MS261 VS MS261 C-M Comparison

[Mastermind]

Here we go guys. This may be a long drawn out thread....so be patient please. I've got these three saws here to use for as test subjects.



We have a regular MS261 that just came out of the box. We also have a new MS261 C-M The was sent here by one of our members to test on, and we have my own MS261 C-M that will remain stock throughout all this so we will have it to compare to in all tests.

Many of you guys have watched Brad and myself go round and round in one conflict after another over the last year or so. I must admit that I could have done a much better job at keeping that from happening. I'm tired of the bickering. Brad and I have both agreed to let all that crap go.

I've invited Brad to be a part of this thread, and look forward to his input and ideas. Brad was the guy that devised gutting the strato ports from the first 261 when it didn't seem to respond well to normal porting....so it only seems fitting that he should be a part of anything we do on this new model.

I also would like to invite everyone to ask any questions and add any input to this thread as you see fit. This site is here for us all the share our thoughts and experiences. I only ask that any derogatory comments be checked at the door. We don't need that here.

 

[Mastermind]

Jon and I started by rounding up some test wood.....



And then by turning that into cants. It was a good time to test a 372XT that was having tuning issues.

 

[Mastermind]

The MS261 stock....

The cant is a fresh poplar 12X14.

 

[Mastermind]

The MS261 C-M stock....

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Well what did you hit with the chain and how much bar was that thing pulling? 28"?

Ohh wait...gotta keep on topic...this will be interesting to watch. I have always liked a good running 026 family saw.

 

[Mastermind]

Well what did you hit with the chain and how much bar was that thing pulling? 28"?

Ohh wait...gotta keep on topic...this will be interesting to watch. I have always liked a good running 026 family saw.

This is after all a Mastermoobs thread Jimmy. We can't stay too "on topic".

That stand is a lathe stand that my friend Scooterbum gave me along with a Atlas 9" lathe. The stand has metal pieces in it to bolt the lathe down to. Broke one tooth clean off.

The bar is a 28" bar. It runs pretty strong for an X-Torq.

 

[Mastermind]

My first mod.....

 

[Mastermind]

That's a 37.8% increase.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Just curious...are these all 3/8 or .325? I'm guessing a 3/8 loop by Jon?

Making good head way there with the modifications!

 

[Mastermind]

Just curious...are these all 3/8 or .325? I'm guessing a 3/8 loop by Jon?

Making good head way there with the modifications!

The first two cuts were off the roll RSC .325

The third cut was one of Jon's square ground .325 chains. The saws are still totally stock up to this point.

The reason I threw that video up was the show how much difference chain makes. Even though the first videos were done with new Stihl non-safety RSC chain, nearly a 38% improvement in cut speed was found just by swapping the chain.

 

[Jimmy in NC]

The first two cuts were off the roll RSC .325

The third cut was one of Jon's square ground .325 chains. The saws are still totally stock up to this point.

The reason I threw that video up was the show how much difference chain makes. Even though the first videos were done with new Stihl non-safety RSC chain, nearly a 38% improvement in cut speed was found just by swapping the chain.

Glad you did that. Easiest modification and probably most often overlooked.

 

[Mastermind]

Glad you did that. Easiest modification and probably most often overlooked.

And the one that can make one of our well modded saws lose to a stock saw at GTGs.

 

[procarbine2k1]

The first two cuts were off the roll RSC .325

The third cut was one of Jon's square ground .325 chains. The saws are still totally stock up to this point.

The reason I threw that video up was the show how much difference chain makes. Even though the first videos were done with new Stihl non-safety RSC chain, nearly a 38% improvement in cut speed was found just by swapping the chain.

That is nuts. Is he doing the .325 much different than 3/8? Just curious on the details, I have been wanting to try .325 square ground for a long time, and didn't know if he did something special on the setup of his grinder, or if he was using a jig or what. :msp_w00t:

 

[cre10]

That's a 37.8% increase.

Wow.

 

[Mastermind]

That is nuts. Is he doing the .325 much different than 3/8? Just curious on the details, I have been wanting to try .325 square ground for a long time, and didn't know if he did something special on the setup of his grinder, or if he was using a jig or what. :msp_w00t:

We have a modified Simington Swing Arm the has the chain holder mount tweaked.....

Wow.

Yep.

I wanted to throw that out there first so that we can have all our cards on the table. When I hear about gains of 8%, or 12%, etc I have to laugh knowing what I do about chain and the differences it can make.

 

[mdavlee]

You do some thinning and blending and you can get even better increase in cut speed.

I'm ready for some port work videos.

 

[blsnelling]

Looking good Randy. I've certainly had my faults with our relationship in the last year as well. It definitely feels good to move past all that.

All I run on my ported 50cc saws is .325, even when racing at GTGs. I've got a few chains I square ground on the Silvey I had. It works very well.

I'm really looking forward to your findings

 

[Mastermind]

Looking good Randy. I've certainly had my faults with our relationship in the last year as well. It definitely feels good to move past all that.

All I run on my ported 50cc saws is .325, even when racing at GTGs. I've got a few chains I square ground on the Silvey I had. It works very well.

I'm really looking forward to your findings

I've got muffler modded videos uploading. I didn't see any increases at all from the muffler mods I did.

I'm wondering if the way I mod them is ineffective or what? :msp_sad:

 

[blsnelling]

Seriously?

 

[Mastermind]

Seriously?

Yeah.....I'm confused too.