Husqvarna Chain saw quality plummeting

I still have good luck with their professional level saws. Most of the newer models mentioned are homeowner grade saws that are only meant for occasional use and the quality matches the price but Stihl does the same thing. My last saw I bought last spring was one of the last 359XPs made, so far it's been better than the 10 year old 359 I already had. Dad even drove over it with the loader tractor on me and pretty well shattered the top of the plastic but it never missed a beat. I have a Stihl MS441 that's a pretty good saw too but it's a pro level as well.
Not sure about prices in the US but here, if you buy either a Stihl or Husky new for under about $700 don't expect much out of it, and the decent sized ones will easily be over $1000. You can still buy quality but you're going to have to pay for it.

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I had recently bought a new Stihl FS460 pro grade brush cutter... I used to have another 20 years ago that ended up with the ex-brother-in-law Anyway, that 20 year old brush cutter was a lot better build quality than the new one..

Granted, the new one has a little less vibration and is easier to start, but over all, I'm not expecting it to hold up as well as the older one did.. Oh.. and huge price jumps.. but then again, I'm sure that's cause the dollar is so weak..

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My old Husky 49 from 1995 is still going strong. I think back then, Husqvarna may have been the best saw you could get. But it sounds like they are cutting corners now. If I have to get a new saw I guess I will go with Stihl.

Yeah, it sounds like someone in the Husqvarna boardroom saw an opportunity for a nice bonus if some cuts in quality could increase profits.

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Blame cost accountants for Husky's quality demise. Maybe someone has written a book about penny pinching that's ruined brands. Between accountants and marketing, even let the buyer beware isn't good enough. You never known when corporate greed will turn a great product into . I've seen incidences with everything from beer to railroad equipment where one of the two professions has had their way and caused major probems for the company.

I've had some interesting conversations though the years that happened only because of pursuing something way beyond customer service. The last conversation of that ilk was with a product manager for Black & Decker The battery charger was a top notch invention that could save American's lots of money except it was destined for an early death when they speced a cooling fan with a sleeve bearing instead of a ball bearing. The internet is loaded with complaints. The cost per unit must of been so cheap, B&D could replace the charger two and three times and still make money. That's what Chinese manufacturing does for you today. Cover it under warranty. I've heard the same cover it under warranty attitude with a $200 million dollar piece of equipment and was told to keep my mouth shut.

Subbing manufacturing out to the Chinese has accelerated the process.

Any more, I put the real blame on wall street and greedy stock holders... along with the courts that allow stock holders to sue if they don't get the returns they want... Companies are being forced to put out trash..

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Never let your fear decide your fate!
Kein Mitleid für die Mehrheit

We are very fortunate that many companies in the U.S. are Japanese owned. They have saved this country from the greedy wall street banksters as they plan for "long term".

Without Japanese businessman leadership, there would be far fewer jobs here.

You have to hand it to the Japanese. They understand quality. There was a recent article about cars that no one would buy at the dealer auctions. None of them were Japanese.

New, buy a white handled Stihl if you can afford it. Orange is OK. Black I'd probably stay away from especially if used. Recognize that the used white handled models may be wore slap out by the time you see them for sale.

I'm in the process of rebuilding a Still 066 that my Dad gave me. First time ever trying such a thing, but seems like a reasonable thing to cut my teeth on. I've got it tore apart and the piston was scored to kingdom come, everything else looked ok, although I have to replace the flywheel cuz I broke a fin pulling it off with a gear puller. I watched a YouTube video where they compare the cutting of a Stihl 066 flat top, curved top and a 660. The flat top won, but all the saws are supposed to be relatively the same. I like older stuff that was known to be tougher. Companies that are known for quality products should NEVER depart from making quality stuff.

I don't know about the rest but your fuel supply parts issues could be your fuel. Has your supplier changed to a higher alcohol content gasoline?

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That's a tad over my league.