New 545/550xp saws

[Spike60]

Intereting, care to elaborate a little on why you prefer one over the other?

I always like a saw that accelerates and spools up real quick. Nice crisp throttle response. And that is either there or not there every time you pull the trigger. Revboost is just a 2 second burst of extra RPM's. It's there, then it's gone. I guess it has some value in the limbing context for which it was designed, but it really doesn't mean much in my world for the cutting I do. Most of my cuts are well more than 2 seconds, that's for sure.

 

[Simondo]

I always like a saw that accelerates and spools up real quick. Nice crisp throttle response. And that is either there or not there every time you pull the trigger. Revboost is just a 2 second burst of extra RPM's. It's there, then it's gone. I guess it has some value in the limbing context for which it was designed, but it really doesn't mean much in my world for the cutting I do. Most of my cuts are well more than 2 seconds, that's for sure.

The 545 Mk 2 has got to be a solid saw for folks who are not in softwood production . The Mk2 with its extra HP and plenty of RPM should be at least given a crack this time.

 

[CR888]

Apart from a 'generally superior' design when running an off the shelf 550xp you notice that super fast instant throttle response that lacks in other pro 50cc saws. I'm more of a Stihl guy owning 2 x ms261's and a bunch of other saws/products but the lag you get when you hit the throttle on a 261 is not neccesarily annoying but could be greatly improved. The balance, size, shape & performance of the 550 is exactly what a 50cc limbing saw should be. There not a perfect saw, none are but nothing currently on the market ticks the boxes that a 550 does. This new model which looks like a mini 572 I think will be a winner. The changes made are hopefully all improvements. A few hundred grams don't mean much if the saw feels right.

 

[pro94lt]

Apart from a 'generally superior' design when running an off the shelf 550xp you notice that super fast instant throttle response that lacks in other pro 50cc saws. I'm more of a Stihl guy owning 2 x ms261's and a bunch of other saws/products but the lag you get when you hit the throttle on a 261 is not neccesarily annoying but could be greatly improved. The balance, size, shape & performance of the 550 is exactly what a 50cc limbing saw should be. There not a perfect saw, none are but nothing currently on the market ticks the boxes that a 550 does. This new model which looks like a mini 572 I think will be a winner. The changes made are hopefully all improvements. A few hundred grams don't mean much if the saw feels right.

Spot on

 

[Spike60]

The 545 Mk 2 has got to be a solid saw for folks who are not in softwood production . The Mk2 with its extra HP and plenty of RPM should be at least given a crack this time.

All depends on where they price them. IMO there needs to be $100 spread or everyone will go to the 550 as is the case right now. They seem to be hung up on a $60 price spread with all of these saws. 545/550, 555/562 as well as the 565/572. At $60, none of these saws sell.

 

[taplinhill]

All depends on where they price them. IMO there needs to be $100 spread or everyone will go to the 550 as is the case right now. They seem to be hung up on a $60 price spread with all of these saws. 545/550, 555/562 as well as the 565/572. At $60, none of these saws sell.

BUT....... as a used saw they can become a very good value.

 

[Czed]

 

[sawmikaze]

I think i might like this new 550 better than a 261.

 

[Tor R]

www.skogsforum.se has weighted them, same bar & chain combo and full tanked.
Bar & Chain is the new 15" XForce & 33 NK.

550 XP MK1, 6.5 kg
550 XP MK2, 6.8 kg
560 XP, 7.5 kg
560 XPG, 7.7 kg
375 XP, 7.5 kg
357 XPG, 7.6 kg

Someone else weighted the new Stihl MS 261 with 15" Oregon Spedcut bar and 1.3 NK TXL chain, 6.4 kg

 

[ferris]

Nice comparison mk1 vs mk2

 

[huskyboy]

Nice comparison mk1 vs mk2

Impressive

 

[sunfish]

www.skogsforum.se has weighted them, same bar & chain combo and full tanked.
Bar & Chain is the new 15" XForce & 33 NK.

