I'm giving away a BRAND NEW STIHL MS 261 chainsaw! Enter now through November 23, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day). Details here: ua-cam.com/video/ZBVu7w2BElM/v-deo.html
Just used my 550XP Mk2 today for a couple hours. I got rid of the Stihl Ultra oil and switched to Echo Red Armor. I mixed it 40:1 per UA-camr recommendations. It started easy and ran like skalded dog. My wife even noticed, man that saw was loud & powerful. 😁 I’m going to run the Red Armor for a several tanks in my saws, FS70 trimmer & blowers to clean the Stihl Ultra gunk/carbon out. Then I’ll switch later on to AMSOIL Sabre! 👍🏻🇺🇸
My favorite saw, used it today actually, all day, I was really against the electronic carbs, but man I’m so happy I made the leap finally, this saw is great
I don’t do firewood or anything like that, but I need a pro saw to tackle downed trees around my farm and the farm and ranch saws just don’t perform for me. I bought a 550xp MK2 a couple years ago and it’s been awesome. Seen some hard use but it’s help up very well with zero issues.
Awesome video and review of the 550xp. Thank you for making it! I recently purchased a 550xp mark 2 and have been loving it so far. Great video and thanks for the shout out!
I bought a 550xp in 2012. Had them switch my bar to the 20in 3/8. Looked at replacing it as stuff is starting to wear out. Cut 10- 20 cords wood a year. Not sure if one at ace is a mark 2 or not. 689$. But comes with 325 bar so have to change that out. Havent had any other performance or quality issues. Been awesome saw.
Thanks for the reply to my comment on another video, and the nice Welcome to your Channel, and kind words! 👍 I see you a ‘Makita’ man. I’m about to try out one of their gas saws (Dolmar) and wondered about your thoughts on that. My only holdback/ concern is the fact Makita just killed off all Gas powered OPE, including the saws! It has upset a lot of Dolmar fans. I took my old 345e into the shop and was handling one of these (550 XP) with the 20 inch bar, and man was it nice! Balanced and decent weight. I’m not a Stihl guy, but I do concur with ‘Al Dredske’s’ comment with regards to handle feel and balance, of Stihl VS Husky. It always comes down to personal presence. Still, the 550 ain’t too shabby. 😀 Looking forward to catching up on all your videos! And looking forward to new content! I hope everyone gives this Man a thumbs up and please support his channel! Thanks! 👍👍👍✌🏻🙏🇺🇸😉
Thanks for your support. I actually have heard really good things about Dolmar/Makita chainsaws and considered them for myself. I would say, if you decide to go with the 550xp, you'll be more than happy! I appreciate you checking out the videos. More to come soon.
I tried a husqy chain on my stihl today. Its their style with the bent rakers. I think its easier to do a plunge cut. And does brush work a tad better. Now i dont think it cuts big wood as fast as the stihl yellow links. I really want to try the 550mk2 with a full wrap as a brush saw.
I would agree with the speed in regards to the chains but, the steel they use for the cutters is somewhat harder. The yellow chain may cut faster but, through 30 cuts, the X- cut chain profile might get through it faster. JMHO. What kind of Stihl do you run?
@@markatkinson9963 ms361, ive run it hard since 2008. 30 to 50 cords every year. Its been a very good saw. Im just starting to look for another saw. I'm concearned about the m tronik and auto tune. My saw needs to run strong. When you hear about loggers running m tronik till it messes up. Then changing out the fly wheel and dropping in a traditional carb kit. Thats not a good sign
I cannot speak for autotune, but mtronic is super reliable. They last probably as long as a normal carb. The only problem is that a simple issue normally solved at the house on a normal carb may send you to the dealer with mtronic. My ms311 has never has the carb Touched in 9 years I would expect the same from an mtronic saw. If I had the money and the need I would not hesitate to buy an mtronic saw. I cannot speak for Husky because I work at a Stihl dealer.
The only thing I’d change on the 550, is the same thing I’d change in the 545. The felling spikes/felling dogs/bumper spikes are just ineffectual. They’re ok on thin barked Birch, Black Poplar, young Ash and Holly. But any bark of more than a 1/4” and they’re near to or actually useless. I suppose it depends where you live and what you normally cut. Great review - thank you.
Do you have experience owning and/or operating both the 545 Mark II and the 550XP Mark II, and if so I’d love to hear which you prefer and why and which you would recommend to others? Thank you for any insights you can offer me and others.
@@Wolfpackbluecrew- First off, grab your popcorn and make a cuppa. I usually cut hardwood and very rarely conifer. So mainly oak, beech, ash, birch, willow, poplar, cherry, etc. I like full chisel chain for it’s fast cutting and just accept I need to sharpen more often. I normal hand file, only resorting to grinding when I’ve got a bunch of mashed chains. Chains get mashed when there’s hidden metal or stone in the wood. Such as staples, nails, screws, fence wire/posts buried unseen inside the stems. I always carry and extra loop or two with me. If it’s a case of more than 20mins. hand filing, then I swap the chain. I don’t used skip chain, as I can only get it priced per drivelink, which makes it extraordinarily expensive. I’ve got a 545 Mk1, which I had for 10yrs. of faultless running, before it partially seized with 223hrs. It turned out to be a crack in the inlet boot. So I had it fixed and now it runs fine… but it’s a pig to start. After turning up to two separate jobs and taking twice as long as was needed, purely down to the saw not starting. I decided enough was enough and shortlisted a number of saws. The list included some larger saws, as I was routinely then dealing with bigger stems but still wanting an all day saw. The 545 ran a 15” bar with Oregon 21LPX, .325” .058” for the first 3yrs.