Stihl MS 361 review by non-user.

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Fastcast

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I was invited over to a buddies house Sunday to cut some wood. When I get there, he says, I told the neighbor to come over too. Well, low and behold there he stands holding a 361 in all its glory. :)

So I'm thinking I can't wait to see this thing run, never seen one cure cancer in person. I have to say, I was not overly impressed. Ok, I'm not really impressed at all!

Granted he stihl had the factory safety chain on (20" bar) but it was throwing nice chips so I assume it was fairly sharp. I did not run it but did hold it and could definitely tell it had more girth than my 5100.

The thing was so quite and restricted (gutless) sounding, I would say the muffler needs gutted big time and I'm sure a good chain would make a noticeable difference.

It would have been embarrassing to Stihl if we would have laid those two saws in that 14" oak at the same time......My 5100 is all stock except for the chisel chain. He did stand there for about 5 mins just watching me running the 5100 and said after I stopped "that thing's a runner!" :)

Bottom line, in stock form, the 5100 sounds and cuts like a Ferrari and the 361 like a Ford/Chevy. :)

Let the flogging begin....:laugh:
 
I have an 04' 361 that I bought brand new when they were just coming out, good little firewood saw. I'll say that. I like mine. You know what though? It's called Stihl Erectile Syndrome. Guys get over-stimulated about Stihl products. I like the bigger Huskys and a few smaller ones, but I rarely start threads about em'. There is nothing to say, they just flat ass cut and stump timber. Not really news worthy. I think guys that have desk jobs or whatever on here want to play log cutter/ tree man with their saws on Saturday, and the 361 is a nice little saw that feels and looks like (the price sure reflects this as well) a pro saw.
 
Of course it has more girth than a 5100. It's a bigger saw. You are correct about the muffler. They are so restricted that it's hard to hear it pop when choking it. There's probably not a saw that benefits more from a muffler mod.
 
....
The thing was so quite and restricted (gutless) sounding, I would say the muffler needs gutted big time and I'm sure a good chain would make a noticeable difference. ...

They sure aren't like that over here - if anywhere - I guess nobody tried to tune the carb?...:censored:

My stock 361 outcuts a stock 5100 with a wide margin, no comparison at all really - and it revs up much faster as well.

The cylinder and muffler is different here than in the US though......
 
They sure aren't like that over here - if anywhere - I guess nobody tried to tune the carb?...:censored:

My stock 361 outcuts a stock 5100 with a wide margin, no comparison at all really - and it revs up much faster as well.

The cylinder and muffler is different here than in the US though......

You know Troll, it's sad over here, all of our stuff is like that. Every damn thing you buy now.
 
Yes, it is a very nice, well built saw. I'm not saying it's junk. Just with all the talk on here about the 361, I thought it was gonna be a hot rod right out of the gate, like the 5100......I was disappointed in the performance aspect only, not the build quality! I don't think I could even wait for the warranty to expire to gut that muffler!
:givebeer:
 
I have an 04' 361 that I bought brand new when they were just coming out, good little firewood saw. I'll say that. I like mine. You know what though? It's called Stihl Erectile Syndrome. Guys get over-stimulated about Stihl products. I like the bigger Huskys and a few smaller ones, but I rarely start threads about em'. There is nothing to say, they just flat ass cut and stump timber. Not really news worthy. I think guys that have desk jobs or whatever on here want to play log cutter/ tree man with their saws on Saturday, and the 361 is a nice little saw that feels and looks like (the price sure reflects this as well) a pro saw.

I like that response. I tried one out a week age and posted about it, saying it wasn't what people said it was. And like four or five folks jumped on me. I didn't sday it sucked, or i didn't like it. I just said it wasn't mack daddy. Its cool to see folks respond sensibly. Some folks just get worked up i guess.
 
As a matter of fact.....I'll go as far to say.....My buddies old McCulloch TimberBear (60cc I believe) probably would have stomped the 361 on that given Sunday. :dizzy:
 
Bottom line people, it's just a 60cc saw. But a very nice one. If you're expecting much performance from it, you MUST do a muffler mod. That's all there is to it. If you like a REALLY quiet saw, then leave it stock.
 
