Stihl 064 vs Husqvarna 288xp

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

Fixed it for ya

lol you one funny man

 

[Willard]

I bought my first two 064's brand new when they were first introduced in 1986.
One with heated handles for winter the other for summer.
Their owner manuals says 14.1 lbs and there wasn't a 288XP introduced until over 2 years later. The 288 was 2 lbs heavier BTW. Swinging an extra 2 lbs 8 hour a day 5 days a week adds up.

Loved my 064's, by 1988 when the first 2 were retired I ported one heavily and ran a 084 carb on it.
Ran it in many a competition across the country, summer of 88 I gave Ron Hartill (7 time Hayward World champ) a good run in the cold start 3 cut 16" pine on Vancouver Island with my 064 against his 100cc Poulan Pro 655 .

 

[TreeLife]

288 high top! Happiness is never having to tap out an air filter.

Dude, I am with you on this! Husky filtration for the win, woot woot!

 

[bryanr2]

I bought my first two 064's brand new when they were first introduced in 1986.
One with heated handles for winter the other for summer.
Their owner manuals says 14.1 lbs and there wasn't a 288XP introduced until over 2 years later. The 288 was 2 lbs heavier BTW. Swinging an extra 2 lbs 8 hour a day 5 days a week adds up.

Loved my 064's, by 1988 when the first 2 were retired I ported one heavily and ran a 084 carb on it.
Ran it in many a competition across the country, summer of 88 I gave Ron Hartill (7 time Hayward World champ) a good run in the cold start 3 cut 16" pine on Vancouver Island with my 064 against his 100cc Poulan Pro 665 .

655

 

[Willard]

288 high top! Happiness is never having to tap out an air filter.

Not sure if the 288 ever got air injection in the 1990's but it didn't have it when it was introduced in 1988.
High tops were a regional thing like working in PNW cedar but if you're making a living with a saw, it's only common sense to changed out or even tap a filter 2 times a day. That's why these saws had quick access filter covers.

My self I preferred the low top filter cover on my 64's in my region, much more ergonomic slashing under brush when felling and for limbing and topping
Gave away the 064 HD bulky canister filter with foam sock. PITA.

 

[Willard]

While on the subject of air filter quick access, the outdated 288XP had 3 screws to loosen with a scrench to remove the top cover to get at the air filter.
The 064 just a nice simple single knob to loosen with the fingers.

 

[bryanr2]

While on the subject of air filter quick access, the outdated 288XP had 3 screws to loosen with a scrench to remove the top cover to get at the air filter.
The 064 just a nice simple single knob to loosen with the fingers.

Cant like this post bc of the "outdated 288" part. See the thing is the 288 didn't need quick filter access cause it doesnt get nowhere near as dirty as a Stihl (anything) in the same amount of time. Instead of Stihl addressing their poor filtration 30 years ago..... they just made it fast an easy to get to the filter.

 

[concretegrazer]

Cant like this post bc of the "outdated 288" part. See the thing is the 288 didn't need quick filter access cause it doesnt get nowhere near as dirty as a Stihl (anything) in the same amount of time. Instead of Stihl addressing their poor filtration 30 years ago..... they just made it fast an easy to get to the filter.

Too bad husky forgot how to do that on some of their new models.

 

[Barneyrb]

My Zoo City 288 is a running little dude. That is with a 8 pin on it there.

 

[Willard]

Cant like this post bc of the "outdated 288" part. See the thing is the 288 didn't need quick filter access cause it doesnt get nowhere near as dirty as a Stihl (anything) in the same amount of time. Instead of Stihl addressing their poor filtration 30 years ago..... they just made it fast an easy to get to the filter.

