Echo (who am i kidding i would buy a Stihl :chuckle:)
I do own one small husky as my chuck in the back of the truck, atv, etc saw (had a Stihl but someone wanted it more than i did), got the husky for practicaly free so bought it, Eh, its a chainsaw.
-
I have one. I've had it for maybe 7 years. It's served me well. My only complaint is it will leak oil when stored for an extended period of time.
-
The non XP models are turds, alright for around the house stuff but, you would be better off with a stihl 361 or whatever it is now, if you are wanting to run a 24” bar
-
I have 455 rancher chainsaw. Cuts well and starts easier than a stihl. Good quality saws. Can’t go wrong with purchasing one.
-
I also have a 455 Rancher. I like it better than my ms260.
-
Stihl 362 is a good production saw I think you're looking for. I've run both this year quite a bit and like the 362 a lot better. Maybe I'm biased.
Run the 362 and husqvarna 460 side by side and make the decision for yourself.
-
I have a 460 and a 135. Use them to cut firewood (6+ cord a year). Serves my purpose. I am no saw expert I just did internet research and ended up going with the husqvarnas. The majority of what I found seem to be like comparing chevy to ford etc. A majority of the guys I know run stihls, but I have little experience with them.
-
I've cut at least 70 cords of wood with my rancher, no problems, I do at times wish I had a longer bar
-
Is husky still doing a 3 yr warranty if you buy a box of oil?
I like my husky, but its a lot bigger than 460 rancher.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
-
Can’t help you with the Rancher.
But anyone who try’s a Stihl with Easy Start System will never go back to tugging on a rope.
Wife got me one for Father’s Day two years ago. And it a dream.
-
Stihl all day every day!!!!
-
I got one, had it for 10 years. 3 cord a year minimum and it has served me well. Did replace the diaphragm in the carb last year, but hey, I got nine years out of it. Its not a professional saw but if your just using it for annual chores, firewood stock its great.
-
Used to service and sell both Stihl and husky. The 455 and 460 are sort of on par with the stihl 290 and 310, good firewood saws but not really meant for commercial work(like the stihl 362 that natches sportsman recommended, husky’s equivalent is the 562xp). If you have a good dealer locally for service you won’t go wrong.
-
Ive got a 455 rancher, its a decent saw. I also have a echo timberwolf thats the same size. Ive got probably 4 hours on the husky, and 40 on the echo. I only keep the husky as a loaner saw anymore. They both cut fantastic, and if i didnt have the echo, id be super happy with the husky, echo just feels better in the hands to me.
-
I got me a 372xp before they messed it up
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
-
I have an old Husky saw with a 20” bar. Probably 25 years old and it’s awesome. My grandfather bought it new and I got it when he passed away. That thing sat untouched for years. Starts after a pull or 2 every time and cuts like crazy. I don’t cut firewood anymore but that saw cut a bunch of oak, maple and hickory wood back East when it was newer. Stihl and Husqvarna debate seems to be just like a Ford/Chevy debate.
-
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Always nice to get everyone’s opinions before pulling the trigger. Definitely feels like the good old Ford/Chevy debate that’s for sure.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
To me it isn’t as much a Ford vs Chevy thing, husquvarna is my favorite absolutely love the XP saws and this is from a die hard stihl guy. But if you don’t go with the Xp line you are better off with a stihl. That rancher will do just fine like a lot of guys have said it will run when you need it to for years, but it’s a turd.
-
One thing I’ve noticed since I moved out west is the size of the saws people use out here. Growing up back East, we cut a lot of wood. Heated our house solely with wood through winter where it got real cold. Hardwoods too. Oak, maple, hickory, etc. My dad and grandfather had saws with 20” bars and cut everything with them. I cut all the trees off my grandfathers property and cleared for his house with a 20” saw. Why’s everybody gotta have saws with gigantic bars on them out here? I mean I get the loggers and the pros but seems like folks have a thing for oversized saws they don’t really need. Aren’t they just heavier after a day in the woods?
