Hyundai HYC6220 Review – UK Tried & Tested

There is a saw on the market that comes with two chains, a carry bag, a mixing bottle, a file, and a multi-tool mounted in the base of the handle, all in the box, for a price that sits well below what Stihl or Husqvarna would charge for a bare tool. I had assumed for a long time that this category of chainsaw was what it looked like on paper: a large engine spec attached to light construction, capable enough for a few years of occasional use before something broke and you had to decide whether to fix it or replace it. After running the Hyundai HYC6220 through a fairly demanding autumn clearing job and then talking to a few people who had been using theirs for considerably longer, my view on that has shifted, not completely, but noticeably.

The HYC6220 is a 62 cc petrol chainsaw with a 20 inch bar. It is no longer listed as the primary model on the Hyundai UK website, having been replaced by the HYC6200X with a EURO 5 engine and tool-free tensioning, but it is still sold as current stock from Amazon and dealers. The EURO 2 engine it uses is an older emissions standard than the current model, but in terms of how the saw behaves and what it can do, the two are closely related. The chain is 0.325 inch pitch, 0.058 inch gauge, type 21VB. It weighs somewhere between 6.7 and 7 kg including bar and chain. It is manufactured in China and imported by Genpower Ltd in Pembroke Dock, Wales, who also handle the after-sales support.

What the 62 cc engine means in practice

The saw ran for three hours without overheating on the first full session I used it for, which involved cutting back overgrown willow along the edge of a drainage ditch, some of it close to 18 inches in diameter, most of it more like 10 to 14. The engine did not complain. On smaller diameter work it moved through branches at a pace that a 42 cc saw would not have matched. On the larger trunk sections it slowed but it did not bog, and the cuts came out clean. The chain is the same 3/8 inch pitch spec used by the competing saws in this class, and a replacement chain of the 21VB type to fit the bar takes a 3/16 inch file for sharpening.

The automatic oiling system keeps the chain lubricated throughout use, and the oil flow is adjustable via a small screw on the underside of the body, which you turn to increase or decrease the rate depending on what you are cutting. This is a more useful feature than it sounds when you switch between resinous softwood and dry hardwood in the same session. What I want to be clear about is that the oil tank needs refilling every time you refuel. The fuel tank holds approximately 500 ml. The oil tank is smaller than you might expect relative to the fuel capacity and on a hard cutting session it will run dry before the fuel does. Running a chainsaw chain without oil damages both the chain and the bar. Check it every time you fill up.

The fuel mix for the HYC6220 is 40:1, not 50:1 as it is on every other petrol chainsaw in this batch. That is 40 parts fresh unleaded petrol to 1 part good quality semi-synthetic two-stroke oil, which works out to 25 ml of oil per litre of petrol. Getting this wrong affects the engine’s lubrication and the manual is clear on it. It is the kind of detail that gets glossed over in product descriptions, so it is worth reading the manual before you mix your first tank rather than after.

Specifications and scores

Starting, assembly and the details that matter on the day

Assembly takes roughly fifteen minutes from opening the box. You fit the guide bar, attach the chain in the correct direction (an arrow is marked on the top of the bar to confirm), fit the bumper spike with the two hex screws supplied, and fill both tanks. The tool kit covers everything the assembly requires. The multi-tool is mounted in the base of the rear handle, which means you always have what you need for chain tensioning and adjustment on site.

Cold starting uses a decompression valve to reduce the compression for the initial pull, which is the main reason the saw starts without the effort older saws of this size required. The carburettor comes from the factory set at H screw 1 and 3/8 turns out, L screw 1 and 1/4 turns out. On the saw I used, and based on what serious long-term users of this model have found, the factory settings may need minor tuning before the engine runs at its best, particularly the cold idle. The screwdriver supplied with the tool kit does not fit the H and L adjustment screws on some units, so it is worth having a small flat-blade screwdriver to hand. The chain brake operates in two ways: manually by pushing the front guard forward, and automatically via an inertia system that activates if the saw experiences a sudden force upward. There is also a chain catcher below the guide bar. The brake should be tested before each session.

What it does well and where it earns its score

The warranty is the most significant thing in the specification relative to competitors. Three years platinum home-use warranty, provided you register at hyundaipowerequipment.co.uk within thirty days of purchase. Miss the thirty-day window and the warranty drops to twelve months. The commercial warranty is twelve months regardless. Hyundai also commits to five years of spare parts availability in the EU, and the after-sales support has been praised by users who needed replacement components.

