I appreciate the clear info on the differences between the farm and pro versions. Not easy to find this information in such a specific way that you presented it.
Neat review, great to see how these saws now look under the hood. I have an 038 Super that was made in the mid 80s I think, I am second owner of her, and she still eats wood like a new saw. Looking at this video, it appears that the 038 has a mix of what are now pro parts and homeowner parts. Stihl makes a great product, I do wonder though if these new electronic components will have the durability / lifetime to last as long as my 038 has.
Have an 026 purchased in the late 80's that mirrors what you said. I've used it a LOT and It has been pretty much flawless. I wish every thing I bought was made with this saw.
A really excellent, thorough review on the reasons why to buy a "pro grade" ms261 over the " home owner/farm range". I've got both and the ms261 is heaps better in every way - easily well worth the additional cost. Many thanks for making the video....and wishing you a full recovery very soon !
Well, you convinced me. I was debating between the MS391 Farm/Ranch and the MS362 Professional. It seems like the extra cost is well-worth the hassle in rebuilding the engine, lighter weight, better frame design, and general build quality.
All these people talking about how their homeowner saw has lasted them 10 years... Because you use it once a year! You're a homeowner. The pro models are designed for every day tree work, they just work longer.
I fully support that the Pro saws are a better saw in EVERY way, but here is a real fact, I have had an MS 290 Farm Boss fit with a 24" bar for 20 years this year, and it gets used A LOT! We burn 10-15 chords of Ash Maple and Oak to heat our home every year and I have had ZERO trouble with that saw. My Dad has 3 of the smaller home owner saws and we cut his wood together nowadays. Those home owner saws are always giving him issues, so I think possibly the real difference is from the Farm to the Home owner versions. I cut and split it all by hand and have every year... at 12/year, that's approximately 240 chords of wood on my old saw. used up 3 bars and countless chains over the years. I literally didn't even have a back up until this year, and that is nothing but an electric Milwaukee for camping. I don't know if I am lucky, take better care of it or what, but it has been a great saw, sadly they stopped making them quite a few years ago. The huge difference to me is, the Pro is a lot lighter and I know my old Farm Boss is going to give up some day, so that is why I'm watching these comparison videos. I like the weight savings, at the end of a day of cutting, my old back feels that Farm boss. Thanks for making this video, you did a great job explaining the differences.
@@samburk3635I've got an old ms310 that's the same. I dont cut as much as you,but its usually 6-7 cord a year,mostly oak and maple. I did have to replace the carb this speing,but its $50,sooooo in more than well satisfied
@@samburk3635 The farmboss or wood boss or whatever else are all homeowner saws. The 261, 361, 461 and up are all pro saws, but the farm boss isn't much different than a 271 or 251 other than a small bump in power and weight. It might be a great saw, but if I was cutting that much wood I'd probably opt for a pro saw. Even with the small amount of wood I cut I'm considering a pro saw as just a couple hours of savings one time would pay for itself. Then after that, any additional time saved is basically paying me to use the saw.
in my brain I know what you are saying is true because it IS true. But the older generation of Farm Boss was made a bit different. Clearly not a pro saw, I own 2 of them now, but a solid contender. I just finished up this years wood, another 20 chords and my old Farm Boss needed nothing but gas, a file and a relentless backache. Older I get, the heavier that Farm Boss seems to get. My 261 is a lot lighter but it’s running rough so I used the Farm Boss again this year. 261 is being sent to the shop next week, maybe next year will be its time to outshine old grandpa Farm Boss. I must have got a good one back in 2003… old saw has cut upward of 420 chords of wood in its life!
Your comment about the compression release reminded me of my co-worker trying to kick start his Harley. As I mounted my Honda CB750, he muttered, "If it's not worth starting, it's not worth riding". I just smiled at him, pressed the start button and rode away. Am purchasing 20 acres in God's country that needs a little tidying up. Hmmm, gonna need a chainsaw. The last chainsaw I handled was my dad's Homelite, 45 years ago. Thanks for this review. You just helped me narrow my search down to the MS261CM. I will smile every time I use that compression release.
I'm 23 years old and I also trim trees and fall them.. I have a lot to learn but I used a big 261 today for a climbing job on a pine and it was tough.. been watching your channel for quite some time and I have to say your my idle. I enjoy your work as well as your info and input in your work. I can only hope to be as good as you some day. But being low income I'm stuck with terrible equipment and a big trim saw lol. But thanks for your videos
Excellent video. I have a 461, and it performs well with my 28" and 20" bars. However, I am looking at a smaller, lighter weight saw that will cut smaller trees and limbs yet last me for years to come. Your in-depth maintenance, repair, and construction differences between the two saws convinced me.
I ended up getting a 261 with 18" bar, and I love it. I used a carbide tip chain, and I cleared a creek of trees and brush. it took me a while though.@@stevenbrown5210
I own a 271. Have had it three years. Runs like a champ and is so powerful it will get away from you if you’re kid careful. Only cut wood for personal firewood so I saw no need it hundreds more for a pro level unit. Got mine for $349 and am totally satisfied.
Same here 18" bar with full chisel (yellow chain) cuts everything,oak,ash,elm(yuck)hard maple and locust at about 7 cord a year.Keep the chain sharp and she's a champ love it.
Man its insane! My 2nd favorite saw. I can hold the rear handle with my arm straight out like a freakin lightsaber. I can make full bar length cuts without the engine even slowing down. If someone could only ever buy one chainsaw, the 261 is it.
MiniM00se couldn't have said it better. If you make a living with a chainsaw, STIHL either way is the way to go, but that new 261 slaughters the competition by far
I'm still running my old Stihl 029 with a 20 inch bar and a Stihl 009 with a 12 inch bar. Even have an old all metal Homelite that has more compression than any saw I've ever tried to pull start. I grew up working with my dad's tree service. We had over 40 different saws. All Stihl and Husqvarna. We had Stihl: 009, 029, 036, 044, 066 and many more. They only Husqvarna I can remember the number of is a 394XP with a 4 foot bar. It has 9+ horsepower. We had a 6 foot bar that we would run on it sometimes.
Excellent comparison that spans time and models. They cost more but they do more, both are great, just depends on level of use. One extra note, pro saws / big saws cut faster, but that can be a mixed blessing. Unless you use a saw a lot you may need / appreciate those extra seconds, pro saws make deep face cuts fast, cut through hinges, pinch faster etc. Everything is speeded up so experience and anticipation are needed. Ranch models are awesome and run forever so no shame there, still have mine. Lastly - pro saws with Mtronic carbs do better with varying quality of gas, like older gas. I have let gas get stale (more than 15 days) and my old saws would not run right at all, but the Mtronic adjusted and kept on. Obviously always using fresh premium fuel is the way to go but again, for the occasional user, that would be a plus of an Mtronic. Safe travels...
The fasteners are "Camlocks", straight off airplanes- very cool. BTW, compression release is to minimize pressure on starter pawl mechanism thereby making it last longer altho it is a very tough mechanism esp for a "plastic" part. Stihl rox. Been a saw tech since 1984.
One of the biggest sellers at our local dealerships is also the MS170. Great little saw for basic cleanup. You can get a thicker bar and chain, and metal felling spikes, and it improves the saw a lot. I am considering buying one to carry in the trunk during the winter months in case I come upon a fallen tree across the road. I know guys who do this, carry them in their gear for camping and also strap them down on the back of a 4 wheeler when riding through trails and clearing out hunting land.
You'd never catch me with a 170, that front chain adjuster makes me want to bash my head against a wall, lol. 171 I'll go for though, well worth the extra $20
Just for perspective, I’m seeing this video 7 years after it was posted. In 2000 I bought a new Stihl Farm Boss 029 Super. It’s now 23 years old and I just took down a triple tree for a relative last week with it and It ran and cut perfectly. The only thing I’ve replaced is the fuel line and chain. They keep trying to improve what was already pretty much perfected and naturally, they change the model numbers to sell the “latest and supposedly greatest” I’m stihl happy with my old 029!
Thanks for a great review! I have many saws and none electronic! 066...early 361, early 310, 170 just naming a few stihls and I have put the home/ranch saws through the same misery that my pro saws go through on a daily basis and as long as you keep ethanol away from them and use good oil about 40 to 1 or so and dont gittem with a skidder, dozer, or drop em hard and far they all seem like perty dern good saws. I have saws that I've retired from about 1970 and before that are still good saws...point being....I like em all, just have no need for autotune yet!..Many Blessings, Kev
Human. It's going good. I am running a 85' boom lift these days putting up hotels. I don't get to work in the trees but I am up about as high. You're content is great. Hope to see you around St. Louis some time.
Hey thanks for making this video! I always wondered the differences between the home/ranch vs. pro saws. I knew about the magnesium vs. plastic construction and about the clam shell though I was not certain what clam shell meant but you really spelled it out here. I have 25 year old Stihl 021 that just keeps running with basic maintenance but this is great info as a look for a second larger saw. The 261 is looking good and I think the newest version of it is a bit lighter and more powerful (10.8 lbs and 4hp) to match the Husky XP 50cc saw.
We recently "1 1/2 months or so" picked up a new 261, though it's not the latest version you're talking about. I love that saw, runs like a champ. Though honestly I hear the Husqvarna XP's are damn nice as well. I'd love to get my hands on some to run, just don't know anyone around here with one. Especially the 395 XP, from what I hear it outperforms my new 661. Likely would still have gone with the 661 as I'm more familiar with, and knowledgeable of the stihl line. Maybe I'll buy an XP next and start getting used to those saws as well.
I've always looked at it like this: if you're just doing basic chores around your property and/or you cut only small diameter trees for firewood, then a farm/ranch saw will serve you just fine. If, however, you want the best bang for your buck then buy a pro saw up front. It will still be serving you long after you've forgotten about the price. If you live in the western states, where the trees grow BIG, then a pro saw is absolutely worth the money. The smaller pro saws are a great buy for the guy that even just cuts a little bit a year. Pro saws are built better, with stronger internals and components. They're also worth rebuilding when they do give out. A STIHL MS261 or Husqvarna 550XP would be my first choices if I was looking for a smaller saw that could handle 90% of what the average woodcutter is going to throw at it. Smaller saws are also less tiring to operate and quicker to maneuver for limbing operations. The STIHL MS241 would be an absolute gem if you can manage to find one.
When replacing my 51 Husky(badass saw for size) I chose the same pro saw you viewed. Well worth the extra cost. I heat with wood, so it gets used a lot. Three seasons now. So far the carb is working fine. The saw is a screamer. I remember when FI came out on cars,folks were scared of it,too.
The 362 dont use fuel injection. Just a processor that adjust the carburator automatically.. the 500i is fuel injected. And theres no comparison in performance of the 500i and a similar sized carburated chainsaw
I was gifted a brand new 261C (I know, what a gift), otherwise I don't think I could have justified buying one over the 271. I'm sure the 271 is more than enough saw for most people. I know it would be for me. I was a bit wary of the computer adjusting carb but it's awesome. It makes sense though, considering we all have computers in our cars and we never give our carburetors a second thought. The 261 has been awesome.
Nice Not to be mean or envious But can you tell me if you gave yourself a 👍 Because most people are jealous of someone else's good fortune. Anyways I gave you a 👍
Excellent comparison video. Its very difficult for most new chainsaw buyers and users to understand the difference as both looks very similar on the outside, devils in the hidden details.
Great video, thank you, I plan on sending my MS261C to West Hill Saw House for, compression increase, port maping, reshape and retime the ports, muffler mod, tear down clean, reaseal, replace any bad parts at the time, new rings, and then retune. This will vastly make this model really shine. I almost have the money saved up 😁
Thank you for showing me the things that Stihl should have made clear. Great video. First thing I realized as a rookie, watching pro lumberjack videos, or arborists, they all use large double dog spikes and a full wrap handle. Why isn’t that standard on all their pro saws? I saw one model that did come with those but my 362cm didn’t. Stihl sells an upgrade kit for $300. That pushed an 800 dollar saw up to a 1000 dollar saw. It should have been included.
I was looking at the XP550, but I keep reading that it bogs down as did the one I tested. No reports so far on the 261 CM. I think I'm sticking with my Stihl and getting the 261
There's another MS311 review that comes up on TH-cam and the guy says "The engine puts out 59cc of power." It's really hard to take the review seriously. No offense. He seems like a good honest person. Notes about CC's. Chainsaws are rated by their CC rating, not their horsepower rating. CC's are a size measurement of the engine. Not a horsepower rating. All engines are rated according to the their size first, and horsepower second, generally. Yard equipment and motorcycles are sold based on how many CC's their engine has. Echo saws don't list their horsepower at all. Briggs and Straton now actively tries to deceive people by listing the TORQUE, and not the horsepower on their engine stickers. Never buy an engine that has a deceptive tag on it, that doesn't tell you the Horsepower rating. Horsepower is what performs work. Torque cannot perform work, because torque can exist with zero RPM's. Horsepower (not torque) is how you calculate how much work you can do. It's based on horses, ropes, and calculating how much work a horse can do. They have a LOT of torque, and speed, and a lot of horsepower. CC's are "Cubic Centimeters" which is the volume inside the cylinder when the piston is all the way down at the bottom of the bore, compared to when the piston moves to the top of the bore. It's a measurement based on 2 things. 1.) Cylinder diameter. 2) Crankshaft stroke length. Otherwise known as "Bore x Stroke." Cubic Centimeters (CC) can also be written as (CM3) or (CCM) on some Japanese motors. It's the same as CC. There is no relationship between CC's and horsepower. Generally larger engines have more horsepower. But that isn't the case with pro saws, which have more horsepower than the old large POS (piece of shit) Poulan saws.
@@Ritalie for you to say CC's has no relation to HP is silly ... in an air cooled 2 stroke the only way you generally increase HP with a substantial amount is to increase the engine size .... the bigger the engine the more HP it will produce.. in a 2 stroke engine there are no cams valves pushrods over heads cams exc to vary what a engine's HP will make other than the the size and stroke of that piston... so CC's are infact a direct relation to HP
@@Ritalie Horsepower = (Torque x RPM)/5252. CC is the displacement of the cylinder when the piston is at BDC. Compression Ratio = the difference in volume between the piston @BDC and @TDC. There's is a direct link between displacement and horsepower. An engine spinning with 100 lbft of torque @ 500 RPM is the same amount of horsepower as an engine spinning @ 5000 RPM with 10 lbft of torque or 50000 rpm with 1 lbft of torque. Peak piston speed is typically around 55mph for very high performance engines. The longer the stroke relative to the bore the higher the torque relative to the horsepower will be as the expanding gases have a longer time to exert their forces upon the piston. Subsequently the engine can't spin as fast @ a 55 mph piston speed with a long stroke. Now if we make the piston oversquare (bore larger than stroke) we can spin the engine faster, but each ignition cycle has less time to act upon the piston so we get less out of each ignition cycle. And the less windage the higher the power. So the tighter the tolerance between the piston and the cylinder the more power can be extracted. (This is the biggest difference with super high performance engines, and how you see NA engines getting up near 300-400 hp/l)
@@nickparimuha81 not true. design of the actual head makes the power. same reason the 49cc Husqvarna from lowes puts out have the power of the 49cc 562xp
I did a couple of sweet videos of the MS 271. I like the saw. I was able to buy the 271 and the 180 cbe for the same price as the 261. I love the saws. I wanted the 261 But, the 271 is fine.
I purchased the MS250 and got it because it was worth the cost of the saw and it would last a long time. Instead, my saw have been nothing but a pain in the butt with me spending over 5 trips to the local repair shop where I got it new. The main problem I am having is cranking the saw. The rope only comes out part of the way and quits with it not being able to crank. I now have another saw (Poulan Pro battery saw) which is doing what I want it to do, and I am a happy camper. The other saws which I have is a Poulan, and a Poulan Pro and the Poulan Pro was purchased this past Summer and had to be repaired before I could use it. The old Poulan saw have been with me since 2000 when I got it to deal with the snow and ice we received that Winter.
