Husqvarna 61 vs 61 Rancher

[edisto]

I read in many posts that the 61 Rancher is a "weak" version of the 61, but is there any way to tell by looking (yes, looking at eBay pictures) which is which? Does the Rancher have a "Rancher" sticker on it, or does it just say 61. I have read on a couple of threads that unless it has the orange (as opposed to white or black) top, it is a Rancher...is that true?

I also have seen some 61s with black tops and a stock decompression valve on top...is that a Rancher as well?

I eventually want to put a 268 or 272 P&C on the saw, but that might be a while, and I'd like to have a 61 (not a Rancher) to cut with while I'm saving my pennies for the upgrade.

Thanks in advance for any help, and I'm sorry if I missed seeing this info in my search.

 

[mattinky]

All the 61 Ranchers I've seen had white tops

 

[HolmenTree]

From my information Husqvarna introduced the 61 only as a rancher in 1978[ the year AB Electrolux bought out Husqvarna,Jonsered and Partner] In 1982 it was still called a rancher with a white top. Sometime after 1983-1984 it got a black cover and then later became a 61 with all orange covers and a newer style black chain brake lever.

 

[HolmenTree]

Gets confusing here ,I just checked the Husqvarna site and in their history section it shows in 1976 an all orange 61 was introduced . In 1978 ranchers were introduced.

 

[SawTroll]

Gets confusing here ,I just checked the Husqvarna site and in their history section it shows in 1976 an all orange 61 was introduced . In 1978 ranchers were introduced.

I am a bit confused here as well, as the info is a bit contradictive.

I once believed what you wrote in the quote was true, but I don't by now.

What I believe to be true is that the first 61s (1976) were the Rancher with 3.6hp(white top, later dark gray top). The Orange ones (not Rancher) are the latest ones, with 3.9hp - but I have no idea when the hp specs actually changed.

 

[edisto]

'76 61

Gets confusing here ,I just checked the Husqvarna site and in their history section it shows in 1976 an all orange 61 was introduced . In 1978 ranchers were introduced.

I thought the same thing when I looked at the history page, but I think Husky put a picture of a more recent 61 next to that caption (it has the newer-style chain brake).

Sounds like I should be waiting on a 61 with an orange top...I passed on one that went for a decent price because it was a farm saw. I spent a lot of time working on a farm, and I've seen what happens to farm saws!

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[bama]

I spent a lot of time working on a farm, and I've seen what happens to farm saws!

When I worked on my dad's farm years ago, I resembled that remark.

 

[rngrchad]

I have a Rancher 61 Electrolux Husky in the garage right now. My friend dropped it off for me to look at. It has the number 61 written on an orange sidecover, white top with RANCHER written in rope-like lettering. Chainbrake is solid metal. It has numbers: ASS 823.78 written on a metal tag...which is I'm guessing the month: August, day 23, year 1978?

 

[bill268xp]

I have bought one on ebay and had a little problem with the guy his name is Sam and his sight is CEDAR HILL SAWS. what a jerk. but the saw ran great and it has the white top which I believe is the older one and yes it has a little less power but you can do so,so many upgrades to this saw it was worth it in my humble opinion. best of luck Bill

 

[bill268xp]

I have bought one on ebay and had a little problem with the guy his name is Sam and his sight is CEDAR HILL SAWS. what a jerk. but the saw ran great and it has the white top which I believe is the older one and yes it has a little less power but you can do so,so many upgrades to this saw it was worth it in my humble opinion. best of luck Bill

My ## say,s practica 1611-006837 hope that can help.

 

[bill268xp]

looks like they used a 163 carb and then later jump up to the 254 . so they went from 3.6 hp to 4.1 hp with the newer 61 so that is a easy fix. or you take the whole P&C off grab a 272 and get the intake mod so you will need a new top any way get a 272 or a 268 xp top and you will go to 4.7 hp. best of luck Bill

 

[Cliff R]

or you take the whole P&C off grab a 272 and get the intake mod so you will need a new top any way get a 272 or a 268 xp top and you will go to 4.7 hp.

