It's here! The M-Tronic MS261C is finally here.

[kb voodoo]

I agree with Niko..... it's fun to pick some and bait the "loyalist". "Brand" remarks are the easiest way to get a rise out of a Stihlhead or a Husq Guy. It makes for a lively conversation when the threads seem to be lack luster on certain occasions. Although, Stihlheads seem to be more sensitive to the "baiting". Some go from being "passionate" to "heated" to easily. It's all in good fun. We all like chainsaws, and talking about chainsaws....... that's why we sit here everynight on a internet site closed off from the "real world". Hell, if I was forced to...... I think I could learn to be happy with a Stihl saw or any saw for that matter. Thankfully, I don't have to find out. I just don't care for the "Elitist" mentality that the Stihl brand commands, and is demonstrated by it's fan boys.otstir: :hmm3grin2orange:

I owned, and loved a 345XP forever, and I got my 261 a few weeks ago. I can't for the life of me see how this saw is clumsy.

So far I've felled, limbed, and bucked a 75 foot Hemlock with it, plus a lot of maintenance cutting around the chalet. The 261 is quite a nimble saw. My 346XP is now nothing more than a memory...

 

[blsnelling]

I owned, and loved a 345XP forever, and I got my 261 a few weeks ago. I can't for the life of me see how this saw is clumsy.

So far I've felled, limbed, and bucked a 75 foot Hemlock with it, plus a lot of maintenance cutting around the chalet. The 261 is quite a nimble saw. My 346XP is now nothing more than a memory...

You're exactly right. I have owned both, and used both, side by side, working all day in the woods. They both run and handle very well.

 

[eat a peach]

If this one is out....

look out for the MS241"T" M-tronic!. I hear it is already coming down the pipes. Won't be long till everybody else stops making top handles:hmm3grin2orange:. Poking and prodding aside this should be a very nice and DEPENDABLE saw. C'mon Brad give us that power rush we all crave!ray:

 

[bryanr2]

I owned, and loved a 345XP forever, and I got my 261 a few weeks ago. I can't for the life of me see how this saw is clumsy.

So far I've felled, limbed, and bucked a 75 foot Hemlock with it, plus a lot of maintenance cutting around the chalet. The 261 is quite a nimble saw. My 346XP is now nothing more than a memory...

So is it a 345 or 346?


I think a 261 would make a phenomenal "one saw plan" for most as it is delivers in the cut. For those of us who catagorize our saws in "classes" the 261 feels more like a 60cc saw than a 50cc saw. For the weight... Id rather have the power of a 60cc saw like my 359s.

 

[bryanr2]

You're exactly right. I have owned both, and used both, side by side, working all day in the woods. They both run and handle very well.

Brad- which did you keep though?otstir: I used to keep up with the saws in your sig but your inventory is no longer listed.

 

[kb voodoo]

So is it a 345 or 346?


I think a 261 would make a phenomenal "one saw plan" for most as it is delivers in the cut. For those of us who catagorize our saws in "classes" the 261 feels more like a 60cc saw than a 50cc saw. For the weight... Id rather have the power of a 60cc saw like my 359s.

Typo.....we're talking 346XP.

Funny you should mention the 359. This 261 is basically replacing mine. It cuts like a demon, and isn't as hard to lug around the uneven ground at my ski chalet.

 

[morewood]

........ I just don't care for the "Elitist" mentality that the Stihl brand commands, and is demonstrated by it's fan boys.otstir: :hmm3grin2orange:

Just having fun guys! No harm... No foul here. Ain't trying to start no ****.

Wow, Stihl geeks are elitist?? You haven't seen snobby, nose high, holier-than-though, elitist until you start fishing around some dufus dressed in his Orvis/Simms/William Joseph gear while fly-fishing (dry fly only for purists), and extoling the virtues of his great ability. All while standing in the middle of the 'hole' casting to the wrong spot.......It bothered me enough to swear I would never fly fish, period. That, my friend, is elitist. By the way, I own four different brands of 'runners'. Equal opportunity for me.

Shea

 

[morewood]

Typo.....we're talking 346XP.

