Stihl MS261 or Husqvarna 545?

[7sleeper]

I also have no idea why anyone would think the 261 is chunky other than brand bias. The 261 also has the best air filter on the market, the 550 filter needs grease on the base to make it seal, even than dust still gets in.

Typical "dust paranoia"! There are tons of saws still running excelent with filters like kitchen strainers out of the last decades. And miracously not a single one of them died because of "dust" injestion. Come on guys please don't fall for this hype!
Now if we would be talking about cut off saws that would be a total different thing but these are only chainsaws.

7

 

[CentaurG2]

I also have no idea why anyone would think the 261 is chunky other than brand bias. The 261 also has the best air filter on the market, the 550 filter needs grease on the base to make it seal, even than dust still gets in.

Funny, I don’t think I have ever had to touch most of my husky saws filters other than simple maintenance. Never roached one yet on dust ingest. My ms200t(s) need to be banged out at every tankfull. Not complaining, you just get used to the saw, assuming you actually run them enough. Best filter design I have ever seen sits atop the 372xp and it has been there for many years.

 

[porsche965]

When pushed hard the 261 has more torque than a 346/550. Other than handling the performance depends on how the operator runs his own saw. Light handed or heavy handed.

Having both stock and in ported form their characteristics don't change much. But Stihl has the torque department, especially when the wood starts to close on the bar in a cut. Both good saws just comes down to personal preference.

 

[Wasatch]

Visited my closest Stihl dealer today. Great guys. Ended up leaving with the 261cm with 18" bar. Heading up to the mountains this weekend to camp and hopefully cut a cord of wood.

 

[Lowhog]

Done deal great choice!

 

[Deleted member 135597]

I got one last year. I love this saw! You made a wise choice and will fall in love with it.

 

[1Alpha1]

Good choice and it will serve you well.

 

[pro94lt]

Now the next question, 50:1? Lol

 

[1Alpha1]

Any bets on how long it will take the OP to ask about muffler mods?

 

[Wasatch]

No plans for any modding. I'm one of those boring guys that keeps most things stock. I asked about running something other that 50:1 and the guys at the dealer looked at me like I was crazy. I'm open to suggestions on the mixture ratio. Obviously will be running ethanol free fuel. Also looking for suggestions on a file/sharpening system that will work in the field? Oh and thanks, I'm pretty excited.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Have you modded the muffler? They need it!

Hey Brad, do you have to split the muffler in half to mod it? I haven't really looked hard at mine, but I think I remember that it's crimped like a Dolmar or 361 muffler. Any tips for me on a muffler mod? Open the stock hole and remove the screen? Add an opening on the flywheel side with a deflector (and if so, is there a baffle or tube that needs modified)?

Thanks!

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Also, congrats, OP. You'll love it. Personally I've been running 40:1 in everything for a little peace of mind. Also, run that saw hard (bar buried) for a good half dozen tanks before you really judge the power. Mine woke up a lot after breaking in.

 

[sunfish]

I don't get the chunky comments when it's lighter than all other pro grade 50cc saws, except maybe this Echo that I don't know about.

It's relative & doesn't matter.

 

[birddogtg]

I also have no idea why anyone would think the 261 is chunky other than brand bias. The 261 also has the best air filter on the market, the 550 filter needs grease on the base to make it seal, even than dust still gets in.

Grease the seam too and nothing gets past, Takes about 1 minute

 

[Jet47]

I use 40:1 and burn on average 4-5 gallons of gas a week.

 

[1Alpha1]

No plans for any modding. I'm one of those boring guys that keeps most things stock. I asked about running something other that 50:1 and the guys at the dealer looked at me like I was crazy. I'm open to suggestions on the mixture ratio. Obviously will be running ethanol free fuel. Also looking for suggestions on a file/sharpening system that will work in the field? Oh and thanks, I'm pretty excited.

I don't do any muffler mods or porting. I do remove the spark arrestor.

I run 40:1 canned fuel at the moment. We just recently got a new gas station in town that sells E-Free gas. As soon as my canned fuel get used up, I'll be going back to mixing my own fuel.

 

[weedkilla]

No plans for any modding. I'm one of those boring guys that keeps most things stock. I asked about running something other that 50:1 and the guys at the dealer looked at me like I was crazy. I'm open to suggestions on the mixture ratio. Obviously will be running ethanol free fuel. Also looking for suggestions on a file/sharpening system that will work in the field? Oh and thanks, I'm pretty excited.

Don't hang around here too long then.
It starts with wondering what oil to run, then sharper chains, then faster chains, then a muffler mod, then a second hand ported saw, then.... well it's too late by then (and you still won't know what oil is best).
All jokes aside, there is an awful lot of information to be gained here, hang around.

 

[CR888]

A couple of points I can add on this subject from the position of owning and near daily use of 2xMS261 oe's standard carb, 550xp & 555 are.... For work I mainly use the 261's, they have double dawgs with roller catcher, (no factory double dawg option for 550xp) better air filters and good torque for what I cut. Throttle response is nowhere near as good as revboost 550xp. Single pathetic dawg on 550/555 suck big time. The 60cc 555 is about the same size if not smaller than the 261's. The 'micro' spline size rim sprockets on the Stihl suck as there hard to buy online & cost $33 a pop at local steal shop. Husky wants to roll over when you place it on ground. Handling of the 550 as a limbing saw is super, the outboard clutch helps this its just damn nimble. You get a proper full size 14mm spark plug with the ms261, wrs6f, the husky 10mm and hard to find adapter for compression tester. Both saws have good spring AV. I would not own either if they weren't good saws but I do find myself using the Stihls most. I think the typeII is even better. Both saws have there pro's & con's and totally different personalities.

 

[Andyshine77]

Typical "dust paranoia"! There are tons of saws still running excelent with filters like kitchen strainers out of the last decades. And miracously not a single one of them died because of "dust" injestion. Come on guys please don't fall for this hype!
Now if we would be talking about cut off saws that would be a total different thing but these are only chainsaws.

7

Yes I have old Poulan's like that and they run fine, but than again they're built just a little different. I don't think anyone would say dust getting past the filter is a positive, and that's not hype, just common sense.

Wow I forgot just how touchy people get about chainsaws.

Take it easy.

Andre.

 

[Andyshine77]

Funny, I don’t think I have ever had to touch most of my husky saws filters other than simple maintenance. Never roached one yet on dust ingest. My ms200t(s) need to be banged out at every tankfull. Not complaining, you just get used to the saw, assuming you actually run them enough. Best filter design I have ever seen sits atop the 372xp and it has been there for many years.

The 372 has one of the better filter setups no doubt. The 353 I have with the twist on filter is excellent. When they changed to the clip on style on later models, I started to see some dust in the intake throat. The 550's filter fits really loose in the manifold, supposedly those tolerances have been tightened up recently. If you cut dry dusty wood guys from other county's are always experts on environments they no little about.