New guy needs first big one

[Hambone]

I will agree with you about the vintage stuff. My first 50cc stihl was a 028 wood boss. Still got it, thankfully my father decided to let it leave the stables for good. He gifted it to me years ago but would never let it leave long term. Last time I checked out his garage he had an 011av, 180 mini boss he got from me, and a 271 farm boss.

As far as the new saws go, I like the idea that someday they’ll be vintage like the ones I grew up with. Someone somewhere will hunt down an old school 461 because they want to tinker with it. Hoping to make it new again.

 

[Levi of the North]

That sucks Levi, some dealers have no clue. When I called my local guy and asked about 461 he knew exactly why I was after it. He's old school like me, and again justified or not said in some instances he prefers a carbed saw too.

I can cut him a little slack because it's a tractor dealership and Stihl is a short line for them - stuff they do on the side (pretty much every tractor dealership here is either a Stihl/Husky/Echo dealership). Also, I can reasonably assume that 95% of the people who call in looking for a chainsaw are homeowners who have no idea what they want, and are looking for something worth far less than a month's rent.

Hell, I don't even own a home, I cut trees down on my family's property. I'm just a chainsaw nut.

 

[Hambone]

Levi, how do you like your 261?

 

[Levi of the North]

Levi, how do you like your 261?

Very happy with it so far. I haven't been able to put it through an intensive test on ~16" hardwood yet, but I can tell that it's got a lot of torque for a smaller saw. It's zipped through anything I've tried to cut so far quickly. Engine is... snorty, like a pig that wants to pick a fight. Another member on here recommended me a 261/461 combo as an ideal do-all setup, and I'm thinking that there's a lot of sense to that theory. The 261 is very portable, and the 461 (assuming it works like my old man's 460) should handle any bigger stuff with ease.

And if I run into anything real big? Well... I can always try justify an 880 somehow.

 

[Hambone]

I’ve heard it’s a good combo as well. It’d be my first m-tronic saw. Hopefully before the year is up I’ve got a 193T and a 261.

 

[Levi of the North]

I’ve heard it’s a good combo as well. It’d be my first m-tronic saw. Hopefully before the year is up I’ve got a 193T and a 261.

I was able to find a non-M-Tronic 261, and apparently they're far harder to find in Canada than they are in the US. Was about to have a place in Detroit ship me one across the border before I found this one. You could probably hunt one down with a few phone calls.

 

[Daniel W]

Is this the 461 picture thread now?

 

[Hambone]

All are welcome of course

 

[Hambone]

Got any advice on break in?

 

[cuinrearview]

I tune the H down a couple hundred RPM, and cut as I always do. A lot of guys just use it without any adjustment.

 

[mogulmasher]

I'm just gonna run the way dealer set it up for first half dozen tanks. Then I'll be pulling limiters and tuning it myself.

 

[Hambone]

I’m in the process of getting a tach for tuning. So far I’ve got 1 1/2 tanks through her. Haven’t run at full throttle yet. I did notice it’s idling higher than the beginning of the first tank.

 

[Hambone]

I’m in the process of getting a tach for tuning. So far I’ve got 1 1/2 tanks through her. Haven’t run at full throttle yet. I did notice it’s idling higher than the beginning of the first tank.

 

[cuinrearview]

Never use a chainsaw at part throttle. They are designed to run at idle or WOT only.

 

[Hambone]

Good to know, guess I should have asked that when I got it.

 

[MontanaResident]

Had an amusing phone conversation with a local dealer today. I don't think they get a lot of well-educated buyers calling in:

Me: "Hello, I'm in the market for an MS 461 with a 28" bar"

Guy: "Uh... wow that's specific, alright, I'll check the shelf"

Guy: "Okay, we do have one, [incredulously] it's like, thirteen hundred bucks though?"

Me: "Yes I know"

Probably going to stop in tomorrow and see if they can make me a deal with some cases/chains/paraphernalia I need. Going up to Lake Tamiskaming in August and I'd like to test the 461 out on some big red pines.

I had to show my "dealer" kid how to find the part number for my 41" bar, before he could look up the price for me.

 

[EngineNoO9]

Good to know, guess I should have asked that when I got it.

https://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/running-saws-at-part-throttle-in-the-cut.258553/

 

[catbuster]

Run it WFO. Preferably long, uninterrupted cuts. A little rich doesn’t hurt for break in either. Part throttle, with break-in in particular does nothing to seat your piston rings or get oil down in your crankcase.

 

[Hambone]

Sounds like a trip to the farm will be required this weekend.

 

[mogulmasher]

My first big test for the 461 today bucking up some big white and red oak. Saw performed awesome! This is when you really appreciate a big pro saw.

You can cut small wood with a big saw, but you can't cut big wood with a small saw!