I have a 261C pulling a 20'' bar and chain and I prefer it over my MS362 and my MS290 for bucking logs up to and including 40" logs. I have not had a single issue with it. In my opinion it's a great saw.
261 questions
- Thread starter user 188535
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
You seventeen year old beast you!!
261 is a great saw. 16" is what I prefer, it's nicely balanced & not working the saw as hard. Longevity seems to be an issue with this model in commercial use.
LOL
there may be a few pictures of me swinging an 881 around, some days my 500i is the small saw, and yes, the 881 weighs as much as I do!
I've burned through a number of 026/261 over the years, lots of hard work with 16" .325 chain. I've had bot manual and Mtronic and have had little if any repairs or maintenance issues, always two or three pulls and off to work. Keep your air filters clean, your fuel mixed corectly and as alchohol free as possible and you shouldn't have any regrets with a 261. I've posted it before, I'd go to war with a 261.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2023
- Messages
- 1,033
- Reaction score
- 1,111
I would go to war with one too. I am going to get the 18" or 20" because I am going to put west coast saw dogs.
The stock saw dogs are plenty good for that saw. It will bog down if you put to much pressure on it anyways.
that has been something I noted, the 261 has much larger dogs than expected for a small saw
Go 20 it will end up around 17in with the dogs
The stock dogs suck a it won’t bug down unless you a really pushing
the dogs are just fine, if you have a properly sharpened chain you don't need to use the dogs, the saw should pull itself through the cut
Outside of the norm here, ported 261cm running a 16”. I also keep the 20” on the 462 almost all the time.
Stick with the 16 or 18" 20 is pushing it in hardwoods. well let me put it this way, it will be real slow progress. Let the factory dogs on it, they are more then adequate.
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
If your leaning that hard into a 261, either a lightweight or need a bigger saw!!
Larger dogs would detract from some of this saws strong points - being light & nimble to use for long hours in tight situations.
Larger dogs would detract from some of this saws strong points - being light & nimble to use for long hours in tight situations.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2023
- Messages
- 1,033
- Reaction score
- 1,111
Well, that would have been good to know before I went and blowed all my damn money on Westcoastsaw.com
Your not a pro, at least not at your age. The 261c is plenty good for bucking wood and taking down some pretty good sized trees. I buck 40'' trees all the time with mine. Remember, your not in a race, your just bucking firewood. That saw with a 20'' bar is plenty saw for what your doing. I will take reliability over speed any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Keep your chain sharp and you will be fine.
You have two choices when buying a saw. Lots of power or finesse. Finesse makes life easier at the end of the day and costs less. Learn how to use the 261.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2023
- Messages
- 1,033
- Reaction score
- 1,111
Well. I do all the above and keep my chains RAZOR sharp. I am actually buying it tomorrow. Are the Light 04 bars any good though? Should I get Mtronic? I might get m tronic because I will sometimes go to a customer's farmhouse in the Appalachian/ Sh
Huh? I know how to use a chainsaw thank you very much.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2023
- Messages
- 1,033
- Reaction score
- 1,111
And, now that I have made my MS 194 C into a carving saw, I bought an MS170 and it is an absolute garbage saw for cutting big hardwoods. But good for small stuff. This is me with a 30-inch round and am MS 194 C. I also have a Husky 340 with a 16" which is not my favorite because it is a fuel-thirsty Hummersaw.
Attachments
Do you consistently cut big wood like 20in or bigger
