Husqvarna Chain Saws

When it comes to chainsaws, there are only two brands that are leaders: Stihl and Husqvarna. New users asking which one is better will always get the same answer. Experts will tell you that you can't go wrong with any of the two leading brands. Below is review of the 570 and the 575XP.

Husqvarna's are easy to purchase because they are available online. But if you'll be needing dealer support, Stihl would be a good idea because they offer extensive dealer support and dealers pass that support to buyers.

Still, Husqvarna's are excellent chainsaws that will surely get the job done.

The Husqvarna 570 and 575XP

A good chainsaw helps us complete jobs such as cutting down trees and cutting firewood a whole lot quicker and easier. However, is it worth the money to buy a high quality chainsaw as opposed to a less expensive model? We looked over two saws from the Husqvarna line to decide.  

Both saws have some features that are alike, so unless noted otherwise it is safe to assume that those features are alike. One of the things we look at when purchasing a saw is the displacement of the motor because it is sometimes related to its power. If you need a chainsaw to crosscut smaller logs or just to trim trees around your house, you could more than likely use a 40cc saw.  

An electric chainsaw would work well for these tasks also. For bigger jobs, you may want to consider a saw in the 50-70cc range. If your saw’s sole purpose is to cut boards from logs, look at saws in the 80-100cc range or possibly higher. The length of the chain bar you want to use and the thickness of the things you plan to cut also affect the size of saw your purchase.  

The Husqvarna 570 has an engine displacement of 67.9cc with 4.9HP. The 575XP has an engine displacement of 73.5cc and 5.4HP. This is a bit more than one would need for general use but ideal for tasks an arborist might complete.  

Both machines have a hard casing made of plastic on the main handle and motor colored in Husqvarna orange. The auxiliary handles are padded and provide comfort during vertical and horizontal use. The tool-less caps of the oil and fuel tanks do not become dislodged or unscrewed due to the saw vibrating while being used. They have a fuel capacity of o.7 liters and an oil capacity of 0.4 liters. The guide bars are well made, solid, and you can select the length when you buy the saw.  

The guide bars have a 7-point Rim sprocket nose, which is fairly standard. The oil feed rate has to be set correctly for the job you’re trying to do, and the sprocket needs regular greasing in order to prevent component wear and excess heat from building up.  

Cutter performance and safety has a lot to do with chain tension. On these saws the chain tensioning screw is placed on the side of the body, directly behind the screws that fix the bars to the saws. The chain tension adjustment can be accessed simply and quickly.  

Many saws have the chain tension screw placed on the bar’s inside edge making it harder to make adjustments. Chain tension should be checked routinely because new chains will stretch as you use them or heat up with use. A chain that is too tight will cause wear on itself or on the guide bar because of too much friction. Loose chains may come off the bar.  

Husqvarna made a few changes to the designs of these two saws that give their functionality and features a boost. Both saws start by a manual, cord pull but also have a decompression valve. This results in less pulling force being required to kick over the engine.  

There is also a stop/choke lever. The start/stop lever automatically moves to the start position when the choke has been pulled out. You can be assured that you will not be trying to start the saw with the start/stop lever still in the stop position, as many of us have done at least once.  

The red lever is moved to the stop position when you want to stop the saw after use and the engine quits. These saws employ a CD ignition system, and 2700 RPMs is their idle speed. Zama manufactures the carburetors for both units. 

Both saws use Husqvarna’s “LowVib” system in order to decrease operator fatigue. The handle and fuel tank are separated from the chain bar and engine to decrease vibrations. Many chainsaws on the market today have this feature, but Husqvarna’s works a bit better. The system is quite useful considering the power of these two saws.  

The biggest improvement to the design of the saw is the X-Torq system. It provides additional power but with fewer emissions and improved fuel economy. In typical engines, the piston is driven to cycle the engine with the help of combustion and fuel. The X-Torq system gives the piston relief in an edge side and in the piston casing.  

A shot of air goes into the combustion chamber, helping drive the piston down, so less fuel combustion is needed. Decreased use of fuel amounts to a decrease in fuel burning emissions. It has been said that the system gives an additional 10% of power while the torque is accessible in a broader RPM range.

This is actually true! Using the 570 and 575XP, you are able to boost the RPMs while making a cut with the engine under load. If the blade is sharp and the engine tuned correctly, both of these saws will cut rapidly and with a great deal of power. Don’t forget to wear protective equipment and use safe techniques when cutting.  

To extend the blade and cutter bar’s life, the automatic oil system as well as fuel pump ought to distribute sufficient oil to the bar and chain to lower the buildup of heat. With every full tank of gas, you should also use a full tank of oil. The oil delivery rate can be adjustable on both saws, and when bumping it up, we consume full tanks of oil and gas so oil delivery will not be an issue. If the oil outlet and drive sprocket area is kept free of debris, the tube is less likely to become blocked.

Another safety feature of these saws is the dual spike bumpers. When possible they need to be engaged with the log’s side. They aid in stabilization and alignment of the cutting bar which makes a cleaner cut. An engaged spike bumper will prevent the saw from being thrown forward and cause the chain break to engage faster if the chain grabs or the bar pinches while the wood is being cut.

Exhaust fumes are directed away from the operator by the mufflers found on the front. Noise is also reduced with the help of the mufflers which have a spark arrestor. This was made to keep sparks from leaving the saw and striking flammable materials. When using the saw, we did not notice any sparks so this feature works well.  

We put the saws to the test of cutting some two inch thick boards coming from a log of spotted gum. Both of these saws did a good job. A 90cc or100cc saw would have done better, but these saws would be perfect for the free logs that a homeowner or woodworker may want to tackle. Both saws had excellent torques. The 570 and 575Xp are great saws inside and out.

So would investing in these saws be worth the price? Yes they would be if you are looking for a quality saw that will last for a long time to come.