MountainHigh
Selective Tree whacker
The 4300(if you don't already have one I can't remember) may be a better fit then, they pull a 16" lp setup pretty nice and they are easy to start and start quick.
The 261 popped and ran on the 4th pull today, 550 mk1 1st pull popped, ms291 that hasn't run in a while 5th pull, 4300 2nd, 4th pull on a mm7910 and it hasn't been ran in months.
Bulky as far as handling, and yes getting closer to the 562, but can you start the 562 no problem. Pretty sure theres an easy start 6100 also, while I prefer the handling of the 562 the 6100 is better than not being able to start a saw .
20th pull I would have been setting it aside for another saw and bringing it back to the dealer I got it from.
My shoulder gets sore but it's not broke. From my cold dead hands you will have to take my 562xp I can pull it over in 4 pulls (5 max) from dead cold and previously run dry, and not aggravate my shoulder. Purge bulb, decomp.
Have had an EA4300 for some years now -it's in my signature. Love that little saw for light work, there is nothing that can match it for ease of starting that I'm aware of.
The issue for me is repeated pulling in certain positions aggravates previous injury - the more the pulling repitition the more the shoulder aggravation.
If the 261 c-m had a purge bulb it should start with less reps. Still, I will test drop starting it cold over the weekend and see how many pulls it takes. I think they've started to cut corners on this saw that may bite them over time. e.g. plastic handle, no purge bulb, some lighter weight components ... possibly in a quest for the new low weight win over Husky's 550xp mkII.
Your latest result shows the 261 c-m pop on 4 pulls is encouraging and if that becomes the norm for mine, I will be happy. It is a gutsy saw for 50cc and now that it seems to have straightened up a bit, I'll give it a good audition before pulling the plug. It's just unfortunate that the recent hiccup (too many repeated pulls) caused my shoulder to get inflamed again.