550 XP MK1, 6.5 kg
550 XP MK2, 6.8 kg
560 XP, 7.5 kg
560 XPG, 7.7 kg
375 XP, 7.5 kg
357 XPG, 7.6 kg

Someone else weighted the new Stihl MS 261 with 15" Oregon Spedcut bar and 1.3 NK TXL chain, 6.4 kg

So really not much weight gain. Thanks for the info!

 

[Woodpecker]

So really not much weight gain. Thanks for the info!

Yep only 10.5 oz. For the 550

 

[Derf]

I'm jumping back and forth between Husky's web page for the old 550XP
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/chainsaws/550-xp/966648181/
And the new 550XP Mark II
https://www.husqvarna.com/ca-en/products/chainsaws/550-xp-g-mark-ii/967690916/

They actually have surprising information, which I don't know if I can trust...
Power output of old 550XP = 3.75HP, new MK II = 4.0 HP.
Weight of old 550XP = 10.8 lbs, weight of new MK II is 5.5KG = 12.13lbs
Noise levels for old 550XP = 116db, 114db, 106db, new MKII noise levels = 117db, 115db, 107db.
Vibration levels for old 550XP = 3.8m/s^2, and 3.7m/s^2, vib levels of new MK II = 4.4 m/s^2, and 4.1m/s^2.
Fuel consumption for old 550XP = 446g/kWh, new MK II fuel consumption = 432g/kWh.

If you believe the numbers, the new MK II uses less fuel to make more power, is a tad louder with more vibs, and weighs 2 lbs more. I'm sure there is some misinformation in here.

 

[srcarr52]

I'm jumping back and forth between Husky's web page for the old 550XP
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/chainsaws/550-xp/966648181/
And the new 550XP Mark II
https://www.husqvarna.com/ca-en/products/chainsaws/550-xp-g-mark-ii/967690916/

They actually have surprising information, which I don't know if I can trust...
Power output of old 550XP = 3.75HP, new MK II = 4.0 HP.
Weight of old 550XP = 10.8 lbs, weight of new MK II is 5.5KG = 12.13lbs
Noise levels for old 550XP = 116db, 114db, 106db, new MKII noise levels = 117db, 115db, 107db.
Vibration levels for old 550XP = 3.8m/s^2, and 3.7m/s^2, vib levels of new MK II = 4.4 m/s^2, and 4.1m/s^2.
Fuel consumption for old 550XP = 446g/kWh, new MK II fuel consumption = 432g/kWh.

If you believe the numbers, the new MK II uses less fuel to make more power, is a tad louder with more vibs, and weighs 2 lbs more. I'm sure there is some misinformation in here.

You are comparing the 550xp with the 550xpg Mark II, that is why the weight is so different.

 

[Derf]

www.skogsforum.se has weighted them, same bar & chain combo and full tanked.
Bar & Chain is the new 15" XForce & 33 NK.

550 XP MK1, 6.5 kg
550 XP MK2, 6.8 kg
560 XP, 7.5 kg
560 XPG, 7.7 kg
375 XP, 7.5 kg
357 XPG, 7.6 kg

Someone else weighted the new Stihl MS 261 with 15" Oregon Spedcut bar and 1.3 NK TXL chain, 6.4 kg

Can a 375XP (327xp) really weigh 7.5kg? I'm surprised that the 357xp weighs as much as a 372xp, and a 560xp weighs about the same again....

 

[Backtroller]

I’m thinking the numbers have been transposed? Should read 357? @Tor R

 

[sunfish]

Too many numbers floating around. I'll wait till I get one in my hands before passing judgememt.

 

[ferris]

Here u can see the numbers

 

[Tor R]

Can a 375XP (327xp) really weigh 7.5kg? I'm surprised that the 357xp weighs as much as a 372xp, and a 560xp weighs about the same again....

I’m thinking the numbers have been transposed? Should read 357? @Tor R

I had a type error, weight is for 357XP

All those weights are done full tanked and same b&c combo.