Best advice I can offer - other than saying I have a good range of Husky XPs - is get a decent bar, chain (at least 2 spare chains) and electric sharpener.

Don't necessarily rely on dealers to sharpen your chains - I've experienced both good and dreadful so now have an electric sharpener to control quality.

When you think you know what bar length you need knock a couple of inches off it and get that instead - you'd be surprised what you can cut with a 13" bar and both you and your saw will appreciate the benefits. I have a range from 13" up to 20" and the smaller is always used until I have no other choice.

Is the new 4 series still an aluminium crank case? I've heard good and bad reports on the "plastic" ones but last time I looked I noticed none of the XP models were plastic.

Good luck and enjoy it  Back in a Defender!!

Cheers Steve, good advice on the bar, I will get a 13 as well as the 18, current saw is a 16 so will cover all bases. No idea re crankcase im afraid, already have an electric sharpener, well used at the moment hence the upgrade to a better saw

Good luck Just remember - no pics it didn't happen  Back in a Defender!!

I'd heard the electric sharpeners were rubbish - are they really that good? 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

Jonnyboy, they are not as precise as hand filing but for what I need they are excellent and relatively inexpensive so worth a punt

Got a link Rosco? I normally throw way blunt chains as its cheaper than the time it takes to hand file, especially on the little ones! 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

This is the one I went for, was a gamble but it is well worth it IMHO when you look at cost to get them sharpened/time to do it yourself;
http://www.silverlinetools.com/en-GB/Produ...Top/678973

HOWEVER

it comes with 4.5mm grinding discs which are great for 3/8 chains not for 'low profile' ones which is what mine are and probably yours as well. so you need 3mm discs, these ones will fit the sharpener;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272026843395?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT

takes about 5 minutes to sharpener a 16" chain

Well the Husqvarna 450 arrived Monday afternoon, Have since taken down and cut up 4 60ft Ash trees, the three bags below are from 1 bough from 1 tree, now running out of places to store wood

The saw has been faultless and a noticeable step up from the old one, still needs sharpened though

i have a 445, i downsized the bar straight away, same pitch/chain size just 2" smaller bar, makes a world of difference. also running a Sthil 201T and Husky 365. Cheers

James

Will be putting on a 13 I think as per Steve(riccartons) comment above although the 18 has worked well this week with some serious (for me) trunks to deal with

15 will work well on that setup too. as above always better to undersize a bar. Cheers

James

Thanks James

have not sharpened a chain by hand since these have come out

they do bars for many makes and sizes of saw (but not all)

Wow
That's impressive! Are they that good?

not quite as sharp (if you know what you are doing) if sharpened by hand
but sharpening time far outways that imo

i mainley cut down/chop up old electricity poles that are impregnated with years of crap/old nails/mud ect
if there is a nail in a 30ft pole ill hit it and take the edge off the chain
a sharpened chain dont last 5 mins in this enviroment, so a 2-3 second sharpen is great

not far off the price of a standard guide bar and chain so no brainer for me