Stackowood
Super OPE Member
- Local time
- 12:40 AM
- User ID
- 2309
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2016
- Messages
- 452
- Reaction score
- 1,100
- Location
- West coast
Picked up a new MS261CM (new version) yesterday and wanted to point out some things I like. I'm comparing to a Husky 545 since I don't have a 550xp, and have owned 3 of the 545 as well as 555.
Power- I'm not into stopwatch cuts and did not run them side-by-side, but Stihl's marketing people publish a little higher HP number so for now we'll assume they are right.
Weight- new 545 bone dry never fueled, and MS261 with fluids drained (PUO), both weigh in at 10.8 lbs on my highly accurate Target digital bathroom scale. We'll call it even on weight. The 545 looks and feels slightly smaller.
Starting- no primer on the MS261! Good. Starts right up cold, idles steady, revs right away, seamless. On the Husky AT saws I have owned they are cold-blooded and do some stumbling before they warm up.
WOT - the Husky AT saws seem to take a bit to tune in, even if you just ran the saw a week ago. The 261 didn't need any time to figure itself out and run to full RPM.
You Stihl guys might be finally converting me over, at least for the 50cc range. Need to get a few more hours on it though! I'm impressed so far.