CaptainMauw
ArboristSite Member
Didn't see much actual info on the 661 here in the thread. The original releases from 2016-2018ish had some issues with fuel solenoids. Theres a ton of threads across multiple forums on it, but basically the solenoid had a short life and caused rough idle, dying, and bogging in the cut. I upgraded the solenoid on my 2016 model to a newer one and it was a night and day difference. Paired it with a few other things and pulled a 36" full comp in hardwood all day long with pressure on the dogs.
The new ones (2019+) are better. Stihl opted to stark making the cylinders in house and they have much better QC. The newer ones have a darker metal for the cylinder, are a better quality casting with better port edges, and are stamped with STIHL on the side. They also have a new coil and tune that is something like 20% above what the 2016 model was. Right out of the box the new ones are much stronger. Open up the muffler to flow a bit and maybe some light porting and the saw is flat out stupid. I watched a guy bite the dogs and then throw his weight against the saw (ported) in a hardwood and it didn't even stutter.
Get it. You wont be disappointed.
The new ones (2019+) are better. Stihl opted to stark making the cylinders in house and they have much better QC. The newer ones have a darker metal for the cylinder, are a better quality casting with better port edges, and are stamped with STIHL on the side. They also have a new coil and tune that is something like 20% above what the 2016 model was. Right out of the box the new ones are much stronger. Open up the muffler to flow a bit and maybe some light porting and the saw is flat out stupid. I watched a guy bite the dogs and then throw his weight against the saw (ported) in a hardwood and it didn't even stutter.
Get it. You wont be disappointed.