550 XP Mark II or MS 261

[oper8r_error]

261's really shine if you're into overpriced saws that handle like *s-word.

I mean, I think despite their chunkiness, they handle nicely.

What in your opinion sets the standard for 50cc?

 

[bwalker]

I mean, I think despite their chunkiness, they handle nicely.

What in your opinion sets the standard for 50cc?

I own a 550mk2 and wouldn't describe it as svelt.

 

[Lions fan]

I mean, I think despite their chunkiness, they handle nicely.

What in your opinion sets the standard for 50cc?

I've had both, ain't a pinch of chit difference at the end of the day. Just rattlin' a few cages.

 

[Stump Shot]

 

[59billy]

I've never met a chainsaw that didn't make me smile. I haven't met many that didn't make me curse.

 

[oper8r_error]

I own a 550mk2 and wouldn't describe it as svelt.

The mark 1's tho...

 

[Bill G]

My son has a 550 and I have an array of 026/261 saws. It is an easy choice

 

[bwalker]

The mark 1's tho...

No idea, never owned one.

 

[oper8r_error]

No idea, never owned one.

Put it this way, the mark 2 550 was a step towards what's been done before.

The mark 1 pushed the envelope when it came to weight and compactness. Ultimately, some of that came with unfamiliar AT users (essentially alpha testers) who burned up their saws by not understanding what their saw was doing as it tuned itself into such lean state, bearing shields began to melt.

 

[Chainmale]

Same here, when I was selling saws, I was more interested in the ones people brought in with issues than the new ones on the shelf. I enjoy the troubleshooting aspect of working on saws, much like electronics, but with liquids involved!

I find it great that you can clean them and have them on a bench to work on with yourtools right there. Compared to vehicles that can leave you dirty, aching, and with skinned knuckles.

 

[bwalker]

Put it this way, the mark 2 550 was a step towards what's been done before.

The mark 1 pushed the envelope when it came to weight and compactness. Ultimately, some of that came with unfamiliar AT users (essentially alpha testers) who burned up their saws by not understanding what their saw was doing as it tuned itself into such lean state, bearing shields began to melt.

That's interesting. The only thing I heard of them is that they were problematic reliability wise.
With that said I had a very early 562xp that was likewise labeled problematic and it lasted and performed well for a long time in the cool climate I lived in. I also always ran it at 32:1 or better with quality oil.

 

[Skiptooth Fred]

That's interesting. The only thing I heard of them is that they were problematic reliability wise.
With that said I had a very early 562xp that was likewise labeled problematic and it lasted and performed well for a long time in the cool climate I lived in. I also always ran it at 32:1 or better with quality oil.

Likewise i have the first model 562xp the one i read has that horrible carby! I cant complain about in any what so ever, it had a hard life before i bought it, never had issues with it, 32:1 at times it copped 25:1. Always starts, goes hard, down to minus 12c and up to 40c, my only dislike is soft mounts, I’m old school i guess and want more feel in the saw when cutting dodgy dangerous stuff. Duralite 24, wcs dogs, full wrap, its a damn good saw and still is. So

 

[bwalker]

Likewise i have the first model 562xp the one i read has that horrible carby! I cant complain about in any what so ever, it had a hard life before i bought it, never had issues with it, 32:1 at times it copped 25:1. Always starts, goes hard, down to minus 12c and up to 40c, my only dislike is soft mounts, I’m old school i guess and want more feel in the saw when cutting dodgy dangerous stuff. Duralite 24, wcs dogs, full wrap, its a damn good saw and still is. So

I think alotnof the problems associated with both the 550xp mk1 and 562 mk1 were related to not being tolerant of heat and not using enough oil.

 

[old guy]

Back on topic, ported 261 with screws ftw.

I have one of those, it seems quite fine, and I'm a husqvarna devotee.

 

[furb]

I think alotnof the problems associated with both the 550xp mk1 and 562 mk1 were related to not being tolerant of heat and not using enough oil.

My mk1 550 I bought new is a miserable pos to start cold but doesn’t have any of the normal problems. I had one I bought used and it was great. I sold that one when I did a good house cleaning. I run the newest version 261 mtronics now. I have three so if one quits I can grab another. All three were smashed tree service saws. I run the crap out of the one noodling up big rounds and it doesn’t care. It has a beer can patch under the flywheel and pretty much just the handle cover holding the tank together. Top ends look great run on 40:1 tru fuel.

 

[oper8r_error]

My mk1 550 I bought new is a miserable pos to start cold but doesn’t have any of the normal problems. I had one I bought used and it was great. I sold that one when I did a good house cleaning. I run the newest version 261 mtronics now. I have three so if one quits I can grab another. All three were smashed tree service saws. I run the crap out of the one noodling up big rounds and it doesn’t care. It has a beer can patch under the flywheel and pretty much just the handle cover holding the tank together. Top ends look great run on 40:1 tru fuel.

Nothing like putting these saws back in action after they've been thrashed.

 

[ZERO]

My mk1 550 I bought new is a miserable pos to start cold but doesn’t have any of the normal problems.

The MK1s had a lean fuel curve straight out of the factory as late as 2016-2017 when mine was produced. Once I had my AT updated in 2019, all start/restart problems went away. The idle fuel curve was fattened up, no need for a high idle to restart.

Cold starts: do not use the decomp on the MK1s, it somehow interferes with what the earlier version of AT was trying to do at cold start/restart.

 

[Chainmale]

I have one of those, it seems quite fine, and I'm a husqvarna devotee.

Same. I converted mine from M-Tronic to non. Using a blown 291 as a donor. I prefer my550xp though.

 

[oper8r_error]

The MK1s had a lean fuel curve straight out of the factory as late as 2016-2017 when mine was produced. Once I had my AT updated in 2019, all start/restart problems went away. The idle fuel curve was fattened up, no need for a high idle to restart.

Cold starts: do not use the decomp on the MK1s, it somehow interferes with what the earlier version of AT was trying to do at cold start/restart.

I have three running mk 1's and none have been uodated to my knowledge. I have the AT1, AT7, and an AT12 that I swapped the solenoid to a AT7 because I think it had a 550 tune instead of a 545.

I am hesitant to update because they run.

I have a brand new unprogrammed AT7C that will get a tune at some point.

 

[Skiptooth Fred]

My mk1 550 I bought new is a miserable pos to start cold but doesn’t have any of the normal problems. I had one I bought used and it was great. I sold that one when I did a good house cleaning. I run the newest version 261 mtronics now. I have three so if one quits I can grab another. All three were smashed tree service saws. I run the crap out of the one noodling up big rounds and it doesn’t care. It has a beer can patch under the flywheel and pretty much just the handle cover holding the tank together. Top ends look great run on 40:1 tru fuel.

Now i don’t drink but, what brand of beer!