+ Then changed to a 18”bar with same chain, gauge & pitch. I occasionally went back to 15”, if I knew I’d only be cutting small stuff, (up to bar length dia.) There was a supply issue with all new saws at the time, part of my decision to have the 545 rebuilt. And while waiting for the 550XP Mk2. I bought a Stihl 500i with Stihl RS chain on 25” bar 3/8” .063”. On the shortlist were Husky 545 Mk2, 550XP Mk2, 560XP, 562, 572, 576; Stihl 261, 441, 462, 500i, secondhand 660, 661. Discounted from list: •545 Mk2 as though tempted by slight power increase to 2.7kW, over Mk1 of 2.5kW, the powerhead weight increased from 4.9kg to 5.3kg. So same weight as the 550XP at 3kW and the price difference was only £60 •560XP as not convinced they’d sorted the hot starting issues •562XP having to buy different bars & chains and the 562XP is essentially a 560XP with big bar mount •572 on cost compared to not much more for the 576 •572, 576 too much vibration though the 576 could’ve been in the country before the 500i •261 number of friends have the 261s and are very happy and having used some, I was tempted. But then again different bars & chains for no more power than the 550XP Mk2 and the 550XP was cheaper •441 only had one for one day and it didn’t impress me. Hard to start and why was I buying another saw… •462 solely on vibration. Basically it’s a modern saw with old school anti-vib system. Even so, there’s the saying that the only problem with the 500i, is that the 462 is available. •660, 661 on vibration and powerhead weight. So why the 550XP Mk2 & 500i? Well I was just about to order a 576, when the same place I’d bought the 545 Mk1 from, offered 25% off all Stihl saws. How could I refuse. Though not part of the deal, I had to buy a box of round files for 3/8”. The 500i being offered at the time, were with 20” or 25”, so I chose 25”. Figuring that would do me for most stems and anything smaller, the 550XP Mk2 could do. The 550XP Mk2 because I still needed a smaller saw for everyday stuff. And by buying the 550XP Mk2, (as would have been with the 560XP) I could use my stash of 1x 15” bar 2x 18” bars, 8x 15” loops and 6x 18” loops, plus the nearly full box of round files. And when the 550XP Mk2s became available I got a deal on it too. The 550XP on an 18” bar covers 80% of the stuff I deal with. And the 500i is relegated to stems of 24” dia. and greater. Plus ringing up 18”+ dia. lengths that have been on the deck for years and hence rock hard. The 500i ‘s first outing, was an ash 30”+ dia., growing out of the foundations of a WWII Bailey bridge which is still used. (Yes I’ve heard of secondary subsidence but foundation work was planned and the tree was in the way.) First use of the 550XP Mk2 was cutting up branches to load charcoal kilns. I’d say the 545 Mk1 is best on 15” and will fly on 13”. Though it spent most of its time on 18”, purely for the size I was cutting most of the time and was a good saw on 18”. With Mk2’s power increase to 2.7kW, I’d recommend running it on 18”, unless it’s just for small firewood, in which case, save the money and run the 545 with a 15” bar. The 550XP Mk2 is a different saw and is best on 18”. It could run 20” at the far end just. But if you know you’ll be cutting 20” or more, buy a 60cc+ saw, that’ll more easily handle the load. The 550XP Mk2 flies on 15” and though I’ve not tried it, if you were mad enough to run a 13”, it would be like a handheld buzz saw. Though I used to know someone, who ran a 560XP with 8-tooth sprocket and a 13” bar for first thinning. Said he just wanted the speed… but he was certifiably nuts. If it’s going to be your only saw and it’s a choice between the 545 Mk2 vs 550XP Mk2 and you can afford the difference. I’d recommend the the 550XP Mk2, as it’ll do everything the 545 will and it’ll do it slightly quicker but crucially be less loading on the saw. Whereas the 545 will do most of what the 550XP can but there is a limit to everything and I don’t mean bar length. If you know the vast majority of what you’ll cut, will be less than 20” dia., save some money, buy the 545 and run it on 15” or 18”. If you can afford the extra and or know you’ll regularly be cutting 18” dia. and greater, buy the 550XP Mk2 and run it on 18”. Bit long winded but I think that covers it.
@@dcvariousvids8082 Thanks for the reply and advice. I live out west in Canada so not much in terms of hardwood and nothing too big where I am located. There may be a few good size spruce trees, but nothing crazy at all and I think either of these 50cc saws would manage the biggest trees that I would be dealing with and most of my use would then be bucking up the fallen trees. One other consideration is that I might be able to pick up a 545 Mark II for a considerable discount whereas I don’t think I would be able to get much, if any, discount on the 550XP Mark II so the price differential could be considerably more than when comparing both at regular retail price! While at first blush my mind screams to get the 550XP Mark II, if both are at regular retail price, if I can indeed score a really good discount on the 545 mark II and save $250-300 then that would certainly start tipping the scales more in favour of the 545. Let me know your thoughts on these extra pieces of information if you have any and are so inclined. Thanks again!
@@Wolfpackbluecrew- I’ve only cut spruce once and that was just for a few hours one day. Ringing up felled lengths for firewood splitting. Diameters were apx. 15”, not much bigger and the 545 Mk1 was on a 15” bar, full chisel 21LPX. The stems had been down a couple of weeks, so still full of sap. But I seem to remember having no problem. There were two other saws that day, one with an old Stihl 260 on 16” running full chisel. And the other was an old Stihl 460 on 25/26” running full chisel. I can’t remember being any slower than the 260 and not that much slower than the 460. Though of course the 460 was noticeably quicker. As an aside, I once ran that same 460 for an hour elsewhere. And it shook so bad, I couldn’t feel my hands for a day after. Maybe that’s why I previously mentioned vibration levels. Having got 70hrs. on the 550 now, I can’t honestly say I notice a real difference between the 545 Mk1 and 550XP Mk2. (One of the reasons I be bought the 500i as a larger saw, was the low vibs compared to the other larger saw.) $250-$300 less is a lot of chains+a few bars. That sounds like a great deal! If you really can’t resist the 550 Mk2, then go for it and you’ll be happy with it. However, from what you say, I can’t see you being disappointed with the 545 Mk2. If you want to save a bit more, only run a 18” bar on the 545. The difference between a 15” bar vs 18” in cutting speed, is noticeable if you’re zipping through 8”-10” logs/trees a day. But strangely less noticeable, if constantly cutting bar length dia. stems. The weight saving of running a 15” vs 18” isn’t much when cutting. But if you know you’ll only be cutting small stuff that day and you have to hike 1/2-1mi over rough ground, just to get to the first tree. Then carrying a lightweight 15”ed saw with everything else, is actually easier. If on the other hand, you only have a 300 yard walk-in, it won’t matter. Something I can say, (I’m pretty short at 5.5ft.) and snedding/de-limbing is easier with a 18” bar than a 15” bar. Just that little bit less bending & reaching with 3” more, is worth a small pot of gold at the end of the day. So in short - I reckon you’ll not be disappointed if you plump for the 545 on 15” or 18”. And if you’re save a couple of hundred; and know there’ll be plenty of smaller stem days, as much as bar length dia. days. Buy a 15” bar with a couple of loops, plus a 18” bar with a couple of loops. If it’s going to be mainly mixed dia. days as a norm, just run a 18” bar. I think the only