Husqvarna chain saws= JUNK!

obieone

I wanted clear some trees on my property, nothing big, all 4" or smaller, so I dropped $280 on this chain saw last night at Lowes. I know $300 ain't much for a chain saw, but the index at Lowes listed this model as 'Heavy duty'. Sharight!
1st, this POS wouldn't run, without the throttle at full, AND the chain engaged. Hit the stop/ brake bar, and it stalled. Then it was a 10 minute wrestling match to get it running again.
2nd, because it had to run wide open, the fuel lasted about 10 minutes.
3rd, I hadn't even gone thru 12 of these trees, when the friggin engine/ flywheel cover FELL OFF, along with the chain bar!
They couldn't budget $.40 for a nylon lock nut?!
Tommorow I'll spend the money for a Stihl, or any other 'heavy duty' rated saw.

disneyjoe7

I don't like buying cheap tools, feel its better to buy a good one and own it forever.

halo71

You got a lemon for sure! Husqvarna makes good stuff. I've had a Stihl weed eater once that was a POS. Happens to them all every now and then I think.

Systems

Tommorow I'll spend the money for a Stihl

You'll like that one!:cheesygrin:

I spent $350 for a MS290 a few years ago, and will never go back to any other type!

Bad to the bone, and the reliability is off the hook!

Mine is like 60cc, 20" bar and will best a Yamaha 80 dirtbike with power (JK)

I burn wood for heat in the winter, and I have never used better.

Jonsered are pretty good, as are the Echo, but I am die hard Stihl after using mine for a few years.

Polkersince85

I've got a Stihl 028 I bought in 1982. Rebuilt the carb about 3 years ago and have been through about 6 bars and a few sprockets since new. Carefully mixing the gas, letting the saw do the cutting and keeping a sharp blade will go a long ways toward a long and useful life. Buy from a real dealer also. They tend to look it over before the sale and will back it up.

Systems

PS: I have owned 4 Husqvarna's in the past.
2- I bought brand new.

Just goes to show you, the "Name" has nothing to do with performance!

Systems

I highly recommended you use Stihl's oil, both mixture and bar.
I was told that by the dealer, and after using their products, I believe it.

You might skimp on the bar oil, but I would not use any other mixture "oil" in a Stihl.

dkg999

If you're going to buy a Husky chain saw go to a real dealer, not Lowes. I've cut many semi-loads of wood with my Husky chain saws with nothing but normal maintenance.

zane77

Had my Stihl for 20 years, great tool!

Upstatemax

I probably purchased the same Husqvarna saw as you and promptly returned it as well...

It lacked any real power and just felt cheap.

I picked up a Stihl MS290 and it was night and day. This thing is a beast compared the Husq. I've owned my Stihl for going on 4 years now and it runs like the day I brought it home still.

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/farm-and-ranch-saws/ms290/

bobsauto49

dkg999 wrote: »

If you're going to buy a Husky chain saw go to a real dealer, not Lowes. I've cut many semi-loads of wood with my Husky chain saws with nothing but normal maintenance.

Great point! Lowes doesn't get the same saws as the dealers! That's why they can sell them so cheap! Just like Dewalt,Milwaukee,and Makita power tools! None of the same products the dealer has!

Moose68Bash

A wise man once said, "You can't afford to buy cheap!"

oldmodman

Every manufacturer seems to make a lemon once in a while. I have had Husky saws and they have run like champs. So have most of the rest of the small power tools that I have had.
Bought a McCulloch once and it was terrible. Returned it and got another exactly the same, except it ran perfectly for 10 years.
Now I have a Homelite and it always starts and runs great. Hardly need one these days. Too old to climb trees anymore.

tonyb

pepster wrote: »

I highly recommended you use Stihl's oil, both mixture and bar.
I was told that by the dealer, and after using their products, I believe it.

You might skimp on the bar oil, but I would not use any other mixture "oil" in a Stihl.

Good advice here if your going into a Stihl. I've had the same experiences, just use their oil for mixture and keep the filters clean and a stihl will outlast you.

jbooker82

I believe they give you an extend warrenty if you buy an pack of there oil bottles.

codyc1ark

Don't buy power tools at lowes! It's not the same stuff. Go look at a John deer at lowes, then go look at the "same" one at the dealer, now let me know if the price tags are anywhere near the same! Lowes is the Walmart of home improvement and all they sell is junk!

NJPOLKER

codyc1ark wrote: »

Don't buy power tools at lowes! It's not the same stuff. Go look at a John deer at lowes, then go look at the "same" one at the dealer, now let me know if the price tags are anywhere near the same! Lowes is the Walmart of home improvement and all they sell is junk!

I agree 100%

NJPOLKER

I have been using a couple Stihl for 20+ years and they are hard to beat.

One day we rented a chainsaw from Home Depot to do a dirty job. I don't remember them name but it was probably a Mikita since it was that Mikita green color. I gotta say it ran strong real strong. I only used it for a couple hours but was impressed with its cutting ability. Seemed like it had a tremendous amount of torque. I was cutting up one of the most difficult things, a tree stump! I would never use my own saw for the dirty job.

