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Autopsy it. I'd be curious to see what's inside one.

I've found it helps to open the bar oil cap after you're done cutting and before putting the saw away. This will release any pressure that may have built up while running. This pressure can in turn push oil out of the system and cause leaks under the stored saw.

My 261 is bone stock except for a muff mod. It rips with a 16" bar running .325"x .063" chain.

Also depends on the type of wood. A semi dull chain will still cut softwoods ok. Switch over to hardwoods and it won't cut a darned thing. If cutting clean wood, a sharp chain should be good for about two tanks of fuel before needing a touch up.

Electric saws are fine but I'm sticking with my gas saws. Not a fan of having to run my generator during an extended outage so I can charge batteries for clearing trees. Seems like a giant circle jerk.

People often scoff at the MS170/ 180 saws and think of them as expendable. I have an older 170 that I got cheap. It's the perfect ATV saw. Small, lightweight and decent power for it's size. I've used mine for clearing trails, shooting lanes and fence rows. For detailed tasks...

I get where you're coming from, but sometimes it's nice to help out a friend in need. Case in point, I loaned my Poulan 3314 to a buddy who was down in his luck. Going through a nasty divorce. Moved out in the middle of winter and was basically living in an uninsulated shed with a wood...

Good saw to keep around as a loaner or for flush cutting stumps.

The 562 and 555 are basically the same saw. The 562 is more expensive and has a better power to weight ratio. It also has the stuffer crank and is higher strung than the 555. I went with the 555 because the detuned variant seems to have a better track record with reliability.

The newer Poulan saws are cheap and lack refinement, but I'll be damned if mine is still running fine after nearly 17 years of abuse. It's been muffler modded and loaned out to countless buddies and neighbors. I use it for flush cutting stumps and projects where I know there are likely...

I don't make any excuses for it.

Poulan 3314. Got mine for less than $100 new. I've cut a bunch with it. My brother ported it and I did a muff mod. I've loaned it out and a buddy who cut enough wood to heat his home all winter. It just won't die. I've replaced sprockets, chains and bars and it just keeps cutting.

I've had pretty good success with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Just get it damp and lightly rub the stain. It won't damage the surface under the stain.

Verify your oiler is working. Pull the clutch cover off. Remove the bar and chain then start the saw. Make sure oil is pumping from the outlet as it runs. Not sure if the 290 oils all the time or only if the clutch is engaged. If the oiler works, next you will need to verify the...

I have several saws and my 261 is likely my favorite. For an all around 50 cc saw, it's hard to beat.

Any reason it has to be a Stihl? The MS250 isn't a bad saw, but there are better options for about the same money. If it we me, I'd find a local Echo dealer (not a big box store) and buy an CS590. Much more capable saw for about the same money.

I bought a lightly used non m-tronic 261 here a couple years back. Pretty sure it was $400 shipped for PHO. It's probably my favorite saw.

I've only had to remove carbon once from an exhaust port on my leaf blower. A buddy gave me some metal cans of Mercury 2 cycle outboard oil. At the time I had an old Simplicity 2 cycle snowblower and I used this old oil in it. I also ran this mix in my leaf blower. Over a few tanks in...

Amsoil Sabre. Mixed at 40:1. Minimal smoke, burns clean and no problems for years now.