Weird (to us) MS361 Issue...

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I would also like to ask my fellow forum members what they think about all of the inexpensive (aka, cheap)
ignition modules that seem to be available for the Stihl MS361 ...

Has anyone tried one? Any thoughts on the performance/durability of these aftermarket ignition modules?
I personally never had much luck with them,you don't know where you are at with the troubleshooting cause you cant be 100 percent positive the coil works! So what do you do when you put new China junk on and it still wont work or run right? Buy more parts or another coil? Stay away for your sanity.
 
I just tell my helper to touch the plug tip then if he dont yell its no good! OP check all the wires from the coil and see if any chafed also see what the boot contact looks like if it tight,did you try a new plug? Then get a new coil!
My friend just does NOT do the trust me thing anymore But I don't trust him either
 
Wolf ...... I realize that you're a top handle specialist, but do you have any thoughts to share on the MS441/MS461?

Any reason, other than the weight difference, to elect for the 441 over the 461?

By the way, we've never run -- much less owned -- an M-Tronic saw. Would anyone care to share the pros and cons?
 
Wolf ...... I realize that you're a top handle specialist, but do you have any thoughts to share on the MS441/MS461?

Any reason, other than the weight difference, to elect for the 441 over the 461?

By the way, we've never run -- much less owned -- an M-Tronic saw. Would anyone care to share the pros and cons?
If your going to buy either, you better do it quick. The new 462 is replacing both of them.
 
Wolf ...... I realize that you're a top handle specialist, but do you have any thoughts to share on the MS441/MS461?

Any reason, other than the weight difference, to elect for the 441 over the 461?

By the way, we've never run -- much less owned -- an M-Tronic saw. Would anyone care to share the pros and cons?
I dont own a 441 but I hear people hate working on them. My favorite saw for limbing is the MS 241C. For bucking bigger logs I have an old 044 and that thing rips I have a 460 very reliable and rips and I have a 461 it rips. I don't have a 441 but tell me what size trees you will be bucking and bar length you need then I can give you my opinion.
 
I dont own a 441 but I hear people hate working on them. My favorite saw for limbing is the MS 241C. For bucking bigger logs I have an old 044 and that thing rips I have a 460 very reliable and rips and I have a 461 it rips. I don't have a 441 but tell me what size trees you will be bucking and bar length you need then I can give you my opinion.
I have rebuilt a couple of 441s in the past, In fact I am currently rebuilding one at the moment that's been driven over! They can be fiddly but after you've done a couple they are not too bad to work on. I like them to cut with too, plenty of revs and power!
 
I dont own a 441 but I hear people hate working on them. My favorite saw for limbing is the MS 241C. For bucking bigger logs I have an old 044 and that thing rips I have a 460 very reliable and rips and I have a 461 it rips. I don't have a 441 but tell me what size trees you will be bucking and bar length you need then I can give you my opinion.

Long ago, my GOL Instructor -- a bona fide magician with his Dolmar saws -- said that, "When it comes to all-around use, you don't need anything longer than a 20-inch guide bar." Well, I don't always agree with that, but I've found that a 20" bar does work quite well for a lot of our work, so I'm thinking that I'll give the new 70-something cc saw in my mind a go with a 20" bar first.

As for what we'll use a 70+ cc saw for ... I'm thinking about all-around use for anything from roughly 11" dbh (mixed species) and larger. Obviously, we pull out an MS660 when we want to fell large timber, so the saw I'm thinking about will be used for other tasks associated with producing saw logs. When I think about it, there are times when the MS361 -- albeit a great saw in its own right -- is simply a bit small for certain tasks. I was using an MS361 to buck up a pile of logs for cord wood a couple of years ago, for instance, and one of my [older] friends was putting me to shame with his Dolmar 7910 (also with a 20" bar). That was the day when it occurred to me that "there's got to be something" that fits in between the saw I was working with and a [too heavy for bucking long term] MS660.
 
