Mastermind Meets The MS661 C-M

[zogger]

At no point in any of my training from Stihl have I been told that I need to return a saw to stock because of the EPA. We were, however, warned heartily that the fines were steep if we modified the saw. The liability section was scary though, so every saw that comes into my place leaves with all it's warning stickers in place and safety features intact. Also, I will not accept a saw for repair that will leave with a non-functioning chain brake. I am FAR more scared of product liability lawyers than I am the EPA.

A local shop here I go to is strict on mods and non functioning chainbrakes. If a saw comes in with a gutted muffler/broken brake, etc, it can't leave the shop unless it is fixed back to stock. That's their policy anyway.

 

[HuskStihl]

I'm actually pretty pissed off at Randy right now. He never mentioned that my 394 would lose its warranty coverage with his port job. It was supposed be a nice, quiet, gas sipping saw thatI could limb with all day, but Randy ****ed it up royally, and now it sounds like a Harley on crack, cuts like a pissed off light saber, and "your mileage may vary". Thank god I still have my electric hedge clippers.

 

[MasterMech]

So after you port the saw, are you going to have to take it to a stihl dealership and have it retuned or will it automatically adjust to the mods that have been done to it? I would have thought there would be decent gains from modding the muffler. I figured they would be pretty restrictive from the factory with all the new emissions laws

The mufflers on both of my new M-tronic saws are far less restrictive then the stock mufflers on previous models. I think the stratocharged engines and auto adjusting carbs negate having to have a more restricted exhausted to meet emissions standards. These new saws thankfully are not like early fuel injection systems on cars, which were very intolerant of any kind of airflow mod.

 

[Officer's Match]

Alright, I resisted long enough... sub'd in.

 

[XSKIER]

So after you port the saw, are you going to have to take it to a stihl dealership and have it retuned or will it automatically adjust to the mods that have been done to it? I would have thought there would be decent gains from modding the muffler. I figured they would be pretty restrictive from the factory with all the new emissions laws

Why do people continue to perpetuate the stereotype that new saws are too restricted? The stock exhaust outlet on a MS 261 C-M is twice the size of a stock MS 260 PRO.

 

[MasterMech]

Why do people continue to perpetuate the stereotype that new saws are too restricted? The stock exhaust outlet on a MS 261 C-M is twice the size of a stock MS 260 PRO.

As is the outlet on my 441CM vs the stock outlet on my old 460s. IIRC Stihl was forcing the 660 to breathe through a coffee stirrer too no? DP mufflers were a popular mod for that one too. I'm interested to see what Randy does to the muffler on this one....

 

[shootingarts]

I wonder if the EPA has ever busted a saw shop for not putting the limiter caps back on a saw where they were removed? Set up a sting and catch those law breaking bastards. If I saw that memo come down the pipe it would instantly be headed to the trash. What a joke!

Believe it or not, the EPA has a swat team! It was used just recently in a raid on a place. Much easier to scare the crap out of basically law abiding citizens that might be tempted to pull a limiter cap and not replace it than drug dealers and hard core crime organizations.

I'm ready for more saw info and pictures myself but today is Sunday, a day for rest, religion, and family. Well maybe the occasional fishing trip too!

Hu

 

[LowVolt]

Hell. At least this derailing is chainsaw related. Just wait till these guys really get off topic.

 

[wyk]

I like pie

 

[chadihman]

I like pie

There it is! Derailed derailed!

 

[chadihman]

I said it before in other posts but my 461 showed hardly any gain after a dual port. My 460's and 660 loved a good mm. I bet the 661 doesn't make much a difference with a mm in stock form. I also bet a mm will make a difference after Randy sticks his spinny thingy in there. It should be ported and tested with a stock muffler and modded muffler.

Just my two cents.

 

[Mastermind]

I said it before in other posts but my 461 showed hardly any gain after a dual port. My 460's and 660 loved a good mm. I bet the 661 doesn't make much a difference with a mm in stock form. I also bet a mm will make a difference after Randy sticks his spinny thingy in there. It should be ported and tested with a stock muffler and modded muffler.

Just my two cents.

This is the first post I've seen that I felt inclined to reply to.

The others scare the **** out of me. I started doing this just to give me something to do with my hands while I was sick.........like everything else in my life, I got carried away with it.

I just have this one muffler Chad. Do you think I should mod the saw and run it with the stock muffler, then mod the muffler?

Tree Monkey and I talked on the phone about it last night. He thinks that the baffle is just for bracing, and should be removed right away. It looks that way to me as well, though it is a better way of bracing the muffler than we have seen in the past.

 

[splitpost]

Very cool ,thanks randy for taking the time to post the pics,looks like a better finnished saw than the 461,might have to save up for one now

Sent from my GT-S7500T using Tapatalk 2

 

[crane]

Randy,

As parts(mufflers) may be scarce, while this recall is in effect. I would port the saw, leave the muff stock. See what it does. You can then go back and MM, if you want. Any gains that show up after the port on a MM would show up before the porting--Yes?
I understand, that you want to follow along with your tests, like the other threads. MM then port, then ported with a stock muffler. Can you get another stock muffler?

 

[mdavlee]

I don't know if the way the muffler is pretty well open inside and a larger opening than the 660 may not benefit much from a muffler mod. There's only one way to find out though. I'm sure it could use the extra opening after other mods.

 

[LowVolt]

Any chance in hell the 660 front muffler half bolts up? I doubt it but it looks similar.

 

[Mastermind]

Any chance in hell the 660 front muffler half bolts up? I doubt it but it looks similar.

Nope......tried that.

 

[bryanr2]

I wouldn't worry about the epa at our level. Sure a Global company like Stihl or Husq has to fall into compliance, but what we do in our own backyard is our business. I dont think that they have the resources to hound every violation on an individual basis. I have 3 Diesel trucks- 97 7.3 Powerstroke, 04 5.9 Cummins, and a 2010 4500 with 6.7. Only one of them is Emissions Compliant and it is an absolute turd compared to the others. The other trucks will walk all over it. As soon as the warranty expires- all that emissions crap is coming off- I have 10K miles to go.

 

[chadihman]

This is the first post I've seen that I felt inclined to reply to.

The others scare the **** out of me. I started doing this just to give me something to do with my hands while I was sick.........like everything else in my life, I got carried away with it.

I just have this one muffler Chad. Do you think I should mod the saw and run it with the stock muffler, then mod the muffler?

Tree Monkey and I talked on the phone about it last night. He thinks that the baffle is just for bracing, and should be removed right away. It looks that way to me as well, though it is a better way of bracing the muffler than we have seen in the past.

I'll see if I can get a muffler for ya. If so I'll ship it asap.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Some Guru must have been paid to design the muffler and the design may have merit. It sure looks kind of uncorked compared to older saws. I would just port match it and see what it nets. I don't think were going to be standing here scratching our heads saying "sounds kinda clogged up". Looks pretty open to me.