It's here!!!!............Inside the MS661

[KG441c]

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l just put some Pro Safety Felling spikes on a ms261 and a 660 .... it kinda feels like you loose half the bar on the 261 with 18"b/c but with a 3' b/c on the 660 today they were really nice. The ms261 wants to roll over now like my 550xp so we will see how long these silly big spikes last. The dual 362 spikes/roller catcher were near perfect as far as fit and function goes but the pro safety spikes makes my saw look tough kinda like McBob's tattoo.

ya I tried the big spikes on the 261. Ditch them and get the 362 dual spike set. 441 and up I like the bigger dual dawgs

 

[blsnelling]

Is the 390XB like a 390XP?
Like you I sold two MS660's and started running a 390XP and 390XPG. As falling saws the 390's handle way better. Obviously 660's have dropped a tree or two in their day but I seriously rate the Huskys for falling.
For a basic firewood saw though I rate the 660's higher. They are just tough and the HD2 filter is an absolute godsend in our dry, dead hardwoods. The stock Stihl spikes are also tough to beat.
As much as I love the 390XP's there is still something special about the 660's. Not sure what it is...

The 661 had me intrigued the second I saw pictures of it and read the specs. It is a very interesting setup compared to the good old 660. Hopefully the M-Tronic improves the fuel economy as without a doubt the 660 is a fuel pig, even when stock.

How much time do you have on your ported 390? How has durability been?

 

[KG441c]

Man I should never mentioned the Husky/Stihl forbidden question here!!!lol!! Sorry Brad! Any progess on the 661?

 

[MCW]

How much time do you have on your ported 390? How has durability been?

Hi Brad.
Probably around 600-800 hours on the 390XP now and would have dropped close to 8,000 trees plus cut a lot of firewood. Nearly all Australian hardwoods with bars nearly exclusively 24" and 32". The 390XPG I got from you probably had 400 hours on it from me and the new owner also gave it a hiding. Therefore 1000-1200 hours on two saws without a single issue. I had pretty good records from when I was knocking trees over and on one day there with a 32" bar I used around 24 litres of fuel from memory (6.35 US Gallons) with the saw actually running for 9 1/2 hours or thereabouts. Nearly all the trees soaked a 32" bar up with room to spare.
I certainly can't complain about your builds Brad. Over 2500 hours (easily) with not a single mechanical issue. I've sold a few of your saws too and they are all still running although that off it's nut MS660 ended up with a full time tree guy and apparently is getting low on compression after 4 odd years. It's probably gone from 210psi to 185psi Might just need some new rings.

 

[MCW]

On another note guys I received a PM from a member about 8 months ago on the MS661 topic. I'm sure some of you will find it interesting. The ported MS660 he mentions was built by a very respectable builder who doesn't post here much any more. The older members would know him as one of the best work saw builders this site has seen. This is what he sent me with all identifying parts removed...

I ran one last year for about three months when they were being tested here in the States. We're not supposed to talk about it or publish anything about it...we even had to sign a paper stating that we wouldn't...so you can't quote me directly on anything I say. You can however say that a logger used one and, without mentioning my name, say that he was well pleased with it. Very well pleased.
The saw came to me new with a 36" bar. The only instructions I had from Stihl was to use Stihl Ultra oil at 50:1 and to run the saw like I would any other work saw. They also didn't allow any mods, no fancy mufflers, anything like that. Straight stock. They specifically told me not to baby the saw and not to take any special care of it. I took them at their word and ran the snot out of that thing. They wanted real-world working conditions and they got them.
I had absolutely no problem with the saw. None. It was a little slow to self tune...they told me it would be...especially with major elevation changes during the day. By slow I mean just a second or two...no major delays. It didn't slow down production.
The saw I had was very smooth. Much smoother than a stock 660. I didn't keep any figures on gas consumption but the 661 doesn't gulp the gas like my 660 did. If I had to guess, and a guess is all it is, I'd say the 661 uses twenty percent less gas.
The saw, stock, has power. My main saw is a 660 that ***** woods ported. Again, these are ball park guesses but I'd say the 661 ran almost as well as the ***** 660. Very very close in torque.
The 661 will out-work a stock 660. There are always stock 660s around and we used them for comparison. We had a few impromptu races in the woods, switched operators, switched chains, everything we could think of to make things even and the 661 would out cut any of the stock 660s that we had. The 661 had a lot of low end torque. I could lean on it...which I don't usually do...and it was hard to bog in our soft woods.
I ran the 661 against only a couple of Huskys...a lightly ported 390, and a heavily ported 395. The 661 was measurably faster than than the 390 but couldn't stay up with the 395.
At the end of the trial period I took the saw back...they wouldn't let me keep it or buy it...talked to the Stihl rep, filled out some forms about what I thought of the saw, and that was it. The saw went back to Germany for teardown and inspection, that's all I know. It was running as well as the day they gave it to me and they seemed almost disappointed that I hadn't found anything wrong with the saw. They were already having problems with them then but they wouldn't say what they were.

