Very good 
The Husqvarna 128LDX with pole chainsaw attachment is our most recommended gas powered pole pruner – not overly expensive, with enough power and easy to operate. Ideal for moderate homeowner use.
Pros:
- Powerful
- Starts easily
- Attachment capable
Cons:
- Accepts only Husqvarna attachments
Key specifications:
- Length: 8 ft
- Bar length: 12″
(video showing all the attachments – you can see the pole saw at 1:20)
Handling and reach
The 128LDX comes with all the advantages and disadvantages of gas pole pruners – it’s powerful and you are not limited by a power cord or battery running time; on the other hand, it requires mixing the gas-oil fuel, a little maintenance and it’s louder and heavier than electric units.
It’s easy to put together, the instructions are easy to follow so it won’t take you more than 10 minutes. The pole is a bit shorter (about 8 feet), also bear in mind you won’t be able to hold it as high as electric or cordless pole saws because of the weight (plus the handle is not at the bottom, you still have the engine part behind).
It is easy to operate and the weight is also pretty good for a gas machine – but of course, it becomes quite tiring when used for longer time period (even with the included shoulder strap).
Power
Users agree it offers plenty of power for what it’s intended to do – but don’t expect the performance of heavy-duty machines that are twice as expensive. It handles 6″ branches very easily, the limit is somewhere between 8-10 inches where it starts to bog down sometimes. One tip – don’t push it against the limb, just let its weight and gravity do the job and you’ll be fine 😉
It starts very well, mostly on first or second pull – just remember to let it warm up for a while before you start cutting.
Available extensions
It comes with an automatic oiler and users don’t report any problems. Only there seems to be a little confusion with the bar length – users report it’s 12″ long, not the advertised 10.
Attachments
A nice plus is the possibility to use various addons – originally, this tool comes as a string trimmer, here you swap it for a pole chainsaw and you can get also a blower, hedge trimmer, cultivator or edger. Users report the attachments work great and the switching is easy as well – but the bad news is that you are limited to Husqvarna parts only (which are quite expensive), if you have some older add-ons from other brands, you won’t be able to use them because of the different shaft connection.
Conclusion: If you want quality pole saw for a larger yard with numerous trees, the Husqvarna 128LDX is the right choice for you – easy to operate, starts without any problems and isn’t overly expensive, we can definitely recommend it.
However, if plan to use the pruner only a few times per year and don’t need to cut branches thicker than 7″ (or if you need a longer shaft), we would rather recommend you the Black & Decker LPP120 or a similar tool for occasional use.
>> Read more or buy the Husqvarna 128LDX here
Specifications:
- Brand: Husqvarna
- Type: Gas powered
- Cycles: 2 stroke
- Cubature: 28cc
- Weight: 10.8 lbs
- Length: 8 ft
- Bar length: 12″
- Oiling: Automatic
- Warranty: 2-year
- Includes: shoulder strap
Frequently asked questions:
What kind of fuel is required?
The machine is 2-cycle so a mix of gas and oil (50:1) is required. We recommend using a non-ethanol blended, high octane gas and for example the Husqvarna oil.
Or to make things easier, you can get a premixed fuel.
Are there any accessories I should buy?
We recommend getting the Husqvarna oil for the fuel mix (or the premixed fuel if you don’t want to do it yourself) and also a bar and chain oil for chain lubrication.
Is there any maintenance needed?
Gas powered pole saws require some additional upkeep like cleaning the air filter or adding stabilizer to the fuel for winter storage – please read our guide (it focuses on string trimmers but most of the points apply to chainsaws as well) or refer to the user manual for more info.