-
I like to stand up straight and have a bar that'll nearly touch my toes
If I got a short bar I gotta bend over a lot, then my back is sore.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
-
Depends how much filing you want to do. I prefer a small saw for personal use, large saw for work all day
-
Depends how much filing you want to do. I prefer a small saw for personal use, large saw for work all day
Ya that too
I got screamed at so much when I wss green and kept running the bar into the dirt on the landing lol
Then finally one of the old guys gave me a lesson on how to cut a dirty log and not drag the dirt through the wood, and filing.
I was a farm kid that cut a lot of fire wood, but then logging was a whole nother level
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
-
Depends how much filing you want to do. I prefer a small saw for personal use, large saw for work all day
Ya that too
I got screamed at so much when I wss green and kept running the bar into the dirt on the landing lol
Then finally one of the old guys gave me a lesson on how to cut a dirty log and not drag the dirt through the wood, and filing.
I was a farm kid that cut a lot of fire wood, but then logging was a whole nother level
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Maybe you could host a video conference for my family on how to keep the saw out of the dirt? My recommendations aren’t getting traction. I have an electric pole saw that works pretty well for small stuff. Oh, it gets used to cut something laying flush on the ground. And did anyone check the oil?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
I like to stand up straight and have a bar that'll nearly touch my toes
If I got a short bar I gotta bend over a lot, then my back is sore.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
This. Limbing is 100x better with a longer bar. I run a 550xp now. When the XP line came out with auto tune, I felt they were the better saws for what I was doing, and the power cutters at the time outran everything by a long ways. I run a 16" bar on it most of the time and can bury it hardwood for a plunge cut when falling. It can run a 20" bar fine, and longer than that is meant for limbing only. It is as reliable as it was the day it was purchased 9 years ago. The power cutters have been used on steel, concrete, and masonry ever since and it is a tank. I ran stihl, makitas, and huskies side by side and it is no contest. Just go to some arborist forums and read up on the latest and greatest. Saw shops that service both brands will give you the best guidance.
-
One thing I’ve noticed since I moved out west is the size of the saws people use out here. Growing up back East, we cut a lot of wood. Heated our house solely with wood through winter where it got real cold. Hardwoods too. Oak, maple, hickory, etc. My dad and grandfather had saws with 20” bars and cut everything with them. I cut all the trees off my grandfathers property and cleared for his house with a 20” saw. Why’s everybody gotta have saws with gigantic bars on them out here? I mean I get the loggers and the pros but seems like folks have a thing for oversized saws they don’t really need. Aren’t they just heavier after a day in the woods?
:yeah:
I used to work for a tree service company and have operated and worked on chainsaws quite a bit. Mostly stihl.
I have 4 saws, 28" bar, 25" bar, 20" bar, and 18" bar. I use the saw with a 18" bar 80% of the time. I'm 6'5" so I understand the argument of having a long bar so you don't have to bend over to de-limb logs. But I do so much delimbing, cutting small stuff, hacking and slashing blackberries and brush....the weight of the bigger saws wears me out much quicker. 80% of the cuts I make are 10" diameter or less. But occasionally I cut 2'+ diameter logs and I have the saws for that too.
Another benefit to a shorter bar is that the chain doesn't come off as easily. When delimbing, cutting back brush from the base of a tree, etc, sometimes small branches or things grab the chain and try to throw it off the bar.
And I also second the previous comment that shorter bars take less time to sharpen a chain.
-
As a kid in Pennsylvania, getting firewood ready was just a part of life. We started pulling out wood as soon as the little tractor wouldn't sink & get stuck. I'd help family friends with their wood and make a few $$. Spent a lot of time in the woods. Learned a lot. Agree with above statements, 20" seemed very popular, and rarely needed anything bigger. Dad had an old saw with a longer bar on it that he would pull out once in a while for some bigger trees. I remember that old saw looking very intimidating and heavy! Much of our wood came from storm damage rarely encountering anything a 20" wouldn't handle. I was never on the saw cutting, I always was filling the trailer, on the splitter and stacking. Saws were for the adults. People had Huskys and Stihl for the most part, but I also remember folks using a plane old Craftsmen saws as well. I bought a new saw a few years ago. Got a Huskey, with a 16" bar. Starts and cuts great. I like the Husqvarna saws.
