The Husqvarna 45 is a great chainsaw for cutting firewood and medium logs.
It’s not a professional saw for heavy use, but it’ll do the job for a homeowner felling, limbing, pruning trees, as well as property maintenance.
The 45 has a 44 cc engine and the most common guide bar length is 16″, so no bucking with this one.
I’d recommend getting something else for cutting firewood too.
The saw is pretty light, so it can be used for long periods of time.
This model was in production from 1987 to 1995 and was inspired by the old Partner 400 series chainsaw. Wonder why? Because Electrolux, a company that bought Husqvarna in 1978, acquired the Partner as well (and many others). That resulted in those two brands blending together.
The next model after the 45 was Husqvarna 345, which started in production from 1998 up until 2007.
Then came the Husqvarna 445, which is similar in many ways to the 45 and is still being made to this day.
The Husqvarna 545 expanded the capacity of the 445 as well as some functionality features.
There’s no way around it… the 45 is generations old, but it can still serve users that don’t want to upgrade or spend 3-4 times as much on a new saw.
Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the modern chainsaws like the improved anti-vibration system, but it can still get the job done.
Husqvarna 45 Specs
| MANUFACTURED BY: | HUSQVARNA VAPENFABRIKS AB |
| HUSKVARNA, SWEDEN | |
| SERIES OR ASSEMBLY NUMBER: | |
| YEAR INTRODUCED: | 1987 |
| YEAR DISCONTINUED: | 1995 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT: | 44ccm (2.7 cu. in.) |
| NUMBER OF CYLINDERS: | 1 |
| CYLINDER BORE: | 42mm (1.65 in.) |
| PISTON STROKE: | 32mm (1.26 in.) |
| PISTON RING THICKNESS: | 1.5 mm |
| CYLINDER TYPE: | Aluminum with Chrome plated bore |
| INTAKE METHOD: | Piston ported |
| MANUFACTURER ADVERTISED H.P.: | 2.7 hp (2.0 kW) |
| WEIGHT: | 4.7 kg (10.8 lbs.), powerhead only |
| OPERATOR CONFIGURATION: | One Man operation |
| HANDLEBAR SYSTEM: | Anti-vibration |
| CHAIN BRAKE: | inertia activated |
| CLUTCH: | Centrifugal |
| DRIVE TYPE: | Direct |
| CONSTRUCTION: | Die-cast Magnesium, injection molded Polymer |
| MAGNETO TYPE: | Electronic, Phelon |
| CARBURETOR: | Walbro WT-17A, 17D Zama C1Q-EL1, C1Q-EL5 |
| MAJOR REPAIR KIT: | K20-WAT for Walbro RB-45 for ZAMA |
| MINOR REPAIR KIT: | D10-WAT for Walbro GND-33 for ZAMA |
| AIR FILTER SYSTEM: | Nylon mesh cartridge |
| STARTER TYPE: | Husqvarna automatic rewind |
| OIL PUMP: | Automatic |
| MAXIMUM ENGINE RPM: | 12,500 max free after break-in, with bar and chain installed, 9,000 under load. |
| IDLE RPM: | 2,500 |
| IGNITION TIMING: | fixed |
| BREAKER POINT SETTING: | none |
| FLYWHEEL/COIL AIR GAP: | 0.30 mm (0.012 in.) |
| SPARK PLUG TYPE: | Bosch WSR7F/WS7F, NGK BPMR7A, Champion RCJ7Y |
| SPARK PLUG GAP: | 0.5mm (0.020 in.) |
| CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS: | Ball |
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY: | 500 ml (16.9 fl. oz.) |
| FUEL OIL RATIO: | 50:1 |
| RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE: | Regular |
| MIX OIL SPECIFICATION: | Husqvarna Two-stroke chain saw mix oil or equivalent 50:1 with Husqvarna mix oil |
| CHAIN PITCH: | .325 in. |
| CHAIN TYPE: | Oregon 21 |
| BAR MOUNT PATTERN: | 01 link |
| SHORTEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: | 33cm (13 in.) |
| LONGEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: | 46cm (18 in.) |
| COLOUR SCHEME: | Husqvarna Orange |
| PAINT CODES: | |
| ILLUSTRATED PARTS LIST: | |
| SERVICE MANUAL: | Husqvarna 45 Manual |
Don’t expect too much. It’s 3 decades old after all. Some features you can find include an anti-vibration system, easy access chain tensioner, and automatic oiler.
Husqvarna 45 Price and Parts
If you’re looking to get one, second-hand 45s can be found on the usual suspects – eBay, Craiglist, Facebook Marketplace, and other online selling platforms.
A really run-down one will set you back about $30 and one in a decent condition up to $250. If you wonder why someone would pay this much for a saw that old, it’s because collecting chainsaws is a thing.
Where to buy
- eBay – cheapest one was $1 in the auction
- HL Supply – OEM parts
- Amazon – aftermarket parts
Use the manual above for reference when looking for parts.
Husqvarna 45 Review
The Husqvarna 45 chainsaw can serve you well around the home or a farm if you don’t go go berserk with it.
The 16″ bar has its limits, so no hardcore logging. But if you’re reasonable you can still do all of the stuff it was designed to do.
Some people still use them to this day, so if you get one in good condition, you can squeeze a few more years out of it.
Pros:
- Well built
- Reliable/Durable
- Light
Cons:
- Not for all tasks
- OEM parts hard to find
Conclusion
If you know the limits of the saw and are willing to work within them, you can save some cash and get a decent chainsaw.
Any tasks around the home, orchan or farm can be done with the Husky 45.
It won’t be the most comfortable thing in the world or the most power, but it’s earned its place in the chainsaw course of history.