Stihl 261 performance

[sensor419]

A couple of people have stated in different threads that the Stihl 261 performs similarly to the Stihl 361. Is this true? If so, does this also hold true for the 362? Seems like you could
save some money by buying the 261 instead of the 361/362 if performance is close.

 

[Stihlman441]

I dont know about the same performance as a 362 but a 261 is better than a 260.

[video=youtube;yA3u40KvWWs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA3u40KvWWs[/video]

 

[struggle]

I ran my MS261 today and it still seems to get better with every tank of mix run through it.

I have not been dissapointed in this saw at all.

I have not run a 361-2 so I have no idea on how they compare.

There is no replacement for displacement. IF all you ever need is a 18" bar then a 261 will be great. I run a 16", but I have more than one saw in my line up:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Andyshine77]

Out of the box the 261 will not cut with a 361. What size bar do you want to run?

 

[indiansprings]

I've got a 361 and a 261, the 261 after having the limiters jerked , tuned to 13,850 is not all that far away from a stock 361 performance imho, I'll take the 261 over a 290 or 310 any day of the week. The 261 will do 90% of what a 361 will do. For guys who are going to cut no more than 10-20 cord a year most would be well served with a 261. I'd almost be willing to bet ours will cut 75-100 cord before March 2012 gets here. We definetly will add another 261 to our operation this year. They are an outstanding saw.

 

[sensor419]

I want to run an 18" or 20" bar. How will the 261 handle a 20" bar? I would be OK staying with an 18" bar but wondering if I wanted to bump up to 20" how a 216 would handle it. Thanks

 

[Stihlman441]

I found with a 18'' bar the balance is perfect,the way i see it is if you wont to cut larger wood you need a bigger saw.

 

[sensor419]

Thanks Stihlman441. I will stick to an 18" bar if I get the 261.

 

[o8f150]

i have the 260 pro and teh 361 both,,both are fast cutting,,i haven't run the 260 enough to know if it will keep up with the 361 or not but here is vids of both of them

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mljjv-1HsWE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kJ-wuoLgP64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

now if you want to make the 361 scream run a 16" b/c,, this vid is it in a 16" log

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dc1xdgEjKOU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Stihlman441]

This may help to show you the differance between a 261 (with muff mod extra port) 18'' bar and a stock Ozzy 460 (dual port muff) 20'' bar.
They both have new Carlton 3/8 .063 chisel chains on them and the wood is green Sugar Gum.
261
[video=youtube;c40EbbuNwlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c40EbbuNwlE[/video]
460
[video=youtube;gLsbSOUUuOg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLsbSOUUuOg[/video]

 

[o8f150]

This may help to show you the differance between a 261 (with muff mod extra port) 18'' bar and a stock Ozzy 460 (dual port muff) 20'' bar.
They both have new Carlton 3/8 .063 chisel chains on them and the wood is green Sugar Gum.
261
[video=youtube;c40EbbuNwlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c40EbbuNwlE[/video]
460
[video=youtube;gLsbSOUUuOg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLsbSOUUuOg[/video]

i would not have believed it if i hadn't seen it,,, they cut just about the same speed,, thats unbelieveable,,,

 

[MCW]

The 261 doesn't cut like other 50cc saws. Once retuned (it's too lean from the factory) the torque is amazing. I've had a 20" 3/8" bar buried on my 261 in some of the hardest Aussie wood you'll find and it didn't miss a beat.

 

[blsnelling]

i have the 260 pro and teh 361 both,,both are fast cutting,,i haven't run the 260 enough to know if it will keep up with the 361 or not

The 260 is a nice saw, but it's not anywhere near a 261, and it's not even in the same ballpark as a 361. And while the 261 is exceptionally strong for a 50cc saw, it's not a 60cc saw either. Me? Give me a 261 or 346 and 70cc class saw.

 

[sensor419]

Thanks for the feedback. I am headed to the Stihl dealer to look at the 261. I need a saw for small to medium size trees for felling and cutting in preparation for the log splitter.

 

[Andyshine77]

Thanks for the feedback. I am headed to the Stihl dealer to look at the 261. I need a saw for small to medium size trees for felling and cutting in preparation for the log splitter.

The 261 sounds like the saw for your needs, it will run a 20" bar OK, but I'd run 18" and see how it works for you. I have a feeling it will do anything you need it it and then some.

 

[blsnelling]

This may help to show you the differance between a 261 (with muff mod extra port) 18'' bar and a stock Ozzy 460 (dual port muff) 20'' bar.
They both have new Carlton 3/8 .063 chisel chains on them and the wood is green Sugar Gum.
261
[video=youtube;c40EbbuNwlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c40EbbuNwlE[/video]
460
[video=youtube;gLsbSOUUuOg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLsbSOUUuOg[/video]

Great demonstration there to put these in perspective. As you can see, the 261 has no trouble cutting that size wood. But on the other hand, you can also just how much faster and stronger the 460 is. Looks like the 460 is almost 40% faster.

 

[sensor419]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

 

[Michaelmj11]

Ok, after reading through this thread, I am wondering which you folks like better, the 261-M (with M-tronic's) or the regular 261 (with manual tune carb)?

 

[blsnelling]

Might as well go with the MTronic auto tune carb and never have to worry about tuning it. Both take to mods equally well.

 

[Michaelmj11]

Might as well go with the MTronic auto tune carb and never have to worry about tuning it. Both take to mods equally well.

Cool, thanks