Husqvarna started making chainsaws 60 years ago. They celebrated the occasion by releasing some innovative new saws. Find out what makes these new saws so impressive.
New Husqvarna Chain Saws Unveiled
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Gyroscopic WizardryÂ
Sure, the overall balance of these new Husqvarna chain saws has been improved, but that’s not all that’s changed. Modern chain saws are designed to reduce what’s known as “the gyroscopic affect”.
A spinning chain causes a saw to move around like a gyroscope. Tool expert Chris Ramos describes it this way: “This typically occurs because of the rapidly spinning chain in chainsaws that creates angular momentum. This can be particularly more difficult for beginners as it makes the chainsaw harder to control.”
If you’ve ever spent more than a couple hours running a larger saw, you know that fighting the gyroscope effect takes effort, and that extra effort causes fatigue. Bottom line, by including mechanisms that counter the gyroscopic affect it takes less effort to run these new saws, and that’s a big deal.
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Auto Tune Perfected
All these saws have a higher cutting capacity. Part of the reason for this is the new version of AutoTune. AutoTune keeps the engine running at peak performance by automatically compensating for variations in altitude, fuel types and mixtures, humidity, temperature and the condition of the air filter.
This newest version of AutoTune is much easier to calibrate than the previous version. The T252 is the only new Husqvarna saw without this feature.
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Cool and Easy
Another contributing factor to the increase in cutting capacity is that Husqvarna spent a lot of engineering brainpower on better ways of keeping the engine cool. That’s because a cool engine produces more power.
One way they did this was to include a heat-shield into the cover. And speaking of covers, the cover on these modern chain saws is easier than ever to remove for maintenance. Â
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Flood-Proof
“Flooding occurs when there is too much fuel in the engine’s combustion chamber, which can make it impossible to start the chainsaw,” says Ramos. “This can happen if the engine is over-primed or if the choke is being used incorrectly. If your chainsaw is flooded, you may smell a gasoline.”
Are you an overly-aggressive primer bulb pusher? You need to hide this shameful affliction in disgrace no longer. You can push the primer bulb on these saws till the cows come home, and the carb will not get flooded.
Next, check out this story about rough sawn lumber.
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Clever Chains
Husqvarna started making their own chains for the first time (most chain saw manufactures don’t). There’s nothing overly sexy about chains, but they did add one smart feature that every person who has ever sharpened a blade will appreciate. They made one of the chain links gold. That way if you start sharpening at that point, you know where to stop.
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New Gear
Husqvarna also showcased a lot of impressive new gear. My favorite improvement they made was on their helmets. They now make an adjustable head band similar to a welder’s helmet. Sometimes it seems that most headbands stretch out a bit as you wear them, and readjusting those snap bands is a pain. Dialing in the perfect fit with these new helmets is a breeze.
FAQ
Should I get a gas, electric, or battery-powered chainsaw?
It depends what you need it for. A corded or cordless chain saw is fine for general yard work and will even cut up a limited amount of firewood, but it lacks the power of a gas model. If you’re doing heavy tree work or cutting a large amount of firewood, you need the extra power of a gas engine.
How heavy should a chainsaw be for home use?
A heavy chain saw is tiring to use and less manageable than a lighter one. For home use, a saw that weighs between nine and 15 pounds is ideal.
About the Expert
- Chris Ramos, a gardening and tool expert, is the Public Relations Director at Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Originally Published on Construction Pro Tips