Polkie2009

It's always a good idea to adjust the air/fuel mixture screw on the carb so the engine can run right and be able to idle. What oil:gas ratio was your break-in gas mixed at? Sorry to hear about the cover and bar coming loose, hopefully once you tighten everything up you'll be back in business. I have to agree with the others Stihl makes some nice equipment and I've had good luck with Echo too. Husqvarna used to make GREAT motcross bikes back in the 70's but by the 80's, the Japanese bikes got better and were less expensive.

dromunds

I've had a Stihl 026 that I've worked the ****e out of for well over 20 years with absolutely no problems and its still running strong. I do my own logging in the winter and make a lot of lumber and firewood. My Dad has a little 011 that we use for limbing. He's had a big John Deere for years that was a real workhorse, but now the John Deere's are made by someone else and not up to their old standards, so when he figured he needed a new big saw, he got a brand that starts with the letter "E". That things been in the shop more than he's used it. He's had the same part go out three times and each time its in the shop for over a month while they "wait" for the part to come. It happened early this winter again and just after he got it back then he had a clutch problem, so we've continued to use the old John Deere for big stuff. They're supposed to be a professional's saw too. Time for him to have a "come to Jesus" talk with the dealer I guess. My neighbor has a real big Stihl that's also a real workhorse. I would recommend Stihl.

muncybob

NJPOLKER wrote: »

I have been using a couple Stihl for 20+ years and they are hard to beat.

One day we rented a chainsaw from Home Depot to do a dirty job. I don't remember them name but it was probably a Mikita since it was that Mikita green color. I gotta say it ran strong real strong. I only used it for a couple hours but was impressed with its cutting ability. Seemed like it had a tremendous amount of torque. I was cutting up one of the most difficult things, a tree stump! I would never use my own saw for the dirty job.

I wish our Home Depot rental had those saws as I understand they sell them once in awhile. Great saw for the $$ and will pull a 20" chain with ease through anything I've come across. I hafta agree that, with Hd rentals being a possible exception, you don't buy a chainsaw at a big box store....and, these days most Husky and Jonsered saws are almost identical which probably has something to do with Husky buying Jred recently. With that said, I love my 10+ yrs old Jonsered 630 Super II. She ain't light but I have not had any job too big for it yet.

fossy

had a husky 250 dirt bike back in the day.... that was fun ..that thing was throaty .. came on like a rocket .. lots o grunt ....

of course this has nothing to do with this thread

Polkie2009

Those Husky 250's were sweet, reminds me of the old days of Bill Kasson Motorcycles in Austin.

kevhed72

Funny....I bought a Husky from Lowes several years ago and had nothing but problems with it also :mad:. Finally sold it for 50.00 to a guy who was taking down a 120+ year old tree close enough to my house to warrant paying a professional.

Tbone289

I love my Husqvarna 350. I cut with it several times a year, for about 10 years now, and have never once had an issue. It starts with 3 pulls from cold EVERY time and I've never had it bog down with an 18" bar. It's very easy to clean, adjust and maintain.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but my experience says they definitely are not junk.

WilliamM2

Bought my Husky from Lowe's in 2006. It has ran perfectly since new. We cleared almost half an acre so I could build a garage and addition on the house. Pulled it out to cut up all the limbs that broke off this winter from heavy snow, hadn't used it in two years. Started on the second pull.

obieone

I picked up a Stihl 290 this a.m., and what a difference an extra $100 makes
This thing lit off on the 2nd pull, stayed running with the chain brake engaged, it's a caddy!

Upstatemax

obieone wrote: »

I picked up a Stihl 290 this a.m., and what a difference an extra $100 makes
This thing lit off on the 2nd pull, stayed running with the chain brake engaged, it's a caddy!

I just dopped my 290's chains off to be professionally re sharpened.

This oak I've been cutting is like cutting through stone...

I remember when the guys came to drop the trees they were talking about how this stuff was just chewing up their chains. They were sending saws up and down the tree as one guy cut while another guy got busy keeping chains sharp.

Clownbaby

Hmmnn, Husqvarna make good chainsaws. It's tough to tell what was causing your problems, but I assure you they make good saws. I have tons of experience with Husky and Stihl, and they both make excellent saws.

Some folks do not like the new saws made in the last couple years because they get somewhat dodgey with new electronic controlled emissions.

Did you get a Husky 55? That and the Stihl 026 (now 260) are my favorite small chainsaws

Clownbaby

oh, just read that you got a Stihl. I hope it works out well for ya, it should.

Take it easy, wear chaps and watch your tip

muncybob

and don't forget safety glasses! I spend a fair amount of time in the woods cutting and I prefer a helmet/hard hat with a flip mesh shield. You never know when somthing will fall out of a tree. Main thing is, have a LOT of respect for the saw. Only takes a split second for serious consequences!