The two chains in the box are worth something. At the price point this saw sells at, including a spare chain rather than making you buy one separately is a decision that reduces the running cost in the first year. The bar cover protects the chain and cutting links when the saw is stored or transported. The carry bag is the same story: most manufacturers in this class either charge extra for one or do not offer it at all. The bag has proper carry handles and is large enough to store the saw with bar attached. The mixing bottle, the chain file, the plug spanner, and the multi-tool complete the package. You can buy this saw, assemble it, and use it the same day without needing to order anything else.

On cutting performance for its intended domestic use, the 62 cc engine delivers. Trees up to about 20 inches in diameter, firewood processing, clearing storm damage, managing coppice: the bar length and engine combination handles all of this. One user I know ran it for three hours continuously cutting timber without it overheating.

The fuel rules and what happens if you skip them

The 40:1 fuel mix is not a detail to carry approximately in your head. It means 25 ml of semi-synthetic two-stroke oil per litre of fresh unleaded petrol, measured rather than estimated. Old mix left in the tank over winter is the main cause of starting problems and carburettor issues on any petrol chainsaw, and the Hyundai is no different. Running the saw dry at the end of each session removes old fuel from the system. Storing with fuel in the tank is the version of chainsaw maintenance that costs money rather than saves it. The oil tank should also be emptied before storage, not just the fuel tank.

The air filter benefits from checking after each dusty session. The correct method from the manual is to remove it and tap a corner on a hard surface to dislodge debris, then blow compressed air from the inside outward. The filter cover comes off without tools. The spark plug gap is 0.65 mm, and the plug should be cleaned with a soft wire brush periodically. The cylinder fins should be checked periodically and kept clear of debris to prevent overheating. The sprocket should be inspected for cracks and wear; a new chain should never be fitted to a worn sprocket. The anti-vibration dampers at the front and rear of the saw should be inspected for cracks or wear; they are replaceable. The bar can be reversed periodically to even out partial wear on one side.

Performance, limitations and the honest comparison

The build quality is the honest limitation. A professional chainsaw user who has worked with Husqvarna, Stihl, and other professional brands over a career will notice what has been trimmed to make this saw available at this price. The clutch cover on some units is not perfectly formed and can be fiddly to remove and refit. The primer fuel bulb and chain brake lever are lighter components than on the premium alternatives. The chains supplied cut well initially but dull faster than higher-grade aftermarket chains on maximum-diameter hardwood work, and experienced users recommend sourcing replacement chains of better steel quality once the supplied ones need replacing.

The oil tank capacity relative to the fuel tank is a practical limitation on heavy sessions. The solution is straightforward: check the oil every time you refuel. The 3-year warranty is the comparison that matters most against the McCulloch CS 42S and CS 50S, both of which carry 12-month warranties. A Hyundai HYC6220 that fails at month 14 is still under warranty; a McCulloch in the same situation is not. The sound level from the equivalent HYC6200X is a guaranteed LWA of 117 dB. Ear protection is not optional. The chain speed on the HYC6200X equivalent is 22 m/s, which exceeds the 8 m/s threshold that triggers CS39 certification requirements for professional and employed UK buyers. Domestic buyers have no legal purchase restriction.

Bar length: HYC6220 20″, CS 50S 18″, 435 II 15″ standard (up to 18″ possible) marked partial. Warranty: HYC6220 3yr, CS 50S 1yr, 435 II 2yr.

Verdict: what you are actually buying

The Hyundai HYC6220 is a capable domestic petrol chainsaw that offers more in the box, a better warranty, and more power than its price would lead you to expect, packaged in construction that is lighter than the premium alternatives and likely to need carburettor attention out of the box. For the domestic user who does not need a saw every day but does need one several times a year for real work, it makes a reasonable case. The three-year warranty with registration and the spare parts commitment give it a useful advantage over the McCulloch alternatives in this bracket. The fuel discipline rules are the same as any petrol chainsaw, with one important difference: this one takes 40:1, not 50:1.

Where it sits relative to a Husqvarna 435 II or a Stihl is clearly below in build quality and refinement. It is not designed for that comparison. It is designed for someone who needs a 20 inch bar petrol saw at a domestic price point, with a warranty that covers them for three years, who is prepared to do the basic maintenance that any petrol saw requires. For that person, the carry bag and spare chain and mixing bottle arriving in the same box matters.

The HYC6220 has been superseded by the HYC6200X on the Hyundai UK website, which adds EURO 5 engine technology and tool-free chain tensioning. If you are buying new and the HYC6200X is available alongside the HYC6220, the current model is worth looking at. The core platform is the same. The EURO 5 tuning and the tool-free tensioner are improvements worth having.

Share on socials: