The Husqvarna 240 is a handy little saw that is great for little jobs, but can’t be expected to take on anything too serious.
It’s no longer in production and cannot be bought new, but you will find it for sale on online marketplaces like FB marketplace and eBay, or at garage sales and that sort of thing. There were a lot of 240s produced, so it’s not overly difficult to find parts for them, nor is it tricky to find someone who can work on them for you. That’s one of the big benefits of buying a Husqvarna chainsaw – it’s never a problem getting them serviced and maintained!
If you’ve spotted a Husqvarna 240 for sale, here’s what you need to know before making the purchase. Or, the Husqvarna 440 (here on Amazon) is a current alternative saw with similar specs.
Husqvarna 240 Chainsaw
What type of work is the Husky 240 good for?
Because it only has a 2 horsepower engine, it’s best used for light yard work, not for sectioning up thicker logs.
While you can cut thicker logs with the 240, it will just be very slow compared to a higher-powered chainsaw like the 455 Rancher. Also, if you are using it for more serious work you shouldn’t expect it to have a very long overall life.
Ideally, you can use the Husqvarna 240 for:
- pruning branches
- limbing thin branches
- sectioning thin logs for firewood
- felling very small trees
You aren’t going to be cutting up 10 cords of wood with it per year or anything like that. It’s a handy small chainsaw for light yard work. Think ‘fruit tree pruning chainsaw.’
This is where it falls in Husqvarna’s chainsaw model chart.
You can see that it’s more powerful and has greater capabilities than the 414EL and the 120i, but it has less power than the Husky 435, 440, or the 445. The Husqvarna 345 is another model that is no longer available but is better than the 240 if you can find it second-hand.
Anyway, as described by Husqvarna, the 240 is designed for ‘light clean up.’ It’s not a chainsaw you want to rely on for clean-up after a large storm or hurricane, but rather something to have on hand to prune unruly tree branches if you have a larger property.
I believe it was one of the best chainsaws 2015, but there are better options out there today!
Specs and features
| Spec | Husqvarna 240 |
|---|---|
| MSRP | US $199.95 (2012) |
| Air injection | Yes |
| X-Torq | Yes |
| Combined choke / stop control | Yes |
| Side-mounted chain tensioner | Yes |
| LowVib | Yes |
| Air purge | Yes |
| Tool-less chain tensioning | No |
| Smart Start | No |
| Engine displacement | 38.2 cc |
| Power output | 2 hp |
| Idle speed | 3,000 rpm |
| Maximum power speed | 9,000 rpm |
| Cylinder bore | 1.57 in |
| Cylinder stroke | 1.26 in |
| Ignition system | IIDA |
| Ignition module air gap | 0.01 in |
| Spark plug | Champion RCJ7Y |
| Electrode gap | 0.02 in |
| Carburetor | Zama W-33 |
| Fuel tank volume | 0.14 US pint |
| Oil tank volume | 0.09 US pint |
| Oil pump type | Fixed flow |
| Oil pump capacity | 8–8 ml/min |
| Chain pitch | .325 in or 3/8 in |
| Recommended bar length | 13–16 in |
| Chain speed at max power | 53.48 ft/s |
| Bar mount | Small |
| Vibration level (front / rear) | 2.1 / 2.7 m/s² |
| Sound pressure at operator’s ear | 100.7 dB(A) |
| Guaranteed sound power level | 113 dB(A) |
| Weight (without cutting equipment) | 10.3 lb |
It has a Husky X Torq engine, which:
Delivers lower fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emission levels in accordance with the world´s most stringent environmental regulations.
Other features:
- centrifugal air cleaning system
- combined choke/stop lever (I like this on my 450 Rancher)
- anti-vibration system which helps you work longer
- air purge for easier starting
- chain brake system for safety
Husqvarna 240 reviews
The 240 is a good little saw when it’s used on what it was designed for – light work!
If you try to use it for cutting up hardwood day in and day out, it won’t last, and you’ll be disappointed.
It’s a good pruning chainsaw and one to have on hand for keeping the yard tidy.
As this gentleman says, it’s a good saw if you need to be working a bit higher up, though it’s not always a good idea to raise a chainsaw above your head. It’s better that you get higher into a position where you don’t have to raise it in this manner.
Always remember chainsaw safety!
Husqvarna 240 Pros:
- Husqvarna brand saw always better than others
- Great for light clean up tasks
- Easy to find parts
- Reasonably cheap
Husqvarna 240 Cons:
- Low powered
- Not Husky’s most reliable chainsaw
What is an alternative model in the Stihl range?
It is also similar to the Stihl MS170, though the 240 weighs a couple of pounds more.
Price
How much should you expect to pay for the Husqvarna 240 today?
If you can get a good working chainsaw that’s been looked after for under $100, then you’re doing well. They are often listed around this price, and if they haven’t been overworked then this is a fair price.
Here is where you can find out more about the 240:
- Current eBay listings for used 240s and parts
- HL Supply for the best Husqvarna 240 parts
- Amazon’s range of parts – carbs, fan housing, casing, clutch parts – you name it
If you’re lucky, you might even be able to find a 240 in the $30 – $50 range.
What’s the big difference between the 240 and the 345? I don’t know much about engines.
My husky 240 was no good only lasted a few months. Maybe I was running it too hard. I have another Husqvarna chainsaw (the 460) which has been great. I was looking for some parts for the 240 to see if I can get it going again but not really any info on problems and repairs here.
One thing I bought the used 240 for was to de-limb felled cedar trees and with a 12″ bar it does a great job!
I do all my own rebuild and repairs so as long as the cylinder head stays in good shape it will last forever.
I keep an extra ring and a rebuilt carb to change and rebuild as needed.
Spare coil and plug is always a good things to keep around for all Husky saws.
My 240 is very hard to start. Very hard to pull. It will catch & pull the rope out of your hand. Does this 240 have a compression release?
240 is a nightmare in every way. Starts horrible runs horrible constant tuning. Tune it to start it tune it in 10 min.. don’t dare turn it off to move a branch. That thing will never run again the same day. Don’t bother.. I got it for free and I won’t use it. The shop I got it from sold 2 others and they kept coming back. So they wouldn’t sell mine to anyone. Brand new too junk to sell.
Do you remember the bar lengths of each of the 3 saws pictured? Would come in handy as a size comparison.
I have spent more time trying to start/keep running my 240 than actually using it. Piece of junk. Brand new but maybe used 2 hours. I have been told it is actually a Poulan with Husqvarna badging. Can’t confirm. I have had a Poulan that was much better than this 240.