The Husqvarna 357 XP is a 56.5 cc gas chainsaw. It was in production between 2003 and 2011.
It’s great for bucking, limbing, and felling trees.
It has a 3.4 HP (2.24 kW) engine and the same chassis as the similar, non-XP chainsaw Husqvarna 359. XP chainsaws have larger transfer ports, which carry more fuel and air mixture, creating more acceleration and torque where you need it.
The Husqvarna 357 has a reputation for being a good and reliable saw, so if you find one in good condition, it might be worth getting.
In 2011 it was replaced by the 562XP, which you can still buy today.
Surprisingly, even when it’s 10 years out of production, you can still find a lot of the Husky 357s in the marketplaces, most notably on Facebook and eBay.
People usually upgrade to another saw from Husky’s lineup – the 372 XP.
The 357 XP is getting a lot of praise, even though there are many better saws out there, for example, the 562 or the 371.
Keep in mind, that when getting a second-hand chainsaw, you’ll need to do a few mods and/or some fixes to get it up to speed, but you should be fine after that.
The most common replacement is the plastic clamp on the intake boot. To avoid an air leak damaging or destroying your piston and cylinder, replace it with a metal intake clamp.
Husqvarna 357 XP Specs and Features
To cite Husqvarna’s OG product description from back in the day:
“The Husqvarna 357 XP® is among our latest generation of professional saws. It’s the perfect all-around saw for everything from felling, to limbing and to cross-cutting.
High power and rapid acceleration in combination with superior ergonomics, low vibration levels, and a slim body ensure both effectiveness and less effort.
A lightweight, effective, and reliable saw for demanding professional applications.”
| MANUFACTURED BY: | HUSQVARNA VAPENFABRIKS AB |
| HUSKVARNA, SWEDEN | |
| SERIES OR ASSEMBLY NUMBER: | |
| YEAR INTRODUCED: | 2003 |
| YEAR DISCONTINUED: | 2011 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT: | 56.5 ccm (3.4 cu. in.) |
| NUMBER OF CYLINDERS: | 1 |
| CYLINDER BORE: | 46 mm |
| PISTON STROKE: | 34 mm |
| PISTON RING THICKNESS: | |
| CYLINDER TYPE: | Aluminum with chrome plated bore |
| INTAKE METHOD: | Piston Ported |
| MANUFACTURER ADVERTISED H.P.: | 4.4 |
| WEIGHT: | 12.1 lbs. |
| OPERATOR CONFIGURATION: | One Man |
| HANDLEBAR SYSTEM: | Anti-vibration |
| CHAIN BRAKE: | Inertia Activated |
| CLUTCH: | Centrifugal |
| DRIVE TYPE: | Direct |
| CONSTRUCTION: | Die cast magnesium, injection molded polymer |
| MAGNETO TYPE: | Electronic |
| CARBURETOR: | |
| MAJOR REPAIR KIT: | |
| MINOR REPAIR KIT: | |
| AIR FILTER SYSTEM: | Nylon mesh cartridge |
| STARTER TYPE: | Husqvarna automatic rewind |
| OIL PUMP: | Automatic gear driven |
| MAXIMUM ENGINE RPM: | 14,000 |
| IDLE RPM: | 2,700 |
| IGNITION TIMING: | Fixed |
| BREAKER POINT SETTING: | none |
| FLYWHEEL/COIL AIR GAP: | |
| SPARK PLUG TYPE: | Champion RCJ7Y |
| SPARK PLUG GAP: | 0.5 mm (0.020 in.) |
| CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS: | Ball |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY: | |
| FUEL OIL RATIO: | 50:1 |
| RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE: | Regular Automotive. ASPEN2 premixed fuel is best |
| MIX OIL SPECIFICATION: | Husqvarna two-cycle or equivalent. ASPEN synthetic mix oil is best. |
| CHAIN PITCH: | |
| CHAIN TYPE: | |
| BAR MOUNT PATTERN: | |
| SHORTEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: | |
| LONGEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: | |
| COLOUR SCHEME: | Husqvarna Orange |
| PAINT CODES: | |
| ILLUSTRATED PARTS LIST: | |
| SERVICE MANUAL: |
Husqvarna 357 XP Key Features
- Low vibration
- Adjustable oil pump
- Magnesium crankcase
- Air injection and centrifugal air cleaning system
- Three piece crankshaft
- Smart start
- Ergonomic front handle
The recommended size of a guide bar for the 357 XP is between 13” to 20”.
Husqvarna 357 XP Price and Parts
When it was being sold, the 357 XP had recommended retail price of $690 with an 18” bar.
These days, it’s listed for sale for about the same which is bonkers.
You can get the parts on eBay, HL Supply, or Amazon.
Some parts may be harder to find than others. You can also ask your dealer or local chainsaw groups.
Husqvarna 357 XP Review
The guy in the video drops your usual sized tree with the saw and then limbs and buck ups the log.
You can see how powerful, gutsy and lightweight the saw is.
The Stihl alternative for this saw is the MS 440 Magnum.
For regular heavy-duty activities, it’ll do just fine.
Pros – Powerful, Durable, Lightweight
Cons – Auto decompression, Plastic intake clamp, Parts becoming hard to find
It’s a great saw for firewood, clearing, pruning or felling.
If you manage to find it for a good price, don’t hesitate to pick it up, if you don’t mind dealing with finding the spare parts.