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some thoughts on ported vs non ported Stihl 241cm.

chipper1

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I love the new 261. I think it's a fantastic 50cc saw.....and I get big gains on those....
I got one hoping to like it, it was a major letdown stock, sent it down the road.
I'm sure it would be a fun saw ported as I've seen your videos.
Im the same way. If im cutting, I only use my "small" saws and rarely reach for the big ones.

The 261 will be great for the bigger wood.... especially if its ported.
Only if it's ported in my eyes.
I would encourage you to try one of Randy's latest 241s. Dressed for work, with B&C and full of oil and fuel, the 241 is a full pound lighter than the new and lightened 261. You will be amazed at the power. With the price your saws sell for over there, you can't make a mistake. You can easily flip what you don't want to keep. For that matter, buy one of each and keep the one you like best!!!

BTW, I had both the new improved 261 and the 241 at the same time. I opted to sell the 261 and kept the 241. That's how much I like the 241.
I like the one of each plan and sell the looser, works for me :).
When our dollar was strong compared to the USD I was able to sell a two year old MS261 locally for $675 and get Brad to buy me a brand spanka new 261 port it and post it and only be out of pocket about $200ish. That meant I went from a stock saw with 150ish hours to a new ported saw for around 2hunge! It was a good decision as I use a 50cc saw near everyday. I have a 555, 550, 6400, echo cs550p & stock spare mms261 to choose from in the 50-65cc range. I pick the ported 261 up every time to work with. It is fun to run with great 'personality'. Its got over 250hrs on it with 188psi. The only thing I did was put a pair of Cabers in it as cheap maintenance when I strip it down each year for a clean & service. I could have left the OEM ring in without an issue.
Smart buying.
How does the ported 261 compare to the 555 in regards to power and handling to you, I realize it's heavier.
I enjoy the handling of the 555.
I also like to run the stock 241s, always fire right up and I have one with a 14 and one with a 16 depending on what I'm doing.
 
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bikemike

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Depends on what your using the beast for and what other saws are in your stable. I have a old version mmws261cm. The 261 will cover bigger wood than the 241 and weighs a bit more.... not to mention the 241 can handle having the bar burried and then some. Im starting to think that the perfect 2 saw plan would be a ms241 and ms661. BAM!!!!
Stock 661 is a bad ass saw compared to its ancestors power to weight ratio I'd chose a 661 of the 461 any day of the week. I think they did good wit that saw
 

fin460

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Okay I forgot to say, that I have a Carl Miller (Miller Modded Saws) dolmar 421 and psh it's the only saw I run now, a new dolmar/Makita ported from Carl Miller is cheaper than a stock ms241,

I'm a Stihl guy but ps421 vs ms241 I'm dolmar Makita all the way

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 

TreeLife

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I'm a man that likes what works, I like all kinds of saws. I liked the stock 6100 I used at another tree company I worked for, it handled great and I thought it looked cool too. I used Sondre's ported 6100 at the NY gtg and I was very very impressed, lots of usable power and torque. My favorite 60cc saw to date
 

mncutter

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If a person has always used a 50cc saw as their small saw is it really worth losing 10cc for a saw that is 1 pound lighter? I have never used a 40cc saw before. Just was wondering what everyone's experiences were?
 

MustangMike

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So many factors to answer that question. It is a matter of choice.

My brother's only saw for decades was his arctic MS460. Now he is in his mid 60s, and raves about his MS241.
 

Aciera

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If a person has always used a 50cc saw as their small saw is it really worth losing 10cc for a saw that is 1 pound lighter? I have never used a 40cc saw before. Just was wondering what everyone's experiences were?
I have a 261 cm ported by Brad.
I don't cut limbs smaller than maybe 4".
I wouldn't trade for a 241.
Fell with the 044/046 hybrid and then most gets done with the 261.......I run a 20 stihl light on it. Tried different things......this works for me.
 

sawmikaze

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If a person has always used a 50cc saw as their small saw is it really worth losing 10cc for a saw that is 1 pound lighter? I have never used a 40cc saw before. Just was wondering what everyone's experiences were?

Meh...personal preferance.
 

sawmikaze

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the 241 ,running PS chain,cuts 80% of the stuff i'm cutting as fast as my 461. Mainly green grey box,up to 20 inches.
To carry a big saw around for half the day isnt necessary.

Some guys have small dick syndrome and need to cut a 10" piece of wood with a ported 80cc saw...why ? .. i have no idea.
 

00wyk

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When I ported your saw I was still trying to leave the stratos intact for fuel economy and less emissions.

Since then I've given in to the idea of gutting the strato port dividers out.

Now they are a bit more "sporty" than the way I did your saw.

If you weren't so far away, I'd have you return it for updates.

So one would gut the dividers at the cylinder and the plastic one in the intake and leave the carb alone?
 

Bilge Rat

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Randy just likes to grind the guts outta poor skeered chainsaws.

My MMWS261 will suprize you. Lighter than my MMWS361 and will cut as fast up to 16, 18" With .325 chain on the 261 it feels faster in smaller stuff.
Bury the 18" bar and it still cuts great but it's just too easy to fire up a MMWS361 or MOFO361 or the MMWS460.

One of the voices in my head says i need a carbed 461
 
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