Review | Jonsered CS2245 45cc Gas Chainsaw ǀ A Chainsaw for All Seasons

Welcome to our indepth review of the Jonsered CS2245 — a powerful 45c gas chainsaw that is reliable, well-made and easy to handle.

Generally, I’d expect to pay around $400 (give or take a bit) for top-grade 18” chainsaw. That seems to be the price range for the better medium-duty chainsaws of this size, with an engine of 45-50cc. This is why the Jonsered CS2245 came as a very pleasant surprise. It’s substantially cheaper than the much-loved Husqvarna 450 series and compares quite well to the Husky in terms of performance.

Intro | Jonsered CS2245 Review

I’ll be reviewing both the Jonsered CS2245 and the Husqvarna 450. I’ll start by saying that the Husqvarna is a much more refined machine. It has one of the smoothest running and easiest to start engines that one can hope to find on a chainsaw. The Jonsered is not quite as smooth but in all other respects, it seems to give the more expensive Husqvarna a run for its money.

Husqvarna is originally a Swedish company but now has manufacturing plants in the US. Jonsered is a trusted US brand which is, ironically, now owned by Husqvarna. Corporate buy-outs are something we’ve all become used to and it’s not always easy to tell where your product is made and who provides the service. So I’ll clear this up about these two chainsaw brands. While both brands are owned by Husqvarna, both the Jonsered CS2245 and Husqvarna 450 are made in the USA. You’ll get the same dealership service for either brand and spare parts for the two brands are readily available throughout the US.

A Great Chainsaw Overall | Jonsered CS2245

In terms of brand recognition, Jonsered has had to take second place and the parent company has reserved the Husqvarna name as the premier brand. This shows in some of the technology used but, when it comes down to it, both offer exceptional quality. The biggest difference being that the Jonsered CS2245 costs quite a bit less. Both these chainsaws come with a standard 2-year warranty but Husqvarna offer an extended 4-year warranty if you register your product. It seems like a logical thing to do, it really doesn’t take too long to do this and having a warranty that’s twice as long certainly gives one some extra piece of mind.

In the end, the Jonsered CS2245 is a real bargain. It doesn’t cost as much as the Husqvarna 450 and works just as well.

Jonsered CS2245

Truly, one of the best and well-engineered gas chainsaw your money can buy.

Features:

• Clean power engine reduces harmful exhaust emissions up to 75% and increases fuel efficiency up to 20%, while providing raw power − even at low speeds.
• Turbo intake air cleaning uses centrifugal force to separate and remove up to 97% of sawdust and dust particles from air before it reaches the air filter for optimal performance
• Anti-Vibration : Steel springs provide our products with the best vibration damping to allow prolonged use
• Chainsaw handles are insulated from engine and cutting equipment with steel springs, for lower vibration dampening and incredible ergonomics, effectively reducing operator fatigue on long work days.
• Tool-free, side-mounted chain tensioner for fast, convenient chain adjustments.
• Quick-release snap-locked cylinder covers enables quick, easy access to air filter and spark plug, with no need to loosen or remove screws.
• Inertia chain brake
• Fuel pump / Fuel gauge
• Spin Start reduces the resistance in the starter cord by up to 40%.

Overview

This is a great 18” chainsaw at a fantastic price. It’s well-designed and is built to a very high standard. When it comes to the cutting you’ll be doing, I wouldn’t say that the Jonsered CS2245 chainsaw is any less proficient than the Husqvarna 450, though it does have a slightly smaller engine. So maybe on some real hardwoods, when you’re pushing the chainsaw to its limits, this one might slightly underperform. In general daily use, I doubt many would notice any difference.

VIDEO | Learn More about the Jonsered CS2245

The Jonsered CS2245 uses a 45.7cc, two-stroke engine which produces 2.82 HP. This engine has a spin start recoil starter that makes really easy to start. So even though it doesn’t have the same Smart Start system as the Husqvarna engines, it isn’t a tough job getting the chainsaw to run. The use of a fuel pump also makes starting the Jonsered CS2245T much less hassle than the old fuel purge bulb. It has a turbo air intake seems to be exactly the same as the Husqvarna centrifugal air injection system. This is fantastic at removing sawdust from the air as it enters the carburetor and drastically reduces the need to clean the air filter. Clogged air filters are normally one of the biggest time wasters when using a chainsaw and this air cleaning system really makes it a lot more pleasurable to use the chainsaw.

Jonsered claim that this Clean Power engine has reduced emission levels by 75% and reduced fuel consumption by 25%. I assume this is compared to some of their previous engines that probably didn’t meet modern EPA standards. In the owner’s manual, they state this engine meets EPA Tier III emission standards. They make no mention of CARB certification but do give an emissions durability period of 300-hours according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB)3. This has left me a little confused as to whether the engine has actually been CARB certified or not. It seems, though, that without a clear statement that this is a CARB certified engine, it probably isn’t.

While this engine runs very well, it does vibrate quite a bit, it looks like the Husqvarna X-torq engine runs quite a bit smoother. They have, however, considerably reduced the vibration at the handles by using spring mountings that act as mini shock absorbers. This brings the vibration levels at the handles down to 3.4 M/S² – only a fraction more than the Husqvarna 450. The noise levels are the same at 115dBA. Combined with thick rubber grips, the full wrap around front handle and large rear handle make for very comfortable operation. It has a large chain guard that you push forward to activate the chain brake in the normal way. It also has a conveniently positioned shutoff switch right at the handle, so can cut the engine quickly in an emergency.

