The underated 390xp

[Normzilla]

My main daily use saws, are my 500i and My Stumpsot 572. But I have a ported 390 I traded a Stihl guy a MS 460 for years back. I think many overlook the 390, and IMO it has seemed underrated by many. All I can say is when I got mine my 395 started sitting in the truck. The 390 is more manageable to pack. Especially for hillside falling. Over a 66 or 395. And I have put some big wood on the ground, bucked the biggest logs, and cut big big stumps. I still use it, and it's been tough as nails. We were in a financial crunch about 5 or 6 years ago. I had to let a saw or two go. I had two good ole 288s and always been a huge 288 fan. But I thought I'd be crazy to sell a newer production saw, vs selling those 288s. So I let the 288s go. Ended up being glad I kept the 390. Great saws, tough plenty of power and smoother.

 

[hacskaroly]

I have rebuilt a friends 66 and am in the process of rebuilding a 272 and a 2100. At work I got to test out a 592 and that was a fun saw. I find that the more Husky’s I try, the more I like them!!

 

[Normzilla]

I have rebuilt a friends 66 and am in the process of rebuilding a 272 and a 2100. At work I got to test out a 592 and that was a fun saw. I find that the more Husky’s I try, the more I like them!!

Agreed Huskies are legit many were ahead of their time.

 

[Hoser]

I’ve had a stock 390 for a year now and like it, probably has 50 cord on it, good saw I’d pick up another if I could find as good of a deal as I did on the first one.
I have read they have weak bottom ends? Maybe key word being read not seen

 

[Stump Shot]

My main daily use saws, are my 500i and My Stumpsot 572. But I have a ported 390 I traded a Stihl guy a MS 460 for years back. I think many overlook the 390, and IMO it has seemed underrated by many. All I can say is when I got mine my 395 started sitting in the truck. The 390 is more manageable to pack. Especially for hillside falling. Over a 66 or 395. And I have put some big wood on the ground, bucked the biggest logs, and cut big big stumps. I still use it, and it's been tough as nails. We were in a financial crunch about 5 or 6 years ago. I had to let a saw or two go. I had two good ole 288s and always been a huge 288 fan. But I thought I'd be crazy to sell a newer production saw, vs selling those 288s. So I let the 288s go. Ended up being glad I kept the 390. Great saws, tough plenty of power and smoother.

Tree guy stopped in today and I asked him how he liked the new 592's that he had acquired this year. In his words he said he loved them, Cutting ip to 40% faster than a 390xp made it a game changer for him.

I’ve had a stock 390 for a year now and like it, probably has 50 cord on it, good saw I’d pick up another if I could find as good of a deal as I did on the first one.
I have read they have weak bottom ends? Maybe key word being read not seen

I will be going through a used one this winter from a firewood guy to be sale-d away.

 

[davidwyby]

I ran @Ketchup ’s stock 385? at my gtg last year. Seemed like a big fast 372.

I love my stump shot 2188 (390). It hauls the mail. I sure do love a 288 though too.

I can lug a 90cc around a good bit longer than a 395.

I have a hard time imagining the 392 being almost half again as fast. Must have some good tech.

 

[jacob j.]

I’ve had a stock 390 for a year now and like it, probably has 50 cord on it, good saw I’d pick up another if I could find as good of a deal as I did on the first one.
I have read they have weak bottom ends? Maybe key word being read not seen

I don't think the 390s had crank problems as much - there was a run of earlier 385s that went through a lot of big end rod bearings but part of that was due to Husky's instruction to users to only run 50:1. Early 390s did have issues with the mounting ears on the cylinders cracking and breaking off. It was such a problem that two west coast shops developed their own external mounting systems for the 390 cylinders. Husky ten redesigned the 390 cylinder to stop that problem.

I have an XS385 and it's one of the best machines I own. I had a Mooberizer 385 that was a great timber-falling saw - it ended up with a faller buddy of mine. I'm building a stock 390 this winter and will be going through a stock 592 so I'll be able to test those two side by side.

 

[Ketchup]

The only stock saw in my personal quiver is a 385. It does seem hard to believe a 392 would be that much faster. Haven’t gotten a chance to try one yet.

The only thing about my 385 is it makes a LOT of heat. I’ve set several spars to smoldering with it and the muffler is side outlets only.

 

[Normzilla]

Tree guy stopped in today and I asked him how he liked the new 592's that he had acquired this year. In his words he said he loved them, Cutting ip to 40% faster than a 390xp made it a game changer for him.


I will be going through a used one this winter from a firewood guy to be sale-d away.

I'm definitely going to try one out I think at some point.

 

[Normzilla]

I ran @Ketchup ’s stock 385? at my gtg last year. Seemed like a big fast 372.

I love my stump shot 2188 (390). It hauls the mail. I sure do love a 288 though too.

I can lug a 90cc around a good bit longer than a 395.

I have a hard time imagining the 392 being almost half again as fast. Must have some good tech.

I agree on hauling vs a 395 or 660 or others. 288 and 390 very manageable

 

[Normzilla]

I don't think the 390s had crank problems as much - there was a run of earlier 385s that went through a lot of big end rod bearings but part of that was due to Husky's instruction to users to only run 50:1. Early 390s did have issues with the mounting ears on the cylinders cracking and breaking off. It was such a problem that two west coast shops developed their own external mounting systems for the 390 cylinders. Husky ten redesigned the 390 cylinder to stop that problem.

