The MS261 is here!!

[Warroad50]

Hey Warroad -

How warm did it get up there today? It hit like 61 here.

Yesterday it was unusually warm for this time of year it was around 60. Monday's and Tuesday looks like more of the same. Wednesday looks like we return to are normal weather snow and rain with some colder temps. To dam warm for deer hunting. Going out today to gather some easy wood before the weather changes.

 

[SawTroll]

I would be extremely disappointed if it had an outboard clutch. That is what you just said isn't it?

That is part of it, yes!

 

[blsnelling]

That is part of it, yes!

This is one we'll just have to agree to disagree on I'll take whatever penalty may be incurred, just to have the inboard clutch.

 

[SawTroll]

The question has to be; Has he handled and used the saw (261) enough to make that kind of judgement?

....

That is not needed - when you know how the the saw is laid out internally, the remaining variables are very small.

For me it was a question of if I wanted to try the saw at all (that mostly means buying one here), and I got disappointed because there seem to be no point in doing so. umpkin2:

I guess the money goes to a 562xp instead, as that one looks a lot more interesting in its class - and then there will be a 550xp at some point.

 

[ms290]

Brad i will trade you a bb 066 for that saw:hmm3grin2orange: all joking aside that is a sweet little bugger. My intentions when i got my 066 was to sell for a 260/026. not now i want a 261 but im not letting anything leave now. DANG CAD! 066 would sleep in the house but the wife said no.

 

[Edge & Engine]

The Dolmar PS-5105 weighs exactly 15lbs dry, with 18" bar and 64DL 3/8" chain.

 

[parrisw]

That is not needed - when you know how the the saw is laid out internally, the remaining variables are very small.

For me it was a question of if I wanted to try the saw at all (that mostly means buying one here), and I got disappointed because there seem to be no point in doing so. umpkin2:

I guess the money goes to a 562xp instead, as that one looks a lot more interesting in its class - and then there will be a 550xp at some point.

Ya, Nikko, I'd rather have a 562 as well, but like Brad, I'm a Husky guy, but I do like Stihls, and have owned many. But since I have the legendary 262xp, I don't think I'll be buying a new 60cc saw anytime soon.

 

[adkranger]

Any chance you could toss 'em back on the scale for some powerhead-only weights? Just curious, thanks!

I too would be interested in the dry, PHO weights. Fuel & oil capacities vary, as well as optional B/C weights. PHO is just as important a starting comparison as "operational" weight.

Of course IMHO a few ounces here or there is far less important than an overall package, how it feels, performs and handles. Longevity/durability are very important too for those of us that keep our saws for the long run. Though that will take years to produce any definitive data. If the 346 gains lighweight crown in class, so be it. As long as the other improvements in the 261 shine it will be a winner. Should be a nice competition between the contenders...... look forward to the comparison.



Thankfully it retains the inboard clutch...:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[parrisw]

What's the price on the NE346xp, and the 261?

 

[RTK]

The Dolmar PS-5105 weighs exactly 15lbs dry, with 18" bar and 64DL 3/8" chain.

If so it is toting a longer bar and different chain than the ones that were weighed previously, it might be closer in weight than most think............

 

[nmurph]

the 5100 that i had on extended loan was 12lbs, PHO, dry. three pounds for 18" B/C sounds about right.

 

[MacLaren]

hey guys, wouldnt the 555 and 562 be considered 50cc saws? I believe unless Im wrong that the 7900 is considered a 70cc saw? I tell ya, 59.8 cc I beleive and 4.7 hp, seems like it would be hard for either the 346 or 261 to compete with that. If this has already been hashed out then please pardon my ignorance.

 

[THALL10326]

A full can that is, but not a very large one.....

Jokes aside, if we use the KWF number (the highest one) on the NE346xp, and Stihls spec on the MS261, the difference is .4lbs - and that is not new info.

I didn't really want to mess up this "celebration" thread by posting this, but the way it has turned I do it anyway;

The main reason I am disappointed with the 261 is not the weight itself, but that they did nothing to make a better handling saw than Stihls traditionally have been. The light weight of the 260 partly compensated for that, but that is no longer the case with the 261. The 50cc Dolmars have basically the same "flaw" in the design.

