New 545/550xp saws

[dustinwilt68]

I just gonna be patient and let him mail it to me, I got a few others I can use till then

 

[Derf]

I thought Bob was done with mail orders?

 

[dustinwilt68]

Me and Bob are friends. I am glad I can call him that. Means more then any of the saws.

 

[Spike60]

I thought Bob was done with mail orders?

Bob is done shipping parts. Don't mind sending out a few saws to members. Not a big deal; just one box with one item in it. Plus, I know I can usually save members some money on saws. There's no money to be saved buying a $7 clutch spring, so best to just get it local. I still send out a few top end kits, but that's about it.

Being a parts supplier is much better suited to guys like Bruce an Dave who are focused on that part of the business. Sounds easy, just put a few parts in a box and send it out. But we have a very busy store here and there's not a couple hours a day to do parts orders. And we don't have a site with a shopping cart to click things into, and pay pal and what not, so we're not even set up for it properly. The idea initially was to help guys with older saw projects for which we have a fair amount of NLA parts. But these sites, and those goofy videos I do with Walt quickly multiplied things to a nutty level.

I try to maintain separation between the hobby and business sides of the saw world, and it's not easy without some discipline. I never bring customer saws home to work on, nor do I bring my own projects into the store. I do appreciate guys wanting to send some business my way, but I want to come to these sites and hang out with friends, not to work. Ya know the old saying, about mixing business and pleasure.

 

[dustinwilt68]

Thank you Bob, 1 550xpg headed to PA, this saw is going to get a MM and that's the only mod I plan on doing till I get some time on the saw, so probably be that way for a good while.

 

[Farmchuck]

Thank you Bob, 1 550xpg headed to PA, this saw is going to get a MM and that's the only mod I plan on doing till I get some time on the saw, so probably be that way for a good while.

So is it possible to do a muffler mod for gains without making the saw uncomfortably loud. I realize it will get some louder but is there some in between place where you can get some gains & still not getvto offensive with noise? I know very little about this, never done a mm hence the question.

 

[dustinwilt68]

I believe there is a happy medium, I prefer my saws not to loud either but don't want them restricted.

 

[huskyboy]

Keeping the screens in helps a little

 

[dustinwilt68]

Got a great deal on some Stihl RS .325x .058 was 81dl, had it taken down do 78dl that's what I plan on running on this 550xpg 20" in .325x .058

 

[Derf]

Got a great deal on some Stihl RS .325x .058 was 81dl, had it taken down do 78dl that's what I plan on running on this 550xpg 20" in .325x .058

How does the 550 balance with a 20" Dustin?

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I cleaned up the transfers and ports and then muffler modded the 545 I built for my dad. He loves it and it's still way quiter than my mmed 346.

 

[dustinwilt68]

How does the 550 balance with a 20" Dustin?

I let you know soon as it arrives and the bar comes, I ordered a Oregon versa cut for it.

 

[sunfish]

How does the 550 balance with a 20" Dustin?

I ran a 550 with a 20" 3 /8 Sugi recently & was surprised at how well it balanced and cut. I ended up with the saw, but not the bar.

 

[MG2186]

I ran a 550 with a 20" 3 /8 Sugi recently & was surprised at how well it balanced and cut. I ended up with the saw, but not the bar.

They balance fine I run 3/8-20” on my 2253 and 2153

 

[ABarrick]

The oem 20” .325 balances real nice on the mark 2 550xpg. No fluids it’s level, wet it is slightly handle heavy. I put a tank through one yesterday. Pretty nice little saw. I dropped a big oak stem and limbed/bucked it all with it. Did really well I thought. It’s noticeably larger physically than the original 550. It’s right between an oe 550 and a 562 for size.

 

[dustinwilt68]

I wonder if the versa cut bar will balance any better? It has the alluminum core with steel rails, prob the lightest bar for the money I have found. It feels like about a 16" regular weight bar to me.

 

[ABarrick]

I wonder if the versa cut bar will balance any better? It has the alluminum core with steel rails, prob the lightest bar for the money I have found. It feels like about a 16" regular weight bar to me.

Sometimes too light of a bar feels worse to me but balance is very much a preference thing. I’m sure it will be fine.

 

[dustinwilt68]

I agree, I prefer just a bit nose heavy saw myself.

 

[Spike60]

Well, took one home last night. They got it right this time. It truly is a mini 572. One change is that the soft air filter sealing is on the filter, not the filter holder. So, every time you change the filter, you get a fresh seal. I suppose if there's any chance of the seal material losing it's softness over time, this is a good solution. The saws come with 2nair filters, 25 micron nylon and mesh, which is generally 34 micron, but easier to clean IMO. Nylon filters are hard to clean without compressed air.

By coincidence, we have a tree crew taking down some hazard ash trees out back of the shop today that are threatening the school buses and drivers. So I gave it to them to play with all day, and get some time on it. Saw has a nice snarl to the exhaust note. One pull restart every time. In the dry ash I was cutting last night, I reset the oiler to the high position. This oiler isn't as generous as the 572, as you'd expect. They design the oilers for 50cc, 60cc, and 70cc chassis saws. So the 572 is dumping plenty for a 20" bar at the med setting, but the 50cc ought to be set at high for 18"-20" bars.

 

[LOMartin]

@Spike60

That all sounds great Bob.

Is there a felt weight difference at all from a gen1 550?