Yeah maybe I was a little harsh about the "outdated" comment. Even the introduced in 1993 272XP still had the same 3 screw top cover.
But you gotta love those Stihls with their master control switch and thermal insulated rubber intakes which went back into the 1970's .
To have the benefits of the thermal and vibration isolated intake manifolds, Stihl couldn't get away from that gap in the top covers that drew in more dirt. But just a quick twist to get the filter cover off and a couple of taps on the filter with a scrench got her breathing again.
I ran my 064's with their rubber flange winter kit air filter cover during summer dusty condition, seemed to fix the gap problem.
But meanwhile those poor Huskies were vapor locking their carbs and shaking the H L screws out of adjustment with those solid mount cylinder studs.
Took not until about 1995 when the 371XP and later the 372XP solved that problem.

 

[treesmith]

Lent my 288 to a mate who used till all the screws fell out, carb, top cover, big av spring, *f-word knows what he was doing with it it's due a full going over now, well, it's on the list anyway

Anyway, time passes and another mate gave me a rebuilt Cross 064, like it a lot, lighter, works well, good felling limbing logging saw. Usual stihl refinements of proper tensioner, inboard clutch, obedient screws

Power wise the 288 is great, didn't mind cutting hardwood with depth gauges set to softwood on a 24", big balls, heavy though lumping it around rough ground which I did a fair bit of, my favourite big husky tho haven't run a 181 or 385

And it just sounds epic

 

[XP_Slinger]

Lent my 288 to a mate who used till all the screws fell out, carb, top cover, big av spring, *f-word knows what he was doing with it it's due a full going over now, well, it's on the list anyway

Anyway, time passes and another mate gave me a rebuilt Cross 064, like it a lot, lighter, works well, good felling limbing logging saw. Usual stihl refinements of proper tensioner, inboard clutch, obedient screws

Power wise the 288 is great, didn't mind cutting hardwood with depth gauges set to softwood on a 24", big balls, heavy though lumping it around rough ground which I did a fair bit of, my favourite big husky tho haven't run a 181 or 385

And it just sounds epic

Great perspective on both saws, thanks for sharing.

I don't know why but the weight of the 288 impresses me, doesn't feel like much more than a 372 too me. As a result I feel it's a pleasure to run for the grunt it has.

 

[sawmikaze]

All my saws are ported. Ive had both. I still have the 288. Had 2 064s both minty. I didn't like the vibes of the 064. Both mine made my hands tingle after only a few minutes. Put the 064 up and brought out the 288 for the rest of the day. No more tingle. The sound of the 288 for me- does it. I asked 3 other members that like me have had a absolute slew of saws- stock and ported if they would pick a 461 or a mint 064 for the same amount of money. Every single one of them picked the 461. Parts, Comfort, AV. Slight nod to the 064 for power, but the 461 is so much less fatiguing to use for extended period bc of springs. I think AV makes a huge factor between the 288 and 064.

Did you run the 064 you sold me ?

 

[bryanr2]

Honestly, I can't remember Ryan. I have had SO many saws. I know for sure I ran the last one I had and it was a mint rebuilt saw I had Randy go all the way through. I wound up trading it to him bc of the vibes. He later sold it.

 

[sawmikaze]

Honestly, I can't remember Ryan. I have had SO many saws. I know for sure I ran the last one I had and it was a mint rebuilt saw I had Randy go all the way through. I wound up trading it to him bc of the vibes. He later sold it.

It was a jackhammer.

 

[XP_Slinger]

Are the vibes realy that bad on an 064? My 288 has nothing but rubber bushings and the big front dog spring, I really like how it feels. I have been known to be pretty tolerant of vibes in a saw though. Could be the nerve damage in my hands...Don't know. After my hoosky builders are complete I really want to get an 066 or 064 just to broaden my horizons.

 

[Keith Gandy]

It was a jackhammer.

Need pro safety with this thick wrap on handlebar. Grip is really soft. Never feel saw vibrating

 

[huskihl]

Hooraaaay 064 in a tote.

 

[bryanr2]

Hooraaaay 064 in a tote.

View attachment 105978

That's where it needs to stay.

 

[huskihl]

That's where it needs to stay.

No cake for you