Husqvarna 120 Mark III Gas Chainsaw Review

The saw's strongest card is how much engine it packs into a light body. A 38 cc, 1.88 hp engine in a 10.7 lb powerhead is a strong displacement-to-weight balance for a light homeowner saw, and it is the reason the saw feels capable for its size.

Fuel economy and filter life

The X-Torq engine and Air Injection work together. Air Injection expels larger dust and debris particles before they reach the air filter, so the filter stays cleaner longer and you clean it less often. X-Torq keeps fuel use and emissions down for a two-cycle engine.

Comfort and noise

LowVib technology keeps vibration down. At 95 dB(A) at the operator's ear, it is a genuinely quiet gas saw, and your ears will notice the difference over an afternoon.

Starting controls

Separate choke and stop controls with auto-reset reduce the risk of flooding the engine. The stop switch returns to the run position on its own, so you are less likely to pull and pull on a saw that is switched off.

Safety equipment as sold

The saw ships with an inertia chain brake and a low-kickback bar and chain, and it meets the ANSI and CSA standards for gas chainsaws. You get the chainsaw in the box rather than as an add-on.

Cutting feel and size

Buyers on Amazon most often praise the performance: plenty of power, fast cutting for its size, and a chain that stays sharp through long stretches of use. They also like the size, with one buyer calling it right for most of the trees a homeowner would cut.

Dealer support

This is a gas saw from a brand with a service and parts network. For a gas tool that needs carburetor work, a tensioner replaced or a chain brake band reset, having a dealer to call on is worth more than a spec sheet shows.

The cold-start procedure is specific: brake on, choke fully out, about six primer presses, no more than five pulls, then half choke, pull until it fires, release the brake immediately, let it fast-idle 20 to 30 seconds, blip full throttle 8 to 10 seconds, then let it idle 10 seconds. Stale or ethanol-blend fuel makes it harder to start.

Chain tensioner failures

Several buyers on Amazon report chain tensioner failures after limited use. Treat it as a known weak point of this model and a warranty matter if it happens to you.

Chain tensioning needs tools

You loosen the bar nuts and turn a tensioning screw with the combination wrench. That is outdated next to tool-free designs, and it means checking tension is a two-tool job rather than a twist of a knob.

A small, fixed oil tank

The automatic oiler is not adjustable, and the oil tank holds 0.32 US pint, roughly half the fuel tank. Check the oil level at every fuel stop, because the fuel will outlast the oil.

The chain brake band trap

If you remove the clutch cover with the brake engaged, the band springs open and the cover will not go back on. Reset it by turning the actuator with the splined end of the wrench.

Clutch-drum rattle at idle

New saws of this model often rattle at idle. It is a known habit of the design, not a fault, and it settles once the chain is under load.

Carburetor limiter caps

The limiter caps allow only about half a turn of adjustment. Going further takes a special tool or a dealer.

It bogs in big hardwood

Push it into hardwood over roughly 12 inches and it bogs. That means the log is too big for the saw, not that the saw is defective, and no amount of tuning changes that.

Build feel and weight

The build feels plasticky next to heavier-duty saws, and 10.7 lb is noticeable when you limb overhead for a long stretch. Buyers on Amazon are divided on adjustability and stability, with some finding the idle and low settings easy to set and others reporting trouble with both.

A 14 in bar cuts roughly 12 to 13 in in a single pass, so the comfortable ceiling is about 10 to 12 in hardwood rounds. The small oil tank means you refuel and check the oil together, every time.

The Husqvarna 120 Mark III comes in two versions, told apart by part number. The 14 in model is part number 970739614, at 10.7 lb, 1.88 hp and 28 in overall length. The other version, part number 970860114, is heavier at 13.7 lb, slightly less powerful at 1.8 hp, and longer at 35.3 in. Choose the 14 in model for lighter weight and easier handling on small trees and limbs, and the 970860114 version when you want the longer saw.

Cold starting takes technique, so the routine below is worth learning before the first tank.

Cold starting, step by step

1. Set the chain brake and pull the choke fully out.
2. Press the primer about six times.
3. Pull no more than five times.
4. Move the choke to half and pull until the saw fires.
5. Release the brake immediately, let it fast-idle 20 to 30 seconds, run at full throttle for 8 to 10 seconds, then let it idle 10 seconds.

Use fresh, ethanol-free mix. Old fuel and ethanol blends are the most common reason a saw that ran fine last season will not fire.

Chain and oil checks

Check chain tension before every use and often during break-in. Check oil flow at every refuel.

Filter, spark arrester and plug

Set the spark plug gap at 0.02 in.

Idle and storage

Run the tank dry before putting the saw away for the season.

The chain brake band reset

If the clutch cover will not seat, the brake band has sprung open. Turn the actuator with the splined end of the wrench until the band sits back in place, then refit the cover.

For all this upkeep, dealer support, X-Torq fuel economy and LowVib comfort are what justify choosing this saw over a no-name gas saw of the same size.

Is the Husqvarna 120 Mark III good for beginners? Yes, for light homeowner work. The controls are simple and the safety equipment comes in the box, but the cold-start sequence takes practice, so plan on a few sessions before it feels routine.

What size tree or log can it cut? With the 14 in bar you get about 12 to 13 in in one pass. Hardwood rounds of 10 to 12 in are comfortable, and anything much bigger will bog the saw.

Why is your new 120 hard to start? Fresh fuel matters more than anything else: mix at 50:1 with 87 AKI or higher and no more than 10% ethanol, and never keep a mix beyond 30 days. A saw that fires and then dies usually needs the full-throttle blip of 8 to 10 seconds before you let it settle to idle.

Why does the chain spin fast at idle right after starting? The saw holds a raised idle for 20 to 30 seconds after it fires, so let it run there, blip full throttle for 8 to 10 seconds, then give it 10 seconds at normal idle before you cut.

Your new saw rattles at idle. Is it broken? No. The noise comes from the clutch drum and fades once the chain is under load, so keep cutting and watch for anything that sounds different under throttle.

You took the clutch cover off and it will not go back on. Turn the actuator with the splined end of the wrench until the brake band sits back in place, then refit the cover.

What fuel mix, octane and ethanol limit does it take? Mix at 50:1 with 87 AKI or higher gasoline and no more than 10% ethanol. Ethanol-free mix keeps the carburetor cleaner.

What bar and chain does it take? A 14 in bar with 3/8 in mini pitch, .050 in gauge chain. Match the drive link count to the bar when you replace the chain.

Can it handle firewood and bucking? Light bucking only. It bogs in hardwood over about 12 in, so a firewood pile is beyond what this saw is built for.

Do you need to break it in? Yes, follow the manual's break-in guidance and check chain tension often while the chain is new.

How do you adjust the carburetor? The limiter caps allow about half a turn. Beyond that you need a special tool or a dealer.

What warranty does it have? The consumer warranty is 2 years.

What protective gear should you add? Chaps, a helmet with a face shield and hearing protection, gloves and boots.