-
As a kid in Pennsylvania, getting firewood ready was just a part of life. We started pulling out wood as soon as the little tractor wouldn't sink & get stuck. I'd help family friends with their wood and make a few $$. Spent a lot of time in the woods. Learned a lot. Agree with above statements, 20" seemed very popular, and rarely needed anything bigger. Dad had an old saw with a longer bar on it that he would pull out once in a while for some bigger trees. I remember that old saw looking very intimidating and heavy! Much of our wood came from storm damage rarely encountering anything a 20" wouldn't handle. I was never on the saw cutting, I always was filling the trailer, on the splitter and stacking. Saws were for the adults. People had Huskys and Stihl for the most part, but I also remember folks using a plane old Craftsmen saws as well. I bought a new saw a few years ago. Got a Huskey, with a 16" bar. Starts and cuts great. I like the Husqvarna saws.
Sounds like our childhoods were very similar. I remember lots of good times spent on our wood lot. Hot dogs on a stick over the fire burning brush, splitting wood while my pop cut it.
-
I still get my grandpas old McCulloch out once in a while, I watched that thing cut a lot of wood when I was a kid :)
-
I am, they leaks bar oil basically fresh out the box.
Still my favorite saw though.
-
As a kid in Pennsylvania, getting firewood ready was just a part of life. We started pulling out wood as soon as the little tractor wouldn't sink & get stuck. I'd help family friends with their wood and make a few $$. Spent a lot of time in the woods. Learned a lot. Agree with above statements, 20" seemed very popular, and rarely needed anything bigger. Dad had an old saw with a longer bar on it that he would pull out once in a while for some bigger trees. I remember that old saw looking very intimidating and heavy! Much of our wood came from storm damage rarely encountering anything a 20" wouldn't handle. I was never on the saw cutting, I always was filling the trailer, on the splitter and stacking. Saws were for the adults. People had Huskys and Stihl for the most part, but I also remember folks using a plane old Craftsmen saws as well. I bought a new saw a few years ago. Got a Huskey, with a 16" bar. Starts and cuts great. I like the Husqvarna saws.
Sounds like our childhoods were very similar. I remember lots of good times spent on our wood lot. Hot dogs on a stick over the fire burning brush, splitting wood while my pop cut it.
Very similar indeed! Lunch was always Smiths natural casing wieners with sauerkraut & swiss cheese. Wonderful time in life.
-
I got my husky new, it leaks bar oil
I got my sthil new, it leaks bar oil
they all leak bar oil, every saw I've ever had or been around either leaks bar oil or soon will.
If you fuel cap gaskets are good, store the saw with the bar up, fuel caps down, my husky sits on its handle this way. Only do this if you have really good O rings or gaskets on your fuel and oil filler caps.
-
I got my husky new, it leaks bar oil
I got my sthil new, it leaks bar oil
they all leak bar oil, every saw I've ever had or been around either leaks bar oil or soon will.
If you fuel cap gaskets are good, store the saw with the bar up, fuel caps down, my husky sits on its handle this way. Only do this if you have really good O rings or gaskets on your fuel and oil filler caps.
Great to know actually, I thought mine was defective.
-
+1 on the stihl 362. Thats what I have and it can pull a 24" but it honestly shines the best with a 20" on it. If youre needing to run a 24" id go with a ms460 or 461
-
Thanks for all the great responses guys! I’m glad I started this thread. It has really opened my mind up to other options on other great saws even if it is another brand and I have been doing tons of research and watching a lot of videos. Have been seeing a lot of great reviews on the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II. I guess the research will continue for just a tad bit longer. Lol
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
You can look into a skip tooth chain for longer bar if not already running one.
