High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys

The good ole 038 mag

drf256

Dr. Richard Cranium
GoldMember
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
319
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
9,334
Reaction score
61,428
Location
Strong Island NY
Country flag
Many have heard this before, my buddy bought an 038M new in 1989 for $1000+. He’s been through 5 bars since then and has yet to even turn a crab screw.

Just started his landscaping business at the time, and the dealer sold to him as a stumping saw. Even though it’s a shorter stroke than an 044, it’s known to have more low end torque. I’d borrow it for big jobs before the CAD set in.

He bought it to the Ct GTG and I tried it after running a few ported 044. The saw was so lack luster, no one wanted to run it.

To the OP, try a ported 044 one day. A pound or 2 lighter and much much more power AND torque. They can be built for more torque or more speed depending on what the user wants.
 

smokey7

Pinnacle OPE Member
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
761
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
1,532
Reaction score
3,549
Location
Detroit
Country flag
My old man ran old homelites and 3400-5200 poulans. When he bought the husky 350 and ran it the first time he looked at me and said. "This fugger sounds like a dang model engine that going to come apart. He was so used to aggressive chains lugging torque he totally had to change his game to get any production out if the saw and not kill it. Then i build him a mean 630 with lower compression then the first one i did for him. He says that saw is exactly what he likes. Lots of torque and plenty of rpm. Ive since rebuilt his 350 with a kafar 346 kit i got on ebay for 40 bucks. Ported it with much lower numbers then most trying to regain some of the torque that he likes. He likes it much better this way then screaming its guts out to cut anything. I believe he wouldnt like very many ported saws for the high rpm behavior they have.
 

CR888

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
6:57 PM
User ID
452
Joined
Jan 9, 2016
Messages
2,622
Reaction score
10,578
Location
Australia
Country flag
The 038 series saws were a very popular choice for farmers and firewood guys here in OZ. Tons of them around used. There big fat bottoms make for good firewood work where your constantly picking up & putting down the saw. The MS381/382 is still sold here & in countries with lower emission regs than the US. A strato spring AV MS382-mag with hd-2 is a saw I'd love to own just because. By today's standards the 038 is a dated heavy saw of times past. But the current model...
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
2:57 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,744
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Going with an 044/440 type saw is excellent advice or even the Husqvarna equivalent.
Had a fella just recently talk to me about fixing a couple saw's one a MS460 and the other a 038 Super that he just bought from a pawn shop. All the Gentleman knew was he likes Stihl's, so I explained to him that he would better off spending money on the 460 as I could never make the Super run near as good and he will still have to pack around that saw. He said he researched it after the fact and was grateful for my honesty and didn't want to stick a bunch of money into something hard to get back out of. So we're going to fix up the 460 as he wants a saw to do work with. IMHO, the 038 series of saws is best for collections of saws from the past that got us to today. There is no getting around the fact that the saws that replaced it are a better working tool.
 

beaglebriar

The Peanut Gallery
GoldMember
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
377
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
18,500
Reaction score
103,329
Location
Warren Center, PA
Country flag
Since they appear to be junk, i’ll give you $50 shipped
I think I can come up with one for you. I'll have to see if my buddy still has it.

Its all personal preference..Not everyone would care for some of the saws I have....that I'm certain of.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
2:57 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,744
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
I let a 038 Magnum in good working order go for $150.00 to a local firewood guy to get him out of his Walmart Poulan he was trying to cut wood with at that time. So it's not inconceivable that these aren't always a downgrade, depends on where that person is at. He was tickled pink to get that saw, almost as much as I was to see it go.
 

Wolverine

dilligaf
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
373
Joined
Jan 1, 2016
Messages
6,987
Reaction score
35,090
Location
17325
Country flag
Yea, they barely cut wood. Better than a misery whip I guess?
For the record, I am solely referring to stock 38’s. I ran that saw DW, as you know, and it cut good with fat torque.

Any chance you have a vid of the DD372 in the same wood, same b/c for comparison?
 

Duane(Pa)

It's the chain...
GoldMember
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
325
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
4,680
Reaction score
23,766
Location
Centre County
Country flag
For the record, I am solely referring to stock 38’s. I ran that saw DW, as you know, and it cut good with fat torque.

Any chance you have a vid of the DD372 in the same wood, same b/c for comparison?
Short answer is no, but the Stihl WILL hold a bigger boat lol I love’m all the same
 

Al Smith

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
537
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Messages
6,095
Reaction score
13,457
Location
North western Ohio
Country flag
Not trying to pizz in your Cheerios. The 038 mag is thee most disappointing chainsaw I’ve ever run.
It's obvious you never had a good one .I've got a German Mag that survived over twenty years of hard service for a tree company until it had a piston failure which I replaced that runs as good today as it did new .Another a Brazilian I souped up and it will run neck and neck with a stock 660 .No disappoints there .
 

drf256

Dr. Richard Cranium
GoldMember
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
319
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
9,334
Reaction score
61,428
Location
Strong Island NY
Country flag
Talking all out power and weight, it’s an easy saw to beat.

In terms of strength and reliability, it’s a tough one to top.

It’s got bigger everything. Heavier because of more magnesium and steel in all the right places. I’ve never done one, but does it use 6202 or 6203 bearings?

It’s a very good saw, just overbuilt for what it is. And as StumpShot said above, one can’t deny that technology has advanced since its intro.

I’d love to know where the jug is timed? They have a huge factory exhaust, much bigger than a stock 044.

Saws with longer strokes will always (yes) make more power. They are so oversquare because of size limits, part of why husky layed the cylinders back on many models. A longer stroke gives one much more port timing.
 

Al Smith

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
537
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Messages
6,095
Reaction score
13,457
Location
North western Ohio
Country flag
Two weak links in an other words good design.First the air filter with a choke built inside it .Not real smart. Two the annular buffer,rear left side .It can become degrade just from age or the rubber torn loose from using the saw as a pry bar .This will cause the engine to over rotate within it's suspension system and tear the intake boot causing a lean run condition which will cook the piston in time .You can't tell if it's torn without removing it because the tear will be on the bottom side .
 

USMC615

Fapper Fi
GoldMember
Local time
3:57 AM
User ID
976
Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Messages
21,197
Reaction score
114,009
Location
Mid-Georgia
Country flag
Two weak links in an other words good design.First the air filter with a choke built inside it .Not real smart. Two the annular buffer,rear left side .It can become degrade just from age or the rubber torn loose from using the saw as a pry bar .This will cause the engine to over rotate within it's suspension system and tear the intake boot causing a lean run condition which will cook the piston in time .You can't tell if it's torn without removing it because the tear will be on the bottom side .
...interesting!
 

Funky sawman

Pony Power
Local time
12:57 AM
User ID
2609
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
2,353
Reaction score
9,329
Location
North idaho
Country flag
Talking all out power and weight, it’s an easy saw to beat.

In terms of strength and reliability, it’s a tough one to top.

It’s got bigger everything. Heavier because of more magnesium and steel in all the right places. I’ve never done one, but does it use 6202 or 6203 bearings?

It’s a very good saw, just overbuilt for what it is. And as StumpShot said above, one can’t deny that technology has advanced since its intro.

I’d love to know where the jug is timed? They have a huge factory exhaust, much bigger than a stock 044.

Saws with longer strokes will always (yes) make more power. They are so oversquare because of size limits, part of why husky layed the cylinders back on many models. A longer stroke gives one much more port timing.
The 38 uses a standard 6202 on flywheel side and a stihl bearing on pto thats the same size as 6203. And the pto side of crank is huge!, if i can recall correctly, i used the same tool for pulling the crank into the case as i do for a 084 or 088
 
Top