The Jonsered CS2245 has the convenience of side-mounted tool-free chain tensioning for easy access. The engine head is very easy to access when you need to change and check the spark plug – it has quick-release clips on either side of the engine cover. The fuel level is also visible through transparent strip on the side of the gas tank, so there’s no need to open the tank every time you want to check it. It’s a light chainsaw, weighing only 10.8 LBS without the bar and chain.

The Jonsered CS2245 is a very easy to use chainsaw and has all the modern conveniences that make it a safe and comfortable machine to use. A lot of thought has gone into its design and this makes it a nimble chainsaw that runs like a dream and is really easy to start. Considering its spec level, the Jonsered CS2245 is remarkably cheap and there seems to be no compromising on the overall quality of this chainsaw.

Tech Specs:

• Power output : 2.1 kW
• Cylinder displacement : 2.79 cu.inch
• Weight (excl. cutting equipment) : 4.9 kg
• Power output : 2.82 hp
• Recommended bar length, min : 33 cm
• Recommended bar length, min : 13 in
• Weight (excl. cutting equipment) : 10.8 lbs
• Cylinder displacement : 45.7 cm³
• Recommended bar length, max : 45 cm
• Recommended bar length, max : 18 in
• Equivalent vibration level (ahv, eq) front handle : 3.4 m/s²
• Sound power level, guaranteed (LWA) : 115 dB(A)

Husqvarna 450

Classic gas chainsaw that is extremely reliable, well-made and well-balanced. Excellent buy.

Features:

• Powerful 18-inch gas-powered chain saw ideal for landowners and others who cut less regularly
• 3.2 HP X-Torq engine reduces harmful exhaust emissions and increase fuel efficiency
• LowVib vibration dampening; minimal effort via Smart Start feature and combined choke/stop control
• Centrifugal air cleaning system; inertia activated chain brake; snap-lock cylinder cover
• CARB Compliant
• Purchase this Husqvarna handheld item along with 3-32 ounce cans of Husqvarna pre-mix fuel, register your product online, and your consumer warranty will be extended from 2 years to 4 years. (Learn more)

Overview

The Husqvarna 450 chainsaw range is extremely popular and many swear by these tough chainsaws with a lot of advanced features. There are three models in the 450 lineup and some may be wondering what differentiates them. The Husqvarna 450; 450E and 450 Rancher are basically the same chainsaw, using the same engine and basic components. The difference between the three models is very subtle and it all has to do with the chain tensioning mechanisms.

The base Husqvarna 450 has a regular chain tensioner that requires a wrench. The 450E has tool-free chain tensioning and the 450 Rancher has a side-mounted chain tensioner for easier access. They are, in every other aspect, identical machines with minor price differences between them. These have always been classified as 18” chainsaws with a minimum bar length of 13”. Though I recently saw on the Husqvarna website that all the 450 chainsaws are now rated for a 20” bar. When looking around, I’ve found them listed as being either 18” or 20” chainsaws. So it looks like Husqvarna have added a 20” bar for this model and the new X-cut chain for the 450E.

Husqvarna 450 | Ideal for heavy-duty cutting. Pro-Grade Quality

It uses the legendary 50.2cc X-Torq engine that produces a very impressive 3.2 HP, that’s about a quarter of a horse more than the Jonsered CS2245. This engine uses the Husqvarna Smart Start system, which decompresses the engine when starting so that you don’t have to use too much strength when pulling on the recoil starter. It’s a really easy engine to start and uses the regular air purge system to remove air from the fuel line.

The air injection centrifugal air cleaning system used in this engine is, by now, famous and as I mentioned when reviewing the Jonsered CS2245, this reduces sawdust that would normally collect in your air filter. Resulting in much less time being spent constantly cleaning out the air filter. When you need to clean the air filter, it’s made extremely easy by means of a quick release mechanism. The engine head cover is also incredibly easy to open and uses strong, quick-release clips.

This engine has some of the lowest emission levels and is CARB compliant. It’s also one of the smoothest running engines around with super comfortable handles. At the front handle, vibration levels are only 3.1 M/s². So even without the spring mountings that are used to dampen the vibration on the Jonsered CS2245, this chainsaw has a lower vibration at your hands. It’s a very comfortable chainsaw to use for extended periods of time. The chain guard is well-positioned and easy to reach when you need to engage the chain brake. The Husqvarna 450 has automatic chain lubrication by means of a fixed flow pump. So this means you can’t adjust the oil flow like some other chainsaws. It weighs 11.24 LBS without the bar and chain, making it slightly heavier than the Jonsered CS2245.

While the Jonsered CS2245 and the Husqvarna 450 share much of the same technology, some of the more advanced stuff has been reserved for the more expensive Husqvarna. The Husqvarna 450 has a really smooth engine and automatic chain lubrication which heavily count in its favor. So while the Jonsered CS2245 does offer fantastic value, you are getting a little extra for your money if you choose the Husqvarna 450 and a touch more power coming from the engine.