50 or 60? A real conversation

[Ronie]

I chose the 50cc 550, I have a MK1 and enjoy cutting with it more than the other 50cc saws I have. I have the 562 and 620 but I'd grab a 70cc before I'd grab one of those.

 

[old guy]

A strong 50 is just a joy to run.

 

[Farmchuck]

I had a 550xp mk1 & loved it. So did my logger friend when he borrowed it & he liked so much he bought me a new one & kept that one. I have a mk2 now. I really enjoyed both of them. Good saws stock but even better once Randy works his magic on them. That’s why I voted 550

 

[andyshine77]

Hands down 50cc. No 60cc saw has ever tickled my fancy.[emoji847]

 

[Moparmyway]

I’m never getting rid of my MoFo 261

It seems to run all afternoon on one tank of fuel with a 16” and .375, and has the nutz to run a 25” if I had to

I’ve not grabbed the 562 since I got the 261, it’s just that good !!!

 

[whitesnake]

At the moment 550 mk2 is prob the go to. Solid pro saw for the money. And I say that cause 261’s seem hard to come by lately. If your on a budget the echo 4910 is hard to beat. Also I have mk1 545’s and are a pretty solid saw to run. I believe the new redmax 5000 is essentially a 545 mk1. If there was a strong 60 that was nimble and small like a 50 I’d be game.

 

[Czed]

Myself I had a first edition carbed Stihl 261 for over 10 years a echo 490 for 4 year's and a variety of 346/350s and ms025/250s
I never ran any of them much at all
Always went back to a 70cc saw
Just never had a sub 70cc saw capable of cutting what I do.
But I've never had a ported 50cc saw that would definitely have improved things.

 

[2000ssm6]

A muff modded gen 2 261 is great to use when the 461 gets heavy. Ported would be even better.

 

[TreeLife]

This is really just for people to talk about which saw class they choose and why. I've got no dog in this fight, I've got an oe346...

What about the 400?

Is it still really a 60cc saw? Discuss!

I like real conversations

 

[KS Plainsman]

My vote was for a 261, because I run mostly Stihl and have mid 70cc on up to 120cc covered. I'd go for a 50 also just because of their weight.

 

[sawmikaze]

Have you considered a 261 with a 385xp top end and piston with an 084 carb ?

Since people say things completely irrelevant and pointless..

 

[Stump Shot]

This is really just for people to talk about which saw class they choose and why. I've got no dog in this fight, I've got an oe346...



Is it still really a 60cc saw? Discuss!

I like real conversations

Prolly depends on who you ask, it's definitely on the high side of the scale for sure.

 

[Stump Shot]

Myself I had a first edition carbed Stihl 261 for over 10 years a echo 490 for 4 year's and a variety of 346/350s and ms025/250s
I never ran any of them much at all
Always went back to a 70cc saw
Just never had a sub 70cc saw capable of cutting what I do.
But I've never had a ported 50cc saw that would definitely have improved things.

I was truly surprised at just how much my 550 would do and not make me want to go get one of the 70cc saws out of the pile.

 

[sawmikaze]

I was truly surprised at just how much my 550 would do and not make me want to go get one of the 70cc saws out of the pile.

Is a 550 mark 2 stronger than a 261 if they're both ported ?

I only ran a muffler modded mark 2, made a ton of torque for a 50cc saw in my opinion.

 

[Stump Shot]

Is a 550 mark 2 stronger than a 261 if they're both ported ?

I only ran a muffler modded mark 2, made a ton of torque for a 50cc saw in my opinion.

Good question, while I don't have a definitive answer with specs and stuff, I can offer my opinion from my experience.
To put it one way, once ported the 261 catches up quite well. To put it another, you won't notice a lot of improvement on the 550 until you stuff it in a big ol' nasty log, then the wow factor comes out to shine. Not sure that really answers your question though. For me, I'll take the 550 if given the choice, if that helps.

 

[TreeLife]

Is a 550 mark 2 stronger than a 261 if they're both ported ?

I only ran a muffler modded mark 2, made a ton of torque for a 50cc saw in my opinion.

From what I observed from Joe's Dyno data, the mk2 barely edges out the 261 in power. I think Joe ported both of them. @Red97

 

[TreeLife]

What makes a ported 50cc saw so enticing to me: these new saws are making 5.6 or 5.7 horsepower while being extremely light. If I don't have to haul around a big saw, I generally try not to.

 

[Dustin4185]

My MMWS 261 is a joy to run. I grab it for most of my smaller jobs and some firewood. I like a bigger saw for the most part, but the 261 is no slouch!

 

[Loony661]

I used to dig 60 cc saws until the 462 came out. Feels like a 60cc saw to me personally...

But I don't have a built in vagitometer.

Yes, same for me. Before the 462, I spent more time carrying my 361. But since the 462 and 361 are within ounces of each other, the 72cc’s made more sense to have for me. Now I reach for my 462 if I want a light, quick cutting saw. 60cc class is irrelevant to me currently.

If weight didn’t matter, I’d just carry my 661 all day from tree to tree. I’ve done that for weeks at a time before. I’ve come to realize though, that if a lighter saw can get the same work done, why wear myself out more than I have to..

 

[Loony661]

Since people say things completely irrelevant and pointless..

I got a good laugh reading that post!