Has the 661 been proven like the 066/660?

[2000ssm6]

I may end up needing some more grunt than the Mike Lee 440 this winter. While I have had and like the 066/660 saws, the 661 looks like an big improvement. I know the early 661's had some issues but seem to be ok now as any new saw will have a trail and error peroid. I would use my last NIB 440 as a straight trade or sell it, don't really want to part with that saw but not doing me much good sitting in a box.

What does the OPE say, is the 661 worth the investment?

 

[angelo c]

The 661 i ran was bone stock and I was very impressed (after a module swap) .
I have a few 1122s that I like....but would give up for a 661

 

[sawmikaze]

A 661 with just a muffler mod is a badazz saw.

 

[dustinwilt68]

I have ran booth ported, I am a fan of the older saws myself but I can sure see the appeal of the 661, although I dnt think they would run w a 395, all things equal. I just dnt trust the mtronic system or auto tune saws yet, jmo

 

[Dustin4185]

I have one at work and we (really just me) run it quite a bit. It surprises me how good the saw runs.....right up to the point you shut it off and it won't fire back. I have had a hot start issue Everytime I have used it. I use 40:1 canned Trufuel in this saw. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't replicate my problem. Of course they don't have a lot of wood laying around to cut a lot to get it hot.

If I needed a big saw and had just a Stihl dealer near me, I would go 661. My dealer is both, so I picked up a 395 for my use. It had been on the shelf a while and they wanted to move it. The 661 feels better to me and is sexy looking to me. The 395 is just typical Husky looking.

I have used both side by side and I really like the 661 a little better. I am still not sold on the Mtronic though.

 

[dustinwilt68]

395 FTW, just proven to be a great saw over time, reliable wins for me every time. I hate the side tensioner though.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I'm not sold on the Mtronic architecture either. I can buy an MS 660 today that runs well for $500 cheaper than a 661. Both have the same engine displacement. Much easier to work on an MS 660. So, my money stays in the bank or gets spent on a Husky 394 or 395.

 

[Manofstihl066]

I think a 661 is a great investment. Has plenty of power stock, but ported by the right dude it seems there's no limit on what it can do.

 

[tree monkey]

I have one at work and we (really just me) run it quite a bit. It surprises me how good the saw runs.....right up to the point you shut it off and it won't fire back. I have had a hot start issue Everytime I have used it. I use 40:1 canned Trufuel in this saw. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't replicate my problem. Of course they don't have a lot of wood laying around to cut a lot to get it hot.

If I needed a big saw and had just a Stihl dealer near me, I would go 661. My dealer is both, so I picked up a 395 for my use. It had been on the shelf a while and they wanted to move it. The 661 feels better to me and is sexy looking to me. The 395 is just typical Husky looking.

I have used both side by side and I really like the 661 a little better. I am still not sold on the Mtronic though.

let the saw idle for a few seconds before you shut if off

 

[TreeLife]

I would love a 661cm. They are fantastic saws, I just couldn't afford/justify one with already owning a 660.

 

[GCJenks204]

Everywhere I go I search for wood that would justify owning a 661, unfortunately unless I can convince a city tree guy to haul some wood to my yard nothing around here would require a 90cc saw. I still will likely own one...

 

[TreeLife]

Everywhere I go I search for wood that would justify owning a 661, unfortunately unless I can convince a city tree guy to haul some wood to my yard nothing around here would require a 90cc saw. I still will likely own one...

If I didn't regularly encounter wood greater than 30" in diameter I wouldn't bother having one either.

 

[MustangMike]

I don't own a 661, but I do like the ones I have ran at GTGs, and I think they have cleared the problems from the saw.

I wish I had one, but I came into some 066/660s for a lot less, and don't use them enough to justify an upgrade to a 661.

The reason I own some 90 cc saws is the occasional running of a 36" bar, and for milling. There is a noticeable difference between milling hardwood with a 77 cc saw and a 92 cc saw (and my ported 77 cc saws run very well).

 

[angelo c]

I have one at work and we (really just me) run it quite a bit. It surprises me how good the saw runs.....right up to the point you shut it off and it won't fire back. I have had a hot start issue Everytime I have used it. I use 40:1 canned Trufuel in this saw. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't replicate my problem. Of course they don't have a lot of wood laying around to cut a lot to get it hot.

If I needed a big saw and had just a Stihl dealer near me, I would go 661. My dealer is both, so I picked up a 395 for my use. It had been on the shelf a while and they wanted to move it. The 661 feels better to me and is sexy looking to me. The 395 is just typical Husky looking.

I have used both side by side and I really like the 661 a little better. I am still not sold on the Mtronic though.

Try swapping out the module. We had a bunch of issues disappear once I got a new "chip". Day and night difference.

 

[Derf]

I just dont trust the mtronic system or auto tune saws yet, jmo

Chit, are there people still saying this in 2017? I mean, I remember when M-tronic and auto-tune showed up 6 years ago people were skeptical.. but still?

395 FTW, just proven to be a great saw over time, reliable wins for me every time. I hate the side tensioner though.

The 395 has a front tensioner, not a side tensioner.

 

[dustinwilt68]

Sorry thats what I meant, front tensioner, and yes I dnt own a single computer system based saw, I like carbs, cheap and easy fix when the break, I just have no need for 1, I can buy 2 older saws for the price of 1 of the new 1s.

 

[Hinerman]

I went to a Stihl Timbersports event. They have a stock saw competition. All competitors use the same saw, a Stihl 661, and make 3 cuts. You should have seen the competitors pulling 15-20 times (maybe more) trying to get that thing started between runs. Finally they announced to leave the saw running. I am a Stihl guy, but I have no desire to own a 661 anymore after seeing that circus. I will keep my 660, or replace it with a 390/2188. But apparently the 661 runs good when it is running.

 

[so il logger]

All of these saws have at one time made my living. Treat the 661 right and it will return the favor. Much better saw than the 066/660 platform. Air filter set up sucks on the 661.

I love the performance of a stock 395, I've got a ton of hours on them. For years I wouldn't touch anything but a 395.

From my experience, take it for what it's worth... keep the filter clean on a 661 and it will be performing long after the 395 has rattled itself apart and the bolt holes are no longer worth repairing.

Plus it's lighter

 

[so il logger]

And don't assume the 661 has cooled off and needs the master flipped to cold start after sitting awhile... it will be harder to start..

 

[so il logger]