Love my new Farm Boss. Best Saw ive ever used. All my buddies have them which is what sold me on buying this model. We use firewood for heat so we cut anytime a tree falls and for need and these Farm Boss models are bullet proof so far. We all use the premix Stihl Gas 93 octane non ethanol. Cuts like butter..
I've been using 100:1 synthetic Amsoil 2 cycle mix in my firewood business and absolutely love it! Less smoke, still great protection. I recommend it to everyone.
Hey guy you’re videos are great! I went a bought this saw after seeing this vid! I bought a ms291 4 years ago and it’s a amazing! So despite the opinions of some of the haters thankful for guys like you who lay it on the line
Clear presentation, great video, I love that you included real stats. Would have been even clearer if the stats were put up in screen as you said them (in text)
No offense, but common sense would indicate to most people that if a saw is better in every single capacity, it's going to be more expensive. Moreover, every dealer has their own pricing so the prices where he works might be different from your local dealer.
Stihl has several different "tiers" of pricing, so not necessarily the same across the board, but most dealers use the same tier to try to remain competitive.
@@HankTheTank23 Doubt he'd be offended because his comment didn't say "err is it gonna be more expensive for the nicer one?", just that he covers price...Which I fully agree with, would be nice to know if going from homeowner to pro is ~25% price-increase or a 100% price-hike, regional price variances do *nothing* to dissuade inclusion of some rough metric "they're ~25% more expensive" or "they're usually twice-as expensive" so people have an idea what some minor improvements are costing in relative terms ;)
Just saying, we have an old Husky 42 Special which is a 2.9hp saw from the late 80's and it has pretty much all the things that pro model has... Magnesium body and bar cover, compression release valve and an adjustable bar oiler... It also has holes drilled through the cooling fins so you can access the screws at the bottom of the cylinder... The only things it doesn't have are the self-retaining bar nuts, the quick-release screws for the top cover and the automatic carburetor. As far as i'm aware, our 42 Special is not a pro saw. Probably more of a mid-range home owner's saw for de-branching and light felling. So how come the modern Stihl Farm/Ranch saw, which is a much bigger model than our old 42, doesn't have any of these things? Kinda makes you wonder... :)
Karl The Fragr My dad’s Husqvarna 55 is the same way, built like a pro saw but not sold as one. The new Husqvarna saws in the same class (455, 445, etc) are as bad as the 271, 291, etc. They’re almost all just cost-cutting moves. Both manufacturers make good saws. I really like Stihl’s master control lever, but the 372XP is my favorite saw ever built. Picking sides for pro saws is asinine. They’re both good enough to make you money. I picked based on dealer service. Where I live Stihl’s service is much better... Und zo I own a 441 and a 460. It’s not worth getting worked up over.
I got a MS390 saw it’s 20 years old and in brand new shape always worked so great starts up right away always ! Is it a good saw ? Did I buy a good one ? Must say I love the power and it slices through trunks like butter nothing like cutting down trees in the winter !
I bought a MS 261. I will never wear it out. One or two tanks of gas a year, but it is what I wanted. A serious step up from the Echo CS-400 that I was using before.
Decent overall comparison. Thought it was funny when you discuss a top end swap as a field fix! I don't know many guys who carry and extra top end into the field! Cheers!
I too thought that was funny..." All set.. got my bar oil, fuel, files, sledge and wedge". "Oh! almost forgot my tool chest, top jug, gasket kit, and rings".. lol
You mention how those bolts let you "easily remove the cylinder in-field" - when&why would you be wanting to open the jug on a job site? Genuinely curious, so far as I knew the only time you'd do this would be on your work bench, hell on most job-sites I'd be super cautious just exposing the plug-hole to the cylinder if a plug needed swapping mid-job (can't imagine *why* that'd ever happen though...back-up saw failed and you're now doing repairs in-field to be able to wrap the job? Would be buying more backups the following day if I ever needed to do saw-work to get through a job would be such a waste to have to break-down everything for a day so you can go running around local brick&mortars finding the best-in-area :P )
Theirs only one other career that I could compare the level of...danger,heroics, life saving, harm's way. A SeaShepard- helicopter repelling divers who rescue people from sinking ships in storms, 20 foot waves n cold cold water. The type of Men who were born different, and they know it in their bones. The kind of person who reaches into hell, 30ft wave, 4 story blaze. Bible verse, Isaiah 6:8 "And Then I heard the voice of the Lord, Saying, Who shall go for us, and Whom shall I send? 'And I said. Here Am I , Send Me' ".
Can the 261 keep its self in needle bearings now? Bloody great Saw but I sent mine back and rebuilt my old MS260 as the needle bearing kept collapsing every 2-3hours.
Wow. I didn't realize they considered these small saws to be a " pro saw ". I figured the smallest " pro saw " would be something like a 461. Learn something new every day!
I'm just happy as can be with my ms250. cheaper priced light and handy for limbing. I only wish stihl stopped using those complex for no reason and problematic fuel/oil covers. what's wrong with simple threaded covers?
Absolutely, the 250 is a great saw. I will say though after using those covers in tree service, I actually love them now. I don't carry a scrench on me while I'm in the tree, though do keep one in my box. Pain though having to run to the truck whenever I need to refuel, I find the quick release caps handy.
Human you like those covers? Just bought a stihl 56 weedy wacky and it has marvelously simple screw on gas cap. Simple is cheaper and I had to replace the ones on my 250. I found it aggravating.
Kynan Milo Funny, I just sold my 29 year old 038 AV Super to buy a MS170. 😃. That was after I bought a Farm/Ranch MS311. MS311 starts easy, runs great, is a lot lighter than the 038 and cuts with a full chipper much longer than I can hold it. I spent 3 hours cutting red oak recently, the largest pieces being about 24”. It isn’t as powerful as the 038 but powerful enough.
Thank you... that was a super informative comparison... much more details than other reviews comparing the MS261 to MS271.... as you say they are still both great chainsaws but it's really interesting to understand why the MS261 is higher cost. I likely will get a MS271 or MS251 when it's time to get a new saw as they will easily meet my needs while being very good saws... although the MS261 has some nice weight saving magnesium on it :)
Good vid! I own a 261 and the most obvious difference between the lower end saws is the low vibration feature. The handles are sprung/bushed to insulate them from the motor. I works a treat and you really feel the benefit.
So I was looking at the Stihl Farm Boss... Few questions, 18” bar or 20” bar? Is there a difference buying it from a Farm and Fleet (Stihl dealer) compared to a Stihl dealer/privately owned shop. I understand the angle of support small business. I am talking about saw wise. Thanks
Their both good....used both professionally....and if they are both taken care of....they will last...there are + and - in both models really.... especially when it comes to buying parts (engine, injection,etc).....
"Microprocessor controlled carburetor..." No thanks, I'll stick with my low-tech, never fails to start and runs like new 10-year old 20" MS290 Farm Boss. 👍
@@danmagill7616 I used to think the same, but after running the 261C-M for almost 2 years, I've really grown fond of it. I'm REALLY growing fond of NO carb in the 500I I got 2 days ago!
I'm looking to get another saw, I have a MS170 and I've been doing all of my cutting with it and it's 16" bar. I cut a redoak up today, the 16" bar didn't come close to reaching the other side, and I would like to be able to use a more aggressive chain, and would like more power.
I’m trying to decide between the stihl ms391 or the ms261cm to add with my ms250. Currently have an 18” bar on the 250. Would like to put a 14” on the 250 and get an 18” in the 391 or 261. Tough call both 391 and 261 about the same price
I have an MS390 that I bought 7 or 8 years ago and she has done me well! It is heavy but I have cut a fair bit of wood. It was a great feeling to come back from a military deployment after a year and the saw started up after a few pulls. Stihl is expensive but to me the reliability is worth it.