-
You can look into a skip tooth chain for longer bar if not already running one.
Agreed it does help out. But realistically a 20" bar/chain is what most people need 90% of the time. Skip tooth are nice for re sharpening lol.
-
+1 on the stihl 362. Thats what I have and it can pull a 24" but it honestly shines the best with a 20" on it. If youre needing to run a 24" id go with a ms460 or 461
I bought a 461 a couple years ago. What a beast. I run a 32" bar on it but am also setting up for a 28" bar. But I cut a lot of big firewood. Sometimes 4 foot through. When I was looking I thought about a 460 but was steered away. Less dependable, some places wouldnt even sell them. They suggested the 461 with better power, durability and dependability for just a few bucks more. I also have an MS290 I bought several years ago with a 20" bar. Great little saw.
Just remember Stihl is not made in Germany anymore. They have a big ol factory in China. I know of 1 major logging supply store in the area that dropped Stihl and deals with Huskies. If I was buying a new smaller saw I would probably go Husky. Bigger I went with the 461. Stihl hard to beat. But dont think you can go wrong with either.
-
It looks like every saw manufacturer has ties to China :( if not the whole saw, then certainly components sourced from China. (except Parker chainsaws..?)
https://chainsawlarry.com/where-are-chainsaws-made-by-each-manufacturer/#Where_are_Stihl_chainsaws_made
-
i have a rancher with 20in bar forget what size. its been good. A saw shop owner once told me. If your falling big trees buy a stihl. If you gutting firewood buy a husky, They run at higher RPM so it cuts faster
-
I like to stand up straight and have a bar that'll nearly touch my toes
If I got a short bar I gotta bend over a lot, then my back is sore.
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
I used to have pics of me with a Stihl 084 with a huge bar on it. I want to say it was a 48" bar but I can't remember for sure. I worked at a True Value store when I was a teenager that had a Stihl saw shop in it.
-
One thing I’ve noticed since I moved out west is the size of the saws people use out here. Growing up back East, we cut a lot of wood. Heated our house solely with wood through winter where it got real cold. Hardwoods too. Oak, maple, hickory, etc. My dad and grandfather had saws with 20” bars and cut everything with them. I cut all the trees off my grandfathers property and cleared for his house with a 20” saw. Why’s everybody gotta have saws with gigantic bars on them out here? I mean I get the loggers and the pros but seems like folks have a thing for oversized saws they don’t really need. Aren’t they just heavier after a day in the woods?
For most all of my around the place and firewood duty, I run Stihls, either a 029 or the newer MS290 with an 18 and 20 inch bar respectively. Those do for 90% of firewood duty, if i know i'll be cutting in an older unit, I'll throw in my 036P with the 26" bar. Occasionally though, I get a shout from my buddy Ed who runs a few mechanical sides (his youngsters never get out of the cab i think except at the end of the day) to come hand cut a steep or inaccessible corner OR some BIG trees that were not cut LAST cycle that his equipment wont handle. I'll load up, depending on what Ed tells me there is to cut, either the MS460 or the 064 with 32 and 41 inch bars respectively. I always take the 036P just because. Only once have I dragged the 066 with the 58 in bar to one of Ed's shows. the unit he was cutting had some OLD cedars, fir and hemlock back in a steep canyon that his equipment couldn't work on and stems that his grapples couldn't even pick up. The average butt cut was over 80" and there were a few monsters that i had to bench to get through. I do have a small MS250 in a case for winter duties and a Mac10 for a climbing/arborist saw.
TL:DR I run 029/MS290s for most home and firewood duty...but have bigger stuff for when its needed
-
Thems for big pickles
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
-
I have one and i love it.Dont know if its been mentioned already in here but stihl and husky are almost identical.stihl has a few plastic parts that are metal still on the husky.used to be metal on stihl but they got cheap.