reason I occasionally run a 15” bar on the 550, is that I’ve still got several 15” loops, 3 of them still unused. And when I know I’ll only be cutting smaller stems for firewood or charcoal production but I’ve got a long walk-in. Weight balance: I’d say the balance is pretty much there when running a 15” standard bar and little nose light running a lightweight 15”. Standard 18” is very slightly nose down and a 18” lightweight is right there. But there’s not much in it, unless most of your time is spent snedding/de-limbing. Where a light front end makes the saw more flickable and hence less strain on the right wrist & forearm. If you’re just cutting for yourself, speed won’t matter, if you’re production cutting, then less weight is preferable. I used to use standard Oregon bars but now use lightweight Sugi Hara bars. The overpriced Husqvarna lightweight bars, are made by Sugi Hara. So while SH bars are twice the price of Oregon bars, they last more than twice as long. And you’re just getting a SH bar but at an inflated price with a Husky lightweight. Weight wise, the Oregon bars weigh the most, the SH lightweight bars are the lightest. With the Husky lightweight bars being 2ish ozs. more. I think that’s down to thicker paint on the Husky. Whereas, Sugi Hara lightly lacquer theirs. But the steel is excellent and doesn’t rust. Build wise - the 545 and 550 are nearly the same. With the only real differences being, the the 550 has stuffers on the bottom/big end, giving the 550 a high compression and thus more power. The Mk2 versions also have slightly different carbs and the transfer ports are slight larger on the 550, allowing more airflow. The XPs have what Husky calls ‘RevBoost’ but I seriously doubt that you’d notice the difference between the two saws. Whichever one you choose, the only thing I’d consider changing from new, would be the felling spikes/dogs/bumpers. No need to go full-on west coast. Just a bit more aggressive, as the OEM ones fitted to both saws, are ok but not much more.
What makes this chainsaw an awesome performer is automatic carburator air/fuel adjustment system. That's why this chaisaw is very powerfull no matter what you cut. Of course, all cutting equipment needs to be well prepared...
Great review! Have you had any oiling issues running the 18” bar at the middle oil setting? Seems like the bar tends to heat up quickly on mine running the recommended setting on the oiler.
I have the same issue...it doesn't seem to oil enough with an 18" bar. I had to go to the max setting but now it seems to over oil. Not sure what to do.
@@OldSchoolMillennial I have a old husqvarna 51 that oils probably a little too much. My Stihl MS400 I have it adjusted all the way up and I can get close to two gas fill ups to one bar oil tank but it gets enough. (I just like to see it fling off a little.
Mine will be here today 02/24/24. I have had a 545 markII for 3 years as well as a 359 and 3 makita saws. 4300 , 6100 and the 7900p. All awesome saws but the 550 MKII is really a work of art when it comes to engineering. Also the autotune has been flawless on my 545 mkII. Thanks for the info and the quality videos you produce.
I am curious to know why you are upgrading and what your thoughts will be / are on the 545 Mark II vs the 550XP Mark II since you have/ will have experience owning and operating both and whether it was worth upgrading to the 550XP Mark II. I’d also be interested to know which of the two you would recommend friends or family buy (assuming that you like those friends and family members 🤣). Thanks for any insights you can offer me and others!
@@Wolfpackbluecrew I bought my 545 MKII new on impulse when my dealer offered me a floor model for $325. For a 50cc saw it is awesome. I bought the 550 MKII because of the current sale thru 03/15/24 for $547 to my door from HL Supply. As far as comparison I haven't even gassed it up yet. I am off work tommorrow and I have a 20 inch speedcut bar and sg33 chain mounted on it waiting to be run. Will update.
@@kenturner3268 Thanks for your response! I may have an opportunity to get the 545 Mark II for a significant discount, as well, and if that becomes reality it will likely influence my decision a great deal, unless, of course, the 550XP Mark II also becomes available at a discount. I am up in Canada and there aren’t any discounts from Husqvarna on the 550 right now, but I will keep checking with local dealers. So I look forward to hearing your update in the future! Thanks again, I really appreciate your time in responding and updating later!
Hi Glenn!!😀😀 The 550 Husky is a good saw. But there is really only one thing I really dislike about all Huskies and that is the angle of the top handle. It's just dosen't flow smoothly from side to side like the Stihl does. With the angle of the handlebar it changes the balance of the saw for when it's upright versus on its side and as you roll it you have to move the saw forward and back witch dosen't allow for as smooth of a transition as the Stihl. But that's just me!! LOL!! I have limbed thousands of cords of plantation pine in my life and have ran just about every kind of saws out there. I have always ended up liking the Stihl the best for every situation I have came across. Huskies have great speed but they don't have the torque when it comes to bar length wood. Firewood Midwest proved that with his 572 Husky and his 461 Stihl when cutting dry dead oak. Small wood the Husky was faster but large wood the Stihl has much better torque. Take care and work safe my friend!! Logger Al
Thanks Al! I enjoy hearing stories like yours to know other experiences with saws. I've found I tend to like both brands for different reasons so I end up grabbing both when I throw them in my truck.
Did you do a comparo of the 261 vs 550? I've got to send out for service on husky's but have a local dealer/servicer for Stihl. I've got my 10 year old 445 husky that has been amazing. But it doesn't have adjustable bar lube. And it runs pretty dry. I'm looking 261 vs 550xp, and since I've had this 445 working forever with just a little maintenance, I'm leaning towards husky. But I know each maker has hits and misses. Any advice?
Hello. I'm thinking about getting one. My fear is that suspension is to soft and affects the precision on cutting firewood. Can you give me your true opinion? Thank you 💪
Just love my 550 XPG. Heated handles is a good thing in Norway throughout the winter. Felling mostly birch in the area around my cabin, but occationally som pines too :)
I nearly bought a G model but in the end, I mostly now do volunteer work. So if it’s cold enough to freeze the ducks to the pond, I don’t turn out that day. But if you have bitterly cold winters or bad circulation or a vibration induced injury, then I’d advise buying a saw with heated handles. Though on the lost one; if you have a vibration induced injury, why are you thinking of using a chainsaw?
