The Husqvarna 285 CD is an 85cc chainsaw that entered production in 1977.
It’s a powerful saw popular for felling trees and bucking firewood. Some also use it as a milling chainsaw. The downsides are its weight, lack of modern comfort and safety features, and the difficulty of finding parts.
Here’s a quick rundown of the Husky 285 CD Chainsaw.
Husqvarna 285 CD Chainsaw
The CD part of 285 CD stands for Capacitor Discharge, which means it has an electronic ignition rather than points. CD is the equivalent of STIHL’s “Electronic” designation.
The 285 is a professional-use chainsaw, but it was produced before the XP designation was in use.
The ignition system is one of the hardest parts to find. You will first need to work out whether you need the SEM or Bosch ignition.
Where to find parts:
- On eBay here – sometimes there are parts for
- HLS Pro Parts – for advice on interchangeable ignition systems
- Husqvarna FB Group – put in a request for parts
Other parts, such as air filters, fuel lines, and clutch covers, are easy enough to find.
You’ll often see people sharing things like, “Great saws. Mine has been out of action for a while. It needs a new coil but can’t find one anywhere.”
Or “I have a Husqvarna 285cd and the ignition coil has packed up. I am struggling to find one here in the UK.”
Parts are easier to find in Europe compared to the US and Canada.
Husqvarna 285 CD reviews
The 285 CD is an excellent chainsaw that can be picked up very cheaply—for example, one guy just posted on FB that he got one in perfect working order for $25.
As we’ve already said, parts are hard to come by, but they can sometimes be substituted with parts from other models (such as the Husqvarna 2100 CD).
It’s a heavy chainsaw, weighing over 20 lbs. Compared to more modern chainsaws of the same power, it’s much harder to handle for long days of cutting. For example, the new Husqvarna 585 weighs around 16 lbs compared to the 285’s 21.5 lbs.
Here are comments from owners and users who have put it through its paces:
- “The 285 CD was the 1st Husky I ever bought – great saws.”
- “Some had chain brakes and others did not but they were all good saws.”
- “Great saw, built like a tank. Same bones as a 2100 100cc saw.”
- “Same crankcase as 2100 except no manual oiler and only 85cc.”
- “Excellent saws I’ve had my for 15 years.”
- “The 285 shares the same case and cover as the 2100, 2101, and 298.”
- “I have a 285cd with a 36 bar. Love it.”
- “I have one and love it it’s my second favorite husky I have after the 2100.”
And Wayne said:
I ran one day in and day out for three years. I had actually wore a groove in the handle above the “trigger” with the side of My thumb.
It was still running when I retired the saw and moved up to a 2100.
The 285 is a popular and much-loved saw. People tend to hold onto them and treasure them rather than sell them.
Pros:
- A powerful chainsaw that’ll go all day
- Easy to service and maintain if you can find the parts
- Hard-working, well-built, durable
Cons:
- Lacking safety and comfort features
- Difficult to find some parts
- A bit heavy for lugging around the forest
Specs and features
The 285 CD is a grunty saw that’s great for cutting thick logs and hardwoods.
It can be used with anything from a 16″ – 36″ bar though it gets pretty heavy with the longer ones.
Husky 285 CD specs:
- 85 cc / 5.2 cu in
- 21.4 lbs/ 9.7 kgs
- 52 mm / 2.05″ bore
- 40 mm / 1.57″ stroke
- Magnesium construction
- Nylon mesh air filter
- Centrifugal clutch
- Bosch WS7F or Champion CJ7Y spark plug
- Tillotson HS-136B, C, D series carb
The 285 CD has an automatic adjustable oiler and AV system. Some versions had a mechanical chain brake, and others did not.
Price and parts
The chainsaw itself is usually listed for sale for $20 to $200 and above, depending on its condition and place of sale.
I saw this comment recently in an FB group:
Yes, it’s a desirable saw. Back in the day many got repaired with the 6 cube 2100 engine. It’s worth a measure…
Also check for spark. If it works its worth a couple hundred. Spin the recoil with a big assed drill and check.
A lot of them died because the kill wire under the flywheel got chopped and shorted – easy fix if you can pull the flywheel.
Around 2010, a good model cost around $300, but these days, with a lack of parts and better options available, it’s not commanding the same rates.
Husky 285 CD
Overall, the 285 CD is worth having as part of a collection.
It’s not a model you’d want to use all day due to its weight and lack of comfort features (old anti-vibration system, etc.), so you’d be better off getting something like the 562 XP or the 372 XP.
It’s also probably not best for non-mechanical people who don’t want to work on a chainsaw—get something that’s in really good condition instead.
Let us know if you have anything to add in the comment section down below.
Love how the first paragraph states no chainbrake, under a picture clearly showing a chainbrake.
Cheers Bruce. Updated and that writer has been sacked.
I’ve owned a 285CD since 1985, I bought it non running, it turned out to be a split crankcase gasket. It’s still my favourite saw, yes it’s heavy but the grunt is addictive. It’s now Oct 23 and I’ve just spent a day thinning a wood near Leeds UK. The 285CD was flawless as usual.
I’ll never sell it