100% with you on that, I'll always gladly pay a bit more if I know that I can rely on it down the road. Must have been nice having the saw start right up, coming back from deployment, you've always got 8 million things that need to be done, having one less thing to worry about is a huge weight off the shoulders. Until you're done cutting at least, because then the 8 million other things get shoved right back in your face, lol.
@Joe W I wouldn't know as this was my first Stihl saw and have expanded to many more of their products. I do run a 25" bar so maybe thats a factor. I just don't like holding it over shoulder height for long times.
I prefer to run nothing longer than a 20" bar on these plastic saws, I feel that the case isn't as strong as the magnesium saws and sometimes the front bar stud will pull out of the plastic that it's screwed into..
"The crankshaft is a part of the frame so the cylinder bolts right in to it". What? Where? WTF?! 🤪 But, nice wise you got there on the background! 😎 And the video was very nice too. Clicked thumb up.
My Husqvarna Rancher has compression release and it's in the homeowner price class. Got it brand new at sears for 200 bucks! Stihl can't compare to that kinda pricing! On my third season now, have never had to mess or clean the air filter and it runs like a champ! Ran three season old gas mix with fuel stabilizer in it, fired right up! In general I try to run only ethanol free gas! But, stihl is my go to company for bar oil!
Hello, Just got a quick question if you don't mind answering, I'm fairly new to doing chainsaw repair and maintenance and wanting to replace the cylinder on my 271 but not sure if it's just an easy swap old for new process or I'd have to doing a bit more than that (adjust or recalibrate timing for exhaust/ignition)? Kinda of like replacing the timing belt on a bigger engine where a lot more complexity and skill is required. Many thanks!
Howdy. i'm a amatuer yet since you didn't get a reply may i respond? My youngest son just gifted me a 271 with service manual. Manual informative. If you are going to go so deep into the repair anyway perhaps you would want one for yourself.
Can i drill my muffler baffles on my 271 like you did on your saws to get more ass out of it? Or is that for pro saws with electronics in em? Also do you reccomend that i let my dealer adjust carb? They said they do it free and i havent bothered since i bought it, seems to be running good but im not sure how much more potential it might have. Or if im just cooking the rings haha im not really a 2 stroke guy.
Human, I am looking for a Stihl saw. Just for use around the yard cutting firewood, felling trees, and general clean up. This will not be used professionally, might sit for a few months between uses. I have my eye on the 362, but that's a lot of money. I want something that will be more than adequate and not be under powered. Is there a saw you suggest that will run a 20" bar, have plenty of power, and not break the bank? Is a Farm and Ranch model likely a better fit for me?
Im debating between the ms261 cm and the ms391, with 20” bar. Would be used as a homeowner for occasional taking down a tree and cleanup. Any thoughts?
I would NOT buy a Stihl after my current experience with a key component product defect, coupled with Stihl UK's customer service. I bought my Stihl MS391 in December 2016 and used maybe 6 weekends a year in my large garden, so small usage compared to forestry/tree surgeons. Last month it had problems starting so I took it to a Stihl dealer/service agent and they reported that the thread on the cylinder head is damaged so the spark plug won’t tighten enough for the machine to start the engine. I was quoted £275 for labour and parts on a chainsaw that cost me £475 four years ago, now retailing at £650. Stihl refused to compensate me or find a mutual resolution as they insist it's a wear & tear issue It's crazy. What would you do?
me too. i have the older version which is a touch heavier but I don't care. love that saw. deep down I actually wanted the husky 550xp but the local husky dealer was never open on weekends! Stihl dealer was closer and open weekends. big deal for me. either saw works tho, they both cut wood pretty fast :)
IVE OWNED 2 HUSKY460s both were took back for busted pistons whithin a week of each other.oil and gas mixture was right too dealer checked it after second piece of shit husky blowed up within a week of using it I got my money back bought a 390 stihl with a25 inch bar freakin damn what a BEAST..460 dosent have shit on a stihl ms390 cuts twice as fast that has been two years ago-hasn't blown up yet..my moneys on STIHL..LOVEM..
Connor Sporich I was going to buy one in a week have you had problems out of your ? I will be buying a new 2018 model would like to know is it with buying? And is it easy to work on ?
Amazing... most other people take 3 times as long to go over it... quick and full of all the things I needed to know!
I appreciate the clear info on the differences between the farm and pro versions. Not easy to find this information in such a specific way that you presented it.
Neat review, great to see how these saws now look under the hood. I have an 038 Super that was made in the mid 80s I think, I am second owner of her, and she still eats wood like a new saw. Looking at this video, it appears that the 038 has a mix of what are now pro parts and homeowner parts. Stihl makes a great product, I do wonder though if these new electronic components will have the durability / lifetime to last as long as my 038 has.
Have an 026 purchased in the late 80's that mirrors what you said. I've used it a LOT and It has been pretty much flawless. I wish every thing I bought was made with this saw.
A really excellent, thorough review on the reasons why to buy a "pro grade" ms261 over the " home owner/farm range".
I've got both and the ms261 is heaps better in every way - easily well worth the additional cost.
Many thanks for making the video....and wishing you a full recovery very soon !
Thanks, appreciate it =)
Well, you convinced me. I was debating between the MS391 Farm/Ranch and the MS362 Professional. It seems like the extra cost is well-worth the hassle in rebuilding the engine, lighter weight, better frame design, and general build quality.
All these people talking about how their homeowner saw has lasted them 10 years...
Because you use it once a year! You're a homeowner. The pro models are designed for every day tree work, they just work longer.
I fully support that the Pro saws are a better saw in EVERY way, but here is a real fact, I have had an MS 290 Farm Boss fit with a 24" bar for 20 years this year, and it gets used A LOT! We burn 10-15 chords of Ash Maple and Oak to heat our home every year and I have had ZERO trouble with that saw. My Dad has 3 of the smaller home owner saws and we cut his wood together nowadays. Those home owner saws are always giving him issues, so I think possibly the real difference is from the Farm to the Home owner versions. I cut and split it all by hand and have every year... at 12/year, that's approximately 240 chords of wood on my old saw. used up 3 bars and countless chains over the years. I literally didn't even have a back up until this year, and that is nothing but an electric Milwaukee for camping. I don't know if I am lucky, take better care of it or what, but it has been a great saw, sadly they stopped making them quite a few years ago. The huge difference to me is, the Pro is a lot lighter and I know my old Farm Boss is going to give up some day, so that is why I'm watching these comparison videos. I like the weight savings, at the end of a day of cutting, my old back feels that Farm boss. Thanks for making this video, you did a great job explaining the differences.
@@samburk3635I've got an old ms310 that's the same. I dont cut as much as you,but its usually 6-7 cord a year,mostly oak and maple. I did have to replace the carb this speing,but its $50,sooooo in more than well satisfied
@@samburk3635 The farmboss or wood boss or whatever else are all homeowner saws. The 261, 361, 461 and up are all pro saws, but the farm boss isn't much different than a 271 or 251 other than a small bump in power and weight. It might be a great saw, but if I was cutting that much wood I'd probably opt for a pro saw. Even with the small amount of wood I cut I'm considering a pro saw as just a couple hours of savings one time would pay for itself. Then after that, any additional time saved is basically paying me to use the saw.
in my brain I know what you are saying is true because it IS true. But the older generation of Farm Boss was made a bit different. Clearly not a pro saw, I own 2 of them now, but a solid contender. I just finished up this years wood, another 20 chords and my old Farm Boss needed nothing but gas, a file and a relentless backache. Older I get, the heavier that Farm Boss seems to get. My 261 is a lot lighter but it’s running rough so I used the Farm Boss again this year. 261 is being sent to the shop next week, maybe next year will be its time to outshine old grandpa Farm Boss. I must have got a good one back in 2003… old saw has cut upward of 420 chords of wood in its life!