Long ago, my GOL Instructor -- a bona fide magician with his Dolmar saws -- said that, "When it comes to all-around use, you don't need anything longer than a 20-inch guide bar." Well, I don't always agree with that, but I've found that a 20" bar does work quite well for a lot of our work, so I'm thinking that I'll give the new 70-something cc saw in my mind a go with a 20" bar first.

As for what we'll use a 70+ cc saw for ... I'm thinking about all-around use for anything from roughly 11" dbh (mixed species) and larger. Obviously, we pull out an MS660 when we want to fell large timber, so the saw I'm thinking about will be used for other tasks associated with producing saw logs. When I think about it, there are times when the MS361 -- albeit a great saw in its own right -- is simply a bit small for certain tasks. I was using an MS361 to buck up a pile of logs for cord wood a couple of years ago, for instance, and one of my [older] friends was putting me to shame with his Dolmar 7910 (also with a 20" bar). That was the day when it occurred to me that "there's got to be something" that fits in between the saw I was working with and a [too heavy for bucking long term] MS660.
My go to saws are the 241C for limbing then an old 044 and it runs man or the 460 or 461. You get any one of these saws in good shape and you will be happy. For the 20 in bar I say an old 044 nice and fairly light. The other saws 460 and 461 would be better with a slightly bigger bar 24 but more weight.
 
Other than making the long trip to see our nearest Stihl dealer, does anyone know of a good source for genuine Stihl parts?

Although we keep getting pulled away by winter issues [ i.e., snow removal ], I've studied this thread quite closely and it seems to me that a new ignition coil -- and the associated wiring -- is in order for our Ms361.

I know that Stihl is a very proprietary business, but I'm hoping that someone on the forum sells these kind of genuine Stihl parts.

By the way, the Stihl part number I have for the ignition coi is 1135-400-1300. If this is incorrect, or if there's a suitable substitute part number out there, please let me know.
 
Other than making the long trip to see our nearest Stihl dealer, does anyone know of a good source for genuine Stihl parts?

Although we keep getting pulled away by winter issues [ i.e., snow removal ], I've studied this thread quite closely and it seems to me that a new ignition coil -- and the associated wiring -- is in order for our Ms361.

I know that Stihl is a very proprietary business, but I'm hoping that someone on the forum sells these kind of genuine Stihl parts.

By the way, the Stihl part number I have for the ignition coi is 1135-400-1300. If this is incorrect, or if there's a suitable substitute part number out there, please let me know.
PM sent!
 
The current ignition module for the MS 361 is the 1135 400 1308. This ignition module comes with torsion spring and spark plug boot installed, also with new contact spring 1135 442 1601. It can also be used for older versions, the previous one isn`t availible anymore. But the new contact spring, which is included, has to be installed.
 
The current ignition module for the MS 361 is the 1135 400 1308. This ignition module comes with torsion spring and spark plug boot installed, also with new contact spring 1135 442 1601. It can also be used for older versions, the previous one isn`t availible anymore. But the new contact spring, which is included, has to be installed.

Thanks very much for the updated information, DND. That helps a lot! :cheers:
 
The current ignition module for the MS 361 is the 1135 400 1308. This ignition module comes with torsion spring and spark plug boot installed, also with new contact spring 1135 442 1601. It can also be used for older versions, the previous one isn`t availible anymore. But the new contact spring, which is included, has to be installed.

I don't mean to confuse your great post, DND, but are you saying that Stihl part number 1135 400 1308 will come with everything I'll need to replace the ignition module on my old (circa 2006) MS361?
 
UPDATE: I've now located a new Stihl 1135-400-1300 ignition module that isn't ridiculously priced (the Stihl dealer wants over $150 for an 1135-400-1308). The only problem is that the module I'm referring to has no boot to go over the tip of the spark plug, so I'm wondering if there's a part missing or, as I suspect, that we will have to wire the lead coming off of the new coil into the original spark plug boot. If my suspicions are correct, would someone please send us some words about how to properly attach our old spark plug boot to the new coil lead? As ever, thanks very much for your time ~ Hand :popcorn2:
 
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