Stihl Ms 170 vs Husky 236e

I know the Stihl vs Husky debate is as contention as "what calibre is best"....

Have a husky 450 that I inherited (so don't blame me for buying the wrong one...) with 16" and 18" bars but find it a bit big for 80% of the firewood cutting I do. Usually cut 20m each year so it gets a fair bit of use. Am looking at something smaller and can't decide between the Husky 236e which would allow me to use my 16" bar but would be pushing the poor wee engine or going for a Stihl 170.

Online reviews are favouring the Stihl, one review for Husky said they took it back to the shop and the shop told them it was designed as a 100hr saw... Not what I'm after. Then for Stihl the chain gets a bad reputation for being weak...

Who has one or both of the above? And what's your thoughts on them? Or is there something else I should be looking at? (don't want to go electric)

Ahhh the more I look the more confused I get, the 236 has a stupid plastic latch to the bar cover off instead of a normal metal nut (had that with the 450 and got t replaced) but if I go for the 236 it means I can run Husky bar oil in both and keep the warranty...

Stihl is $50 cheaper as well

For the extra money wouldn't you be better getting a ms180 as they are on special till Christmas. 11% more power than a ms170 (1.8 vs 2 hp).

Got one for my dad for Christmas with a 16inch bar, anything too big for that I just bring my ms 461 around.

spend a bit extra an get a stihl ms250

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Originally Posted by NZ32

For the extra money wouldn't you be better getting a ms180 as they are on special till Christmas. 11% more power than a ms170 (1.8 vs 2 hp).

Got one for my dad for Christmas with a 16inch bar, anything too big for that I just bring my ms 461 around.

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If I need the extra power I'll just use my 450... But you are probably right about going up a size

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Originally Posted by Paddy79

spend a bit extra an get a stihl ms250

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Agree.
I got the ms211 and its gutless...shouldve got the 250

Man up and do it right.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bahco...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

Man up and do it right.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bahco...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Yeah... Nah!

i flog my little husky 236 an shes alright- for the price at the time its served me well, i dont have a bigger saw as they are potentially killers to ppl who dunno how to use them correct- i learnt wit hthe 236.. would tackle a bigger one now.

old man has a magnum 660 stihl an shes a ripsnorter for the big stuff....

for campin the 236 doesnt miss a beat , easy to adjust the chain tension without tools...

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Originally Posted by 223nut

Yeah... Nah!

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Well if it is too small for your wee 450, which is about the equivalent of my old Special 45.

Have got as friend doing firewood semi commercially and he swears by Shindaiwa, great price, noticeably lighter and has an unbeatable 2 year commercial warranty

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you could always buy a Silky Natanoko 60 and go hard no need for fuel just man power

For those of you hat are suggesting a bit of elbow grease, I have a silky that gets a fair bit of use but anything over wrist diameter....

Taken advice on and brought a ms180 but running a 14" bar. (having had my mind set on the 236 yesterday and asking questions (none on hand and problems getting it to me...) had a few problems with the husky 450 bar not oiling last night that just put me over to the dark side...

For little saws I use the shindaiwa 385s.
Bomb proof with plenty of grunt.
That what a lot of hire companys use and theres a reason for that!
This is coming from a stihl slut!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3f5821a801.jpg

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Ive got two 025s a 25-30 year old one and one thats about 7-8 now...both are great saws...for the big stuff I grab the big stihl. my newest 025 has ergo start...really good,the easy chain tensioner...not so good. the auto chain stop when master hand loosens on grip..absolutely fantastic for sawing but takes a bit to get used to when sharpening....that saw is great to teach someone on too as that auto stop makes it a lot safer.

Well I rang the Stihl shop yesterday morning, on the plane by the end of the day out with it last night after work.... So far so good, one gripe is the trigger (forefinger not top one) seems to jam halfway and needs wiggling to get pull revs. change of chain tension and a few tanks later, really happy

@dannyb service is what made me go with the shop I did

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Originally Posted by 223nut

Well I rang the Stihl shop yesterday morning, on the plane by the end of the day out with it last night after work.... So far so good, one gripe is the trigger (forefinger not top one) seems to jam halfway and needs wiggling to get pull revs. change of chain tension and a few tanks later, really happy

@dannyb service is what made me go with the shop I did

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@223nut service counts for a lot aye ? :D