Yes, it is a very nice, well built saw. I'm not saying it's junk. Just with all the talk on here about the 361, I thought it was gonna be a hot rod right out of the gate, like the 5100......I was disappointed in the performance aspect only, not the build quality! I don't think I could even wait for the warranty to expire to gut that muffler!
:givebeer:

FC,

So you hang with wood cutters who aren't AS freaks.

Get to the point,

Joat
 
I was invited over to a buddies house Sunday to cut some wood. When I get there, he says, I told the neighbor to come over too. Well, low and behold there he stands holding a 361 in all its glory. :)

So I'm thinking I can't wait to see this thing run, never seen one cure cancer in person. I have to say, I was not overly impressed. Ok, I'm not really impressed at all!

Granted he stihl had the factory safety chain on (20" bar) but it was throwing nice chips so I assume it was fairly sharp. I did not run it but did hold it and could definitely tell it had more girth than my 5100.

The thing was so quite and restricted (gutless) sounding, I would say the muffler needs gutted big time and I'm sure a good chain would make a noticeable difference.

It would have been embarrassing to Stihl if we would have laid those two saws in that 14" oak at the same time......My 5100 is all stock except for the chisel chain. He did stand there for about 5 mins just watching me running the 5100 and said after I stopped "that thing's a runner!" :)

Bottom line, in stock form, the 5100 sounds and cuts like a Ferrari and the 361 like a Ford/Chevy.

Let the flogging begin....:laugh:

Yes, I must admit, I do :dizzy: but hey they drink beer! :cheers:

FC,

So, you could have posted something like this:

I was invited over to a buddies house Sunday to cut some wood. When I get there, he says, I told the neighbor to come over too. Well, lo and behold there he stands holding a 361 in all its glory.

So I'm thinking I can't wait to see this jackleg run this fine piece of engineering excellence. As expected from a novice sawyer, I was not impressed by his tuning abilities, his sharpening skills or his grasp of proper woodcutting technique. Suffice to say, his skill set was less than impressive.

Of course, he still had the factory safety chain on (20" bar) but it was throwing better chips than I expected, so he's not a total failure. I did not run it but did hold it and could definitely tell it had more girth than my 5100.

The thing was so quiet and restricted (gutless) sounding, I would say the muffler needs gutted big time and I'm sure a good chain would make a noticeable difference.

It would have been embarrassing to him if we would have laid those two saws in that 14" oak at the same time......My 5100 is all stock except for the chisel chain. He did stand there for about 5 mins just watching me running the 5100 and said after I stopped "that thing's a runner!"

Bottom line, in stock form, I have my 5100 sounding and cutting like a Ferrari and this doofus has his 361 sounding and cutting like a Ford/Chevy. :)

Oh, he likes to drink beer, so that's why I hang out with him....:laugh:
 
Yes, it is a very nice, well built saw. I'm not saying it's junk. Just with all the talk on here about the 361, I thought it was gonna be a hot rod right out of the gate, like the 5100......I was disappointed in the performance aspect only, not the build quality! I don't think I could even wait for the warranty to expire to gut that muffler!
:givebeer:


Tuning the carb still could help when a saw performs disappointingly..........:)

There is no point in comparing, without being sure that the saws are set up right, and at least have comparable chains on them.
 
Oh, he likes to drink beer, so that's why I hang out with him....:laugh:

I didn't say I like to hang out with him. I really don't know the guy but he does drink beer. :laugh:

and your point is? :monkey:
 
Tuning the carb still could help when a saw performs disappointingly..........:)

There is no point in comparing, without being sure that the saws are set up right, and at least have comparable chains on them.


The saw didn't seem to be out of tune, just more quiet and gutless than I expected.....Sorry! :laugh:

I guess I assumed the 361 could cut with no chain at all......:censored:

:givebeer:
 
I see the Stihl Gods are at work again......It's getting like DC around here.....The truth can't get out! :laugh:


:givebeer:

FC,

Just to be clear, no stem cells were harmed in the design, development or production of the MS361 in the USA or the mother land.

Joat
 
But ya'll know whats bad, from the saws i love to the ones i don't like that much...at the right price, i'd buy any one of them, just cause i love having them!!! Its that CAD i keep hearing about. So even though i don't fully approve of an ms361...i still freakin want one.....my wife hates me for this. She is grumbling at me now actually...
 
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