Your comment about the compression release reminded me of my co-worker
trying to kick start his Harley. As I mounted my Honda CB750, he
muttered, "If it's not worth starting, it's not worth riding". I just
smiled at him, pressed the start button and rode away.
Am purchasing 20 acres in God's country that needs a little tidying up.
Hmmm, gonna need a chainsaw. The last chainsaw I handled was my dad's
Homelite, 45 years ago. Thanks for this review. You just helped me
narrow my search down to the MS261CM. I will smile every time I use
that compression release.
I'm 23 years old and I also trim trees and fall them.. I have a lot to learn but I used a big 261 today for a climbing job on a pine and it was tough.. been watching your channel for quite some time and I have to say your my idle. I enjoy your work as well as your info and input in your work. I can only hope to be as good as you some day. But being low income I'm stuck with terrible equipment and a big trim saw lol. But thanks for your videos
year later that saw is climbing to in price
Excellent video. I have a 461, and it performs well with my 28" and 20" bars. However, I am looking at a smaller, lighter weight saw that will cut smaller trees and limbs yet last me for years to come. Your in-depth maintenance, repair, and construction differences between the two saws convinced me.
For that use a 251 or even a 211 would be fine
I ended up getting a 261 with 18" bar, and I love it. I used a carbide tip chain, and I cleared a creek of trees and brush. it took me a while though.@@stevenbrown5210
I own a 271. Have had it three years. Runs like a champ and is so powerful it will get away from you if you’re kid careful. Only cut wood for personal firewood so I saw no need it hundreds more for a pro level unit. Got mine for $349 and am totally satisfied.
Same here 18" bar with full chisel (yellow chain) cuts everything,oak,ash,elm(yuck)hard maple and locust at about 7 cord a year.Keep the chain sharp and she's a champ love it.
Thank you for finally posting a knowledgeable review of the differences in the lines
Got a 271 been running great over 4 years now, also bought a MS 170 to go with it and still less than the 261 cost
The latest 261 is the best saw I've ever owned over the past 35 years. I couldn't be happier with it.
Man its insane! My 2nd favorite saw. I can hold the rear handle with my arm straight out like a freakin lightsaber. I can make full bar length cuts without the engine even slowing down. If someone could only ever buy one chainsaw, the 261 is it.
The bottom line is if you make a living with a chainsaw get an echo
Tweak247 bahahahaha 😂😂😂
MiniM00se couldn't have said it better. If you make a living with a chainsaw, STIHL either way is the way to go, but that new 261 slaughters the competition by far
"The bottom line is if you make a living with a chainsaw get an echo".........LOL too funny!!! Good one.
I'm still running my old Stihl 029 with a 20 inch bar and a Stihl 009 with a 12 inch bar.
Even have an old all metal Homelite that has more compression than any saw I've ever tried to pull start.
I grew up working with my dad's tree service. We had over 40 different saws. All Stihl and Husqvarna.
We had Stihl: 009, 029, 036, 044, 066 and many more.
They only Husqvarna I can remember the number of is a 394XP with a 4 foot bar.
It has 9+ horsepower.
We had a 6 foot bar that we would run on it sometimes.
I've got 029 super with 18 inch, 009 with 14 inch, ms170 with 12 inch
Excellent comparison that spans time and models. They cost more but they do more, both are great, just depends on level of use. One extra note, pro saws / big saws cut faster, but that can be a mixed blessing. Unless you use a saw a lot you may need / appreciate those extra seconds, pro saws make deep face cuts fast, cut through hinges, pinch faster etc. Everything is speeded up so experience and anticipation are needed. Ranch models are awesome and run forever so no shame there, still have mine. Lastly - pro saws with Mtronic carbs do better with varying quality of gas, like older gas. I have let gas get stale (more than 15 days) and my old saws would not run right at all, but the Mtronic adjusted and kept on. Obviously always using fresh premium fuel is the way to go but again, for the occasional user, that would be a plus of an Mtronic. Safe travels...
I really want a 261. I have an 018 that's over 20 yrs old and still runs great. Thanks for information that I couldn't even get from Stihl.
Is this TOSH.0's straight brother?
I was thinking of a less feminine looking version of Julian Smith, but that's a pretty good comparison also
W
Berapa bos harga nya
LMAO
The fasteners are "Camlocks", straight off airplanes- very cool. BTW, compression release is to minimize pressure on starter pawl mechanism thereby making it last longer altho it is a very tough mechanism esp for a "plastic" part. Stihl rox. Been a saw tech since 1984.
One of the biggest sellers at our local dealerships is also the MS170. Great little saw for basic cleanup. You can get a thicker bar and chain, and metal felling spikes, and it improves the saw a lot. I am considering buying one to carry in the trunk during the winter months in case I come upon a fallen tree across the road. I know guys who do this, carry them in their gear for camping and also strap them down on the back of a 4 wheeler when riding through trails and clearing out hunting land.
You'd never catch me with a 170, that front chain adjuster makes me want to bash my head against a wall, lol. 171 I'll go for though, well worth the extra $20
Human lol, I had thought about getting one, but no...the ms271 does all I need. If I need smaller, I can go down to a 16 inch bar.
Just for perspective, I’m seeing this video 7 years after it was posted. In 2000 I bought a new Stihl Farm Boss 029 Super. It’s now 23 years old and I just took down a triple tree for a relative last week with it and It ran and cut perfectly. The only thing I’ve replaced is the fuel line and chain. They keep trying to improve what was already pretty much perfected and naturally, they change the model numbers to sell the “latest and supposedly greatest” I’m stihl happy with my old 029!
I own a 271, I personally think it's a great chainsaw, never had any problems with it
Can you install dual dogs on the 271?
Thanks for a great review! I have many saws and none electronic! 066...early 361, early 310, 170 just naming a few stihls and I have put the home/ranch saws through the same misery that my pro saws go through on a daily basis and as long as you keep ethanol away from them and use good oil about 40 to 1 or so and dont gittem with a skidder, dozer, or drop em hard and far they all seem like perty dern good saws. I have saws that I've retired from about 1970 and before that are still good saws...point being....I like em all, just have no need for autotune yet!..Many Blessings, Kev
I'm a major novice but I did my research and am glad I got the 261. I love it it runs great aand cuts very well. As long as I keep the chain sharp.
Most awesome Stihl video I have ever seen; and I've seem many! Great job! Thank-you
You sold me a ms261cm at arts about a year ago and I love it!! No problems with it at all. Keep up the good work.
Hey! Yeah, that was right before I started working in tree service. Saw you and your buddy up there a little while after that, how's it going?
Human. It's going good. I am running a 85' boom lift these days putting up hotels. I don't get to work in the trees but I am up about as high. You're content is great. Hope to see you around St. Louis some time.
Hey thanks for making this video! I always wondered the differences between the home/ranch vs. pro saws. I knew about the magnesium vs. plastic construction and about the clam shell though I was not certain what clam shell meant but you really spelled it out here. I have 25 year old Stihl 021 that just keeps running with basic maintenance but this is great info as a look for a second larger saw. The 261 is looking good and I think the newest version of it is a bit lighter and more powerful (10.8 lbs and 4hp) to match the Husky XP 50cc saw.
We recently "1 1/2 months or so" picked up a new 261, though it's not the latest version you're talking about. I love that saw, runs like a champ. Though honestly I hear the Husqvarna XP's are damn nice as well. I'd love to get my hands on some to run, just don't know anyone around here with one. Especially the 395 XP, from what I hear it outperforms my new 661. Likely would still have gone with the 661 as I'm more familiar with, and knowledgeable of the stihl line. Maybe I'll buy an XP next and start getting used to those saws as well.