Flaws again, Sawtroll you should know better by now. No one piece of equipment, no matter who made it, will feel the same or handle the same to everyone, you know that. What feels bad in your hands may feel great in someone else's hands. Beings Stihl is the most handled chainsaw in the world today and has been for 4 decades would indicate, in fact prove, people like the way they handle a whole lot more than your letting on here. This nitpicking about handling and weights are nothing more than that, just nitpicking. Doing so just shows the bias. The real flaw is the bias, people aren't blind to the obvious. Remember ole boy I said the 346 is a great handling little chainsaw but I never said it untill I actually used one. You should try the same method when talking about handling,

I for one think that 261 is kinda cool but looking at the vids Brad put up I doubt seriously it will outcut a 346 or 5100 stock to stock, it will indeed run alot closer than the older 260 but outdo them in the cut any or at all I don't see it in the vids. Runs strong but stronger than the others I just don't see it, as strong, maybe. The one thing it is doing is the same amount of work on a lot less fuel. For a trim saw thats a huge plus, nothing worse than running out of fuel in the thick of limbs. That little saw is going to win where it counts most, at the sales counter. Its has a awful lot of improvements over the older 260 and at around the same price that baby is gonna fly off the shelves, that saw is going to be very easy to sell when all the new features are pointed out, thats not bias talk thats fact. I'm gonna need a bigger granny sack to hold all the money that thing is gonna bring in, can't wait,:biggrinbounce2::biggrinbounce2::biggrinbounce2:

 

[Stew7]

hey guys, wouldnt the 555 and 562 be considered 50cc saws? I believe unless Im wrong that the 7900 is considered a 70cc saw? I tell ya, 59.8 cc I beleive and 4.7 hp, seems like it would be hard for either the 346 or 261 to compete with that. If this has already been hashed out then please pardon my ignorance.

The 555 and 562xp are 60 cc saws (59.8cc to be exact).

 

[MacLaren]

The 555 and 562xp are 60 cc saws (59.8cc to be exact).

so let me get this straight, that would make the Dolamr 7900 an 80cc saw?

 

[MacLaren]

Sorry guys I got my info wrong. Not tryin to jack the thread, please excuse me Ill be quiet now...........

 

[SawTroll]

hey guys, wouldnt the 555 and 562 be considered 50cc saws? I believe unless Im wrong that the 7900 is considered a 70cc saw? I tell ya, 59.8 cc I beleive and 4.7 hp, seems like it would be hard for either the 346 or 261 to compete with that. If this has already been hashed out then please pardon my ignorance.

Discussing and comparing across any "class borders" is perfectly OK, and is often done - but it is the cc that define what cc class a saw is in!

....then we can discuss which and how many classes that really "exist" - there is no firm answer, and regardless how it is done there will be some saw models that doesn't quite "fit" with how it was defined.

 

[nmurph]

so let me get this straight, that would make the Dolamr 7900 an 80cc saw?

price and weight make it a 70cc saw.

 

[blsnelling]

I for one think that 261 is kinda cool but looking at the vids Brad put up I doubt seriously it will outcut a 346 or 5100 stock to stock, it will indeed run alot closer than the older 260 but outdo them in the cut any or at all I don't see it in the vids. Runs strong but stronger than the others I just don't see it, as strong, maybe.

Don't sell it short now Tom. I'm impressed with it so far. I'll have a NIB 346XP here in a couple days. I'm going to milling some 12" Oak cants for testing

 

[THALL10326]

Don't sell it short now Tom. I'm impressed with it so far. I'll have a NIB 346XP here in a couple days. I'm going to milling some 12" Oak cants for testing

I'm not selling it short at all, its got a ton of features over the saw its replacing, those are my major concerns and in those areas its a winner. Far as in the cut just by viewing those vids I'll give it as much as equal but more so I just can't see it. If by chance its a tad faster great but if not or its just equal its a winner for Stihl and its dealers. We've waited a long long time for that saw to arrive. The 260 just sold so well for so long Stihl had no need to change it, sometimes EPA is a good thing after all,