Husqvarna 550XP Mark II Chainsaw

The Husqvarna 550XP Mark II is a 50.1 cc professional chainsaw that many tree crews use as their everyday ground saw for limbing, bucking and small removals. It is light, revs fast, and uses AutoTune to keep the carburetor set correctly as conditions change.

The everyday ground saw

On most tree jobs, the saw that runs the most hours is not the biggest one. It is the 50 cc saw that limbs out the brush, cuts small wood for the chipper and bucks the rounds the bigger saw left behind. The Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II is built for exactly that work. It is light enough to carry around the job all day, and it revs fast enough that small cuts take a second or two.

Many climbers also choose the husqvarna 550xp chainsaw as the saw they send up on a line for bigger cuts aloft, where a top-handle saw runs out of bar. It handles well, balances nicely and does not wear you out.

On brush-heavy jobs it is often the saw that never gets turned off. One person feeds the chipper while another works through the piles with the 550, cutting long limbs down to lengths that feed cleanly. Light weight matters most in that role.

What the Mark II changed

The Mark II version updated the original 550XP with improvements aimed at durability and reliability in daily professional use. It keeps the features that made the first one popular: a compact power head, a fast chain speed and AutoTune.

AutoTune is Husqvarna's system for adjusting the carburetor automatically. It compensates for fuel quality, altitude, temperature and the condition of the air filter, so the saw stays close to its best tune without you reaching for a screwdriver. That is useful on crews where several people share saws and nobody wants to spend time tuning.

Bar and chain setup

The 550XP runs bars from about 13 to 20 inches. A 16-inch bar is the most popular choice for limbing and brush work because it is quick and light. An 18 or 20-inch bar adds reach for bucking and small felling. Use 0.325 in pitch chain that matches the gauge and drive link count stamped on your bar.

Keep it sharp. A high-revving saw like the 550XP really shows the difference between a fresh chain and a tired one. Touch up the cutters at every fuel stop and the saw will keep cutting fast all day. Clean the air filter regularly and replace the spark plug and fuel filter on schedule.

Who should buy it and safety

Buy the 550XP Mark II if you need a reliable, light, pro-grade saw for daily limbing, bucking and small removals. For heavier bucking or big wood, pair it with a 70 cc saw such as the Husqvarna 572XP. If you want a saw for occasional property work, the 450 Rancher is less expensive.

Wear chainsaw chaps or pants, a helmet with face and hearing protection, gloves and cut-resistant boots. Use the chain brake when moving between cuts. If you send this saw aloft, use a proper saw lanyard and follow ANSI Z133 and your employer's rules for rear-handle saw use in the tree. Only trained operators should run a chainsaw at height.