:agree2:

Best thing we ever did to our 61. I made the mistake of testing it after installing the 268XP P/C in front of one of my good friends, who bought it on the spot!

The upgrade is relatively easy, requiring an intake manifold and mounting studs from a 268. Top cover will need modded or replaced as well, but the upgrades are well worth it.......Cliff

 

[edisto]

Thanks for all of the responses...saw a 61 on eBay that looked to be pretty new, and had the plastic chain brake handle instead of the metal one. It had a black/gray top, but I noticed that there was a hole in the cover for the idle adjust; on top of the low and high jet adjust instead of to the left of them. I figured this was because of the carb upgrade in the newer 61s.

The sticker on the starter cover is different too (not the small square "61").

At any rate, here is the saw:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3431&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab=Watching

I know I paid too much for it, but I've been without a saw for too long, need one yesterday, and will have to put off any upgrades (except for a muffler mod) for awhile. I figure with the newer carb, upgrading to the 52mm P&C will make more of a difference.

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

I just hope it is in as good of shape as it looks.

 

[SawTroll]

Thanks for all of the responses...saw a 61 on eBay that looked to be pretty new, and had the plastic chain brake handle instead of the metal one. It had a black/gray top, but I noticed that there was a hole in the cover for the idle adjust; on top of the low and high jet adjust instead of to the left of them. I figured this was because of the carb upgrade in the newer 61s.

The sticker on the starter cover is different too (not the small square "61").

At any rate, here is the saw:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3431&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab=Watching

I know I paid too much for it, but I've been without a saw for too long, need one yesterday, and will have to put off any upgrades (except for a muffler mod) for awhile. I figure with the newer carb, upgrading to the 52mm P&C will make more of a difference.

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

I just hope it is in as good of shape as it looks.

Looks like an early 1990s one, just before they became all orange - the serial number will tell the truth.

 

[edisto]

Fast Shipping

Auction ended at 10pm Sunday, and the chainsaw was here today!

Looks as good as the pictures...pouring rain outside though.

Serial number is:1430050

Does that make it early 90s?

 

[clearance]

Looks like an early 1990s one, just before they became all orange - the serial number will tell the truth.

I thought only the XP saws back then were all orange and the 61 had an orange body with a grey top. Had a 266xp then and some guys had 61s.

 

[willsaw4beer]

Ouch, that was expensive for that saw. There was one on the local cl I could've bought for $150 if not less in real good shape and I passed. Got the 2095 instead.

 

[edisto]

Ouch, that was expensive for that saw. There was one on the local cl I could've bought for $150 if not less in real good shape and I passed. Got the 2095 instead.

I know...been scanning CL for quite some time, but the only saw in driving distance was a Husky 66 they wanted $325 for.

I blame this forum. If I hadn't spent so much time reading here, I wouldn't have been so desperate to get a saw!

 

[willsaw4beer]

Well I guess the way to look at it is to make it pay for itself, which it will do in short order.

 

[pastryguyhawaii]

or you take the whole P&C off grab a 272 and get the intake mod so you will need a new top any way get a 272 or a 268 xp top and you will go to 4.7 hp.

:agree2:

Best thing we ever did to our 61. I made the mistake of testing it after installing the 268XP P/C in front of one of my good friends, who bought it on the spot!

The upgrade is relatively easy, requiring an intake manifold and mounting studs from a 268. Top cover will need modded or replaced as well, but the upgrades are well worth it.......Cliff

I followed Cliff's lead and just installed one of Bailey's 272 P/C kits on my 61 Rancher. Thanks to his thread I knew what I needed and it went quite smooth. I just did a few cuts tonight and it seems like a decent upgrade. I'll take it out this weekend to give it a good test run.