242xp vs 550xp

[Landmark]

Well I borrowed a 550xp from local dealer while they ordered a bar for my 242. I absolutely loved the 550 and it really impressed me. It was used and they had replaced the rings on it. Priced for 325.00. So i got my bar in a few days later and got to use the 242 today. While I am a fan of the old 242 and it cut good I must say it was a let down from the 550. My 242 is bone stock and i am wondering if there is any way to get it up to cutting with the 550. would porting and a mm make it out cut the 550 or am i dreaming?

 

[jakethesnake]

I doubt it. The money you'd spend would sorta trump the idea in my opinion 325 for that 550 ? I'd consider owning it instead of dumping port money into it the 242 is smaller isn't it?

 

[Landmark]

Yeah i wouldnt put alot of money into the 242. Just wondering if it could be done. You might be right but right now i dont want to spend 325 on another saw either.

 

[KenJax Tree]

The 550xp with a muffler mod is on the heels of a 60cc saw

 

[Landmark]

The 550xp with a muffler mod is on the heels of a 60cc saw

Wow. Thats saying somthing.

 

[jakethesnake]

Husqy has the 50cc locked down hands down

 

[huskihl]

The 550xp with a muffler mod is on the heels of a 60cc saw

Other than a 562. I ran a 562 down at custer's gtg. That's a helluva saw. I'd imagine the 550 has the same technology too

 

[Tor R]

After my opinion 242 is one of the best chainsaws ever made, totally unique.
You can't get a 242 to work like one 550 do, but you can remove the gasket, new piston ring and MM, and it wake up pretty good with those easy modd.

My 242 out run 346oe after those modds, so I ported the 346oe.

242 is a perfect limbing machine, I use it for what it is worth, setup is 325 13" bar, while it can't competite against ported 346oe and 550 with mm in power, those two saws can't competite against the body shape, handling, balance to the 242. Sadly, those things are over seen when we discuss a chainsaw.

Fix your 242, modd it, and keep it Dave, you wont regret, I'll see if I can get a full XPG pack for you this spring, if so those parts go straight over to you, would love to see you with a 242 XPG

550 itself is also unique, without any doubt the best 50cc, another thing we rarely we bring into discussion 550 vs 346 NE is the balance between them, my JRed 2153 and 2253 have different balance, 2153 like 2" longer bar compared to 2253 in balance point.
Do MM on 550 and you have a lightweight monster in your hands, my MM 2253 always make me smile.

 

[Landmark]

After my opinion 242 is one of the best chainsaws ever made, totally unique.
You can't get a 242 to work like one 550 do, but you can remove the gasket, new piston ring and MM, and it wake up pretty good with those easy modd.

My 242 out run 346oe after those modds, so I ported the 346oe.

242 is a perfect limbing machine, I use it for what it is worth, setup is 325 13" bar, while it can't competite against ported 346oe and 550 with mm in power, those two saws can't competite against the body shape, handling, balance to the 242. Sadly, those things are over seen when we discuss a chainsaw.

Fix your 242, modd it, and keep it Dave, you wont regret, I'll see if I can get a full XPG pack for you this spring, if so those parts go straight over to you, would love to see you with a 242 XPG

550 itself is also unique, without any doubt the best 50cc, another thing we rarely we bring into discussion 550 vs 346 NE is the balance between them, my JRed 2153 and 2253 have different balance, 2153 like 2" longer bar compared to 2253 in balance point.
Do MM on 550 and you have a lightweight monster in your hands, my MM 2253 always make me smile.

Nicely worded Tor. Even if i decide to try and find a 550 the 242 will not go anywhere. It is on permant loan from my dad so it is sentimental. I think i will delete base gasket and do a mm while i still might have to add a 550 to the lineup. Btw an 242 xpg would be an awesome setup!

 

[Keith Gandy]

Wow. Thats saying somthing.

I agree with Chris. I just got a 550 and did a MM. Pretty darn impressive!!

