High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys

A big boy saw for me

661 or 395?

  • Ms661

    Votes: 43 43.4%
  • 395xp

    Votes: 56 56.6%

  • Total voters
    99

TreeLife

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So...last year with some of my tax return, I decided I would by my first ever new saw! I'm looking to buy (you guessed it) another brand new saw.

Its between a 661 and a 395. I can get a nice discount on Husqvarna, but that wont stop me from picking up a 661 if I can get one for a reasonable price.

Saw will normally utilize a 36" bar, I'm not really scared of weight. The saw will end up being ported as well.

Which do you prefer? Why? Which would you purchase? Explain your logic.

I'm not interested in a brand war or pissing on one of the saws for no reason, so swing your Johnson elsewhere!
 

jacob j.

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Are you going to be doing more falling and bucking with the saw or more stumping?

For more falling and bucking, the 661 gets the nod. For more stumping, 395.

Of course, if you really want a big saw, I can arrange to set you up with an 084...
 

TreeLife

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Are you going to be doing more falling and bucking with the saw or more stumping?

For more falling and bucking, the 661 gets the nod. For more stumping, 395.

Of course, if you really want a big saw, I can arrange to set you up with an 084...
Gonna be all purpose, Jacob. Will do falling, bucking, stumping. I will not be milling with the unit. If I ever get into Milling I'll buy a Mizer.
 

huskyboy

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36” .404 and larger... full time in hardwood... especially milling? 395. It has a better oiler, stronger av, stronger clutch and more low end torque than the 390xp/660/661 for that... simply put it is a less stressed motor/chassis with 36-50” bars. 32” and under I would go with the 390xp/660/661, they handle better/lighter for felling. The inboard clutch + side tensioners are also much more convenient. I guess pick the tool for the job....
 
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Dustin4185

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I have a MMWS 395 and stock 661. I love my 395 BUT, it is the only Husky I own and it has the stupid front chain tensioner and outboard clutch. So if you ever get pinched, it can suck! The 395 will pull the 42” bar with plenty of power and oils like the Exxon Valdez! I ALMOST wish I would have had the 661 ported and not purchased the 395. I think it would have been plenty for me. I do have a mill and do some milling, so the 395 gets the nod there. What is your other saw? Keep that in mind when it comes to bars. I like running the 28” on the 661 and that is usually what it wears. I have a 32 and 36 for it. It doesn’t like oiling the 36” in dry oak. I have a 28, 32, 36, and 42 for the 395. So all that to say, hell, I don’t know what you need to buy, lol!
 

Junkyard

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I have a MMWS 395 and stock 661. I love my 395 BUT, it is the only Husky I own and it has the stupid front chain tensioner and outboard clutch. So if you ever get pinched, it can suck! The 395 will pull the 42” bar with plenty of power and oils like the Exxon Valdez! I ALMOST wish I would have had the 661 ported and not purchased the 395. I think it would have been plenty for me. I do have a mill and do some milling, so the 395 gets the nod there. What is your other saw? Keep that in mind when it comes to bars. I like running the 28” on the 661 and that is usually what it wears. I have a 32 and 36 for it. It doesn’t like oiling the 36” in dry oak. I have a 28, 32, 36, and 42 for the 395. So all that to say, hell, I don’t know what you need to buy, lol!
Good point on the tensioner and clutch on the 395.
 

Dustin4185

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Good point on the tensioner and clutch on the 395.
I have had it happen twice on trees under weird tension. Had to use the 661 to cut it out. Luckily I always take a few saws on storm cleanup stuff. It never fails one saw will get pinched in those tangled messes.
 

TreeLife

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So........ Is a 390 a option?

I my 385/390 runs a 36" just fine for me. A 24 is silly fun on them with all the grunt they have.


Steven
No 390. The price difference between the 390 and 395 isnt enough for me to go with the smaller unit if I chose a husky.
 

oldbitz

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Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has their own. So here is mine. Go to both saw shops get them to put the size bar on each of the saws you are interested in and swing them around a bit and work out which one feels best for YOU. It's the same advice I give anyone who asks me which saw is best. I just happen to personally prefer huskies for my own use, but would never tell someone else what they should or shouldn't buy. At the end of the day you are the one who has to use it so you are the one who has to be comfortable with the saw and happy with your purchase.
 

Nutball

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No 390. The price difference between the 390 and 395 isn't enough for me to go with the smaller unit if I chose a husky.
But the weight difference should be! When I read the first post I immediately thought 390. Have it ported for more torque if anything, and modify the oil pump. After the MMWS GTG I'll sell my 395. I just can't stand the weight, clutch, tensioner... maybe the sold separately carb heat kit, but I guess I don't need that feature, when the 2188 I had performed well even with a 42" full square skip with a muffler mod and modified oil pump. Unless I had to run a 36" and bigger all the time, I'd even choose the 661 over the 395. I will say that if you don't use an 8t rim on a 395 even when stock, your just wasting power, and I like the 5 setting oil pump. The only way I'd really consider a 395 at it's weight and other features is if it was 100.0cc.

I almost forgot, Stihl light bars are super light, so think about that too.

Something I like about the inboard clutch is like how I could swap out an 8t rim with a 20" on my 2188 for a 7t with a 42", with only a screw driver to pop the e clip off. A ported 390 is right in between the 395 and 661 in my opinion even though it lacks a few cc's, but has stroke over the 661.
 
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