Stihl MS 241 c-m questions

[Gopher Hunter]

since your selling your big saw (450) you dont need to downgrade to a small dispacement since the replacement saw will become your big saw. Between the 241 and 261 I would consider the 241 a limbing saw and the 261 a general firewood saw. Make sure you go with the CM version on the 261. Another option since you already own a 450 is to look very carefully at the Husq 550xp. Member Mesupra sells them at incredible savings here in the classifeds section from time to time. Here is some food for thought.....
snip.......................

Yes, the 3 saws I'm considering are the 241, 261, and 550xp. All have autotune and are "pro" line products. I'm actually reasonably satisfied with the Husky 450e but I'm looking to 'step up'. The 550xp first caught my attention due to the light weight and smaller size. That really appeals to me as I'm not a big guy and I'm a member of the "retired age group".

I should mention that most of my saw work is (has been) cleanup related. I actually cut no more than a cord of wood at the sawbuck each year. I also don't drop too many big trees any more. However, I seem to do a fair bit of trail/lot cleanup. Lots of dirty wood and also BIG old hard stumps. I've even contemplated keeping the 450E as my "stump/ugly-work" saw and getting the 241 or 550xp for more civilized stuff and when I need to go to other elevations. This might be the best triple play even considering I'd have one more saw on the shelf.

cheers
JohnG

 

[Gopher Hunter]

The 241's are available w/ 16" and 18" bars in .325 and 3/8 lo pro all depending on where you're located.
Our saws here in the Northeast are coming with 3/8 lo pro set ups.

Thanks for that info!

 

[opinion]

These saws come from the factory with the 3/8P spur sprocket 16", but I don't see why you couldn't get .325, 18" if you wanted. The MS 250 and 241 has the same rated power with the 241 having more "efficient" power, and the 250 functions fine with its standard .325, 18" despite what AS enthusiasts think. But it's kind of a waste of money having to buy a new bar, chain and sprocket when you could just get the 261 for $50 more... unless the smaller and lighter weight is what your objective is I suppose.

 

[bryanr2]

Yes, the 3 saws I'm considering are the 241, 261, and 550xp. All have autotune and are "pro" line products. I'm actually reasonably satisfied with the Husky 450e but I'm looking to 'step up'. The 550xp first caught my attention due to the light weight and smaller size. That really appeals to me as I'm not a big guy and I'm a member of the "retired age group".

I should mention that most of my saw work is (has been) cleanup related. I actually cut no more than a cord of wood at the sawbuck each year. I also don't drop too many big trees any more. However, I seem to do a fair bit of trail/lot cleanup. Lots of dirty wood and also BIG old hard stumps. I've even contemplated keeping the 450E as my "stump/ugly-work" saw and getting the 241 or 550xp for more civilized stuff and when I need to go to other elevations. This might be the best triple play even considering I'd have one more saw on the shelf.

cheers
JohnG

Very small weight penalty between the 261cm and stepping up to the Triple Nickel- Husq 555. It is considered by many to be the ultimate firewood saw. If you go that route consider also the Jonsered 2258 (which is a better looking 555). PM Spike60 or Tlandrum for pricing. Both will beat your local price I bet. I use TL for Jonsered/Husq stuff cause I want to support a fellow TN businessman.

 

[SawTroll]

The 241's are available w/ 16" and 18" bars in .325 and 3/8 lo pro all depending on where you're located.
Our saws here in the Northeast are coming with 3/8 lo pro set ups.

Be aware that the Stihl small mount (3005) 18" bars actually are 16" bars, the 16" ones are 15", etc.

 

[MCW]

Be aware that the Stihl small mount (3005) 18" bars actually are 16" bars, the 16" ones are 15", etc.

As far as I am aware Niko Stihl do make an actual 18" 3005 mount bar and the DL count is something like 76DL in .325" - I was working on some SES (State Emergency Service) MS251's the other week that were fitted with Stihl E .325" 18" bars.

 

[SawTroll]

As far as I am aware Niko Stihl do make an actual 18" 3005 mount bar and the DL count is something like 76DL in .325" - I was working on some SES (State Emergency Service) MS251's the other week that were fitted with Stihl E .325" 18" bars.

If so, that's something new to me - they usually are 68dl.

http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/catalog/SawChainSelectionID.pdf



The only 76dl .325 bars I know of are the small Husky mount 18" Tsumura bars?

 

[MCW]

If so, that's something new to me - they usually are 68dl.

http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/catalog/SawChainSelectionID.pdf



The only 76dl .325 bars I know of are the small Husky mount 18" Tsumura bars?

All I know is that the DL count was completely new to me. They had some Husky 346XP saws there as well with 18" bars and they wanted to run the same chain on both but that simply wasn't going to happen as the DL counts were different.

 

[weedkilla]

My 2c - I think a 241 is a better saw than the 450, and so close to the 211 size and weight that you wouldn't bother with it very often.
I think the 241 would replace both saws, if that's your aim, great. If not - then I think a husky 545,555, stihl 261 makes more sense.
I believe the husky 545/555 are better options for most people than their 550/562 siblings. Wider power band and more forgiving in use.

 

[SawTroll]

All I know is that the DL count was completely new to me. They had some Husky 346XP saws there as well with 18" bars and they wanted to run the same chain on both but that simply wasn't going to happen as the DL counts were different.