I have an XS385 and it's one of the best machines I own. I had a Mooberizer 385 that was a great timber-falling saw - it ended up with a faller buddy of mine. I'm building a stock 390 this winter and will be going through a stock 592 so I'll be able to test those two side by side.

Awesome info
.stuff I did not know. I can't wait for the test and thread

 

[Normzilla]

The only stock saw in my personal quiver is a 385. It does seem hard to believe a 392 would be that much faster. Haven’t gotten a chance to try one yet.

The only thing about my 385 is it makes a LOT of heat. I’ve set several spars to smoldering with it and the muffler is side outlets only.

Never had the pleasure to run a 385. Know they have a huge following. So far my ported.390 is in my top 3 or better for my personal production saws. And it's tough.

 

[Fun2Cut]

Not discrediting you, @Stump Shot, but I’d challenge the guy who told you a 592 is 40% faster… I’ve run my 390 (ported, dual port muffler, stock timing that I’ve advanced after the unofficial “race”) side by side with a 592 cutting 12-20” ash firewood. Before we started, buddy with the 592 was sure he’d just walk all over me cause his 592 was so much better tech. But once the chips started spraying, his 592 couldn’t walk away on the 390… 390 wasn’t faster, but neither was it slower.

Now I realize my 390 is not stock, so you could say that it wasn’t a fair comparison, and I get that. But I’d doubt the 390 experienced 40% gains when it was ported. I got it second hand so I don’t know the technical specs of the poetry job. I do know the guy who ported it, but not sure he’s a member here. Canadian Husq dealer by St Mary’s, ON that knows his Husq saws…

 

[Stump Shot]

A) Fellas, I'm talking stock saws here. The "Tree Guy has a pile of 390's that they run every day. Slowly but Shirley, they will be replaced by 592's.
B) I said "up to" which means different wood cutting conditions played to one saw vs the other at that point in time and is unofficial in nature.
C) I have a 385 sitting on my bench to do for me, so I don't think poorly of them.
D) Nothing the 390 can do is going to take away from how good the new breed of saws are/is and going to be in the future.
E) Ported, the 390xp is a great running saw.

 

[davidwyby]

@Fun2Cut is not be surprised if the 592 was faster in bigger or harder wood. I dunno about 40%, but that’s usually where it shows up with bigger saws.

 

[davidwyby]

I will say that I like the 288 and the 390
for different reasons…the 288 has low rpm grunt and almost lacks RPM. The 390 has RPM and almost lacks low rpm grunt. I should add that my 288 was stock and my 390 is ported - and I have always run a 36” bar on it in hardwood except for very recently, 28” in soft wood. It’s just plain fast…I wish I had taken it to the last GTG.

 

[Normzilla]

A) Fellas, I'm talking stock saws here. The "Tree Guy has a pile of 390's that they run every day. Slowly but Shirley, they will be replaced by 592's.
B) I said "up to" which means different wood cutting conditions played to one saw vs the other at that point in time and is unofficial in nature.
C) I have a 385 sitting on my bench to do for me, so I don't think poorly of them.
D) Nothing the 390 can do is going to take away from how good the new breed of saws are/is and going to be in the future.
E) Ported, the 390xp is a great running saw.

Yes I caught the stock part. And that could very well be true, as I've witnessed between the 572 and 500i new technologies, these new saws are pretty incredible. And I have heard much good on the 592 love. After all I got rid of 2 28ss, and kept a 390 for that reason. Newer technologies lighter, less vibration and a little quicker. And that tree guy would be a good guy to get word from.

 

[Stump Shot]

@Fun2Cut is not be surprised if the 592 was faster in bigger or harder wood. I dunno about 40%, but that’s usually where it shows up with bigger saws.

I would have thought that it would be obvious that the "40%" was a felt time, I don't believe his crew carries around stop watches or anything while they work.

 

[Stump Shot]

Yes I caught the stock part. And that could very well be true, as I've witnessed between the 572 and 500i new technologies, these new saws are pretty incredible. And I have heard much good on the 592 love. After all I got rid of 2 28ss, and kept a 390 for that reason. Newer technologies lighter, less vibration and a little quicker. And that tree guy would be a good guy to get word from.

I had to port his personal 390 when he got 572's as they were eating into some of the 390's work load and he wanted some more separation. He had six fairly new 372's for the crew at that time when he first tried a new 572. He immediately bought a few more as the guys were fighting over who got to run the new saw. The 592 it seems is no different.

 

[Normzilla]

I had to port his personal 390 when he got 572's as they were eating into some of the 390's work load and he wanted some more separation. He had six fairly new 372's for the crew at that time when he first tried a new 572. He immediately bought a few more as the guys were fighting over who got to run the new saw. The 592 it seems is no different.

Yes sounds very logical to me. I was 1 at first to criticize the.new technology. Then I got the 500 and ate crow. Then I got the 572 from you, and anymore I'm not surprised. Nor to proud to say man was I wrong, some days I think about selling the 394 and 390 to buy a 592. But They still produce for me and I'm attached to them
Bit still good in a production and professional environment for me. But when I can think I'll throw a 592 in since I can write everything off now.