What makes the ms361 so great?

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

walexa07

ArboristSite Guru
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
624
Reaction score
180
Location
louisiana
I've had a 026 for about 13 years, only problem I ever had with it was the factory plastic oiler warped a little and started leaking.......dealer warrantied it and put an all-metal oiler on it and no more problems.

I was up at the saw shop picking up some supplies the other day, went and looked over the saws........next thing you know I am the new owner of a ms361. Dealer went on and on about that saw.

As usual, I did research on the saw AFTER I bought it and that's when I joined AS. Come to find out the 361 has almost a cult-like following, just wondering what makes this saw SO popular. By the way, i haven't used it yet. I crank it every afternoon when I get home and let it run for about 5 seconds, but no use yet. I plan to take down some trees at my cousin's house this weekend though.

Waylan
 
:welcome: :bang: In all seriousness, it's just an all around good saw that falls into the catagory of "If I could only have one saw". It's big enough for medium duty and light enough to work with limbing and bucking. Probably the perfect firewood saw.
PS: Ask Volks-Man
 
Last edited:
:welcome: :bang: In all seriousness, it's just an all around good saw that falls into the catagory of "If I could only have one saw". It's big enough for medium duty and light enough to work with limbing and bucking. Probably the perfect firewood saw.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. I've got one, sure its a nice saw, runs good, but I really like my 260 too. Is one better than the other? I dont know, they have their places. On stuff bigger than 12", its 361 territory, anything smaller the 260 slices right through.
 
the ms 361 is super efficient.

it does not run on gas or mix. it runs on hopes and dreams. the exhaust has the smell of fresh cut flowers. the chain running under the clutch cover actually produces a rainbow instead of sawdust, even when theres no sun. the sounds produced by the engine are akin to the finest composition played by the finest orchestra in the finest music hall.

i could go on but everyone here owns one, so we all already know.

The best explanation I've seen. As I understand it the older 361's also cured cancer, the new ones prevent it. :cheers:
 
Go run one. Then you'll know.

  1. Good power to weight ratio
  2. Great anti-vibe
  3. Pro design
  4. Good air filtration system
  5. Excellent fuel economy
  6. Responds well to modding
  7. Only needs a muffler mod to really wake up
  8. Proven in the field
  9. Perfect power for an all around saw.

I've run sh#$%y Poulan up to the MS 880 on 6' western red cedar.

+1 to all above, plus something that I just learned is the muffler system in the MS 361 and MS 441 have a "stratified muffler", from what the dealer explained, that reduces the unburned mixed-gas emissions from the muffler from 25% to 5% reducing pollution plus increasing HP.

I've got an 026 and a 361 with the same style chain. The 026 irritates my wrist tendonitis whereas the antivibe of the 361 (as well as the 192t that I have) prevents this. Some people may say that they don't have wrist problems. I figure that if you can avoid the problems from starting, you're 100 times better off than dealing with them once they start. We have a repetitive-motion world these days, ya know. Occupational vibration standards are in place in Europe, or so I've been told, and will probably be on their way here. Old hardbody, before AV, saws ruined loggers hands, giving them the "white fingers". With all due respect to hardcore oldschoolers, I'll say "no thanks to white fingers". If I contribute less pollution, especially that which my lungs are closest to the source, that much the better, too.
 
something that I just learned is the muffler system in the MS 361 and MS 441 have a "stratified muffler", from what the dealer explained, that reduces the unburned mixed-gas emissions from the muffler from 25% to 5% reducing pollution plus increasing HP.

I certainly can't claim that my saws saving the environment with a highly refined muffler.:clap: She's been gutted to let that ported cylinder breathe. A muffler mod is the single biggest bang for your buck ou can do to a 361. They're majorly choked up from the factory.
 
I will say it one more time, because you are new, but its because the pistons for the 361 were forged from the hammer of Thor himself, and that the cylinders are coated with alloys handed down from Zeus on Mt Olympus...
 
my last hijacking on this thread!

I will say it one more time, because you are new, but its because the pistons for the 361 were forged from the hammer of Thor himself, and that the cylinders are coated with alloys handed down from Zeus on Mt Olympus...

dammitt i like this guy!:clap:
we think alike!:cheers:
 
From everything I've read and seen about the 361 is that it's a perfect all around saw. If a person needs to buy only one saw and want one to last them a very long time the 361 is what you buy. Anti vib features plus tons of power. That's why MS 361 is the right answer to every question from Stihl heads :cheers:
 
I will say it one more time, because you are new, but its because the pistons for the 361 were forged from the hammer of Thor himself, and that the cylinders are coated with alloys handed down from Zeus on Mt Olympus...

Your description of the manufacturing process sounds far more Nordic than Teutonic. Are you sure you don't have you saw companies confused?
 
The 361 is no better than many other pro saws. It is probally more likely to have some problems do to how choked out it is.

You asked "what makes it so great". I think it is most peoples first pro saw and thier biggest saw. I remember thinking my 036 was an animal and was a little afraid of it at first. Now I feel my 660 is underpowerd. Most of the well respect PRO's here have said they like some of the features but will tell ya it is not gona save the world like many others claim. I was that way when I got my 036, I had to have everyone try it.
 
a "stratified muffler", from what the dealer explained, that reduces the unburned mixed-gas emissions from the muffler from 25% to 5% reducing pollution plus increasing HP.

He lied too you! It may reduce unburned gases (so does a cat muffler) but it sure doesn't increase Hp. :cheers:
 
Back
Top