Funny you should mention the 359. This 261 is basically replacing mine. It cuts like a demon, and isn't as hard to lug around the uneven ground at my ski chalet.

I think you should get an award for using the word 'chalet'....twice. Please explain to the rest of the group what a chalet is, they may not know and are afraid to ask.

Shea

 

[kb voodoo]

I think you should get an award for using the word 'chalet'....twice. Please explain to the rest of the group what a chalet is, they may not know and are afraid to ask.

Shea

Basically, it's a house.

 

[bryanr2]

Typo.....we're talking 346XP.

Funny you should mention the 359. This 261 is basically replacing mine. It cuts like a demon, and isn't as hard to lug around the uneven ground at my ski chalet.

-replacing? or substituting?

-as hard to lug around as a 359? We're talking a very small weight difference 11.6 vs 12.1lbs. I'd rather have the extra 9cc. Shouldn't require "lugging" either of them.:msp_thumbup:

 

[kb voodoo]

-replacing? or substituting?

-as hard to lug around as a 359? We're talking a very small weight difference 11.6 vs 12.1lbs. I'd rather have the extra 9cc. Shouldn't require "lugging" either of them.:msp_thumbup:

The terrain around my place is really steep, and uneven. I dread picking up the 359 with a 20" bar vs the 261 with an 18" bar.

I know on paper the weight difference isn't much, but it seems like a lot in real life.

I'm cleaning up the 359 and getting it ready for sale.

Honestly, it will probably be my last Husqvarna. I'm incredibly impressed by the build quality of this Stihl.

 

[morewood]

I hear you on real world weight. When I go off logging roads to cut firewood I take the smallest/lightest saw I can. Around here, there doesn't seem to be anything but steep.

Shea

 

[porsche965]

This should be really good. Subscribed.

What would be interesting is to run a stock 261 against the 261C before doing any engine mods. I'd send you one but just had mine done :msp_thumbsup: !

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Not to fan the flames, but I will say this. I worked for two different companies during the Bastrop cleanup. One ran 346's, one ran 261's and both hired idiots. I can tear a 346 down to the crank in 10 minutes, but I've never gotten past the air filter on a 261. Both are great saws, but the 346 just didn't hold up in the real world like the 261 did. Jeff

 

[Joe Kidd]

I'm a Diehard Stihl fan, but after running one of Dozerdans ported 346s This 261 would have to be something really,really special to impress me.

Lately I've bought whatever is cheaper. My Stihl dealer is msrp only. I do kind of admire the AT's.

 

[blsnelling]

This should be really good. Subscribed.

What would be interesting is to run a stock 261 against the 261C before doing any engine mods. I'd send you one but just had mine done :msp_thumbsup: !

Anyone interested in a muffler modded and timing advanced MS261, non M-Tronic? You buy the saw for $555 + shipping. The mods are free. I'm not financially prepared to buy both new saws without buyers. I have a 10" Sycamore cant that I could do back to back runs in. I would run both stock, then MMd, then timing advanced, and then finally porting the M-Tronic one. I could borrow a ported non M-Tronic saw for the final comparison, unless the buyer of said saw wants to pay for porting as well. Otherwise, I'll just borrow one already ported.

 

[thomasjoven]

I've been looking for a kid brother to my 461 for jobs with lots of Hemlock. This may be the one! Brad, can't wait to see the vids!

 

[LowVolt]

Anyone interested in a muffler modded and timing advanced MS261, non M-Tronic? You buy the saw for $555 + shipping. The mods are free. I'm not financially prepared to buy both new saws without buyers. I have a 10" Sycamore cant that I could do back to back runs in. I would run both stock, then MMd, then timing advanced, and then finally porting the M-Tronic one. I could borrow a ported non M-Tronic saw for the final comparison, unless the buyer of said saw wants to pay for porting as well. Otherwise, I'll just borrow one already ported.

I have the ported non mtronic test subject if you need it...

 

[blsnelling]

I have the ported non mtronic test subject if you need it...

Thanks Rory. I had you in mind

 

[LowVolt]

Oh yeah, what is the cost compared to the non version?