You make it hard on me choosing between this and the 261. I currently have 2 husky’s, 340 and 460 and 2 stihls, 170 and 251 so not brand pro either way. Grew up running o26 and 045 super, great old heavy saws lol. I’m leaning 550 but I like my stihl dealer better. Hoping you will just spit out which saw is better. Lol
Warranty can be important, and you got ‘squat’ with the Stihl, as its one of their Pro saws. Not knocking on Stihl, mind you, juss sayin... Buy can of PreMix with purchase of a Husqvarna, and increase your warranty up to 4/5 years! Peace!
I haven't yet but I very well may one of these days. I want to run every test I can with it in stock form first. This thing is already a beast, I can't imagine how much of a speed demon it would be ported.
@@sticks7971 the 261 rips BEFORE porting also. Randy is in the porting business. He'll port them all day long. I have a 462 and 661 done by Randy (Mastermind).
@@SaltyMike396 what do you feel advantage and disadvantage of porting and or polishing. Don’t know much about this stuff. Have ms 461 . Thinking of getting 261 also
@@OldSchoolMillennial I have the 445 II , how much would i notice the extra power? I mostly take down medium sized birch. Kinda new to this, but have alot of available forest to cut. THanks.
This doesn’t answer your question, but I am curious about people’s real world experiences with the power differences between the 545 Mark II and the 550XP Mark II. Sorry for piggybacking on your question regarding 445 Mark II, but I am hoping people reading your comment might have insight on mine, as well since the are somewhat related!
I dont know anything about the 545,,is it chipped like the 550? I am done with Husky ,,I run only Echo now ,,best saw I ever ran in the last 40 yrs@@Wolfpackbluecrew
Great review, have you ever weighed both the 261 and the 550 with bar and chain? I saw a European review and the 550 actually weighed about a 1/4 pound less.
Agreed. Husky and Makita (Dolmar) rempacement parts are much more expensive, at least here in Canada. I own the one husky, one Makita and three Stihl. A fleece filter (basically a square of thick fabric, nothing more) for my 32cc Makita cost 14$… I just don’t get it. Plus I get a 10% rebate on everything at my Stihl dealer.
Great review. I too love my 55o Mark II but I agree about the chin tensioner. #Husqvarna missed the mark on the tensioner design. While it does function it is finicky to get proper adjustment of the chain. My 455 Rancher has a better chain adjuster.. I was apprehensive about those flip style caps but I quickly learned to love them. The 550xp is my go to saw!
I used this saw A LOT over the course of about a year before I posted this video. Thanks for the, sub! I hope you find some other stuff you like over on the channel. Take care, man.
Well, you made up my mind, I've been considering buying this saw and also the 261 stihl and have looked at the 555 Husky to... I keep leaning toward the 550, been watching a ton of videos from people on UA-cam about all these saws and reading up on them. Your saw looks amazing after lots of use, can you tell me what you use to clean it and the process to keep it lookin that good?
dizajnove tie píly sú špica, no i odľahčenie váhy , ale tie prvé série píl s ,,5,, pred nebolo bohvie čo, ložiská karburátory auto tune, to nebolo dotočené páni inženieri robil som servis a z 10 píl predaných sa mi 11 vrátilo ,,neverím päťkovej rade a u nás to ani pilčíci nechcú, H 372 , 365,, ja mám klasiku 266 a 385,, viete o tom , že to je spev a ako poskakuje na voľnobehu v kľude na 2650 otáčkách a po pridaní plynu je to národná hymna , prečo to čo bolo skvelé sa už nerobí ,,,myslím si, že to je škoda
I'm giving away a BRAND NEW STIHL MS 261 chainsaw! Enter now through November 23, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day). Details here: ua-cam.com/video/ZBVu7w2BElM/v-deo.html
Just used my 550XP Mk2 today for a couple hours. I got rid of the Stihl Ultra oil and switched to Echo Red Armor. I mixed it 40:1 per UA-camr recommendations. It started easy and ran like skalded dog. My wife even noticed, man that saw was loud & powerful. 😁 I’m going to run the Red Armor for a several tanks in my saws, FS70 trimmer & blowers to clean the Stihl Ultra gunk/carbon out. Then I’ll switch later on to AMSOIL Sabre! 👍🏻🇺🇸
I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip!
My favorite saw, used it today actually, all day, I was really against the electronic carbs, but man I’m so happy I made the leap finally, this saw is great
It is a great saw!
I got my 550xp mk2 year half ago, it didn’t come with the xcut chain though. Been running stihl rs full chisel chains. Best saw I ever had.
i got the 545 mark 2 and it has been amazing so far
Hands down the best chainsaw on the market in this class. I absolutely love my Husqvarna 550xp Mark II
Great review! 👍
Thanks, Jeepaholic!
Have the the original 550 XP with 18" bar and it has been flawless. I run the oil-fuel ratio at 40:1!! Great video and thanks for posting
Thanks, Thomas!
It will run better on 50:1 less gumming up .
I got the 550xp 10 years ago. My wife put unmixed fuel in it. The long term review ended there for me😢.
I don’t do firewood or anything like that, but I need a pro saw to tackle downed trees around my farm and the farm and ranch saws just don’t perform for me. I bought a 550xp MK2 a couple years ago and it’s been awesome. Seen some hard use but it’s help up very well with zero issues.
It's been a great saw for me, too. It's good to hear you're having a good experience as well.
My 550 XP is by far the best saw in class, I see where you are coming from about the chain tensioner. The 353 had a much simpler system.
Husky’s 353 was to the 346, what the 545 now is to the 550. All cracking saws!
Only thing I’d change on it is id like if to have an inboard clutch rather then outboard
I was clumsy with that too, at first. Now I have no problem setting the chains. It is just a new trick for an old dog,but I can learn --- so far.
It's harder to put chain and bar on it but that clutch is set up like that for weight balance and it kills centrifugal forces when you rotate saw
Awesome video and review of the 550xp. Thank you for making it! I recently purchased a 550xp mark 2 and have been loving it so far. Great video and thanks for the shout out!
Thanks for the suggestion, Mason!
Just bought myself a 550, can't complain, it's light, it's powerfull, perfect chainsaw.
Enjoy it!
Great videos. Do you know the part # for the tsumura 20" Light Weight Guide Bar for husqvarna 550xp Mk II?
Best limbing saw ever. Also a great timber framing saw.
Agreed!
I have the 545 mark 2 and I love it
I bought a 550xp in 2012. Had them switch my bar to the 20in 3/8. Looked at replacing it as stuff is starting to wear out. Cut 10- 20 cords wood a year. Not sure if one at ace is a mark 2 or not. 689$. But comes with 325 bar so have to change that out. Havent had any other performance or quality issues. Been awesome saw.
Thanks for the reply to my comment on another video, and the nice Welcome to your Channel, and kind words! 👍
I see you a ‘Makita’ man. I’m about to try out one of their gas saws (Dolmar) and wondered about your thoughts on that. My only holdback/ concern is the fact Makita just killed off all Gas powered OPE, including the saws! It has upset a lot of Dolmar fans.
I took my old 345e into the shop and was handling one of these (550 XP) with the 20 inch bar, and man was it nice! Balanced and decent weight. I’m not a Stihl guy, but I do concur with ‘Al Dredske’s’ comment with regards to handle feel and balance, of Stihl VS Husky. It always comes down to personal presence. Still, the 550 ain’t too shabby. 😀
Looking forward to catching up on all your videos! And looking forward to new content! I hope everyone gives this Man a thumbs up and please support his channel! Thanks!
👍👍👍✌🏻🙏🇺🇸😉
Thanks for your support. I actually have heard really good things about Dolmar/Makita chainsaws and considered them for myself. I would say, if you decide to go with the 550xp, you'll be more than happy!
I appreciate you checking out the videos. More to come soon.
I run a 20 inch bar and its a beast
@@rastamon5969 20" is a nice size for a lot of trees.
I tried a husqy chain on my stihl today. Its their style with the bent rakers. I think its easier to do a plunge cut. And does brush work a tad better. Now i dont think it cuts big wood as fast as the stihl yellow links.
I really want to try the 550mk2 with a full wrap as a brush saw.
I would agree with the speed in regards to the chains but, the steel they use for the cutters is somewhat harder. The yellow chain may cut faster but, through 30 cuts, the X- cut chain profile might get through it faster. JMHO. What kind of Stihl do you run?
@@markatkinson9963 ms361, ive run it hard since 2008. 30 to 50 cords every year. Its been a very good saw. Im just starting to look for another saw. I'm concearned about the m tronik and auto tune. My saw needs to run strong. When you hear about loggers running m tronik till it messes up. Then changing out the fly wheel and dropping in a traditional carb kit. Thats not a good sign
I cannot speak for autotune, but mtronic is super reliable. They last probably as long as a normal carb. The only problem is that a simple issue normally solved at the house on a normal carb may send you to the dealer with mtronic. My ms311 has never has the carb Touched in 9 years I would expect the same from an mtronic saw. If I had the money and the need I would not hesitate to buy an mtronic saw. I cannot speak for Husky because I work at a Stihl dealer.
The only thing I’d change on the 550, is the same thing I’d change in the 545. The felling spikes/felling dogs/bumper spikes are just ineffectual. They’re ok on thin barked Birch, Black Poplar, young Ash and Holly. But any bark of more than a 1/4” and they’re near to or actually useless. I suppose it depends where you live and what you normally cut.
Great review - thank you.
Do you have experience owning and/or operating both the 545 Mark II and the 550XP Mark II, and if so I’d love to hear which you prefer and why and which you would recommend to others? Thank you for any insights you can offer me and others.
@@Wolfpackbluecrew- First off, grab your popcorn and make a cuppa.
I usually cut hardwood and very rarely conifer. So mainly oak, beech, ash, birch, willow, poplar, cherry, etc. I like full chisel chain for it’s fast cutting and just accept I need to sharpen more often. I normal hand file, only resorting to grinding when I’ve got a bunch of mashed chains. Chains get mashed when there’s hidden metal or stone in the wood. Such as staples, nails, screws, fence wire/posts buried unseen inside the stems. I always carry and extra loop or two with me. If it’s a case of more than 20mins. hand filing, then I swap the chain. I don’t used skip chain, as I can only get it priced per drivelink, which makes it extraordinarily expensive.
I’ve got a 545 Mk1, which I had for 10yrs. of faultless running, before it partially seized with 223hrs. It turned out to be a crack in the inlet boot. So I had it fixed and now it runs fine… but it’s a pig to start.
After turning up to two separate jobs and taking twice as long as was needed, purely down to the saw not starting. I decided enough was enough and shortlisted a number of saws. The list included some larger saws, as I was routinely then dealing with bigger stems but still wanting an all day saw.
The 545 ran a 15” bar with Oregon 21LPX, .325” .058” for the first 3yrs.+ Then changed to a 18”bar with same chain, gauge & pitch. I occasionally went back to 15”, if I knew I’d only be cutting small stuff, (up to bar length dia.)
There was a supply issue with all new saws at the time, part of my decision to have the 545 rebuilt. And while waiting for the 550XP Mk2. I bought a Stihl 500i with Stihl RS chain on 25” bar 3/8” .063”.
On the shortlist were Husky 545 Mk2, 550XP Mk2, 560XP, 562, 572, 576; Stihl 261, 441, 462, 500i, secondhand 660, 661.
Discounted from list:
•545 Mk2 as though tempted by slight power increase to 2.7kW, over Mk1 of 2.5kW, the powerhead weight increased from 4.9kg to 5.3kg. So same weight as the 550XP at 3kW and the price difference was only £60
•560XP as not convinced they’d sorted the hot starting issues
•562XP having to buy different bars & chains and the 562XP is essentially a 560XP with big bar mount
•572 on cost compared to not much more for the 576
•572, 576 too much vibration though the 576 could’ve been in the country before the 500i
•261 number of friends have the 261s and are very happy and having used some, I was tempted. But then again different bars & chains for no more power than the 550XP Mk2 and the 550XP was cheaper
•441 only had one for one day and it didn’t impress me. Hard to start and why was I buying another saw…
•462 solely on vibration. Basically it’s a modern saw with old school anti-vib system. Even so, there’s the saying that the only problem with the 500i, is that the 462 is available.
•660, 661 on vibration and powerhead weight.
So why the 550XP Mk2 & 500i?
Well I was just about to order a 576, when the same place I’d bought the 545 Mk1 from, offered 25% off all Stihl saws. How could I refuse. Though not part of the deal, I had to buy a box of round files for 3/8”. The 500i being offered at the time, were with 20” or 25”, so I chose 25”. Figuring that would do me for most stems and anything smaller, the 550XP Mk2 could do.
The 550XP Mk2 because I still needed a smaller saw for everyday stuff. And by buying the 550XP Mk2, (as would have been with the 560XP) I could use my stash of 1x 15” bar 2x 18” bars, 8x 15” loops and 6x 18” loops, plus the nearly full box of round files. And when the 550XP Mk2s became available I got a deal on it too.
The 550XP on an 18” bar covers 80% of the stuff I deal with. And the 500i is relegated to stems of 24” dia. and greater. Plus ringing up 18”+ dia. lengths that have been on the deck for years and hence rock hard. The 500i ‘s first outing, was an ash 30”+ dia., growing out of the foundations of a WWII Bailey bridge which is still used. (Yes I’ve heard of secondary subsidence but foundation work was planned and the tree was in the way.) First use of the 550XP Mk2 was cutting up branches to load charcoal kilns.
I’d say the 545 Mk1 is best on 15” and will fly on 13”. Though it spent most of its time on 18”, purely for the size I was cutting most of the time and was a good saw on 18”. With Mk2’s power increase to 2.7kW, I’d recommend running it on 18”, unless it’s just for small firewood, in which case, save the money and run the 545 with a 15” bar.
The 550XP Mk2 is a different saw and is best on 18”. It could run 20” at the far end just. But if you know you’ll be cutting 20” or more, buy a 60cc+ saw, that’ll more easily handle the load. The 550XP Mk2 flies on 15” and though I’ve not tried it, if you were mad enough to run a 13”, it would be like a handheld buzz saw. Though I used to know someone, who ran a 560XP with 8-tooth sprocket and a 13” bar for first thinning. Said he just wanted the speed… but he was certifiably nuts.
If it’s going to be your only saw and it’s a choice between the 545 Mk2 vs 550XP Mk2 and you can afford the difference. I’d recommend the the 550XP Mk2, as it’ll do everything the 545 will and it’ll do it slightly quicker but crucially be less loading on the saw. Whereas the 545 will do most of what the 550XP can but there is a limit to everything and I don’t mean bar length. If you know the vast majority of what you’ll cut, will be less than 20” dia., save some money, buy the 545 and run it on 15” or 18”. If you can afford the extra and or know you’ll regularly be cutting 18” dia. and greater, buy the 550XP Mk2 and run it on 18”.
Bit long winded but I think that covers it.
@@dcvariousvids8082 Thanks for the reply and advice. I live out west in Canada so not much in terms of hardwood and nothing too big where I am located. There may be a few good size spruce trees, but nothing crazy at all and I think either of these 50cc saws would manage the biggest trees that I would be dealing with and most of my use would then be bucking up the fallen trees. One other consideration is that I might be able to pick up a 545 Mark II for a considerable discount whereas I don’t think I would be able to get much, if any, discount on the 550XP Mark II so the price differential could be considerably more than when comparing both at regular retail price! While at first blush my mind screams to get the 550XP Mark II, if both are at regular retail price, if I can indeed score a really good discount on the 545 mark II and save $250-300 then that would certainly start tipping the scales more in favour of the 545. Let me know your thoughts on these extra pieces of information if you have any and are so inclined. Thanks again!
@@Wolfpackbluecrew- I’ve only cut spruce once and that was just for a few hours one day. Ringing up felled lengths for firewood splitting. Diameters were apx. 15”, not much bigger and the 545 Mk1 was on a 15” bar, full chisel 21LPX. The stems had been down a couple of weeks, so still full of sap. But I seem to remember having no problem.
There were two other saws that day, one with an old Stihl 260 on 16” running full chisel. And the other was an old Stihl 460 on 25/26” running full chisel. I can’t remember being any slower than the 260 and not that much slower than the 460. Though of course the 460 was noticeably quicker. As an aside, I once ran that same 460 for an hour elsewhere. And it shook so bad, I couldn’t feel my hands for a day after. Maybe that’s why I previously mentioned vibration levels.
Having got 70hrs. on the 550 now, I can’t honestly say I notice a real difference between the 545 Mk1 and 550XP Mk2. (One of the reasons I be bought the 500i as a larger saw, was the low vibs compared to the other larger saw.)
$250-$300 less is a lot of chains+a few bars. That sounds like a great deal! If you really can’t resist the 550 Mk2, then go for it and you’ll be happy with it. However, from what you say, I can’t see you being disappointed with the 545 Mk2. If you want to save a bit more, only run a 18” bar on the 545. The difference between a 15” bar vs 18” in cutting speed, is noticeable if you’re zipping through 8”-10” logs/trees a day. But strangely less noticeable, if constantly cutting bar length dia. stems.
The weight saving of running a 15” vs 18” isn’t much when cutting. But if you know you’ll only be cutting small stuff that day and you have to hike 1/2-1mi over rough ground, just to get to the first tree. Then carrying a lightweight 15”ed saw with everything else, is actually easier. If on the other hand, you only have a 300 yard walk-in, it won’t matter. Something I can say, (I’m pretty short at 5.5ft.) and snedding/de-limbing is easier with a 18” bar than a 15” bar. Just that little bit less bending & reaching with 3” more, is worth a small pot of gold at the end of the day.
So in short - I reckon you’ll not be disappointed if you plump for the 545 on 15” or 18”. And if you’re save a couple of hundred; and know there’ll be plenty of smaller stem days, as much as bar length dia. days. Buy a 15” bar with a couple of loops, plus a 18” bar with a couple of loops. If it’s going to be mainly mixed dia. days as a norm, just run a 18” bar.
I think the only reason I occasionally run a 15” bar on the 550, is that I’ve still got several 15” loops, 3 of them still unused. And when I know I’ll only be cutting smaller stems for firewood or charcoal production but I’ve got a long walk-in.
Weight balance:
I’d say the balance is pretty much there when running a 15” standard bar and little nose light running a lightweight 15”.
Standard 18” is very slightly nose down and a 18” lightweight is right there.
But there’s not much in it, unless most of your time is spent snedding/de-limbing. Where a light front end makes the saw more flickable and hence less strain on the right wrist & forearm. If you’re just cutting for yourself, speed won’t matter, if you’re production cutting, then less weight is preferable.
