Less expensive equivalent to the MS361?

[parrisw]

who's saw is this man!? damn.

Timberwolf, of course.

 

[teacherman]

Done deal, your're getting a 361. When you want a 660, just get the 361 modded and that will suffice for a little while longer. See, its already saving you money. Perfect.

Sam

Good combo.

 

[Brushwacker]

Is there one? I like the product,support, and closeness(2 miles away) of the stihl dealer I have so I'm probably going to get the 361. But, I need to give you other brand name guys a chance to throw in your couple of pennies. I'm having a hard time getting off the extra change just because I'm not sure its worth the extra performance over the 290.

Heres the requirements:
-Has to weigh about the same or less as a 290(13-14 lbs)
-Has to cost less than the 361
-Has to be new(I barely have enough time to cut wood anymore, let alone tinker with a mistreated overpriced used saw.)
-Has to last.

I'm cutting about 5-10 cords a year. And NO, I probably do not need anything more than the farmboss but I WANT more! damn CAD.

I just saw a buy it now new Makita 6401 $425 on ebay. I bought 1 a little lower last year and run about 8 to 12 tanks through it since. I usually use my 044 so it doesn't see a lot of action but it is a very good starter, smooth,plenty of power for the 20" on it an I will probably put a 22 or 24" on it soon for reach. The handle position isn't near as comfortable for angle reaching straight ahead or up as the 044 but other then that I give it an a+ in most catogories. If the power to weight ratio bothers you upgrade it to a 7900 for about 2to 250$. It feels well bucking on the ground but up in the air limbing I find my stihls handle more comfortably. 13.6 lbs dry w/o bar & chain but 64 cc. I have run an new 361 which I think handles better but without doing any modification I'd say the Makita has an small power advantage.
You might be happy with a shorter bar on the farm boss for limbing and tight spots and use a Makita for the bigger stuff.

 

[oldirty]

Timberwolf, of course.

rip'n little fella. wow.

 

[funky sawman]

ms 361 is a great saw, I like them over the 359 husky. The 359 has that goofy small butt bar mount that dosn't give you the bar selection like the Stihl does.

 

[parrisw]

rip'n little fella. wow.

Ya, LOL, how'd ya like that for a nice climbing saw.

 

[parrisw]

ms 361 is a great saw, I like them over the 359 husky. The 359 has that goofy small butt bar mount that dosn't give you the bar selection like the Stihl does.

What kind of selection do you need, you can easily get up to a 24" bar for it, that's all a guy needs.

 

[funky sawman]

I get a few city workers in the shop once in a while that need a cheap saw (city money) that handles a long bar 30-32" for weird projects like reaching under docks to cut pillars The stihl saws will run any bar but the smaller huskys are limited to 28". The city guys went to the Stihl dealer to buy a ms361 or 390 I think.

 

[parrisw]

I get a few city workers in the shop once in a while that need a cheap saw (city money) that handles a long bar 30-32" for weird projects like reaching under docks to cut pillars The stihl saws will run any bar but the smaller huskys are limited to 28". The city guys went to the Stihl dealer to buy a ms361 or 390 I think.

Well that's a pretty odd and uncommon request and not the norm, so I really don't think it applies here.

 

[funky sawman]

The point is that I can have one bar that fits anywere from 50cc saw (026) to a 90cc saw (066) but the huskys you need different bars for radically different size saws. I do like the fact that the 3120 husky uses a normal big butt bar mount unlike the Stihl and their odd ball 088/090 mount.

 

[parrisw]

The point is that I can have one bar that fits anywere from 50cc saw (026) to a 90cc saw (066) but the huskys you need different bars for radically different size saws. I do like the fact that the 3120 husky uses a normal big butt bar mount unlike the Stihl and their odd ball 088/090 mount.

True, but I aint never going to run a 36" bar on a 60cc saw.

 

[Woodie]

The only equivalent is a slightly used 361.

That is just a fact, anything less is a joke.

Sam

Your post is a joke, correct?

Lay off the Koolaid, dude.





.

 

[oldirty]

Ya, LOL, how'd ya like that for a nice climbing saw.

i would LOVE to have my 3fiddy9 barking like that in the tree.

i'd have to be careful to not rip through the hinge though and lose a top. damn that thing was mean.

 

[parrisw]

i would LOVE to have my 3fiddy9 barking like that in the tree.

i'd have to be careful to not rip through the hinge though and lose a top. damn that thing was mean.

LOL ya, I think maybe a little too fast for tree work. you should have a good woods port done to it, it'll wake up allot.

 

[chugbug]

Do you have a jonsereds dealer near you, model 2159 same as the husky 359 , same co. makes it , same saw different color is all . Here is an older thread on the 2159 and the 361 on price .

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=22112

 

[brages]

John Deere/Efco CS62.

 

[CentaurG2]

If you are just bucking firewood, the Makita 6401 is hard to beat. It is heavier and clunky compared to the ms361 but it is also more powerful. In addition, parts are available on the internet and the saw is easily upgradable to a 7900 with a piston and cylinder. The site sponsor Baileys was selling them and I have also seen them on fleabay.

 

[blsnelling]

Not to steal the thread; but, Brad what happened to your putting a 'new' top end on the 361 for Bailey's? I never heard the results of your pioneering effort. Tom

Ya must have been sleepin. There's a whole long thread on it. Let me go find it for you.


Edit: Here it is. LINK

 

[SawTroll]

Husky 359 then. Less money, equally as good as a MS361.

Not when both are stock, or close to it.

 

[stihl025]

Yes. MS341.

Boy, wouldn't that be cool if they introduced it in the States. I can't wait to see the next generation of Stihl saws, waiting for the 461...

A lot of people report good success with a muffler modded MS290. Some claims of being capable to keep up with a 361, but far fetched IMO. I wouldn't go with a homeowner saw if you want longevity. 361 has the ultimate power to weight.

357XP is right there with the 361 in terms of power, but the price tag is higher. The alternative is the 359. Same size and weight as the 357XP. Just a bit less powerful than the 357. Almost all are e-tech now. Replace the muffler with a non e-tech and do a muffler mod and you will come "closer".

It will come down to preference. My neighbor has all Stihls, but really thinks my 357 handle position is more comfortable than his Stihl. For me, it doesn't matter, I am not that sensitive to it.