I've always looked at it like this: if you're just doing basic chores around your property and/or you cut only small diameter trees for firewood, then a farm/ranch saw will serve you just fine. If, however, you want the best bang for your buck then buy a pro saw up front. It will still be serving you long after you've forgotten about the price. If you live in the western states, where the trees grow BIG, then a pro saw is absolutely worth the money. The smaller pro saws are a great buy for the guy that even just cuts a little bit a year. Pro saws are built better, with stronger internals and components. They're also worth rebuilding when they do give out. A STIHL MS261 or Husqvarna 550XP would be my first choices if I was looking for a smaller saw that could handle 90% of what the average woodcutter is going to throw at it. Smaller saws are also less tiring to operate and quicker to maneuver for limbing operations. The STIHL MS241 would be an absolute gem if you can manage to find one.
Good objective review... thanks. This will help me decide which saw to buy.
When replacing my 51 Husky(badass saw for size) I chose the same pro saw you viewed. Well worth the extra cost. I heat with wood, so it gets used a lot. Three seasons now. So far the carb is working fine. The saw is a screamer. I remember when FI came out on cars,folks were scared of it,too.
The 362 dont use fuel injection. Just a processor that adjust the carburator automatically.. the 500i is fuel injected. And theres no comparison in performance of the 500i and a similar sized carburated chainsaw
@@no.step.on.snek.2423 Yes sir . Thanks for the clarification. Was just reading bout the 500, bet it is mean.
I have an older MS 361 and absolutely love it. The new type of air filter is really nice though. Thanks for the video.
I was gifted a brand new 261C (I know, what a gift), otherwise I don't think I could have justified buying one over the 271. I'm sure the 271 is more than enough saw for most people. I know it would be for me. I was a bit wary of the computer adjusting carb but it's awesome. It makes sense though, considering we all have computers in our cars and we never give our carburetors a second thought. The 261 has been awesome.
Nice
Not to be mean or envious
But can you tell me if you gave yourself a 👍
Because most people are jealous of someone else's good fortune.
Anyways I gave you a 👍
Just picked up a MS362 CM w/ 20" bar about a 1/2 hour ago! I can't wait to shred some wood! Thank you for your videos!
That is one badass saw! I'm saving up for an MS241CM or an MS261CM.
Thanks for video. I never knew the difference in saws. I have never needed a pro saw until now. The information was very useful.
Excellent comparison video. Its very difficult for most new chainsaw buyers and users to understand the difference as both looks very similar on the outside, devils in the hidden details.
Great video, thank you, I plan on sending my MS261C to West Hill Saw House for, compression increase, port maping, reshape and retime the ports, muffler mod, tear down clean, reaseal, replace any bad parts at the time, new rings, and then retune. This will vastly make this model really shine. I almost have the money saved up 😁
Bryan Haugen
Have you gotten it back? If so can you say a few words about it? Price? Thanks.
Thank you for showing me the things that Stihl should have made clear. Great video. First thing I realized as a rookie, watching pro lumberjack videos, or arborists, they all use large double dog spikes and a full wrap handle. Why isn’t that standard on all their pro saws? I saw one model that did come with those but my 362cm didn’t. Stihl sells an upgrade kit for $300. That pushed an 800 dollar saw up to a 1000 dollar saw. It should have been included.
My 261-CM is great...2 seasons on it so far!
I was looking at the XP550, but I keep reading that it bogs down as did the one I tested. No reports so far on the 261 CM. I think I'm sticking with my Stihl and getting the 261
1:38 did you mean crankcase, not crankshaft? I can't see the crankshaft being part of the "frame" or saw case.
Yeah, misspoke there, crankshaft is sandwiched in between the two crankcase halves, but isn't actually part of it.
There's another MS311 review that comes up on TH-cam and the guy says "The engine puts out 59cc of power." It's really hard to take the review seriously. No offense. He seems like a good honest person.
Notes about CC's. Chainsaws are rated by their CC rating, not their horsepower rating. CC's are a size measurement of the engine. Not a horsepower rating. All engines are rated according to the their size first, and horsepower second, generally.
Yard equipment and motorcycles are sold based on how many CC's their engine has. Echo saws don't list their horsepower at all. Briggs and Straton now actively tries to deceive people by listing the TORQUE, and not the horsepower on their engine stickers. Never buy an engine that has a deceptive tag on it, that doesn't tell you the Horsepower rating.
Horsepower is what performs work. Torque cannot perform work, because torque can exist with zero RPM's. Horsepower (not torque) is how you calculate how much work you can do. It's based on horses, ropes, and calculating how much work a horse can do. They have a LOT of torque, and speed, and a lot of horsepower.
CC's are "Cubic Centimeters" which is the volume inside the cylinder when the piston is all the way down at the bottom of the bore, compared to when the piston moves to the top of the bore. It's a measurement based on 2 things. 1.) Cylinder diameter. 2) Crankshaft stroke length. Otherwise known as "Bore x Stroke." Cubic Centimeters (CC) can also be written as (CM3) or (CCM) on some Japanese motors. It's the same as CC.
There is no relationship between CC's and horsepower. Generally larger engines have more horsepower. But that isn't the case with pro saws, which have more horsepower than the old large POS (piece of shit) Poulan saws.
@@Ritalie for you to say CC's has no relation to HP is silly ... in an air cooled 2 stroke the only way you generally increase HP with a substantial amount is to increase the engine size .... the bigger the engine the more HP it will produce.. in a 2 stroke engine there are no cams valves pushrods over heads cams exc to vary what a engine's HP will make other than the the size and stroke of that piston... so CC's are infact a direct relation to HP
@@Ritalie Horsepower = (Torque x RPM)/5252. CC is the displacement of the cylinder when the piston is at BDC. Compression Ratio = the difference in volume between the piston @BDC and @TDC. There's is a direct link between displacement and horsepower. An engine spinning with 100 lbft of torque @ 500 RPM is the same amount of horsepower as an engine spinning @ 5000 RPM with 10 lbft of torque or 50000 rpm with 1 lbft of torque.
Peak piston speed is typically around 55mph for very high performance engines. The longer the stroke relative to the bore the higher the torque relative to the horsepower will be as the expanding gases have a longer time to exert their forces upon the piston. Subsequently the engine can't spin as fast @ a 55 mph piston speed with a long stroke. Now if we make the piston oversquare (bore larger than stroke) we can spin the engine faster, but each ignition cycle has less time to act upon the piston so we get less out of each ignition cycle. And the less windage the higher the power. So the tighter the tolerance between the piston and the cylinder the more power can be extracted. (This is the biggest difference with super high performance engines, and how you see NA engines getting up near 300-400 hp/l)
@@nickparimuha81 not true. design of the actual head makes the power. same reason the 49cc Husqvarna from lowes puts out have the power of the 49cc 562xp
I did a couple of sweet videos of the MS 271. I like the saw. I was able to buy the 271 and the 180 cbe for the same price as the 261. I love the saws. I wanted the 261 But, the 271 is fine.
I just bought the 271. Seems ok. Hioenit lasts.
I purchased the MS250 and got it because it was worth the cost of the saw and it would last a long time. Instead, my saw have been nothing but a pain in the butt with me spending over 5 trips to the local repair shop where I got it new. The main problem I am having is cranking the saw. The rope only comes out part of the way and quits with it not being able to crank. I now have another saw (Poulan Pro battery saw) which is doing what I want it to do, and I am a happy camper. The other saws which I have is a Poulan, and a Poulan Pro and the Poulan Pro was purchased this past Summer and had to be repaired before I could use it. The old Poulan saw have been with me since 2000 when I got it to deal with the snow and ice we received that Winter.
Good review, I have the 271 and 029 super, the super seems to have more low end torque and the 271 seems to rev higher
Let's not forget that the pro saws run nearly twice the price of the farm and ranch saws.
You get what you pay for-
@mike force some things are worth spending a little extra money on. The Chinese saws are better for the $ imho
david jeffery what I was gonna say
Nz
@@Smokey66s as long as you are making an informed choice, that is true 99% of the time.
Someday I need to get a Farm Boss . Right now I got a Sthil MS 250c with a 18” bar on it . I love my Sthil !
