Anyone have a 543xp ?

[pro94lt]

Don't worry, mine was miserable. It really does wake up into a great little saw. I got mine new too for like 320 to my door.

 

[sawmikaze]

Don't worry, mine was miserable. It really does wake up into a great little saw. I got mine new too for like 320 to my door.

Whats the run in time on these little dudes , i MIGHT get 8-9 tanks on her this week.

 

[SawTroll]

I bought it new for 300 clams..good deal , i modded the muffler and tuned it..im not impressed with how cheap it feels..i guess it cuts OK.

The model really is a Zenoah (GZ-4300), and there is no doubt it suffers from that in some ways - a "cheap" feel (for a Husky xp) isn't a surprise at all.

Husky likely felt they "had to" come up with something in the 42/43cc class - but didn't really want to - and didn't put enough effort into the project. Mistake in my book.

 

[SawTroll]

I believe the 545 is the one you want.

Then you can just as well get the 550xp, unless the price is a major factor.

 

[SawTroll]

I like mine ok, but use the ms241 and ps421 more. If it only had spring AV... And yes they wake up more than any other saw I've over bought new. My husqvarna 435 would run with it when the 543 was new. Now the 435 won't even remotely come close... In my opinion it needs a 6 tooth 3/8 lp spur

I assume the 543xp is a little lighter, less bulky, and more nimble than the MS241 and particularly the PS-421 with a comparable setup?

In some respects it was outdated at introduction though, with rubber AV and no Autotune - no doubt a result of the Zenoah (Redmax) origin.

I have heard from others as well that they "wake up" more than usual after some use.

 

[sawmikaze]

My 2nd day impression

It needs a lo-pro/picco set up to run its best.

Any recommendations on how much to shave off the key ?

 

[junkman]

I would go about 1/3 of the key sir with a flat file ,the rotate the flywheel counter clockwise while tighten the nut with a small impact gun

 

[sawmikaze]

I would go about 1/3 of the key sir with a flat file ,the rotate the flywheel counter clockwise while tighten the nut with a small impact gun

Thansk for the tip.

 

[rocco490]

OP great avatar lol!

 

[sawmikaze]

OP great avatar lol!

I get a good one in every now and then.

 

[sawmikaze]

Dicked with it some more tonight , its comin along..im still not impressed with the build of it.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

The model really is a Zenoah (GZ-4300), and there is no doubt it suffers from that in some ways - a "cheap" feel (for a Husky xp) isn't a surprise at all.

Husky likely felt they "had to" come up with something in the 42/43cc class - but didn't really want to - and didn't put enough effort into the project. Mistake in my book.

Which sucks in my opinion as I believe there is a market share for a quality or dare I saw, "pro class" 42cc still.

Some might think I'm stupid, but to this day I still enjoy running my father's old-ish Johnny-Red 455. No, it's not a "pro" saw even in it's day, and no it's no 346. But it is a well built little saw, and has been extremely reliable in the 30 years Dad has owned it since new. It's the first saw I ever ran, and it's still a pleasure to run for me today. Maybe that's why I have a soft spot for a nice sub-45cc saw.

 

[sawmikaze]

Which sucks in my opinion as I believe there is a market share for a quality or dare I saw, "pro class" 42cc still.

Some might think I'm stupid, but to this day I still enjoy running my father's old-ish Johnny-Red 455. No, it's not a "pro" saw even in it's day, and no it's no 346. But it is a well built little saw, and has been extremely reliable in the 30 years Dad has owned it since new. It's the first saw I ever ran, and it's still a pleasure to run for me today. Maybe that's why I have a soft spot for a nice sub-45cc saw.

Once you get past small dick syndrome you realize how useful these small saws are , aside from the bucket and the obvious commercial uses of small saws these little boners are good little firewood saws for small stuff..this 543 is startin to pick up good but its just too damn expensive at the retail price..bone stock i thought it was pitiful..especially with .325 but with a few adjustments its a good little runner..i went and bucked up some dead ash logs in the 15" range tonight and its pullin a good bit harder with the key shaved and the muffler breathin.

 

[junkman]

Could do an old skool woods port,widen the exhaust a little and raise it 2 mm to raise the rpms
I have seen it done with a round chainsaw file in a pinch,i did this an 036 like this from what some loggers told me,believe it or not it ran better

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Could do an old skool woods port,widen the exhaust a little and raise it 2 mm to raise the rpms
I have seen it done with a round chainsaw file in a pinch,i did this an 036 like this from what some loggers told me,believe it or not it ran better

Breaking a round file up into little 1 inch chunks and holding them with vise grips allows you to file the upper transfers very nicely. Same with files of other shapes. You'll learn very quickly which way to point the file after you chip a huge chunk of plating off.

 

[Tor R]

Which sucks in my opinion as I believe there is a market share for a quality or dare I saw, "pro class" 42cc still.

there is a marked for one pro class 42cc, if Husky had made a mini 550xpg, or if they had rebuild the 242 to satisfying the demand to cleaner saws, I would bought them asap, and defently not just one of them, I love the 42cc class for what they was made to be.
The way I see with 42cc class is how nice they balance with 13" bar compared to any 50cc class saw, and those 242's Husky made are so perfect shaped for fast limbing work that it's a joy to use them.

 

[sawmikaze]

Is there a proper rim to run picco on this saw , one of my PA sawing associates informed me i could run bars from my stihl tophandles on this saw..he was correct..thanks mick..now i need to know if i can get the rim.

 

[junkman]

A 3/8 rim fits but some will argue about it fitting

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

A 3/8 will work in a pinch, but it peens the hell out of the drivers. It only takes a couple cuts to see it start. A turned down or slightly worn .404 - 7 tooth rim fits perfect and causes no damage.
Most 3/8 bar tips will work with picco if you file a little bit off the side of each tooth so the chain settles on the sprocket. The pitch will match without any damage. And some bar tips are actually thin enough to fit without filing.
A Stihl picco bar will fit the small Husqvarna saws but there is no travel and the stud slot needs lengthened by grinding or filing.

 

[SawTroll]

A 3/8 will work in a pinch, but it peens the hell out of the drivers. It only takes a couple cuts to see it start. A turned down or slightly worn .404 - 7 tooth rim fits perfect and causes no damage.
Most 3/8 bar tips will work with picco if you file a little bit off the side of each tooth so the chain settles on the sprocket. The pitch will match without any damage. And some bar tips are actually thin enough to fit without filing.
A Stihl picco bar will fit the small Husqvarna saws but there is no travel and the stud slot needs lengthened by grinding or filing.

Have you ever seen a small 7-spline .404 rim? There must be more involved than just turning the rim down, but I know it has been done... @ford150 ?

The trouble with the regular 3/8" rim is that it is too small, so it will be like using a rim that is worn well past its useful "life".