turboaudi80
ArboristSite Lurker
Hi Folks, I'm sure this has been debated on a number of threads before, but I'm looking for some advice.
I have an old Homelite 1050 Super that I have done some milling with. It's nasty, old and fun, but I'd like to upgrade to something more modern, and more reliable and user friendly. The recoil kinda sucks and no decomp can be less than fun at times. No chain brake doesn't seem like a big deal milling, but for bucking it seems like a smart feature to have. I'm considering either a 660 or 661. I would also like to be able to use the saw for occasional large tree felling and bucking, but not regular (not even close to pro use). I have a MS462 and a 260 that i use fairly often. There are used 660s around in the $600-900 range and 661's typically go for $900-1400. I also wonder about a 660 with a big bore upgrade. On paper, it seems like the 660 is the bang for the buck, but not having run either, I don't know what I don't know. The longer stroke of the 660 would make me think it might have a little better torque than the 661, but I'm not a 2 stroke guy. Chainsaws don't advertise enough detail specs to see what the torque/hp curves look like.
Just to stir up a hornets nest, I would also consider a 395XP, but I like the the Stihl bar tensioning set up and then I'd have to buy new hats. Also, the option to move bars between the 462 and the 66X sounds nice for shorter bars in the 25-28" range for bucking.
I live in Mass and have woodland in Maine so mostly cutting hardwood for firewood, but milling could be either softwood or hardwood.
As always, any wisdom is appreciated.
I have an old Homelite 1050 Super that I have done some milling with. It's nasty, old and fun, but I'd like to upgrade to something more modern, and more reliable and user friendly. The recoil kinda sucks and no decomp can be less than fun at times. No chain brake doesn't seem like a big deal milling, but for bucking it seems like a smart feature to have. I'm considering either a 660 or 661. I would also like to be able to use the saw for occasional large tree felling and bucking, but not regular (not even close to pro use). I have a MS462 and a 260 that i use fairly often. There are used 660s around in the $600-900 range and 661's typically go for $900-1400. I also wonder about a 660 with a big bore upgrade. On paper, it seems like the 660 is the bang for the buck, but not having run either, I don't know what I don't know. The longer stroke of the 660 would make me think it might have a little better torque than the 661, but I'm not a 2 stroke guy. Chainsaws don't advertise enough detail specs to see what the torque/hp curves look like.
Just to stir up a hornets nest, I would also consider a 395XP, but I like the the Stihl bar tensioning set up and then I'd have to buy new hats. Also, the option to move bars between the 462 and the 66X sounds nice for shorter bars in the 25-28" range for bucking.
I live in Mass and have woodland in Maine so mostly cutting hardwood for firewood, but milling could be either softwood or hardwood.
As always, any wisdom is appreciated.