CacaoBoy
ArboristSite Operative
After a long time as a lurker I think I know at least part of the consensus answer, but need to ask anyway.
I need a new saw to replace a Husqvarna 141 that has given up after 10+ years of generally reliable service. Local (Hawaii) sellers of chainsaws are pretty limited -- there are the big box stores, or I can get Stihl. I had been leaning heavily toward the Stihl MS 311 with 18" bar based on specs and feel. It is a bit heavier than I would like, but at 4.2 h.p. the power looks good. But I see in other posts that while there seem to be a lot of people who like it, few, if any, are really enthusiastic, and some are downright critical. In particular I have noticed posts saying it is too heavy for what you get.
The MS 241 CM, on the other hand, seems to have a whole lot of people who consider this to be at least close to their ideal saw. While it would reflect a big step up for me, it seems a bit underpowered.
What most gives me hesitation is the M-Tronic. I have seen conflicting information regarding how electronics-intensive that feature is. I am in a climate in which electronics do not last. None of my neighbors has a working smoke detector because they fail in 6-9 months, regardless of model or manufacturer. And with the vibration of a chainsaw, I question how well anything relying on electronic components will last. And I am of an age that grew up without electronics and just am more comfortable with purely mechanical machinery. On the other hand, I have never been very skilled at tuning small engines.
The saw will be primarily used for pruning a few thousand cacao trees and for felling those that are to be culled. Branches will typically be under 3" diameter, trunks typically under 10" diameter. The wood is fairly soft and easy to cut. It also will be used to fell weed trees with trunks that might be up to 12 or 14" diameter, again soft wood. And it will also be used to a lesser extent on citrus trees that can be a very, very hard wood.
I have also started thinking about the MS 261 CM if I can tolerate the M-Tronics as the 261 seems to offer a better power to weight ratio, but the cost is more than I had set as my limit. And if you believe the Stihl chart, the 261 is a bit lighter duty saw than is the 311 despite the greater cost of the 261. Going up to an MS 362 would definitely cost more than I could justify.
With limited competition the local dealers are happy to gouge their customers, and prices for Stihl chainsaws seem to run about $100 more locally than on the mainland. The best prices I have found are running
I need a new saw to replace a Husqvarna 141 that has given up after 10+ years of generally reliable service. Local (Hawaii) sellers of chainsaws are pretty limited -- there are the big box stores, or I can get Stihl. I had been leaning heavily toward the Stihl MS 311 with 18" bar based on specs and feel. It is a bit heavier than I would like, but at 4.2 h.p. the power looks good. But I see in other posts that while there seem to be a lot of people who like it, few, if any, are really enthusiastic, and some are downright critical. In particular I have noticed posts saying it is too heavy for what you get.
The MS 241 CM, on the other hand, seems to have a whole lot of people who consider this to be at least close to their ideal saw. While it would reflect a big step up for me, it seems a bit underpowered.
What most gives me hesitation is the M-Tronic. I have seen conflicting information regarding how electronics-intensive that feature is. I am in a climate in which electronics do not last. None of my neighbors has a working smoke detector because they fail in 6-9 months, regardless of model or manufacturer. And with the vibration of a chainsaw, I question how well anything relying on electronic components will last. And I am of an age that grew up without electronics and just am more comfortable with purely mechanical machinery. On the other hand, I have never been very skilled at tuning small engines.
The saw will be primarily used for pruning a few thousand cacao trees and for felling those that are to be culled. Branches will typically be under 3" diameter, trunks typically under 10" diameter. The wood is fairly soft and easy to cut. It also will be used to fell weed trees with trunks that might be up to 12 or 14" diameter, again soft wood. And it will also be used to a lesser extent on citrus trees that can be a very, very hard wood.
I have also started thinking about the MS 261 CM if I can tolerate the M-Tronics as the 261 seems to offer a better power to weight ratio, but the cost is more than I had set as my limit. And if you believe the Stihl chart, the 261 is a bit lighter duty saw than is the 311 despite the greater cost of the 261. Going up to an MS 362 would definitely cost more than I could justify.
With limited competition the local dealers are happy to gouge their customers, and prices for Stihl chainsaws seem to run about $100 more locally than on the mainland. The best prices I have found are running
- MS 311 w/18" bar - $530
- MS 241 CM w/16" bar - $570
- MS 261 CM w/18" bar - $640