Does the 250 c have the quick tension
Love my new Farm Boss. Best Saw ive ever used. All my buddies have them which is what sold me on buying this model. We use firewood for heat so we cut anytime a tree falls and for need and these Farm Boss models are bullet proof so far. We all use the premix Stihl Gas 93 octane non ethanol. Cuts like butter..
Should try a 261 😁, not bashing the 271 at all, you're right, it's a great saw. The pro saws are on a whole different level though.
I've been using 100:1 synthetic Amsoil 2 cycle mix in my firewood business and absolutely love it! Less smoke, still great protection. I recommend it to everyone.
Great comparison. Much more detail than I've seen on other vids.
About $500 difference in price on these 2 saws in Australia. I've got a 271 and very happy with it so far
Hey guy you’re videos are great! I went a bought this saw after seeing this vid! I bought a ms291 4 years ago and it’s a amazing! So despite the opinions of some of the haters thankful for guys like you who lay it on the line
Clear presentation, great video, I love that you included real stats. Would have been even clearer if the stats were put up in screen as you said them (in text)
Great video! You covered every aspect except the cost difference. Maybe include that in your next video since that is a big factor for most buyers
No offense, but common sense would indicate to most people that if a saw is better in every single capacity, it's going to be more expensive. Moreover, every dealer has their own pricing so the prices where he works might be different from your local dealer.
Thought Stihl prices were the same across the board?
Stihl has several different "tiers" of pricing, so not necessarily the same across the board, but most dealers use the same tier to try to remain competitive.
@@HankTheTank23 Doubt he'd be offended because his comment didn't say "err is it gonna be more expensive for the nicer one?", just that he covers price...Which I fully agree with, would be nice to know if going from homeowner to pro is ~25% price-increase or a 100% price-hike, regional price variances do *nothing* to dissuade inclusion of some rough metric "they're ~25% more expensive" or "they're usually twice-as expensive" so people have an idea what some minor improvements are costing in relative terms ;)
Just saying, we have an old Husky 42 Special which is a 2.9hp saw from the late 80's and it has pretty much all the things that pro model has... Magnesium body and bar cover, compression release valve and an adjustable bar oiler... It also has holes drilled through the cooling fins so you can access the screws at the bottom of the cylinder... The only things it doesn't have are the self-retaining bar nuts, the quick-release screws for the top cover and the automatic carburetor.
As far as i'm aware, our 42 Special is not a pro saw. Probably more of a mid-range home owner's saw for de-branching and light felling. So how come the modern Stihl Farm/Ranch saw, which is a much bigger model than our old 42, doesn't have any of these things? Kinda makes you wonder... :)
Karl The Fragr My dad’s Husqvarna 55 is the same way, built like a pro saw but not sold as one. The new Husqvarna saws in the same class (455, 445, etc) are as bad as the 271, 291, etc. They’re almost all just cost-cutting moves. Both manufacturers make good saws. I really like Stihl’s master control lever, but the 372XP is my favorite saw ever built.
Picking sides for pro saws is asinine. They’re both good enough to make you money. I picked based on dealer service. Where I live Stihl’s service is much better... Und zo I own a 441 and a 460. It’s not worth getting worked up over.
Great video. Definitely explains the cost difference, and justifies it.
I got a MS390 saw it’s 20 years old and in brand new shape always worked so great starts up right away always ! Is it a good saw ? Did I buy a good one ? Must say I love the power and it slices through trunks like butter nothing like cutting down trees in the winter !
Got this 261 as my first chainsaw - love it! Can't go wrong with this one and it can go from 16" to 20" Bar!
Dan N have you had any problems with it I was going to by one this week is it easy to work on ?
Nice detailed concise comparison. Thanx for this!
I bought a MS 261. I will never wear it out. One or two tanks of gas a year, but it is what I wanted. A serious step up from the Echo CS-400 that I was using before.
Decent overall comparison. Thought it was funny when you discuss a top end swap as a field fix! I don't know many guys who carry and extra top end into the field! Cheers!
lol, me either. but you can if needed!
I too thought that was funny..." All set.. got my bar oil, fuel, files, sledge and wedge". "Oh! almost forgot my tool chest, top jug, gasket kit, and rings".. lol
Just bought a 261. Well impressed. That's even being measured against my 550xp. Never experienced a pro saw like it for weight and power.
I just bought a 261c and totally agree
Andi B have you had any problems with the 261 was going to buy one this week and are they easy and cheap to work on ?
026. Best saw ever made. Maybe one day when it finally kicks the bucket I'll grab a new 261.
You mention how those bolts let you "easily remove the cylinder in-field" - when&why would you be wanting to open the jug on a job site? Genuinely curious, so far as I knew the only time you'd do this would be on your work bench, hell on most job-sites I'd be super cautious just exposing the plug-hole to the cylinder if a plug needed swapping mid-job (can't imagine *why* that'd ever happen though...back-up saw failed and you're now doing repairs in-field to be able to wrap the job? Would be buying more backups the following day if I ever needed to do saw-work to get through a job would be such a waste to have to break-down everything for a day so you can go running around local brick&mortars finding the best-in-area :P )
We run both of those out on the fire line, great saws!
God bless you. May the Lord keep you. Unsung heroes.
@@OtherSideOfTheFence thank you- I appreciate that and I know a lot more who do this as well do ❤️🤘🏼💪🏽
Theirs only one other career that I could compare the level of...danger,heroics, life saving, harm's way. A SeaShepard- helicopter repelling divers who rescue people from sinking ships in storms, 20 foot waves n cold cold water. The type of Men who were born different, and they know it in their bones. The kind of person who reaches into hell, 30ft wave, 4 story blaze. Bible verse, Isaiah 6:8 "And Then I heard the voice of the Lord, Saying, Who shall go for us, and Whom shall I send? 'And I said. Here Am I , Send Me' ".
Can the 261 keep its self in needle bearings now? Bloody great Saw but I sent mine back and rebuilt my old MS260 as the needle bearing kept collapsing every 2-3hours.
Wow. I didn't realize they considered these small saws to be a " pro saw ". I figured the smallest " pro saw " would be something like a 461. Learn something new every day!
After months of research I ended up with the ms261c and absolutely love it!!! Well worth little extra cash. American made.
I'm just happy as can be with my ms250. cheaper priced light and handy for limbing. I only wish stihl stopped using those complex for no reason and problematic fuel/oil covers. what's wrong with simple threaded covers?
Absolutely, the 250 is a great saw. I will say though after using those covers in tree service, I actually love them now. I don't carry a scrench on me while I'm in the tree, though do keep one in my box. Pain though having to run to the truck whenever I need to refuel, I find the quick release caps handy.
Human you like those covers? Just bought a stihl 56 weedy wacky and it has marvelously simple screw on gas cap. Simple is cheaper and I had to replace the ones on my 250. I found it aggravating.
You can always trade it for an 025, same saw but with the screw on caps...
Burt Hulbert Q
Burt Hulbert I love the 250...it is a great saw
You helped me with my next chain saw purchase with this video! Thanks!
what did you get?
Thanks for the info. It definitely help in making a decision on a new larger saw then my 170!
Kynan Milo Funny, I just sold my 29 year old 038 AV Super to buy a MS170. 😃. That was after I bought a Farm/Ranch MS311. MS311 starts easy, runs great, is a lot lighter than the 038 and cuts with a full chipper much longer than I can hold it. I spent 3 hours cutting red oak recently, the largest pieces being about 24”. It isn’t as powerful as the 038 but powerful enough.
Thank you... that was a super informative comparison... much more details than other reviews comparing the MS261 to MS271.... as you say they are still both great chainsaws but it's really interesting to understand why the MS261 is higher cost. I likely will get a MS271 or MS251 when it's time to get a new saw as they will easily meet my needs while being very good saws... although the MS261 has some nice weight saving magnesium on it :)
Cam you adjust the oiler on the 271 farm boss for more oil to the bar
Good vid! I own a 261 and the most obvious difference between the lower end saws is the low vibration feature. The handles are sprung/bushed to insulate them from the motor. I works a treat and you really feel the benefit.