I used to use standard Oregon bars but now use lightweight Sugi Hara bars. The overpriced Husqvarna lightweight bars, are made by Sugi Hara. So while SH bars are twice the price of Oregon bars, they last more than twice as long. And you’re just getting a SH bar but at an inflated price with a Husky lightweight.
Weight wise, the Oregon bars weigh the most, the SH lightweight bars are the lightest. With the Husky lightweight bars being 2ish ozs. more. I think that’s down to thicker paint on the Husky. Whereas, Sugi Hara lightly lacquer theirs. But the steel is excellent and doesn’t rust.
Build wise - the 545 and 550 are nearly the same. With the only real differences being, the the 550 has stuffers on the bottom/big end, giving the 550 a high compression and thus more power. The Mk2 versions also have slightly different carbs and the transfer ports are slight larger on the 550, allowing more airflow. The XPs have what Husky calls ‘RevBoost’ but I seriously doubt that you’d notice the difference between the two saws. Whichever one you choose, the only thing I’d consider changing from new, would be the felling spikes/dogs/bumpers. No need to go full-on west coast. Just a bit more aggressive, as the OEM ones fitted to both saws, are ok but not much more.
@@dcvariousvids8082 Lots of great information which is very helpful! Thank you!
The movie reference puts this video over the top for me. Great movie, and it has held up very well.
Great movie! Glad you enjoyed the video.
What makes this chainsaw an awesome performer is automatic carburator air/fuel adjustment system. That's why this chaisaw is very powerfull no matter what you cut. Of course, all cutting equipment needs to be well prepared...
Great review! Have you had any oiling issues running the 18” bar at the middle oil setting? Seems like the bar tends to heat up quickly on mine running the recommended setting on the oiler.
Thanks, Monty! I think you have to tweak it open a little more to take care of it. I agree on the stock setting.
I have the same issue...it doesn't seem to oil enough with an 18" bar. I had to go to the max setting but now it seems to over oil. Not sure what to do.
I have a 20” bar and did have to go up a couple clicks on the oil.
Which do you find that oil better? The Stihl 261 or the Husqvarna 550xp?
I think either both have done a good job. I may have to give it the 261 with the stock setting but the 550 can be adjusted up and it works great too.
@@OldSchoolMillennial I have a old husqvarna 51 that oils probably a little too much. My Stihl MS400 I have it adjusted all the way up and I can get close to two gas fill ups to one bar oil tank but it gets enough. (I just like to see it fling off a little.
Mine will be here today 02/24/24. I have had a 545 markII for 3 years as well as a 359 and 3 makita saws. 4300 , 6100 and the 7900p. All awesome saws but the 550 MKII is really a work of art when it comes to engineering. Also the autotune has been flawless on my 545 mkII. Thanks for the info and the quality videos you produce.
Nice, man! I hope you really enjoy running your new saw!
I am curious to know why you are upgrading and what your thoughts will be / are on the 545 Mark II vs the 550XP Mark II since you have/ will have experience owning and operating both and whether it was worth upgrading to the 550XP Mark II. I’d also be interested to know which of the two you would recommend friends or family buy (assuming that you like those friends and family members 🤣). Thanks for any insights you can offer me and others!
@@Wolfpackbluecrew I bought my 545 MKII new on impulse when my dealer offered me a floor model for $325. For a 50cc saw it is awesome. I bought the 550 MKII because of the current sale thru 03/15/24 for $547 to my door from HL Supply. As far as comparison I haven't even gassed it up yet. I am off work tommorrow and I have a 20 inch speedcut bar and sg33 chain mounted on it waiting to be run. Will update.
@@kenturner3268 Thanks for your response! I may have an opportunity to get the 545 Mark II for a significant discount, as well, and if that becomes reality it will likely influence my decision a great deal, unless, of course, the 550XP Mark II also becomes available at a discount. I am up in Canada and there aren’t any discounts from Husqvarna on the 550 right now, but I will keep checking with local dealers. So I look forward to hearing your update in the future! Thanks again, I really appreciate your time in responding and updating later!
Hi Glenn!!😀😀
The 550 Husky is a good saw. But there is really only one thing I really dislike about all Huskies and that is the angle of the top handle. It's just dosen't flow smoothly from side to side like the Stihl does. With the angle of the handlebar it changes the balance of the saw for when it's upright versus on its side and as you roll it you have to move the saw forward and back witch dosen't allow for as smooth of a transition as the Stihl. But that's just me!! LOL!!
I have limbed thousands of cords of plantation pine in my life and have ran just about every kind of saws out there. I have always ended up liking the Stihl the best for every situation I have came across. Huskies have great speed but they don't have the torque when it comes to bar length wood. Firewood Midwest proved that with his 572 Husky and his 461 Stihl when cutting dry dead oak. Small wood the Husky was faster but large wood the Stihl has much better torque.
Take care and work safe my friend!!
Logger Al
Thanks Al! I enjoy hearing stories like yours to know other experiences with saws. I've found I tend to like both brands for different reasons so I end up grabbing both when I throw them in my truck.
Great video and review on the 550xp. Have a Safe Day
Thanks, David!
That's gonna be my next saw ! It weighs more cause it built better .😁
Did you do a comparo of the 261 vs 550? I've got to send out for service on husky's but have a local dealer/servicer for Stihl. I've got my 10 year old 445 husky that has been amazing. But it doesn't have adjustable bar lube. And it runs pretty dry. I'm looking 261 vs 550xp, and since I've had this 445 working forever with just a little maintenance, I'm leaning towards husky. But I know each maker has hits and misses. Any advice?
Hello. I'm thinking about getting one. My fear is that suspension is to soft and affects the precision on cutting firewood. Can you give me your true opinion? Thank you 💪
I have had no issues with the suspension on my 550xp. It runs smoothly for me. Good luck!
Just love my 550 XPG. Heated handles is a good thing in Norway throughout the winter. Felling mostly birch in the area around my cabin, but occationally som pines too :)
I nearly bought a G model but in the end, I mostly now do volunteer work. So if it’s cold enough to freeze the ducks to the pond, I don’t turn out that day. But if you have bitterly cold winters or bad circulation or a vibration induced injury, then I’d advise buying a saw with heated handles. Though on the lost one; if you have a vibration induced injury, why are you thinking of using a chainsaw?
