49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Entry Level Saw, June 18, 2007
This review is from: Husqvarna Chain Saw with 16"Bar
I have owned this saw for a year -- it replaced an old McCulloch saw that was getting crotchety and dangerous (besides, I couldn't get parts any more). I'm sorry I didn't make the change sooner, for safety's sake if for nothing else.
There are two names in chainsaws -- Husqvarna and Stihl. Both have a full line of high quality saws. I happen to like Husqvarna and parts are easy to get in this area.
This model is primarily for occasional yard work, but it will handle fairly decent sized timber as long as you respect its limitations (and yours). With a bar of 14", and decent power (2.4 cubic inch engine), it can handle almost anything in the average suburban yard, and can also handle filling your woodshed (if you fill other people's woodsheds, you need a more capable professional model, but I assume that you already know that if you're reading this).
If you are thinking about a first saw, this is the one you need (or something a lot like it). If you're replacing an old saw, do it now and scrap the old one, don't sell it. Current safety advances in chainsaw design are worth the investment, and the Husky 142 is a good deal more pleasant to operate than the buzzy underpowered homeowners specials that most retailers sell to the unsuspecting.
I have had no operational problems with this saw that weren't operator induced. I had a chain jump the bar -- because it was improperly tightened -- and the built in chain arrester shut things down instantly with no damage to saw or myself (chain needed a bit of filing, but was basically undamaged).
I have no trouble recommending this for homeowners. As I am not a landscaper or forestry professional, I don't know if this would be suitable for a commercial environment, but it's built to the same general standards as Husqvarna's professional saws, and could certainly serve as an auxiliary unit for limbing, etc.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for "Homeowner" use, April 23, 2008
This review is from: Husqvarna Chain Saw with 16"Bar
I purchased the Husqvarna 142 after doing alot of research and reading reviews online. I have, or should now say had, a few trees and bushes that needed to go. The biggest tree felled was about 13"-14" inch diameter and was about 20 feet tall. This saw simply ate up what ever it touched. I am 100% satisfied with this saw and recommend it VERY highly to anyone wanting a top of the line saw for homeowner use. For those that are reading this as a review to research your choice of saw, let me clarify my meaning of homeowner use. If you are a farmer or owner of a heavily timbered lot and are needing an everyday workhorse, You would be better suited with something a little bigger like the rancher series saw. If you are a homeowner that needs a saw for around the house jobs like cutting down bushes and small (less than 14" diameter) trees, pruning limbs or clearing fence rows and don't expect to be using the saw 7 days a week, the 142 is a perfect choice. The saw has enough power to handle probably any job the average homeowner would / should try to tackle by themselves. I truely believe this saw has enough power to tackle bigger trees but most homeowners would likely want/need a professional to handle felling any tree over 12" to 14" diameter anyway and this saw is really only supposed to be ran at full throttle for a max of 30 seconds at a time in order to prevent over heating. I would see no problem if the need arose for bucking logs over 14" though. The weight and balance of the saw makes it very comfortable to hold for long periods and vibration is very-very minimal. Starting the saw is just as advertised by husqvarna. Right out of the box, I did as instructed and on the second pull of the starting step, it fired right up. subsequent stop and restarts while I worked were all 1 pull. If this is your first saw purchase, one strong piece of advise I have for what ever saw you buy, no matter what brand or size, when you run the saw the first time, work for about a minute then shut the saw off and adjust the tension on the chain. Do this whenever you place a new chain on a saw. A new chain always stretches when it's first used. I knew this and forgot and sure enough, in the middle of a cut, I threw the chain off the bar. No damage to the saw and thanks to the saw's safety catch, no injuries to me... Thanks For A GREAT saw Husqvarna!
John
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Saws well but requires frequent carburetor adjustment, May 1, 2008
This review is from: Husqvarna Chain Saw with 16"Bar
The saw cuts like a dream. When it runs, that is. I live in the mountains at 7250 feet, so perhaps the altitude is involved. But only after repeatedly adjusting the carburetor would the saw start readily and remain running at an idle speed. I would estimate the total engine "tweaking" time I've invested at two hours plus. It also goes through chain oil like water through a hose (although this problem abates after a couple of hours usage).
Still, I'd probably purchase this saw again, simply because similarly priced alternatives are generally total junk. The saw comes with two chains and a sharpening file -- also plusses. The shipping was free and prompt. I'd give the seller a five star rating.
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