Any REAL WORLD feedback from Husqvarna 460 Rancher chainsaw owners?

[tripledog]

After nearly 14 years of reliable and VERY heavy use of my Husqvarna 55 Rancher (which still runs well after only one top end rebuild), I decided to upgrade. The new saw is a Husky 460 Rancher, has a 24" bar, and a bigger motor; but the build quality has me questioning the durability of this saw. It seems like Husky has sold out, and I feel as I have been beaten out of $500 for a saw with an extremely high cheddar factor (which roughly translated means; CHEESY BUILD QUALITY!!!).
I have yet to use the saw, and will return it, unless others can convince me otherwise. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Dirtcrasher]

Doesn't surprise me. My bud got a John Deere pressure washer for 600$; It had a Briggs and Stratton motor driving the pump.

He returned it........

[Matrix]

I (like a lot of here) am not fond of "todays" equipment. I have a chainsaw from 1971 that I got from the scrap pile (at a scrap yard of course) when I was working there a few years ago. It ran just fine of course and I even left it outside for about five months STRAIGHT in the hard, wet, crappy winter of north east Ohio.When I found it I only filled the gas up the rest of the way which I have no clue what the mix ratio is, so I just put my 3 wheeler gas in it and within a few pulls it started right up and no kidding, I cut down a few small trees with right there... Now, it has some idling problems but so be it, the thing is more than twice as old as I am and I almost know it has had a terrible life. Things were just made better back in the day..

If I were you, I would get your old Husqvarna back lol...

[briano]

I was just thinking of getting rid of my Husqvarna 575 and going down to a 359, but I can't find one locally. The new 460 just looks like a chit pile to me, all plastic, not for me. I've heard you can get a Jonsered 2159 which is the same as the 359.

[Poco Loco]

I love my huskys. I have a Rancher and the next one below it. I like how the rubber mount the handles to keep the vibe down. Its all about a sharp blade. If the blade is dull any saw will suck. Stihls are great too.

Oh and the pressure washer made by John Deere ha ha. John Deere only makes the cart that the pump and motor are bolted to. Paint it green and throw a JD on it and people buy it thinking its gonna last like a JD tractor.

[tripledog]

I still have my old 55 Rancher with an 18" bar, and it runs great since I rebuilt it. I bought the new 460 Rancher because it has a bigger engine, and is capable of running (and actually came with) a 24" bar. I think I am going to try to find another 55 Rancher for a spare. Although much larger, the 460 Rancher isn't built any better than my Poulan 4218 AVX. $500 is a lot of coin for a "puppy" saw... I am returning the 460 Rancher tomorrow.

[Scootertrash]

I've run half a dozen tanks thru my 460 Rancher with a 24" bar that I bought back in March or April. Not a problem so far, starts great runs great and cuts great. I also bought a Husky reman 435 at the same time.

My 1997 Husky 55 died after the carb bolts that threaded into a PLASTIC manifold stripped out and came loose and it leaned out and burned up. I plan on rebuilding it, just haven't had the time.

I guess I'm confused about the concerns relating to build quality. My Husky 55 had a plastic housing/handle, plastic choke knob and throttle, plastic recoil cover, etc. I'd have to dig it out and compare it to my newer 460, but I don't remember much more plastic on my 460 compared to my 55.

[tripledog]

Scootertrash, thank you for your insight. At the risk of sounding argumentative, the 55 has a metal crankcase and ACTUAL METAL linkage rods for the throttle and choke. And no "Playschool" primer bulb. I have run several HUNDRED tanks through my 55 over the years. The only reason I needed to rebuild it is because I broke a muffler stud after stupidly wedging it, bar first, into numerous loads of firewood. It eventually developed an exhaust leak, ran lean, and seized up. And good point on the plastic 55 carb manifold (AKA... bulkhead). Too tight is not good. Obviously a design flaw on the 55, but still built better (IMHO) than the 460. I need to replace the bulkhead on my 55 soon, as my "ham fists" have done little to extend its like expectancy. I have sourced one from ebay seller 3r_sports for $33 with free shipping. Great price for a genuine Husqvarna rebuild kit.

[redsox]

i bought a 455 rancher online from wise sales .com in 2005. i've cut quite a bit of wood with it. I am really very impressed with it and recommend it highly. that being said, i am unaware if they've sold to the chinese in that time, or if they have a home depot/lowes line like many other, formerly solid manufacturers have done. buyer beware. i wouldnt trade mine though. the thing is awesome.

[sanchez]

OStihl all the way but. U need a saw guy bought a farmall after i picked the saw to death he gave me the u break it i'll give u half off a demomodel

Everything made nowadys is junk anyways. A replacement or real warranty is your best bet.