I don't know what problems they're having with the saw but the one I ran, and the ones that other guys ran, were flawless. I know of three logging saws and two saws that were used by the Forest Service. We weren't supposed to communicate with each other about the saws but you know how that goes. All the guys that ran the saw liked it and see it as a great replacement for the 660.
I'm first on the list at the saw shop when they are released. LOL...I hope it shows up before I'm too old to use it.
Once again, you can quote me on any of this but don't mention my name. I might get a chance again to demo a new saw and I rather liked the experience.

 

[Jet47]

I am a logger and have run both Stihl and Husqvarna.
I ran Stihl for a number of years and had only one engine failure, had to replace a piston in my 460. They are one tough and reliable saw.
I have had several Husqvarna failures over the years but they are still my saw of choice. I prefer the throttle response of the Husky and at least to me, they feel better balanced.
This debate over which saw is 'better' is futile, it all comes down to personal choice. Both brands have there strong points.

 

[Hinerman]

For a fairly weird looking dude, you've managed to create a beautiful family. Glad y'all had a good time!

Your sense of humor is top shelf. I would tell you to keep it up but your track record tells me I have nothing to worry about. Thanks for all the laughs.

If Brad would get this 661 ported maybe be all of the arguing would stop,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on second thought, this is AS, arguing (or "creative discussion" as my 17 yr old daughter calls it) will never cease.

 

[KG441c]

Competition and creative discussion pushes a person farther ahead in the search for ultimate performance (different performance factors for different folks) in saws?

 

[HuskStihl]

Your sense of humor is top shelf. I would tell you to keep it up but your track record tells me I have nothing to worry about. Thanks for all the laughs.

Thank you very much for the compliment, but saying Brad is kinda weird looking to have produced such a beautiful child really wasn't a joke.

My kids are very attractive and athletic, but that really comes as no surprise. I mean, have you seen my avatar pic? I'm dead sexy! (that was a joke)

 

[Cedarkerf]

l just put some Pro Safety Felling spikes on a ms261 and a 660 .... it kinda feels like you loose half the bar on the 261 with 18"b/c but with a 3' b/c on the 660 today they were really nice. The ms261 wants to roll over now like my 550xp so we will see how long these silly big spikes last. The dual 362 spikes/roller catcher were near perfect as far as fit and function goes but the pro safety spikes makes my saw look tough kinda like McBob's tattoo.

For me the big dawgs keep the power head off the butt swell using the saw bar up on low stumps

 

[Hinerman]

Competition and creative discussion pushes a person farther ahead in the search for ultimate performance (different performance factors for different folks) in saws?

I agree.

Thank you very much for the compliment, but saying Brad is kinda weird looking to have produced such a beautiful child really wasn't a joke.

My kids are very attractive and athletic, but that really comes as no surprise. I mean, have you seen my avatar pic? I'm dead sexy! (that was a joke)

Right on cue

 

[Chris-PA]

keep the power head off the butt swell

Is it good to stay away from the butt swell?

 

[blsnelling]

I ordered a little bling for the 661 this morning. The new wrap style dawgs are ordered. A new 32" ES Light is in the works.

 

[Spectre468]

Did yours come with the hoodie?

 

[blsnelling]

Did yours come with the hoodie?

No

 

[Spectre468]

Dang...

 

[blsnelling]

Did yours come with the hoodie?

Was that you that bought a 661? I need to find the pic of that hoodie.

 

[Spectre468]

No, mine will be here Wednesday.

 

[Spectre468]

I cannot find the thread either.

 

[SAWMIKAZE]

A guy from canada had the sweatshirt...dieselshawn maybe ?