Are you a homeowner in the woods, or you have a couple of trees in your back garden that requires regular cutting down for maintaining your surroundings, and you require the perfect chainsaw for domestic usage which is also pocket friendly? If yes this article is for you.
There are a lot of professional chainsaws in the power equipment markets for a heavy workload in the forests and woods, however, if you just need something small and portable for regular home usage, one of the two products we are going to look at in this article might just be the perfect one to suit your needs.
In this article, we are going to be comparing the Husqvarna 135 chainsaw side by side with the Stihl MS 170 chainsaw.
History of Husqvarna and Stihl
Husqvarna is a manufacturing company based in Stockholm, Sweden. They specialise in the production of power tools for cutting, pruning and general use in gardens, parks and forests. Stihl, on the other hand, is a German-based company headquartered in Waiblingen, Germany. Their production specialisation involves the production of handheld power tools including blowers and trimming tools.
The Husqvarna brand has been in existence since the 17th century. They started out producing rifles in 1869 in Husqvarna, Sweden. At the tail end of the 1800s, they expanded their product range to include the production of cooking utensils made from cast iron, sewing machines motorcycles and bicycles.
They began the production of chainsaws in 1959. Stihl, on the other hand, started purely as a chainsaw manufacturing company when Andreas Stihl produced the first chainsaw running on gas in the year 1929.
The Stihl Company was the first company to produce chainsaws in mass quantity making them a household name in the chainsaw market. Since the 1970s their production line has been expanded to include the production of edgers, lawnmowers, trimmers and blowers.
Chainsaw Types
It is vital to note that there are two types of chainsaws. There are gas/petrol powered chainsaws and there are electric chainsaws.
Gas-powered chainsaws like the name suggest runs on gas as the source of its power. They usually come with either a two-stroke engine or a four-stroke engine. The engines of a gas-powered chainsaw require a mixture of fuel and oil alongside other lubricants for the inner parts to carry out combustion.
They are usually heavy due to the size and functions of the engine, and they require serious regular maintenance to keep them running fine. That notwithstanding, users tend to like gas-powered chainsaws especially those that engage in serious logging tasks, due to the power output and efficiency.
The second category of chainsaws that exist is electric chainsaws. This type of chainsaw comes in handy for those who might not fancy the loud noise and emissions from a gas-powered chainsaw.
They run on electricity as opposed to gas and they have lower noise levels with no emissions as they run. They are either corded (directly connected to an electric outlet for power), or cordless (powered by rechargeable batteries).
Husqvarna 135 VS STIHL MS 170 in Detail
Now let us take a look at both of these chainsaws in detail.
Both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 are petrol-powered chainsaws, so you just fill up your fuel tank and you are good to go. The Husqvarna 135 has a fuel tank volume of 0.37l, the Stihl MS 170 has a fuel capacity of 0.25l.
This means the Husqvarna has a larger petrol tank for longer usage before refuelling as compared to the smaller tank present in the Stihl MS 170. The Husqvarna 135 chainsaw also has a screw-type fuel tank, while on the Stihl MS 170 you will find a lock type fuel tank.
The recommended guide bar length on the Husqvarna 135 ranges from 14” to 16” and it weighs about 4.39 kg, while the Stihl MS 170, on the other hand, has a guide bar length of 12” to 16” and has a powerhead weight of 3.9kg, making it a tad lighter than the Husqvarna 135.
The engine power output on the Husqvarna 135 clocks at 2.1hp, while the Stihl MS170 has a power output of 1.7hp. This means that in terms of performance, the Husqvarna 135 is a better option for you. The X-TORQ technology, an innovation in all Husqvarna 2-stroke engines, reduces fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent and emission by 60 per cent. The Stihl, on the other hand, comes fitted with the conventional, basic engine. The X-TORQ is exclusive to the Husqvarna only.
Both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 come with a compression release button at the top of the engine to make starting of the machine easier. Asides the compression release button present on both of the machines, the Husqvarna 135 has a tiny button to pump fuel before starting up the engine. This is an extra feature present on the Husqvarna that is not present in the Stihl MS 170. It is not that much of a big deal or game-changer. It is just an added feature for easy starting of the engine.
The guide bar on the Husqvarna has an oil filler on it to enable greasing the chain easily before usage to keep it in fine shape. The Stihl, on the other hand, has a rollomatic chain and does not require greasing so there is no provision for an oil filler on the bar of the chainsaw.
An extra feature on the Stihl MS 170 chainsaw is the Stihl Ematic system.
The Stihl Ematic system enhances reduced consumption of grease and chain lubricant by a very high percentage. The system is made up of the Stihl Ematic guide bar, the Stihl Oilomatic chain saw and a pump for reducing the flow of oil. With this Stihl Ematic system, every trickle of oil is going to every spot it is needed on the chain.