So I was looking at the Stihl Farm Boss...
Few questions,
18” bar or 20” bar?
Is there a difference buying it from a Farm and Fleet (Stihl dealer) compared to a Stihl dealer/privately owned shop. I understand the angle of support small business. I am talking about saw wise.
Thanks
I have a Sthil 194t, supposed to be a pro saw, it has a plastic case and standard air filter.
Their both good....used both professionally....and if they are both taken care of....they will last...there are + and - in both models really.... especially when it comes to buying parts (engine, injection,etc).....
I love my old school ..early production 044...it runs either a 24” bar or 36”...what a beast...🤣🤣🤣🤣
"Microprocessor controlled carburetor..." No thanks, I'll stick with my low-tech, never fails to start and runs like new 10-year old 20" MS290 Farm Boss. 👍
Ditto, have the same exact 10 year old saw, no issues, as long as the chain is sharp, it’s unstoppable.
@@danmagill7616 I used to think the same, but after running the 261C-M for almost 2 years, I've really grown fond of it. I'm REALLY growing fond of NO carb in the 500I I got 2 days ago!
Same.
My 290 is 12 years old and still rips thru wood.
I also have the newer 271 and I love that saw just as much
.... I have the same saw and setup. Don’t forget that when you wear out your MS290; the MS390 motor fits the saw and is a significant upgrade.
Garbage ass 290 doesnt hold a candle to the 362 or the 261
I bought a ms251cm 2 weeks ago. Best saw I ever used
That was suppose to say ms261cm typo
Excellent job, on the details! Please keep it going.
I'm looking to get another saw, I have a MS170 and I've been doing all of my cutting with it and it's 16" bar. I cut a redoak up today, the 16" bar didn't come close to reaching the other side, and I would like to be able to use a more aggressive chain, and would like more power.
I’m trying to decide between the stihl ms391 or the ms261cm to add with my ms250. Currently have an 18” bar on the 250. Would like to put a 14” on the 250 and get an 18” in the 391 or 261. Tough call both 391 and 261 about the same price
I have an MS390 that I bought 7 or 8 years ago and she has done me well! It is heavy but I have cut a fair bit of wood. It was a great feeling to come back from a military deployment after a year and the saw started up after a few pulls. Stihl is expensive but to me the reliability is worth it.
100% with you on that, I'll always gladly pay a bit more if I know that I can rely on it down the road. Must have been nice having the saw start right up, coming back from deployment, you've always got 8 million things that need to be done, having one less thing to worry about is a huge weight off the shoulders.
Until you're done cutting at least, because then the 8 million other things get shoved right back in your face, lol.
Not really that heavy compared to older saws, just heavy compared to newer saws in that size. I like the 390 039 because parts are very available.
@Joe W I wouldn't know as this was my first Stihl saw and have expanded to many more of their products. I do run a 25" bar so maybe thats a factor. I just don't like holding it over shoulder height for long times.
I prefer to run nothing longer than a 20" bar on these plastic saws, I feel that the case isn't as strong as the magnesium saws and sometimes the front bar stud will pull out of the plastic that it's screwed into..
There is a fix for that if it happens though, they make a larger stud that you can replace it with.
"The crankshaft is a part of the frame so the cylinder bolts right in to it". What? Where? WTF?! 🤪 But, nice wise you got there on the background! 😎 And the video was very nice too. Clicked thumb up.
Most likely the pro saw will have a lightweight piston with 2 piston rings vs the farm boss with heavier piston and a single piston ring.
Im now on my way to trade in my ms251 for a pro saw. Thanks for swaying my opinion dude!!!
Excellent overview. Very helpful.
What about the bars? Any difference in quality between the two saws?
I love my 261. One time a guy said it wasnt a pro saw and then immediately said "this is a good saw"
Love my 271. My first chainsaw! Seems to run better every time I take it out.
Is it still running good? Debating between 271 and a husqvarna 455.
I have a echo cs310 and I really need something bigger and this helped
My Husqvarna Rancher has compression release and it's in the homeowner price class. Got it brand new at sears for 200 bucks! Stihl can't compare to that kinda pricing! On my third season now, have never had to mess or clean the air filter and it runs like a champ! Ran three season old gas mix with fuel stabilizer in it, fired right up! In general I try to run only ethanol free gas! But, stihl is my go to company for bar oil!
Bought mine in 2012 stihl runs awsoume 12000 rpm 💗
Great Video man love your vids. Please do a video of your thoughts of the Stihl VS Husqvarna saw's.
Stihl Pro MS362 gives you the best all around value, it has the best power to weight to price ratio out of Stihl’s full line of chainsaws.
Hello,
Just got a quick question if you don't mind answering, I'm fairly new to doing chainsaw repair and maintenance and wanting to replace the cylinder on my 271 but not sure if it's just an easy swap old for new process or I'd have to doing a bit more than that (adjust or recalibrate timing for exhaust/ignition)? Kinda of like replacing the timing belt on a bigger engine where a lot more complexity and skill is required.
Many thanks!
Howdy. i'm a amatuer yet since you didn't get a reply may i respond? My youngest son just gifted me a 271 with service manual. Manual informative. If you are going to go so deep into the repair anyway perhaps you would want one for yourself.
Can i drill my muffler baffles on my 271 like you did on your saws to get more ass out of it? Or is that for pro saws with electronics in em?
Also do you reccomend that i let my dealer adjust carb? They said they do it free and i havent bothered since i bought it, seems to be running good but im not sure how much more potential it might have. Or if im just cooking the rings haha im not really a 2 stroke guy.
Human, I am looking for a Stihl saw. Just for use around the yard cutting firewood, felling trees, and general clean up. This will not be used professionally, might sit for a few months between uses. I have my eye on the 362, but that's a lot of money. I want something that will be more than adequate and not be under powered. Is there a saw you suggest that will run a 20" bar, have plenty of power, and not break the bank? Is a Farm and Ranch model likely a better fit for me?
Im debating between the ms261 cm and the ms391, with 20” bar. Would be used as a homeowner for occasional taking down a tree and cleanup. Any thoughts?
I would NOT buy a Stihl after my current experience with a key component product defect, coupled with Stihl UK's customer service. I bought my Stihl MS391 in December 2016 and used maybe 6 weekends a year in my large garden, so small usage compared to forestry/tree surgeons. Last month it had problems starting so I took it to a Stihl dealer/service agent and they reported that the thread on the cylinder head is damaged so the spark plug won’t tighten enough for the machine to start the engine. I was quoted £275 for labour and parts on a chainsaw that cost me £475 four years ago, now retailing at £650. Stihl refused to compensate me or find a mutual resolution as they insist it's a wear & tear issue
It's crazy. What would you do?
Surely they could tell it's had very little use
This is great, so cool that you opened it up and explained the internals. Please let us know what you think husq / echo / stihl
I have a ms261c-m and I love it!
me too. i have the older version which is a touch heavier but I don't care. love that saw. deep down I actually wanted the husky 550xp but the local husky dealer was never open on weekends! Stihl dealer was closer and open weekends. big deal for me. either saw works tho, they both cut wood pretty fast :)
andrewford80 stihl husky to me both great saws
IVE OWNED 2 HUSKY460s both were took back for busted pistons whithin a week of each other.oil and gas mixture was right too dealer checked it after second piece of shit husky blowed up within a week of using it I got my money back bought a 390 stihl with a25 inch bar freakin damn what a BEAST..460 dosent have shit on a stihl ms390 cuts twice as fast that has been two years ago-hasn't blown up yet..my moneys on STIHL..LOVEM..
husky busts pistons too easily...
Connor Sporich I was going to buy one in a week have you had problems out of your ? I will be buying a new 2018 model would like to know is it with buying? And is it easy to work on ?
I didn’t need any of this information, but I was still entertained through the entire video, and now I need to buy a chainsaw...
Ill sell you one, aggressively gently used, runs like new and only dropped twice.
buy a ms 661cmr