stihl ms361 compared to 034av

[tstemple]

Sorry, I'm a newbie and posted this in the wrong forum. Hope this is the right place to post it.

I've had a stihl 034 with a 20" bar for years which has served me well for my small farm and firewood needs. I occasionally have a need for a longer bar say 28" and have a chance to get a good used ms361 for about $300. Could I run a 28" bar with a skip chain on this and would it be a good upgrade for me? Thanks for any help, Ted

 

[COLD_IRON]

I've heard of a 361 being run with a 32" full skip in soft wood, and it did OK.
I would only use a 28 for reach and thats it, if I was gonna bury it - I'd get a bigger displacement saw or just cut from both sides.

 

[davefr]

Sorry, I'm a newbie and posted this in the wrong forum. Hope this is the right place to post it.

I've had a stihl 034 with a 20" bar for years which has served me well for my small farm and firewood needs. I occasionally have a need for a longer bar say 28" and have a chance to get a good used ms361 for about $300. Could I run a 28" bar with a skip chain on this and would it be a good upgrade for me? Thanks for any help, Ted

There's not that much performance difference between 034 and 361. Yes, a MS361 can run a 28" bar just fine.

Are you planning to use the MS361 to replace the 034? If you're upgrading to the 2 saw plan then I'd be looking for some more performance seperation. (like a 440/441/460)

 

[PA Plumber]

There's not that much performance difference between 034 and 361. Yes, a MS361 can run a 28" bar just fine.

Are you planning to use the MS361 to replace the 034? If you're upgrading to the 2 saw plan then I'd be looking for some more performance seperation. (like a 440/441/460)

Caution: Be really careful with the "Two Saw Plan." It can lead to the "Three Saw Plan," "Four Saw Plan," and so on.

 

[gonecountry]

There's not that much performance difference between 034 and 361. Yes, a MS361 can run a 28" bar just fine.

Are you planning to use the MS361 to replace the 034? If you're upgrading to the 2 saw plan then I'd be looking for some more performance seperation. (like a 440/441/460)

+1

Like davefr said there is not much difference between them. I have a ms341 which is 95% identical to the ms361 and I have used my father's 034 to me they work almost the same. But my 341 is seeming to get stronger the more I use it. If I was gonna upgrade I'd definatly make a bigger jump to one of the saws that davefr mentioned.

 

[tstemple]

Thanks everyone for your help and info. I will take the advice to stay with my 034 and make a bigger jump if I really have the need. I'm already in the two saw with a stihl 170 for the light stuff and to save an old man's shoulders so I would have been entering what appears to be the very dangerous 3 saw universe. I'll just say no for now. Thanks again, Ted

 

[Bowtie]

Thanks everyone for your help and info. I will take the advice to stay with my 034 and make a bigger jump if I really have the need. I'm already in the two saw with a stihl 170 for the light stuff and to save an old man's shoulders so I would have been entering what appears to be the very dangerous 3 saw universe. I'll just say no for now. Thanks again, Ted

034=good firewood saw!!!

 

[ciscoguy01]

Beg to differ

I say thee nay... IMO the 361 DOES NOT have the lower grunt the 034's use to have. Even more of a difference with the 036's. The 361 I tried out was much as, and I mean it winded like a champ, but was not even in the same plane as the older 034/036 of old times, as far as the old Stihl torque went. Sadly, the newer Stihls like everyone else out has had to conform to epa crap, it's ok to drive your friggin suv that gets 2mpg but heaven forbid your saw burns a little oil. Pathetic. However, I will say it is a DAMN FINE saw. I do think you'll be disappointed with a bar that size even in softwood. Were it me to recommend something, I'd say scrape around and get a 044/440 if you can. You'll be much happier and have something alot closer to what you were running with even more umph... Forget the 2 saw combo. The 44 is everything you need for what your doing if you've always been using the 034. I just sold my 044 to my cousin last year, he hasn't picked up his 034's and 036's since and swears by it now. Actually he said he can't figure out why in he11 I got rid of it. I think I'd like it back, buttttttt, I've got 10 or 12 others I can use... Let us know what you do eh?

eh?

 

[Lakeside53]

well.. I say the 361 kicks the 034 butt.... I've owned plenty of 034, 034S and 036. The 036/34S come close, but the 361 still has the edge. Port the 361 muffler and there's no contest.