Bar is so clean...did he use it.
I recently put a new bar on this saw. I've used this saw for over a year now. You can check out many videos over the last year that this saw is in.
Hi Glenn I’m a new subscriber. And I watched all your videos this weekend. Thanks for what you do great video work.
Thanks, man! Welcome to the channel. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!
I run 2 550 MK2 chainsaws, one with a longer sword and one with a shorter. I use Stihl chains though, feel like they are better.
You make it hard on me choosing between this and the 261. I currently have 2 husky’s, 340 and 460 and 2 stihls, 170 and 251 so not brand pro either way. Grew up running o26 and 045 super, great old heavy saws lol. I’m leaning 550 but I like my stihl dealer better. Hoping you will just spit out which saw is better. Lol
Haha, check this video out. I answered this question. ua-cam.com/video/4R-DNKZOhPs/v-deo.html
Warranty can be important, and you got ‘squat’ with the Stihl, as its one of their Pro saws. Not knocking on Stihl, mind you, juss sayin... Buy can of PreMix with purchase of a Husqvarna, and increase your warranty up to 4/5 years! Peace!
I grew up on an 026 as well , had to go with the 261 , it fantastic , no husky experience for me so no comparison.
I have a 550 and it screams and yes the chain tensioner is finicky
My 550xp is a beast. Made in Sweden quality.
It's a speed demon!
Hi,
what type of fuel oil are you using for your saw?
I most often use stihl 2 cycle in the gray bottles they sell or the premixed stihl gas (non ethanol).
3:00 did he just sharpen a tooth with the wrecker file 😮
say " I never held a chainsaw in my life" without saying you never held one in your life.
Didn't you get that saw ported ?
I haven't yet but I very well may one of these days. I want to run every test I can with it in stock form first. This thing is already a beast, I can't imagine how much of a speed demon it would be ported.
@@OldSchoolMillennial the smaller the saw, the less gains that come from porting. 50cc isn't worth porting. Save that for 70cc or better.
@@SaltyMike396 mastermind says the 261 rips when ported
@@sticks7971 the 261 rips BEFORE porting also. Randy is in the porting business. He'll port them all day long. I have a 462 and 661 done by Randy (Mastermind).
@@SaltyMike396 what do you feel advantage and disadvantage of porting and or polishing. Don’t know much about this stuff. Have ms 461 . Thinking of getting 261 also
whether it can be used Sthil Hp Ultra in 550 mark2?
I use it all the time in my 550 mark 2. Hope that helps.
saw looks new ,,did it even cut any wood ,,no tree sap ..not even a scratch ,,still has a shine
I like to take care of my equipment.
@@OldSchoolMillennial I have the 445 II , how much would i notice the extra power? I mostly take down medium sized birch. Kinda new to this, but have alot of available forest to cut. THanks.
This doesn’t answer your question, but I am curious about people’s real world experiences with the power differences between the 545 Mark II and the 550XP Mark II. Sorry for piggybacking on your question regarding 445 Mark II, but I am hoping people reading your comment might have insight on mine, as well since the are somewhat related!
I dont know anything about the 545,,is it chipped like the 550? I am done with Husky ,,I run only Echo now ,,best saw I ever ran in the last 40 yrs@@Wolfpackbluecrew
Can you review stihl 881 please
Great review, have you ever weighed both the 261 and the 550 with bar and chain? I saw a European review and the 550 actually weighed about a 1/4 pound less.
awesome review.... that is my next chainsaw
You'll love this saw!
Sama same, just ordered new 550 w 20" sugi hara lightweight bar!! The wait is killing me lol
Thanks for the good advice and knowledge. Great video
Thanks, Steven!
Great saw. The replacement parts are unbelievably high priced. 260cdn for a carburetor. 14 for one clutch spring. One bent piece of metal!
Agreed. Husky and Makita (Dolmar) rempacement parts are much more expensive, at least here in Canada. I own the one husky, one Makita and three Stihl.
A fleece filter (basically a square of thick fabric, nothing more) for my 32cc Makita cost 14$…
I just don’t get it. Plus I get a 10% rebate on everything at my Stihl dealer.
I just started at a small engine shop. I replaced the carb on a 455 rancher. An oem carb cost 150$ U.S.
Great review. I too love my 55o Mark II but I agree about the chin tensioner. #Husqvarna missed the mark on the tensioner design. While it does function it is finicky to get proper adjustment of the chain. My 455 Rancher has a better chain adjuster.. I was apprehensive about those flip style caps but I quickly learned to love them. The 550xp is my go to saw!
Thanks man!
I got em both and they stihl 261 and 550 xp are great saws I think the husky is a little faster
How long is your long term?
Thx for your vid. Subbed
I used this saw A LOT over the course of about a year before I posted this video. Thanks for the, sub! I hope you find some other stuff you like over on the channel. Take care, man.
Sure kept that bar lookin brand new
nao tem no brasil eu queria comprar
If you like the Husqvarna 550, check out my 550 playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLJjXJCzHs0pNnHi56lz4vKRjhHC0zWZxj.html
Well, you made up my mind, I've been considering buying this saw and also the 261 stihl and have looked at the 555 Husky to... I keep leaning toward the 550, been watching a ton of videos from people on UA-cam about all these saws and reading up on them.
Your saw looks amazing after lots of use, can you tell me what you use to clean it and the process to keep it lookin that good?
dizajnove tie píly sú špica, no i odľahčenie váhy , ale tie prvé série píl s ,,5,, pred nebolo bohvie čo, ložiská karburátory auto tune, to nebolo dotočené páni inženieri robil som servis a z 10 píl predaných sa mi 11 vrátilo ,,neverím päťkovej rade a u nás to ani pilčíci nechcú, H 372 , 365,, ja mám klasiku 266 a 385,, viete o tom , že to je spev a ako poskakuje na voľnobehu v kľude na 2650 otáčkách a po pridaní plynu je to národná hymna , prečo to čo bolo skvelé sa už nerobí ,,,myslím si, že to je škoda
Been running them since June. Cheap built junk, stihl way better, 40 years running saw for a living, 550 xp= a boat anchor
the only thing you run is your mouth
Naaa
@@chadzagone8577 they don't last, oiler gear is junk, in northern vt, or cold weather better have at least a few on hand
the dogs suck