Has the 661 been proven like the 066/660?

PogoInTheWoods · Apr 14, 2018

The coils I'm referring to are for the 661 only and obviously wouldn't fit other saws. That said, I understand a new v.3 MS362 is being introduced in Europe according to info in the thread above which will have a new coil with gen 3 software. Only a matter of time before it will probably be an available replacement here as will probably also be the case for the other M-tronic saws.

Also in the above thread is info indicating the WJ-134 has been replaced by a WJ-140 which comes with the newer solenoid. Be interesting to see if I end up getting one.

RI Chevy · Apr 14, 2018

OK. Thanks for the clarification.

460 magnum · Aug 14, 2018

I am thinking about buying a 661 is there anything I need to know or do when I make the leap... such as and special break in instructions..

Chainsaw Addict · Aug 14, 2018

460 magnum said:
I am thinking about buying a 661 is there anything I need to know or do when I make the leap... such as and special break in instructions..

Get a MaxFlow air filter.

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PogoInTheWoods · Aug 14, 2018

Make sure it's M-tronic v3.0 with the latest WJ-140 carb and you run high quality synthetic oil at 40:1. (Buy the HP-Ultra for starters to "double your warranty".) Run the snot out of it and don't baby it. You'll find out whether you got a good one a helluva lot faster that way. And by all means get a MaxFlow filter setup for it. The stock filtration setup leaves more than a little to be desired.

If the dealer tells you there is no v3.0 and the carb is still the WJ-134, look for another dealer who is up to date on the latest version of the saw and can get one for you.

RI Chevy · Aug 14, 2018

Would the Max Flo air filter void the warranty?

460 magnum · Aug 14, 2018

I

PogoInTheWoods said:
Make sure it's M-tronic v3.0 with the latest WJ-140 carb and you run high quality synthetic oil at 40:1. (Buy the HP-Ultra for starters to "double your warranty".) Run the snot out of it and don't baby it. You'll find out whether you got a good one a helluva lot faster that way. And by all means get a MaxFlow filter setup for it. The stock filtration setup leaves more than a little to be desired.

If the dealer tells you there is no v3.0 and the carb is still the WJ-134, look for another dealer who is up to date on the latest version of the saw and can get one for you.

Just got off the phone with the dealer and he can sale me a brand new power head for 1099.99 or a factory stihl reconditioned power head for 949... either one of these prices a decent price and has any one had any dealings with the reconditioned saw from the factory

PogoInTheWoods · Aug 14, 2018

If they're both v3.0 and have the new carb, I'd definitely go with the new power head. My guess is they're both v1.1 firmware with WJ-134 carbs. Unless the refurb was built from the ground up with a new crank, I'd avoid it unless they're backing it up with a two year warranty anyway. But if it needs to get rebuilt again, how long can yo go without the saw if it has to go back to the factory for a rebuild because the local dealer can't do the repairs?

As for the air filter warranty issue....

Would certainly depend on the dealer's discretion. Would also depend on what the warranty claim was for. Can hardly blame an air filter for a bad control module or oil pump failure. And there is a very unlikely chance that a filtration issue would be related to a warranty claim with a Max Flow system in place anyway. But just in case a nutty dealer thinks a superior air filter setup actually made a carb go bad, keeping the stock air filter setup around for warranty purposes would probably be what most fairly intelligent MS661 buyers using Max Flow setups would do in the event a claim was necessary.

Many things can void the warranty if a dealer wants to drive away a customer. Most dealers with any level of credibility and technical experience will go to bat for a customer to make things right even though they may have a suspicion the customer isn't being up front with them regarding the unit's reason for failure. But there is certainly a point where the dealer has to make a decision as to whether his own credibility is worth laying on the line with the distributor for a customer's warranty claim.

460 magnum · Aug 14, 2018

PogoInTheWoods said:
If they're both v3.0 and have the new carb, I'd definitely go with the new power head. My guess is they're both v1.1 firmware with WJ-134 carbs. Unless the refurb was built from the ground up with a new crank, I'd avoid it unless they're backing it up with a two year warranty anyway. But if it needs to get rebuilt again, how long can yo go without the saw if it has to go back to the factory for a rebuild because the local dealer can't do the repairs?

As for the air filter warranty issue....