Would I buy one if I had a perfectly good 034? na.. not unless you wanted the 34 as a backup saw..

 

[ciscoguy01]

Yip

well.. I say the 361 kicks the 034 butt.... I've owned plenty of 034, 034S and 036. The 036/34S come close, but the 361 still has the edge. Port the 361 muffler and there's no contest.

Would I buy one if I had a perfectly good 034? na.. not unless you wanted the 34 as a backup saw..

Faster, but throw the 20+ inch bar on the 361 and start dawging in and see what happens. I've never run a ported 361, but I can imagine that would make quite a difference. It's never speed or smoothness that the older saws are ahead of, it's the plain old fashioned grunt they are lacking. Does it make a diff if they are ported??? That much???

opcorn:

 

[Bowtie]

Ok, lets port the 361 and the 034 or 036 comparitively and see what happens. I cant see an 034 keeping up at all. I dont know if an 036 will. Im just asking to be asking out of genuine curiousity. Im in the market for a 361, so Im doing the asking and research. I can get a healthy 036 Pro much cheaper, and I have an 034 that has been real good to me. Thats why I throw out the question.

 

[ciscoguy01]

I can get a healthy 036 Pro much cheaper, and I have an 034 that has been real good to me. Thats why I throw out the question.

Where?? I've been looking for one dude...

opcorn:

 

[Lakeside53]

Faster, but throw the 20+ inch bar on the 361 and start dawging in and see what happens. I've never run a ported 361, but I can imagine that would make quite a difference. It's never speed or smoothness that the older saws are ahead of, it's the plain old fashioned grunt they are lacking. Does it make a diff if they are ported??? That much???

opcorn:

A BIG difference with a 361 muffler mod... night and day. Less so on the older saws.

imo... Even at the low end the 361 wins... and quit dogging anyhow -that's hard on the clutch opcorn:


You're going to make me look up the torque numbers...

 

[Bowtie]

Good Info Lakeside. I wasnt defending my 034 or the 036, but I was curious as to how the 361 stacked up against the old reliable 036.

 

[ciscoguy01]

hehehehehe

A BIG difference with a 361 muffler mod... night and day. Less so on the older saws.

imo... Even at the low end the 361 wins... and quit dogging anyhow -that's hard on the clutch opcorn:


You're going to make me look up the torque numbers...

I'm actually VERY interested to find out torque on a bunch of the older Stihl's and newer ones... If I feel like this, is it maybe because the power band is different??? I don't get it...

opcorn:

 

[Lakeside53]

Here's some of the details: No torque number for the 341/361 yet. I'd guess it's pretty much the same.

BTW : The 361 cylinder is quite different from the 026/036/044 etc...

 

[Freakingstang]

It's ok cisco dude, I think along the same lines as you. I like the 036 for grunt. The a/f is better on the 361 though

 

[Bowtie]

Where?? I've been looking for one dude...

opcorn:

The 036 Pro is my dad's, and when I obtain it, I obviously cant ever sell it.

 

[Stihl here]

I have run husky 372xp and my muffler mod ms361 back to back on 18'' oak and yes the 372xp does cut very well but I think the ms361 comes close to the torque of the 372xp in that size wood. The ms361 has more torque and rpm than you would think for a 60cc saw should have , I can not believe it myself still after a year of hammering on it. They are a remarkable machine once opened up on the muffler and broken in properly!!! My buddys 034 sucks hind tit compared to the ms361 nuff said!!!!

 

[litefoot]

Sorry, I'm a newbie and posted this in the wrong forum. Hope this is the right place to post it.

I've had a stihl 034 with a 20" bar for years which has served me well for my small farm and firewood needs. I occasionally have a need for a longer bar say 28" and have a chance to get a good used ms361 for about $300. Could I run a 28" bar with a skip chain on this and would it be a good upgrade for me? Thanks for any help, Ted

Ted,
You've been given some good advice. I went the opposite route. I bought a new 361 that has since sat on the shelf after I later bought an excellent condition used 034AV for $36 at a yard sale. I just can't bring myself to run a brand new $600 saw when the 034 is so similar in performance. I want to keep it in near-new shape in case I decide to sell and let the older saw do the dirty work. There's just not enough appreciable difference in performance to justify keeping both saws.

BUT...a good condition 361 for $300 is a pretty good deal...I might grab it if I were you.