Husqvarna 120 Mark II Reviews – Is It Worth Buying?

Husqvarna is a storied manufacturer when it comes to rugged, professional-grade outdoor tools. And while many of their larger, high-capacity chainsaws are very well-known and respected in the industry, we have wondered about some of their smaller saws.

So we went out and we picked up a prime example of the lower-end Husqvarna chainsaws to see if it lived up to the Husqvarna name. The chainsaw we tested and will be reviewing today is the Husqvarna 120 Mark II.

Husqvarna 120 Mark II Overview

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II is one of Husqvarna’s smaller, cheaper chainsaws. It has no problem with felling small trees; but it has its flaws that you should know about. In general though, this is a good saw to have if you need to do some light felling, delimbing and firewood processing.

Husqvarna 120 Mark II First Impressions

The size and weight of the Husqvarna 120 Mark II immediately informed us as to who and what it was built for. The Husqvarna 120 Mark II weighs just ten pounds and it is recommended that you use a 16” bar with it.

So right away, we could tell that it was meant for use around the house – not out in the field. That all being said, we actually came to really like the lightness of the Husqvarna 120 Mark II. Although, we were also a bit concerned about the starting difficulty we had right away.

Husqvarna 120 Mark II Specs

  • 38cc engine
  • 16 inch bar
  • 9,000 Max RPMs
  • 32lbs per hour fuel consumption
  • 8 HP
  • Automatic oil pump
  • 18” max bar length
  • 7lbs
  • 113 decibels max

Husqvarna 120 Mark II Key Features

  • Air Injection Filter – Centrifugal air force is used to eject larger debris and keep it from reaching the air filter.
  • Air Purge Button – The air purge button makes it very easy to remove excess air from the carburetor.
  • X-Torq Engine – The Husqvarna 120 Mark II is outfitted with Husqvarna’s X-torq engine which puts out 1.8 HP.
  • Choke/Stop Control – The choke/stop control feature helps prevent flooding the engine.

How Does it Perform?

For smaller jobs, it’s very capable. We had trouble with logs any larger than 12” in diameter though. The bar and the lower high-end torque were simply not cut out for anything bigger than that.

Other than that, the Husqvarna 120 Mark II performed very well on saplings, limbs, branches and even small diameter logs of oak and cherry.

How Loud is it?

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II has a max operational volume of 113 decibels so you will still need ear protection if you’re operating it.

How Heavy is it?

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II weighs only 10.7 pounds with a full tank of gas so it is very lightweight and easy to handle.

Is it Easy to Handle and Maneuver?

Handling and maneuvering is no problem with this chainsaw. In fact, it’s a great saw to get up in a tree with for topping and delimbing. The problem is with starting. It was very difficult to start the Husqvarna 120 Mark II up at times.

What is the Power Source?

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II is a gas-powered chainsaw with a 38cc engine that is capable of pumping out 1.8 horses.

Blade and Chain Overview

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II is outfitted with a 16” bar. The chain type is H37 and the gauge is 0.50”. The pitch is ⅜”.

What Size Job Does it Suit?

The Husqvarna 120 Mark II is a smaller chainsaw so naturally, it is made to handle smaller jobs. From our testing, we had no issue felling trees no more than 12” in diameter. It works really well for delimbing felled trees very quickly for firewood, kindling and things of that sort.

How Efficient is it?

If you stick to smaller jobs around the house, you will find that the Husqvarna 120 Mark II is very fuel-efficient. We got more than an hour of runtime from it during our testing which consisted of mostly light cutting work with a few larger tasks thrown in to test its limits.

How Long Will it Last?

One of the things this chainsaw has going for it is that it’s made by Husqvaran who is known for making durable chainsaws. With proper maintenance, it’s not inconceivable to think that this saw will last for at least 8 years.

Husqvarna 120 Mark II Pros

  • Great for small jobs
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Easy to handle
  • Affordable
  • Good for above-ground delimbing

Husqvarna 120 Mark II Cons

  • Hard to start up
  • Dies often
  • Not for heavy cutting

Overall Score: 94/100

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Who Should Buy it?

Anyone looking for a long-lasting chainsaw for around the house use.

Common Problems With the Husqvarna 120 Mark II

One problem we encountered was that it would cut out in the middle of thicker, denser logs.

Other Chainsaws to Consider

Husqvarna 135 Mark II

The 135 Mark II sports a beefier 2.1 HP engine but weighs just 10.3 pounds overall. It uses an S93G chain and is suitable for around the house jobs.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • Noisy

Overall Score: 93/100

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Stihl MS 170

The MS 170 has a 30CC, 1.7 HP engine with an 8.5 ounce fuel tank. We like this one because of the low vibration which makes it comfortable to operate for an hour or more.

Pros:

  • Low vibration
  • Oil-efficient

Cons:

  • Not for large jobs

Overall Score: 95/100

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CRAFTSMAN 41BY4216791

With a 16” bar and a 42cc engine, the CRAFTSMAN 41BY4216791 is another midsize saw suitable for use around the house. You can manually adjust the oil for the chain too

Pros:

  • Good balance
  • Easy trigger

Cons:

  • Front handle isn’t very ergonomic

Overall Score: 92/100

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Final Assessment

What really holds this chainsaw back is how hard it can be to start – especially in cold weather. Still, it is a durable saw that will keep up with you as long as your cutting needs are light. If they are, go ahead and check the Husqvarna 120 Mark II out!