 

[Landmark]

I agree with Chris. I just got a 550 and did a MM. Pretty darn impressive!!

You dont have to brag. We all know YOU got a 550. Haha. Jk glad u like it and making me want one too.

 

[Keith Gandy]

You dont have to brag. We all know YOU got a 550. Haha. Jk glad u like it and making me want one too.

Ive never ran a 242 but I had a 262. Id take a 550 over the 262

 

[Landmark]

Ive never ran a 242 but I had a 262. Id take a 550 over the 262

That's because you havnt ran my 262. Ha. My ported 262 will smoke the 550 i used. I dont think it would even be fair to compare but they are both impressive saws. I had a 562 ported by same builder and my 262 was almost dead even with it. I will give the 550 its due but lets keeep it for realzzz here.

 

[Keith Gandy]

That's because you havnt ran my 262. Ha. My ported 262 will smoke the 550 i used. I dont think it would even be fair to compare but they are both impressive saws. I had a 562 ported by same builder and my 262 was almost dead even wih

Gotta remember though there are more important things than just speed. 550 does everything better imo

 

[5000+]

The 242 is a fast saw in small wood. Rapid acceleration, high no load rpm, but not much torque. Was not designed to be anything else. A stock 353 will murder it. I had two 242xp's one new and one very low hr mint. It got its legendary status from it's advertised no load rpm. Put it in more the 4" wod and the rpms drop way down.

 

[Tpagel]

I would be all over a 550 for $300 range, you may not need it with the saws in your lineup but sounds like others on here love them.
Makes me want a m-tronic or autotune saw even more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Simondo]

Well I borrowed a 550xp from local dealer while they ordered a bar for my 242. I absolutely loved the 550 and it really impressed me. It was used and they had replaced the rings on it. Priced for 325.00. So i got my bar in a few days later and got to use the 242 today. While I am a fan of the old 242 and it cut good I must say it was a let down from the 550. My 242 is bone stock and i am wondering if there is any way to get it up to cutting with the 550. would porting and a mm make it out cut the 550 or am i dreaming?

Have run both on a job so i know what you mean. The 242 had a Gilardoni cylinder rather than a Mahle and of all the 242's iv had it was the strongest. I did just the basic clean up of the Intake and Exhaust plus gasket matching and a 70% exhaust aria muffler mod that made it even more responsive. The scrub clear I was doing with the 2 i can say it wasn't that big a gap, but with X cutting the 550 had the edge. Horses for courses as has been said about these two …I guess the 550 isn't really a direct comparison with the 242 though ,more comparable to a 254 as the 550 is 3.75/3.8hp and the 254 was 3.9hp leaving the 242 way down at 3.1hp. Both saws in there own right are really excellent to use so i would have both

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I have a bone stock 346 NE and love it... I'll probably end up playing with it before too long..

I use a 550 at work, and while I don't think it is really much if at all more powerful than my 346, it certainly feels faster, snottier, like it has more of an attitude problem... Advertised HP between the 550 and 346 NE is almost the same. I accredit the snotty attitude of the 550 to AT and Revboost, pretty sure the 550 has Revboost...

Having said that, I'm not planning to swap my 346 in on a 550.

And having said all of that, I have only discovered the old 242xp a year or so ago, and I would like very much to acquire one at some point! For some reason I'd like to add a quality sub-45cc to my arsenal and I think the 242 fits the bill perfect.

 

[Landmark]

Well i think i will mod the 242 and see how that does. I use my 262 most the time anyway and dont need to spend the cash on a 550 now. Maybe the dealer will sell the one he has bfore i go back by and i wont be tempted.

 

[Keith Gandy]

Well i think i will mod the 242 and see how that does. I use my 262 most the time anyway and dont need to spend the cash on a 550 now. Maybe the dealer will sell the one he has bfore i go back by and i wont be tempted.

Ive had a ported 241c, ported 261, ported 026, ported 262,and a ported 362c. Id take this stock MM 550xp over all them