Husqvarna 445 E-Series

HUSQVARNA CHAIN SAW 445-E11 IT REALLY SUITS ME – After giving me great service, my old Husqvarna 365 got wrecked when the electrode broke off its spark plug. Repairs were far too expensive. Being somewhat older now, I followed recommendations to go for a lighter weight model, so decided on the Husqvarna 445-E11 with a weight of 5.1 kg compared to the 365’s 6.0kg. The price at Goulpro in… Read more

Goulburn was competitive at $999 inclusive of carry case (about $100 value).

The power output at 2.8/9000 (K/rpm) is a bit less than the 365 had at 3.4/9300. It’s a little slower at sawing through logs and thick branches but I still cut through logs almost as thick as with the old 365 by attacking the thicker logs from various sides. The lighter weight makes it a bit easier for me to use.

I feel the single chain tension adjusting nut on the 445-E11 is not as good as the 2 nuts on the 365. It seems more fiddley and at times the chain becomes loose soon after adjusting it.

The cap for the bar oil is a tad awkward to open due to being placed almost under the brake handle making it awkward to easily unscrew it. The 445-E11 is easy to start with the bubble being pressed several times (I do it 8 times), and with the switch in the up position, it takes only 3 pulls to get that initial cough, move it down to the ½ way and another 2 or 3 pulls and it starts. The off position is easy to move it to – just a quick push down. I do wonder about the long-term strength of the plastic switch and hope that at some stage it doesn’t break.

In the 5 months I’ve had it, I’ve sawn numerous fallen dead trees and branches, felled dead trees and am currently felling and sawing up a number of live ones to create a more open canopy to the west of our house. The 445-E11 rips through these live, green trunks so it keeps me very happy indeed!

In regard to noise and safety, it’s a typical chain saw with which one should use all recommended safety equipment and take care in using it.

Pros: a weight easily handled, runs well, cuts reasonable sized timber suitable for slow combustion oven and slow combustion heater, competitive price. Cons: not so good on thicker tree trunks.

I'll stick with Husqvarna and certainly recommend the Husqvarna 445-E11. I'd like to give it 4.5 stars.

Pis: using it to to saw logs

Fine for the first 8 years – Bought this model because I could start it (53 year old reasonably fit woman). Sadly a pin is coming out of the handle used to access chain tensioning. This happened a couple of years ago and was allegedly repaired. Just tried to loosen off handle to tighten chain and the pin in a spring on the handle has popped out again. I can force it back… Read more

again with the help of a screwdriver but cannot rotate the handle without it happening again. Off for repairs again tomorrow and to find out if I can hire a machine while I wait the two weeks or so before I get it back. Very frustrating. Other than that I have found it fine for cross-cutting and felling. I only do this for a few weeks a year. My proudest achievement was, straight after my course which only took me up to 15" diameter trunks I had a very dead walnut with a 20" diameter trunk to fell. Went in both side and dropped it where I wanted to, allbeit a little more rapidly than is totally desirable (didn't leave enough hinge).