Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Chainsaw Moves Into New Territory With 18-Inch Bar
Ryobi has been unleashed in their development of the HP brushless line and weโve been impressed with the improvement on the OPE side. With the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Chainsaw, we want to know how well it stacks up against the other 18-inch models weโve used.
Pros
- Excellent cutting power
- Good balance with a variety of battery sizes
- Automatic oiler flow adjustment
- Dual studs for bar security
- Onboard scrench storage
- Blow molded case included
Cons
- Plastic bucking spikes
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-inch Chainsaw Performance
It takes some serious muscle to cut effectively with an 18-inch bar. Itโs a size that represents some of the best gas-powered models for homeowners and gets into the farm and ranch sector. Those are very different power levels, though, and we set out to see which end Ryobi fits in.
Our friend Eli Mosley invited us out to the ranch he works on to help him take down an oak tree that had split. With solid branches up to 14 inches in diameter, it was a great test for this saw. Itโs amazing how often he needs work done when we have OPE to reviewโฆ
When we first pulled the trigger, it didnโt sound like we were getting quite as much chain speed as other 18-inch saws weโve reviewed. However, its power was evident as we cut through our oak. Getting into the center where the wood is most dense and at its thickest diameter, Ryobiโs HP brushless motor kept the 0.050-gauge chain moving better than our other models. As we continued, it became clear that this sawโs torque offers more muscle than we expected.
Ryobi doesnโt claim a gas engine size equivalency the way some brands do. To us, it feels like itโs in that 42cc+ category. Itโs not quite reaching up to the 50cc+ level of farm and ranch models, but itโs very strong and clearly in the top tier of current battery-powered chainsaws.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Chainsaw Design Notes
Weight and Balance
With the bar, chain, and half a tank of oil, the saw weighs 9.9 pounds. The 5Ah battery that comes in the kit adds another 4.0 pounds, making your entire setup just under 14 pounds. Thatโs not out of line with comparable gas saws by the time you add the bar and chain, oil, and gas to their weights.
The design team made the call to go with a wide-entry battery port. Weโve seen some tools get out of balance with larger packs, but this model doesnโt seem to suffer. Whether we used a smaller 4.0Ah or larger 6.0Ah battery, we didnโt feel like we were fighting the sawโs balance.
Dual Stud Bar Nuts
Tool-free bar tensioners are convenient, but as we get into these larger saws, we really like the additional security of dual studs and bar nuts to secure them. Thatโs what Ryobi goes with on this model and they add the convenience of on board storage for your scrench.
It Comes With a Case!
Thereโs a pretty nice blow molded case that comes with this chainsaw. With the scabbard over the bar and chain, it sits down into the case where it has some additional protection during transport. It also keeps any oil from getting all over the place. Clean it out and let it dry from time to time so it doesnโt build up too much.
If youโre not going to use the saw for a while, go ahead and turn the automatic oiler all the way down on the bottom to minimize and leaking. Just remember to dial it back up some when youโre ready to cut the next time.
Bucking Spikes
The only real downside is that the bucking spikes on this saw are plastic. We donโt mind that so much on smaller saws, but we like to see metal on these higher-performance models.
Additional Features
- 0.050-gauge, 3/8-inch pitch chain
- Mechanical chain brake
- Rapid charger and 5.0Ah battery included in the kit
- Compatible with all Ryobi 40V batteries
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Chainsaw Price
You can grab this Ryobi chainsaw kit at The Home Depot for $369. That includes the saw, 5.0Ah battery, rapid charger, and case. Thatโs about $20 less than Ryobiโs main competitorsโ 18-inch saws. Considering the high performance weโre seeing, that definitely bumps the value rating up for this one.
Ryobi backs the tool for 5 years and the battery for 3 years under their warranty program.
The Bottom Line
Itโs been a lot of fun for us to see such big improvements in performance from Ryobi with this HP series of OPE. If youโve used other Ryobi battery-powered chainsaws, prepare yourself for a cutting experience on a completely different level. With this major overhaul, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Chainsaw vaults itself into contention with the top cordless models available.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Chainsaw Specifications
- Model: Ryobi RY40580
- Motor: Brushless
- Kitted Battery: 40V 5.0Ah battery
- Bar Length: 18 in.
- Chain Pitch: 3/8 in.
- Chain Gauge: 0.050
- Chain Speed: 22 mps
- Replacement Chain: Y62.050
- Chain Oiler: Automatic
- Weight: 13.2 lbs.
- Warranty: 5-year tool warranty; 3-year battery warranty
- Price: $369
