Stihl MS251 vs. Echo or Husky Equivalent?

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Between the Husqvarna 450, echo 490, and Stihl 250 I would eek which one felt best to you on use. All three would be decent Saws. But that mv51 would be very hard to beat.
 
Stihl still makes the MS250 that's probably a better saw (and cheaper) than the MS251. I'd go with the MS250 if you go the Stihl route. Husky 450 has superior anti-vibe and air filtration to the Stihl. 445 husky is a great cheap saw too. I love the 50ish cc saws
 
I am in Canada so my opinion may not be relevant to your question. I paid $299cdn for my Stihl MS230, and $499cdn for my Maruyama MCV51. If almost everything you are cutting is 10" or smaller, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the smaller/cheaper Stihl. I have cut a ton of small stuff with my MS230 and I really like that saw. It is very light and maneuverable with a 16" bar, great on fuel, and has plenty of power for it's size. Did I mention I really like it? However, once you get into larger wood, I greatly prefer the Maruyama. It's a little bigger and heavier, but it doesn't lack for beans when cutting 18" logs. Neither saw is going to wear you out. If the MS230 and MCV51 were almost the same price, then no question I would take the MCV51 for a 1 and done, occasional use saw.
 
Yes that's a great deal down there. Up here we are always made to pay the "Canada Premium" on just about everything. Even stuff that's made here is usually cheaper in the Sates than it is here. So the MCV51 is $329 there, how much is a new Stihl MS250?
 
I am in Canada so my opinion may not be relevant to your question. I paid $299cdn for my Stihl MS230, and $499cdn for my Maruyama MCV51. If almost everything you are cutting is 10" or smaller, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the smaller/cheaper Stihl. I have cut a ton of small stuff with my MS230 and I really like that saw. It is very light and maneuverable with a 16" bar, great on fuel, and has plenty of power for it's size. Did I mention I really like it? However, once you get into larger wood, I greatly prefer the Maruyama. It's a little bigger and heavier, but it doesn't lack for beans when cutting 18" logs. Neither saw is going to wear you out. If the MS230 and MCV51 were almost the same price, then no question I would take the MCV51 for a 1 and done, occasional use saw.


Where did you ever find a Maruyama? I have seen only a few but never in a dealer. When I ask I am told it was a flea market deal or a Kijiji deal. I still stock the MS 250 and it sells well but I have to say the MS 170 is a saw I just can not keep in stock! What part of Canada are you in mate?
 
I am in Belleville, Ontario. There is a Maruyama dealer in Roblin - north of Napanee. They are just a small husband/wife team with an outdoor power equip. business - nice people. I have posted a link here to their website before but they aren't sponsors here so I will call it "one and done" for the free advertising lol. If you do a google search of Maruyama Belleville Ontario you will likely find my dealer on FB or Kijiji.
 
A friend of mine has an MS170. He brought it a couple times for firewood cutting sessions, but after that it stayed in the truck lol. They might be great for light trimming but other than that...
 
I wouldn't hesitate on a MS250 for general cleanup and some firewood cutting of some smaller logs, up to 12". Just picked one up and it does what it should.

Not so sure about "pro" saws these days, EPA seems like they've taken the joy out of price point and longevity. I'm not so sure the way to go is just get a homeowner saw, run the snot out of it till its out of warranty and then some......run it hard some more, nail it on the wall and go get another.

Hardly anything these days is made to last, it's a throw away product market for the most part, just too bad it spread to the chainsaw industry.

Wish I would've bought 3 of my Husky 51's and 61's back in the day. Could've shrunk wrapped em after fogging and pulled one out every 20 years and ....and .......at least that what I'm thinking now after knowing those days are over.
Hindsight.
 
I am in Belleville, Ontario. There is a Maruyama dealer in Roblin - north of Napanee. They are just a small husband/wife team with an outdoor power equip. business - nice people. I have posted a link here to their website before but they aren't sponsors here so I will call it "one and done" for the free advertising lol. If you do a google search of Maruyama Belleville Ontario you will likely find my dealer on FB or Kijiji.


Ahhhh I pass through Belleville on my way to Bancroft. My MS 440 was expertly built by a gent in the ville... I am north of Toronto and we just do not see those saws up here. The odd Husqvarna, echo that wind up in the bin right quick and Stihl.
 
I spend a fair amount of time up between Madoc and Bancroft, but not near as much as I would like to. Beautiful country if you like the bush. Who built your saw in Belleville?
 
A friend of mine has an MS170. He brought it a couple times for firewood cutting sessions, but after that it stayed in the truck lol. They might be great for light trimming but other than that...

Hey don't underestimate the ms170! With the right mods and a bar/chain swap they're hard to beat. I have mine buried regularly and as long as you don't lean on it it's great. Saved me a lot of pain after my lower back surgery a few months ago.

And if I do ever break it, who cares? Just get one off CL for $100 (or less sometimes) and swap my carb, bar and chain and be good to go. Theres TONS of them out there.
 
I have rebuilt a lot of the "clamshells", and I have used every model Stihl model made in past 10-15 years....I see ms250 that have been used by tree services and held up fine....it's funny to hear that they are "junk".....I have learned that the ham fisted fella, that can't eat with a knife and fork, will tear anything up....common sense and maitnance people!!!!!
 
I think the 251 would be a great choice for a homeowner just cutting some limbs and an occasional tree in the yard. I bought a like new 251 with a .325 yellow chain and 16" bar and I was surprised and pleased with the saw. I liked the light weight and balance but I flipped it because I didn't need it as I have several 16" saws.
 
I have an MS251 and it works great. I have zero frame of reference since it was my first saw and I now only have it and an HT131 pole saw, which is pretty awesome in itself. But, I was up on the hill doing my volunteer fireman training and the very experienced Fire Captain complimented the MS251 several times saying how nice it was.

The pole saw rocks though.

http://www.gardenland.com/product/2014-stihl-ht-131/
 
I have an ms250 that I got from a buddy for nothing. I took it to my favorite mechanic and now the saw runs great. I don't have to push it hard, because of my other saws, but it has done everything that I wanted of it and more. Saying the clam shell saws are junk is just plain wrong. They are a bit harder to work on, but they do cost less than the pro counterparts. Take care of them and they all will work well.
 

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