76dl in .325 was new to me as well, I learned about the 76dl Tsumura bars with small Husky mount just a few days ago, in another thread here. It looks like they simply use the same bar body as the 68dl 3/8" bars, with a .325 nose.
The result is a bar that actually is about 18 1/2" - and the only (known to me) true 18" bars in .325.

 

[MCW]

76dl in .325 was new to me as well, I learned about the 76dl Tsumura bars with small Husky mount just a few days ago, in another thread here. It looks like they simply use the same bar body as the 68dl 3/8" bars, with a .325 nose.
The result is a bar that actually is about 18 1/2" - and the only (known to me) true 18" bars in .325.

It may not have been exactly 76DL Niko but it was significantly more than the 62DL on a standard E 16" bar. It was over 72DL though.

 

[SawTroll]

It may not have been exactly 76DL Niko but it was significantly more than the 62DL on a standard E 16" bar. It was over 72DL though.

Interesting! Are you sure they were "called" 18", and not 20" - that would sort of fit with 62dl in 16" and 68dl in 18" called lengths?

 

[MCW]

Interesting! Are you sure they were "called" 18", and not 20" - that would sort of fit with 62dl in 16" and 68dl in 18" called lengths?

They were a 2-4 DL longer than the 18" chains from the 346XP's.

 

[SawTroll]

74-76dl then, provided the 18" Husky bar is common (but short) 72dl variety.

 

[Gopher Hunter]

My 2c - I think a 241 is a better saw than the 450, and so close to the 211 size and weight that you wouldn't bother with it very often.
I think the 241 would replace both saws, if that's your aim, great. If not - then I think a husky 545,555, stihl 261 makes more sense.
I believe the husky 545/555 are better options for most people than their 550/562 siblings. Wider power band and more forgiving in use.

Thanks for the suggestions and I agree that the 211 might get orphaned if I go with the 241. The 211 was an impulse buy when my 450 was down for a 9 count. In retrospect I which I had done a "pro" upgrade at that time.

Can you elaborate just a bit why the 545/555 would have a wider power band than the 550/562.

thanks again for all of the excellent comments
John

 

[SawTroll]

....
Can you elaborate just a bit why the 545/555 would have a wider power band than the 550/562.

....

They don't really - but the power feels more "even", because they lack the higher top-end performanse of the xp versions.

Btw, you really have no use for the MS241 if you buy a 550xp or 545 - the weight differense is small.

 

[weedkilla]

I'd disagree with sawtroll, they DO have a wider power band. The absence of crank stuffers on the 545/555 makes a significant difference to the way the power is delivered. They do lose a minimal amount of top end power, and they gain a wider power band/more low end torque. It's my opinion - formed by watching employees who aren't saw fanatics, they just want to get a job done and go home - that these saws suit more people than the xp versions.
Chainsaw work isn't consistent work for us, I just use it to keep the guys working when the weather isn't suitable for spraying weeds. I notice a big difference in the way the guys use saws when we are on them every day vs infrequently. I think that most weekend cutters are better off with a 545/555 from what I've seen.
If you like having the fastest version of things, if you are cutting consistent timber types, if you are going to take a genuine interest in chain sharpening and cutting technique - then the xp versions are great. It's not a big $ difference.

 

[Stihlman441]

241 16'' .325 semi chisel 7 pin

 

[weedkilla]

@Gopher Hunter - there is enough advice on Arboristsite to confuse the issue. We all have an opinion that is formed from our own experience, from the 2 stihls mentioned and the 50/60cc husky options there is only one saw I wouldn't want to own. And that same saw has a lot of people claiming it as a favourite.
Dealer and price will ultimately sway you, but at least get a feel of the saws in a shop. Demo if you can. I know that the first few hours on the stihl options had me changing my beliefs on them.

Trying to keep my own bias out of things, listing these saws in order of weight/physical size -
Stihl 241
Husky 545/550
Stihl 261
Husky 555
Husky 562 (few ounces heavier than 555 due to some small differences in spec)
At each step up in size the weight difference is very small, but noticeable.

If you made that list as an order of power, or ease of use, or air filtration, etc, etc then it would look different! And what matters to you will affect your decision.
Honestly you could cut all of your firewood with any of them for many years and be completely happy.

 

[Gopher Hunter]

I'd disagree with sawtroll, they DO have a wider power band. The absence of crank stuffers on the 545/555 makes a significant difference to the way the power is delivered. They do lose a minimal amount of top end power, and they gain a wider power band/more low end torque. It's my opinion - formed by watching employees who aren't saw fanatics, they just want to get a job done and go home - that these saws suit more people than the xp versions.
Chainsaw work isn't consistent work for us, I just use it to keep the guys working when the weather isn't suitable for spraying weeds. I notice a big difference in the way the guys use saws when we are on them every day vs infrequently. I think that most weekend cutters are better off with a 545/555 from what I've seen.
If you like having the fastest version of things, if you are cutting consistent timber types, if you are going to take a genuine interest in chain sharpening and cutting technique - then the xp versions are great. It's not a big $ difference.

Thank you for those observations. That's a nuance I haven't seen elsewhere and one I suspect might generate further "debate". I would definitely fall into the "infrequent" cat so the 545 and 241 are now the top candidates for my next saw.

Popcorn anyone???

regards
John