MS261CM vs. 545 AT... converting a Husky user to Stihl?

[Stackowood]

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.

 

[Duce]

That's all this forum is. Stihl. You will never convert me! They don't impress me! Traitor

 

[Stackowood]

Haha I know how you feel! I've worked on a lot of Stihls and sold a lot, but never kept one for my own use. 30years of Jonsered and Husqvarna is hard to change.

 

[Stackowood]

Traitor

Don't worry I'm not selling the 545, or the 372, or the 670 ... this could be a short-lived thing. The 063 bar and chain irritates me as well as the special rim drive size that Stihl charges $9 for, and I haven't priced out a muffler yet!

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Can you put a conventional screw in fuel and oil cap in the 261 to replace the POS flippy caps. You can on the Husky.

 

[Stackowood]

Good point. NO. The 261 manual has 2 pages explaining how to use flip-off caps

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

Flippy caps are the chainsaw world's IQ test.

 

[Stackowood]

edit- posted twice

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Flippy caps are the chainsaw world's IQ test.

All flippy caps are not equally awful. Some models are less awful other than being unnecessary, over engineered, complicated, expensive and prone to failure. My neighbor has a Stihl pole saw and as many times as I have used it, seldom can one get a cap installed in less than a minute, often more. And don't tell me I am not smarter than a flippy cap, these things on this particular model are POS's and yes they have been replaced when they break which is frequently.

Good point. NO. The 261 manual has 2 pages explaining how to use flip-off caps

Funny, I have never required instruction on a threaded fuel cap other than "Righty tighty, lefty loosy".

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Flippy caps are the chainsaw world's IQ test.

Got that right, you are an imbecile to buy a saw with flippy caps.

 

[paragonbuilder]

I have yet to run a 545, but my 350 smokes my 261...

 

[KenJax Tree]

For firewood the 261 will be ok. My 550xp is a limbing machine it winds up faster than a 261

 

[Stackowood]

The new control lever is nice, but the Husky control makes more sense. Down for OFF. Now I'm just picking at details.

 

[CR888]

On paper both saws are clearly in the same saw class, weight, power etc. But owning both a 550xp and ms261 they are very different animals to use. Both have advantages & disadvantages. I like the fact they have different personalities, we would have nothing to fight about if they were the same. I think the ultimate 50cc saw would be a combination of both saws. I have never considered selling either.

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

I think the ultimate 50cc saw would be a 42cc MMWS 241

Fixed it for you

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

Got that right, you are an imbecile to buy a saw with flippy caps.

I'm so confused right now. The flippy caps have never failed to keep the gas in the oil tank, after multiple field tests here.

 

[dave53223]

I like my flippy caps.

 

[RI Chevy]

I'll take the 261 off your hands. You can keep your Husky.

 

[Ryan Browne]

Good point. NO. The 261 manual has 2 pages explaining how to use flip-off caps

I just bought a 261 also. The section in the manual about the floppy caps was hilarious. I meant to post it up here, but forgot. Seriously, I wish someone at stihl would have pointed out that if the gol-darned cap needs that much instruction for proper operation, it's too complicated.

 

[huskyboy]

I liked my 346xp better than any 50cc saw I tried and I've tried a lot.