A powerful chainsaw makes clearing land much easier and faster. Gas-powered long bar saws are perfect for felling trees and cutting up firewood. But how do you decide between two saws that have almost identical features? Let’s examine these two popular models from Husqvarna to see which best suits your needs.
Husqvarna 450 Rancher 18″ Bar 50.2cc 2 Cycle Gas Chainsaw
The Husqvarna 450 Rancher lightens your workload all around your home and land. It will help you clean up after a bad storm, stock up on firewood, and limb those trees hanging down over your driveway. Its 18-inch bar and 50cc engine are made to handle big jobs. Should you want something even larger, check out the 455 Rancher below.
Why is the 450 Rancher a popular saw? For one, it has Husqvarna’s X-Torq engine with Smart Start. The Smart Start feature combines a pull cord with less resistance along with a furl pump and choke control that keeps the engine from flooding. The purpose is to have the saw start on the first pull every time.
The X-Torq engine also emits less exhaust and consumes less fuel, so it pollutes less than a traditional chainsaw, and costs less to run. Of course, you’ll still need to maintain it. But you’ll find that certain things aren’t as much of a pain as they were on older models. For example, the centrifugal air cleaning system keeps the air filter cleaner for longer. And when you do need to clean it, the filter is easy to access.
As for safety, Husqvarna includes three useful features into the 450’s design. One, it has low vibration, LowVib, technology. It’s easier to control and less damaging to the nerves in your hands over the long run.
Two, the rear handle is asymmetrical instead of rectangular, allowing you to have a natural grip on the saw. And three, like all modern chainsaws, the 450 has an inertia-activated chain brake. This protects you from kickback if the chain gets pinched while you’re cutting.
Finally, the Husqvarna 450 also comes with felling marks. These are like gun sights, helping you aim where you want a tree to land. Line them up before you start the saw and make the first cut.
More features of the Husqvarna 450 Rancher chainsaw:
- Switch out the bar for a smaller one, down to 13-inches long
- Chain pitch 0.325
- Weighs 10.8 pounds
Husqvarna 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw
The Husqvarna 455 Rancher has been even more popular than the 450. It has a heavy-duty 3.49Hp engine and a 20-inch bar to tackle the big jobs all around your property. While it weighs more than the 450, it has the same LowVib technology and comfortable hand grips that the 450 has. These features are important when you have a lot of cutting to do.
The CARB-compliant X-Torq engine on the 455 reduces polluting emissions by more than half, and it consumes 20% less fuel than comparable saws. Just like on the 450, the centrifugal air cleaning system keeps big debris from clogging the air filter. That reduces the time you spend cleaning and replacing the filter, saving you money, too.
On the side of the 455, you’ll see the chain tensioner. This saw uses a chain with a 3/8-inch pitch for faster cutting, up to 65.6fts (feet per second).
There are a couple of other highlights that will please you if you have experience with chainsaws. For one, you’ll see that the gas and oil tank openings are large enough that you’re unlikely to spill and make a mess. And two, it’s easy to start with no throttle and a handy compression switch.
More features of the Husqvarna 455 Rancher chainsaw:
- Weighs 12.8 pounds
- Fuel tank volume 0.93 pint
- Switch out the bar for a smaller one, down to 13-inches long
Recommendation
While these two Husqvarna chainsaws are closely matched in power, consider getting the 455 Rancher over the 450 if you have trees to fell and a lot of cutting and clearing to complete. It has a larger engine and longer bar, plus you can swap the bar for a smaller one if needed. Otherwise, you may prefer the 450 simply because it weighs two pounds less. Its lighter weight is best for cutting firewood.
Click here to Check out Husqvarna 450 Rancher Price on Amazon.com!
Click here to Check out Husqvarna 455 Rancher Price on Amazon.com!