2 saw plan - which Stihl to run besides a 440?

[tatra805]

As stated in my previous thread i am offered a 440 at the price of the 361 because my local dealer has very bad experiences with the 361. (?????)

A 440 is a serious overkill for most of my work but will for sure make the though jobs fun.

I am wondering which small stihl is best according your opinion to run besides the 440?

I used to have a top-handle but this is surely not a must.

sawing profile:

- 20% dirty jobs, dirty wood, bush, etc
- 30% trimming, mainly fruit trees
- 10% fresh wood going from poplar to small oak - think dia up to 12"
- 30% cutting of bought in firewood that comes in 3 foot lenghts and dia up to 25"
- 10% felling and cutting of the trees for the above firewood.

As prices go up and delivery starts to play up pricewise, and i have to possibility to haul the wood myself the last 2 points may increase in the coming years.
And thats were i see the benefit of the 440 over a 260 or 361.

I have no knowledge on everything below the 024. If i go for the 440 i want the small one to be even more light handling than the 024 was. But which one then??

 

[blsnelling]

I wouldn't buy a saw from that dealer. If he's having trouble with 361s, he doesn't know what he's doing. It's one of the most dependable saws going. Perhaps he's just trying to unload other saws. Either way I'd find another dealer. There is no problem with 361s.

BTW, WELCOME

If you want smaller than a 024, you'll have to go with either a MS200 or a home owner grade saw. I have a little MS180 and love it.

 

[Stihl 041S]

A 441, to go with the 440. You do mean 2 saws of each size in your plan don't you?
Rob

 

[tatra805]

Thanks Blsnelling,

I tried to get something going in the previous thread but no responses so far.

Both you guys here, and my old belgian dealer have no problems with the 361.

Nevertheless, the dealer here in slovakia is a typical small shop on the mountain slope dealing with 90% professionals. We are talking forestry, not urban garden design. So he really has a bunch of saws running day in day out.

As written before (but i am in the dark here) can it have to do with
- fuel or oil quality in eastern europe
- different quality depending on market? no joke but 300USD difference between a belgian 361 and a slovak 361 is big. (while an outgoing 440 has the same price and the new 441 is slightly cheaper in belgium)

I can share real numbers. a 361 in belgium: 1350 USD, in slovakia 1000 USD List pricing and VAT included. A 440 belgium and slovakia: 1225 USD.
A 180: 285 USD

If there is a quality difference, and this was already mentioned on this forum to exist we are not talking the same thing and i can end up .....

Thats why I am looking at the option 440 + ???.

I really liked the 361 going from your comments and the weight-power and saw it as a perfect upgrade but the dealer was really convincing and spontaneous in his reaction. 4 from 5 back with carburetor and ignition problems.

I do not want to start a yes-no discussion, i know i have to make the decision in the end.
But it would not be the first low end product which i see being sold in eastern europe as top of the range. Some companies are really playing it low here .
If anybody can confirm me that stihl has such a policy i am running for the 440 or .... a Husqvarna??...NOT

 

[046]

260/026 and 044/440 in an outstanding combo!

will do everything except for really large logs and climb.

add 020/200T , then 066/660. you'll have all your bases covered.

 

[Ray Bennett]

260/026 and 044/440 in an outstanding combo!

will do everything except for really large logs and climb.

add 020/200T , then 066/660. you'll have all your bases covered.

I cant argue with that!

 

[blsnelling]

Wait until Lakeside, Thall, or Ultra checks in on this one. But I've never heard of problems like that with the 361. They're always raved as one of the best, if not the best, 60cc saw available. It's a professional saw designed for professional use. Very interesting to say the least.

What kind of fuel do you have there? Octane rating? What kind of oil do you use? Really, if you're more comfortable with a 440, go for it. It's not that much heavier and is one of the best 70cc saws of all times. Hard to go wrong there. If you want a 50cc Stihl pro saw, go for a 260. If you want tiny, go for a MS200 or MS180 if money's an object.

 

[Mitymouse]

Ms180

Another vote for the 180. They are a great little saw and cut much faster than you would think for a 32 cc saw. If it was up to me I would take my 064 and my 180 if I had to only pick 2.

 

[blsnelling]

I would pick my MS460 and MS180. I'd swap out the MS180 for MS200 if the cost was no object.

 

[Hugenpoet]

I wouldn't buy a saw from that dealer. If he's having trouble with 361s, he doesn't know what he's doing. It's one of the most dependable saws going. Perhaps he's just trying to unload other saws. Either way I'd find another dealer. There is no problem with 361s.

BTW, WELCOME

If you want smaller than a 024, you'll have to go with either a MS200 or a home owner grade saw. I have a little MS180 and love it.

While I haven't had my 361 long enough to have personal experience-other than it is a really nice saw to run, when I picked the saw up and the tech at my Stihl dealer was showing me around the saw (and, I might add, after I had paid for it) he said that without question it was the most trouble free Stihl that they sell.