John derr has tractors assembled in spain with french engines and english electronics nothing is sacred anymore
My tractor carries the name of the country it came from Belarus its Communist built then thrown over the iron curtain you would think i would now speak of its greatness nope. It was cheep and parts still avalible, end of story.

[Bren_downe]

I had a 55 rancher and never liked it, the bar never seemed to get enough oil, even after a new oil pump. The chain would get dull quick. Now I use my fathers old mccholah promac 610 from the 80s. It sat in the basement for 15 years, I changed the gas mixture and she fired up like 2nd or 3rd pull. Love it, but it's a bear to drag through the woods. My father used to have a jonsered, and I was really impressed, real light and comfortable and lots of power. If I was gonna buy new I'd definatly look at them seriously.

[briano]

I had a 55 rancher and never liked it, the bar never seemed to get enough oil, even after a new oil pump. The chain would get dull quick. Now I use my fathers old mccholah promac 610 from the 80s. It sat in the basement for 15 years, I changed the gas mixture and she fired up like 2nd or 3rd pull. Love it, but it's a bear to drag through the woods. My father used to have a jonsered, and I was really impressed, real light and comfortable and lots of power. If I was gonna buy new I'd definatly look at them seriously.

You blame the saw for the chain getting dull quick? Did you also know that Jonsered and Husqvarna are the same saw with the exception of the color and the angle of the handle?

[Scootertrash]

Scootertrash, thank you for your insight. At the risk of sounding argumentative, the 55 has a metal crankcase and ACTUAL METAL linkage rods for the throttle and choke. And no "Playschool" primer bulb. I have run several HUNDRED tanks through my 55 over the years. The only reason I needed to rebuild it is because I broke a muffler stud after stupidly wedging it, bar first, into numerous loads of firewood. It eventually developed an exhaust leak, ran lean, and seized up. And good point on the plastic 55 carb manifold (AKA... bulkhead). Too tight is not good. Obviously a design flaw on the 55, but still built better (IMHO) than the 460. I need to replace the bulkhead on my 55 soon, as my "ham fists" have done little to extend its like expectancy. I have sourced one from ebay seller 3r_sports for $33 with free shipping. Great price for a genuine Husqvarna rebuild kit.

You don't sound argumentative, we're just comparing notes on saws.

I went out and took the top cover and recoil off of my 460. It has a metal rod for the throttle, and it also has a metal crankcase (I'll admit your comment made it sound like the 460 crankcase was made of something other than metal). While the choke knob is plastic, it is pretty beefy and it's just a straight pull as opposed to having an angle or two in it like the throttle linkage. As mentioned above my 460 has a choke in addition to the "primer bulb" but Husky touts it as an "air purge" to remove air from the system before starting for easier starts. Hell, I don't know, does that make the bulb a primer?

About the only complaint I'd have, and it's a minimal one, is that the 24 inch bar makes it a bit nose heavy, but I can live with that. At this point unless something bad happens in the future, I'd recommend the 460 to others and buy another if I had the need. As it is, I have the 460, the 435 and once the 55 is fixed I'll have that too. I think I'm set for a bit.

I do believe I saw that bulkhead guy on ebay too, and planned on getting that same kit from him. I also need a cylinder and piston kit. I really liked the 55 and I can't toss it, so I'm gonna fix it(eventually)

[Bren_downe]

You blame the saw for the chain getting dull quick? Did you also know that Jonsered and Husqvarna are the same saw with the exception of the color and the angle of the handle?

I didn't know that they were the same just throwing in my .02. I blame the poor bar oiler that never seemed to work for the chain getting dull. I'm not huge into saws just throwing out my opinion.

[tripledog]

Hey, Scooter, thanks yet again. The cylinder on the 460 is cast aluminum, but the crankcase to which it is affixed is PLASTIC. The 460 chain brake cover IS metal, but the brake band is about 1/4 the width of the 55 band. Since the the "air purge" expells air from the fuel system and introduces fuel, it is in fact a primer bulb. I think "air purge" is kinder, gentler way of stating "We have incorporated another failure prone part, and will also raise the purchase price.". To others that commented, I must say as far as 55 chain oiling problems go, I also experienced them. Until I learned that I need to clean the bar track out before, and sometimes during, heavy use. If the bar track is caked with yuck, the oil does not reach the chain. Insufficient oiling will cause the chain to overheat and lose its temper, which can also have the same effect on the person operating the saw. A bar and chain used to last me only a month or two, until I learned some tips from seasoned professionals. I keep my saw clean, keep the chain teeth sharpened to the correct angle, sweep any gunk from the bar track, file any burrs from the bar sides, keep the nose sprocket lubed, and make sure the raker teeth are filed to the correct height. I currently have some bars and chains that are 5+ years old, and I still use them when ground contact or the risk of contacting foreign material while cutting may be an issue. I hope I haven't angered anyone, and I DO appreciate your suggestions!