Safety Features
Both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 have anti-kickback/ chain brake safety features, although the one present on the Stihl seems much sturdier than the one on the Husqvarna 135. The inertia activated chain brake system on the Husqvarna 135 is designed to activate immediately when there is a kickback or sudden movement during operation of the chainsaw.
It reduces the risks of fatal injuries in the event of an unexpected movement of the chainsaw while working. The Stihl Quick stop chain brake system present on the Stihl MS 170 can be activated both manually and automatically.
The brake pad in both cases traps the clutch pad and prevents the rotation of the chain even when the throttle trigger is squeezed. For manual activation of the chain brake, the front guard lever is pushed forward in the event of a strong kickback just like on the Husqvarna 135 and other chainsaws.
Cutting Speed
With regards the cutting speed, the Husqvarna chainsaws generally have a reputation for cutting through wood faster than Stihl chainsaws and this is exemplified in both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170.
In various cutting tests carried out using both chainsaws with balanced parameters and factors, the Husqvarna cut through logs about six seconds faster than the Stihl chainsaw. This means that when users carry out cutting tasks using the Husqvarna 135, they tend to get the work done faster than when they use the Stihl MS 170.
This is all thanks to the X-TORQ technology present in the Husqvarna chainsaw engine that fosters better power efficiency.
Anti-vibration
The Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 have anti-vibration mechanisms installed in them to enhance extensive use for longer periods with reduced fatigue and more work efficiency. On the Husqvarna 135, it is known as the “LowVib” system, while on the Stihl MS 170 it is known as the “Stihl Anti-Vibration Technology”.
Both technologies in the Husqvarna and the Stihl chainsaws reduce the vibration levels obtained when using the chainsaws to make for smoother working experience and minimise operator fatigue to the barest minimum.
How is this achieved? Let us use the Stihl chainsaw for example. The transfer of the engine and saw chain vibrations to the front and rear levers are reduced as the buffer zones are accurately calculated. This makes for a more seamless use for longer periods with reduced operator fatigue.
Chainsaw Housing
A single handling bar housing most of the key functions of the chainsaws like choke, throttle, start and stop, is featured on both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 making the operation of both of these machines easy. However, there is a little difference in turning the chainsaw switch on and off.
On the Husqvarna, while gripping the rear lever, to turn it off you just have to flick the switch button down with your thumb.
On the other hand, the total opposite is what obtains with the Stihl chainsaw. You have to flick the switch up to shut off the chainsaw during usage. Most users are not fans of this feature on the Stihl, because it has a more natural feel to switch off the machine by flicking the switch down rather than flicking it up.
Also, in times of emergencies where you need to quickly kill the engine switch, it will be easier to switch off the Husqvarna 135 than the Stihl MS 170.
Those extra seconds and effort to try to adjust your thumb to flick up the switch to shut it down might be crucial and dangerous. As such, the Husqvarna chainsaw wins for this singular reason.
How Durable are the Chainsaws?
When it comes to the durability, both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 are very durable. Both brands have been in existence for a very long while and in that period, they have made a reputation for themselves by producing machines that have great durability.
The Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 are a testament to this fact as users of both the chainsaws confirm that they have used them for a very long period with little or no hitches in operation. That notwithstanding, users need to have a good maintenance culture for the machines to enhance their durability.
The durability of a machine is only as good as the maintenance culture of the owner of the machine. Poor maintenance of the machine will lead to a shorter life span of the machine no matter the warranty on such a machine.
With regards to warranty, the Husqvarna comes with a two-year factory warranty while the Stihl comes with a one-year factory warranty. You can extend the Stihl warranty by buying the Stihl synthetic oil and you can extend the warranty on the Husqvarna to four years by buying the Husqvarna oil. However, this is dependent on the factors like the model, and the location of purchase.
A regards pricing the Husqvarna 135 costs about 35 pounds less than the Stihl MS 170. However, it is easier to purchase the Husqvarna online as compared to the Stihl MS 170. Stihl chainsaws generally have limited availability with most of their models, unlike the Husqvarna that you can easily purchase even from the comfort of your home seamlessly no matter where you are.
Conclusion
Generally, both the Husqvarna 135 and the Stihl MS 170 chainsaws are great chainsaws with their unique functions as considered above. The outstanding similarity between both of the machines is the size, portability and suitability for homeowners.
The Stihl MS 170 is generally referred to as “the homeowner chainsaw”. That notwithstanding, I feel the Husqvarna 135 is a better purchase. Although the Husqvarna 135 is slightly more expensive than the Stihl MS 170, its distinct features give it the edge.
Features such as the X-TORQ technology embedded in its 2-stroke engine that limits fuel consumption, its faster-cutting speed, its larger fuel tank to enhance more working hours and its accessibility and ease of purchase among other factors, it has an edge over the Stihl MS 170, and you are going to get a very good value for your purchase.
So if I had to pick one from the options, I will go with the Husqvarna 135 chainsaw (link to Amazon).
Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
