Unscientific 361vs.441vs.660

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Peacock

Peacock

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,776
Location
Indiana
Today I was helping a buddy who sells firewood. We were cutting nothing but oak(white, red and chestnut) and hickory. We ran each saw with a 20" bar and sharp RSC chains. In 18-19" hickory the 441 and 660 were almost dead even. The 361 was a good 4-5 seconds slower. The 441 beat the 660 in chainspeed, but you could really lean on the 660.:chainsaw: I was surprised how much slower the 361 was. I figured the 441 would run with the 660 until bigger bars were involved.

That is all.:rock:
 
wood rat

wood rat

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
152
Location
NE coast
The big thing here is the weight you all were swinging around while slicing and dicing the tree up.

5-6 seconds slower , but pounds lighter -- is a fair trade off.
Plus chain - put a sharp full chisel on the 361 and then get back to me.

Bigger isn't always better.
 
Last edited:
Peacock

Peacock

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,776
Location
Indiana
The big thing here is the weight you all were swinging around while slicing and dicing the tree up.

5-6 seconds slower , but pounds lighter -- is a fair trade off.
Plus chain - put a sharp full chisel on the 360 and then get back to me.

Chain wasn't going to make up that big of a gap. They were pretty sharp.

Also, even though I've used a 361 quite a bit, I GREATLY prefer the 441 or 660 for almost any type of cutting.
 
PA Plumber

PA Plumber

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
4,432
Location
South Central PA
Today I was helping a buddy who sells firewood. We were cutting nothing but oak(white, red and chestnut) and hickory. We ran each saw with a 20" bar and sharp RSC chains. In 18-19" hickory the 441 and 660 were almost dead even. The 361 was a good 4-5 seconds slower. The 441 beat the 660 in chainspeed, but you could really lean on the 660.:chainsaw: I was surprised how much slower the 361 was. I figured the 441 would run with the 660 until bigger bars were involved.

That is all.:rock:

Thanks for the report Peacock. I have been starting to dream of a 660. Sounds like my 441 is plenty ample for what I do.


The big thing here is the weight you all were swinging around while slicing and dicing the tree up.

5-6 seconds slower , but pounds lighter -- is a fair trade off.
Plus chain - put a sharp full chisel on the 361 and then get back to me.

Bigger isn't always better.

???? If one was to put a sharp full chisel on the 441 and 660, wouldn't the spread be very similar to having sharp RSC chains on everthing?
 
wood rat

wood rat

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
152
Location
NE coast
Chain wasn't going to make up that big of a gap. They were pretty sharp.

Also, even though I've used a 361 quite a bit, I GREATLY prefer the 441 or 660 for almost any type of cutting.


Great Then that is the saw for you

get back to me in ten years and let me know if you still like swinging all that weight around so you can brag on how big your saw is ?
 
Peacock

Peacock

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,776
Location
Indiana
Great Then that is the saw for you

get back to me in ten years and let me know if you still like swinging all that weight around so you can brag on how big your saw is ?


I'm not bragging one bit. It fits my needs and it's a plus that I like it right?

To be honest with you, my back has gotten stronger since I started running saws a lot more. I work on cars for a living and my back doesn't give me a bit of trouble anymore.
 
Peacock

Peacock

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,776
Location
Indiana
Thanks for the report Peacock. I have been starting to dream of a 660. Sounds like my 441 is plenty ample for what I do.

Yeah, unless you need to run a 32 or longer bar often, I'd just stick with the 441. I was actually a bit disappointed in the 660 at first. It pulls the 28 a bit better and handles the 36 well, but not as well as I had previously thought it would.

I guess an 8 pin sprocket would wake it up a bit. The 441 just screams through the wood.
 
Last edited:
PA Plumber

PA Plumber

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
4,432
Location
South Central PA
Great Then that is the saw for you

get back to me in ten years and let me know if you still like swinging all that weight around so you can brag on how big your saw is ?


Shorter time with the saw because it cuts faster, or holding the saw longer because it cuts slower. Are there really any shortcuts up the mountain? Sounds like pure preference to me.
 
oldsaw

oldsaw

"Been There, Milled That"
Joined
Jul 26, 2004
Messages
19,494
Location
The Land of Fish and Roses
Today I was helping a buddy who sells firewood. We were cutting nothing but oak(white, red and chestnut) and hickory. We ran each saw with a 20" bar and sharp RSC chains. In 18-19" hickory the 441 and 660 were almost dead even. The 361 was a good 4-5 seconds slower. The 441 beat the 660 in chainspeed, but you could really lean on the 660.:chainsaw: I was surprised how much slower the 361 was. I figured the 441 would run with the 660 until bigger bars were involved.

That is all.:rock:

Up the sprocket size on the 660, and things will change.

Mark
 
bcorradi

bcorradi

Arboristsite.com Sponsor
Joined
Jan 18, 2004
Messages
4,328
Location
Lake Park, MN
Interesting report. Mark is right that if you increased the sprocket pins on the 66 it would start to spread itself from the 441. With your current setup the gap will probably tighten (between the 361 and the 441/660) if you were cutting smaller 12-14" hickory. Once you go up in wood size the combination of having chainspeed and displacement to pull it, play a big part in cut speed.
 
Peacock

Peacock

Addicted to ArboristSite
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,776
Location
Indiana
Here's a pic of some a BIG white oak at my friend's house. This is from Brown County Indiana.
attachment.php
 
Pollock777

Pollock777

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
97
Location
New Jersey
440/660

I use to think the same thing ang I found out a while ago that the 066/660 is made for big wood and can pull a 36" bar no problem. The 044/440/441 what ever your running. Personal I like a 20" bar or 24" bar on them I run 2-440 mag with 20" and 2-044 with 24" bars and love the way they go through any kind of wood like warm butter. This is just what I like.:laugh:
 
Andyshine77
Joined
Jan 25, 2004
Messages
11,305
Location
Cincinnati, OH
In 18-19" hickory or oak the 361 just doesn't have the jam to keep up with a good 70cc saw.

Now that I'm thinking about oak and hickory, it brings up a question that I have. What do you think is easer to cut, oak or hickory? I personally find it harder to cut hickory.
 
Top