 

[windthrown]

Dunno... I would take the 440 from the dealer at the 361 price. What, $600? I just paid a hair under $800 for a 440R model (with 3/4 wrap and big dawg kit). That is a pro loggers saw though. King of saws around there parts. If you want to RIP THROUGH WOOD, and fast, get the 440.

I think that the 361 is the better saw for what you are doing though. Great all-around saw. Good gas limage, lighther, more nimble, it will run a 25 inch bar, and it has far less vibration that the 440 does. It would fill in great for the 25 inch firewood bucking duty, and the felling duty,and some of the dirty wood and brush duty.

For limbing and smaller tree cutting, a smaller saw would be good. A 260 is nice, but it is older model, and the 361 is a far better saw for nearly the same money. I went with the 210-250 saw for that size saw myself. They work OK for that. If you go with one of them, get the 3/8 picco chain: I think that the .325 size B&C does not cut as well. Problem with them is that they are hard to work on, and they are made of cheaper plastic. I WISH Stihl would get off its duff and make a 250 size PRO saw with mag engine and side case and sprocket cover. But lo, Dolmar is the company coming out with the baby size pro saws, in the ps350 and ps420. They look like great saws.

Personally I feel that the 170 and 180 are just too flimsey and they are one-piece plastic saws. The 180 is better, but you get a lot more saw in the 210 than either the 170 or 180, parts are widely interchangable between the 210, 230 and 250 (as well as the older models 021, 023 and 025). The 210 is actualy my saw of choice in that line. With a 16 inch picco bar on it, it runs good, is light, and easy to manage.

Good luck on your choice!

 

[JPP]

I have a 260 Pro and a 441 as my primary wood cutters. Works for me, although I am finding myself using the 441 all the time now for everything.

 

[andrethegiant70]

Dunno... I would take the 440 from the dealer at the 361 price. What, $600? I just paid a hair under $800 for a 440R model (with 3/4 wrap and big dawg kit). That is a pro loggers saw though. King of saws around there parts. If you want to RIP THROUGH WOOD, and fast, get the 440.

I think that the 361 is the better saw for what you are doing though. Great all-around saw. Good gas limage, lighther, more nimble, it will run a 25 inch bar, and it has far less vibration that the 440 does. It would fill in great for the 25 inch firewood bucking duty, and the felling duty,and some of the dirty wood and brush duty.

For limbing and smaller tree cutting, a smaller saw would be good. A 260 is nice, but it is older model, and the 361 is a far better saw for nearly the same money. I went with the 210-250 saw for that size saw myself. They work OK for that. If you go with one of them, get the 3/8 picco chain: I think that the .325 size B&C does not cut as well. Problem with them is that they are hard to work on, and they are made of cheaper plastic. I WISH Stihl would get off its duff and make a 250 size PRO saw with mag engine and side case and sprocket cover. But lo, Dolmar is the company coming out with the baby size pro saws, in the ps350 and ps420. They look like great saws.

Personally I feel that the 170 and 180 are just too flimsey and they are one-piece plastic saws. The 180 is better, but you get a lot more saw in the 210 than either the 170 or 180, parts are widely interchangable between the 210, 230 and 250 (as well as the older models 021, 023 and 025). The 210 is actualy my saw of choice in that line. With a 16 inch picco bar on it, it runs good, is light, and easy to manage.

Good luck on your choice!

+1 Folks seem to really like the MS250...it IS a homeowner model, but it doesn't break the bank and, frankly, the 440 covers your need for heavy and midsize iron... you need to cover yourself for the light duty stuff.

 

[tek9tim]

The 440 is the 1 saw plan. Mod it out and grow some stronger arms, and you don't need another saw.

 

[bluequill56]

Another vote for the 260. It may be a tad heavier than the 024 you referenced, but man I love my 260!! Handles great, revs great, with decent torque to go with it. Not exceptional in any category but does everything very well. Parts availability is a real plus, too.

The 260 is a little pricey, so if price is an object, the 180 is a real light weight screamer that will serve you well. Not much torque, though.

Best of luck with the choice. Let us know what you get.

Shane.

 

[huskydave]

Get a 260 slap a 16" bar on it get a loop of rsc chain and you will have a great 2 saw combo.

 

[KindlingKing]

260/026 and 044/440 in an outstanding combo!

will do everything except for really large logs and climb.

add 020/200T , then 066/660. you'll have all your bases covered.

+1

 

[Big Neb]

Gosh, I do like my 026 Pro....

Too small for the big stuff but one heck of a limbing and pruning saw.

026/260 and don't look back.

 

[Freakingstang]

yup, 260 pro.

Wish I could find a 440 at the 361 price....

 

[tatra805]

To all a thanks for your replies!

Although i am agreeing that the 361 would probably suit my needs better as alrounder i am deciding to go for the 440 and later on a smaller one.

If my dealer has problems with the 361 for whatever reason or Stihl has a 2 quality policy going i dont want to be stuck with a dealer which keeps telling me ' i told you the 361 is bad' everytime i need something.

So, 2 saw plan it will be

Cant wait to have the 440 delivered... 7 days and counting....


Expect some more posts from me with novice questions...

Thanks again for the feedback! Great forum,


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