Would certainly depend on the dealer's discretion. Would also depend on what the warranty claim was for. Can hardly blame an air filter for a bad control module or oil pump failure. And there is a very unlikely chance that a filtration issue would be related to a warranty claim with a Max Flow system in place anyway. But just in case a nutty dealer thinks a superior air filter setup actually made a carb go bad, keeping the stock air filter setup around for warranty purposes would probably be what most fairly intelligent MS661 buyers using Max Flow setups would do in the event a claim was necessary.

Many things can void the warranty if a dealer wants to drive away a customer. Most dealers with any level of credibility and technical experience will go to bat for a customer to make things right even though they may have a suspicion the customer isn't being up front with them regarding the unit's reason for failure. But there is certainly a point where the dealer has to make a decision as to whether his own credibility is worth laying on the line with the distributor for a customer's warranty claim.

Thanks man this really helps... so just the be clear if the carb is a wj-140 then it has the 3.0 firmware

PogoInTheWoods · Aug 14, 2018

Almost a 100% chance a 661 with the WJ-140 has the latest firmware unless it is a refurb saw or otherwise cobbled together series of upgrades that somehow excluded the control module (coil). The WJ-140 also has the newest solenoid version which supposedly has finally arrived at a consistent level of performance and longevity. My understanding is that it will be blue or green. (The earlier solenoids being either white or black.) That said, v3.0 firmaware does still work with a WJ-134 carb and solenoid, but the solenoid for a WJ-134 currently can't be upgraded to the WJ-140 solenoid. There is supposed to be a universal solenoid upgrade available somewhere down the road that will fit the older carbs but I've been hearing that rumor for over a year with no hard evidence that it is scheduled for release to the dealers..., at least here in America. Then again I haven't looked into it for awhile, either. There may be new developments on that front that I'm unaware of.

460 magnum · Aug 14, 2018

Ok thanks man I will be making the purchase fairly soon will keep everyone updated on how this thing turns out

RI Chevy · Aug 14, 2018

Will these "upgrades" work for 261's and the whole mtronic line?

PogoInTheWoods · Aug 14, 2018

Another note about v3.0 saws..., the firmware version should now be printed on the DOM (date of manufacture) label on the rear handle. Not sure if a pic of that was posted in this thread or elsewhere but it makes it easy to tell.

PogoInTheWoods · Aug 14, 2018

RI Chevy said:
Will these "upgrades" work for 261's and the whole mtronic line?

My understanding for the solenoids is yes. Control module upgrades for the whole M-tronic series? I seriously doubt it. MS362 and MS661, yes. The others? Who knows...

RI Chevy · Aug 14, 2018

TY sir

MustangMike · Aug 14, 2018

I'm leaving my 2 just the way they are.

My advice on the 661, just don't try to keep running it when it is low on fuel, I don't care what version you get.

Wood Doctor · Aug 14, 2018

I sold a used MS 661 last month to a buyer who wanted the latest in technology. I had restored this saw with a few new parts and some TLC:

I also offered an MS 660 that I had rebuilt with a whole new case, cylinder, and piston. He elected not to buy the 660 for $300 less money, even though it runs flawlessly.

Both of us are satisfied, especially me. I'm keeping the 660 for my own work.

Bigmac · Aug 14, 2018

MustangMike said:
I'm leaving my 2 just the way they are.

My advice on the 661, just don't try to keep running it when it is low on fuel, I don't care what version you get.

That is good advice on any saw! They go lean when they run out of fuel...I like to never have a saw run out of gas...for that reason it’s just not the best thing for them

And another good practice for the 661 is the let it idle for a while after long cuts or hard workouts...have heard a lot of people have trouble if the shut them off right after long cuts, they are hard to restart if you do that..so I have heard, I always let mine idle 15-30 seconds after I am done cutting and never let it run out of gas!

MustangMike · Aug 14, 2018

Yep, I do that also with both my 261C and 362C.

DND 9000 · Aug 15, 2018

PogoInTheWoods said:
Control module upgrades for the whole M-tronic series?

Yes, but as I´ve heared the plug for the wiring harness could twist while securing the screw and that was changed on newer control units. I don`t know if also the firmware was changed.

Has the 661 been proven like the 066/660?

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