Whaddya think? My new-to-me chainsaw - Husqvarna 450 Rancher (refurbished) $260

[fmajor007]

Hi guys/gals -

So now that I'm living in the States again and as permanently as I can foresee, it was time to start shaping a homestead for our clan. Aside from knives and other slicing items, a saw was top priority of course. This gas-burner won't replace my cherished Dustrude "Quick Bucksaw", but serves as an incredible supplement to it.

It's been many, many years since I've used a chainsaw. However, growing up on a farm and burning/selling firewood as well as cutting for rough-sawn lumber and pulp I was pretty comfortable with them. We had a number of different saws back then and our Lombard was the family fav.

For some reason (most of the guys cutting pulp around us ran Huskies....) my dad bought a Husqvarna to replace our worn out Lombards (can't remember the model...). Unfortunately, even though I was in a Small Engines Vocational Ed course I could never seem to get the Husqvarna to idle/start worth a hoot. When they ran they were very fast, but the starting/idling was always problematic.

Fast forward 30 years and I'm needing a saw for *my* family (even though we live in the city limits...). I was set on a Stihl. However, I researched *a ton* of saws and was reading sooo many 1st hand accounts of Huskies out-running the Stihls (as well as many problems with the newer "Ranch" or "Farm" level Stihls).

So, I came across an awesome deal on a factory reconditioned/refurbished Husqvarna 450 "Rancher" (50.2cc) with 18" bar for $260. It cuts like mad (OK, super sharp chain usually does that) and runs *very* fast. I think I need to richen the lower speed up as it seems like it's starving (I live at 6,300' ASL).

So, here's some pics after it's inaugural cutting and cleaning:

and a little closer in:

and a lot closer in:

and the other side:

So, whaddya y'all think?

 

[Tommythewho]

I have that same saw. Bought it in '07 or '08. It's a great saw, has done a ton of work, always starts. Elevation of this photo 7200' most of my work is between 8 and 9000' and mine runs just fine. Bought it locally maybe the carb jetting is regional.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Cool Saw

Please post more photos of your area and homestead

 

[Dirtbiker]

If the saw came from lower elevation you need to lean out the carburetor not richen it. It's probably bogging from the too rich mixture. Leave the wot setting alone as the richer mix will help prevent seizing at higher loads and temps.

 

[fmajor007]

If the saw came from lower elevation you need to lean out the carburetor not richen it. It's probably bogging from the too rich mixture. Leave the wot setting alone as the richer mix will help prevent seizing at higher loads and temps.

Thanks! I've not adjusted for elevation changes before so I'm grateful for the "course correction".

IIRC, Husqvarna used to be factory set on the leaner side of carburation so richening it up was a natural 1st thought.

 

[fmajor007]

I have that same saw. Bought it in '07 or '08. It's a great saw, has done a ton of work, always starts. Elevation of this photo 7200' most of my work is between 8 and 9000' and mine runs just fine. Bought it locally maybe the carb jetting is regional.

Awesome pics!!! Looks like your saw was/is definitely earning her keep!

Incidentally, what's the knife in the 1st pic?

 

[fmajor007]

Cool Saw

Please post more photos of your area and homestead

Thanks Dr. Bill.

Ha ha - I'm still wary about that sorta thing (posting pics, etc). I lived in Bosnia/the Balkans for many years and I like to have my friends there maintain an appropriate understanding of my current life and circumstances - without undue detail.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Great saws, mine looked like that, for about 5 minutes. I always describe it as a beaver on speed, the Huskys cut like mad, they're balanced extremely well and they always start. Don't matter how cold, hot or how humid, 2-3 pulls and your off.

The only thing you have to do is keep the chain sharp, because they run so fast as soon as you find yourself pushing harder into into your cut, touch up your chain. The oiler pump is fit into a plastic recess and if the bar gets really hot because of pushing into the cut, the combination of heat and stress on the bar can cause the oiler pump shaft to wear out the recess reducing and eventually ceasing to pump oil to the chain.

Also keep an eye on drive great on the clutch, Huskys have pretty tight tolerance and if you see the gear getting notched the chain well get loose, tight, loose, tight as it walks in and out of the notch.

If you take care of them they'll serve you well, if you beat on them they'll last a lot longer than most saws but they're gonna give up the ghost eventually.

Me and my buddy got ours together and in three years we've put it through 10 years of of work, mine other than wear to the finish from use runs like the day I got it, maybe even a little better. My buddy's, dead in the water, the oil pump won't work even with all the replacement parts there's too much play on the end of the shaft that the oiler won't pump so it just eats up bars, chains and drive gears.

I think you'll enjoy it and get many years of service from it, you don't strike me as someone like my buddy who is just plain abusive to equipment.

 

[Tommythewho]

Incidentally, what's the knife in the 1st pic?[/QUOTE]

Becker BK17 with Duracoat finish and Leopardwood handles

 

[The Warrior]

Sweet. I've got a 40cc Husky with an 18" bar:

 

[fmajor007]

Incidentally, what's the knife in the 1st pic?

Becker BK17 with Duracoat finish and Leopardwood handles[/QUOTE]

I thought the blade looked like a Becker, but I couldn't tell for sure with the non-stock handles.

Sweet. I've got a 40cc Husky with an 18" bar:

Nice saw (and the Beckers are not too shabby in their own right!).

Anyway, I put the saw to it's 1st test taking down a 14" (unknown....) Elm in my backyard last night.

The chain is sharp throwing big chips and the saw seems to run fast, but it's certainly not "gut-sy". I was thinking it would have a little more low-end "umph" to power through wood being a 50cc saw as I managed to bog it down with little effort. I'll have a better idea when I buck-to-length the main trunk.

It buzzes through smallish limbs that are 3"-4" diameter, but that's hardly a challenge. Hopefully I was just over-expectant and not realistic in what I thought the saw would do. Also, as mentioned above, the saw may need to be leaned out on the low end (and I can't make out what to use to adj. the carb settings?) so that may help out as well.