husqvarna 550xp vs Stihl ms 261

[Khntr85]

Hey I can't wait to hear you review of the 261!!!!

 

[Willard]

I can't wait either, but looks like I won't see it for another week. I just got off the phone talking to my old dealer in my old home town The Pas about 4 hr drive west of here.
He has no 261s in stock and he said the sales lady lied to me about getting the saw over night as it takes him about a week getting them from Alberta, and he's closer then I am.

 

[Willard]

Well tomorrow Friday afternoon I'll be heading to Clearwater Lake Manitoba near The Pas to start my lot clearing job. Scheduled for 3-4 days Sat Sun Mon Tues.
And I won't be taking a new MS261CM.

So... that sales lady at my Stihl Husqvarna dealership is going to have to cough up one of her shiny new 550XPs at her cost.
Lets say a penalty for her lies and incompetence.
Maybe I'll go for a full refund too for the 261 and let it sit on her shelf for a month or two before I'll buy it.

Here's a few pics of the lakefront lot I'll be clearing, stump grinding and all. Just chips and firewood blocks left behind. The new 550XP will rip through this with my old 562, 550 and oe 372 sitting on the sidelines.
My MS261CM 63PS Picco Tuning kit will have to wait for another day

 

[GCJenks204]

Well tomorrow Friday afternoon I'll be heading to Clearwater Lake Manitoba near The Pas to start my lot clearing job. Scheduled for 3-4 days Sat Sun Mon Tues.
And I won't be taking a new MS261CM.

So... that sales lady at my Stihl Husqvarna dealership is going to have to cough up one of her shiny new 550XPs at her cost.
Lets say a penalty for her lies and incompetence.
Maybe I'll go for a full refund too for the 261 and let it sit on her shelf for a month or two before I'll buy it.

Here's a few pics of the lakefront lot I'll be clearing, stump grinding and all. Just chips and firewood blocks left behind. The new 550XP will rip through this with my old 562, 550 and oe 372 sitting on the sidelines.
My MS261CM 63PS Picco Tuning kit will have to wait for another day

A nice little spot for sure.

 

[treesmith]

I've got a 261c from Randy and a 353 rebuilt with a new Randy 346 ne top end

261 is good for 18"/20" logs, blocking down stems etc, nice torque and dogs in well

346 is a lightweight limbing weapon, 16" of instant balls and chain speed

Both running 36RM in Aussie hardwood

 

[Willard]

Got the 550XP which is the 900th unit built in the 31 week of 2016. Has the new upgraded vented top cover. 550 on the left on the pic is a 2014 .
Running a 16 b/c on it with the quick cutting and durable H25 .325 narrow kerf semi chisel . Perfect for land clearing in that small narly stuff.

Don't know about the sales girl. I now just think she didn't know what the hell was going on and just eager to make a sale.
Got my money back on the ordered 261, she threw in a free 2nd loop of chain and knocked 10% off the 550.
Could of been harder on her but I gotta get to work and malke some money.

 

[Nitehawk55]

Too bad I'm not with Stihl anymore Willard , I would have over nighted you a fresh one

I don't have one Stihl saw at the moment , just one early 028 AV thats in good shape as a display .

If you do get a chance try a Dolmar 421 , for a 40cc saw they are awesome , Echo 501P with a muffler mod does very well too .

 

[GCJenks204]

Got the 550XP which is the 900th unit built in the 31 week of 2016. Has the new upgraded vented top cover. 550 on the left on the pic is a 2014 .
Running a 16 b/c on it with the quick cutting and durable H25 .325 narrow kerf semi chisel . Perfect for land clearing in that small narly stuff.

Don't know about the sales girl. I now just think she didn't know what the hell was going on and just eager to make a sale.
Got my money back on the ordered 261, she threw in a free 2nd loop of chain and knocked 10% off the 550.
Could of been harder on her but I gotta get to work and malke some money.

It has been a pretty rough week up there. I am guessing her husband works and the mine and they just found out he has now job come October...

 

[Willard]

Well guys, I really feel like an ass now.
I'm out on the highway about 2 hours from home. Just checked my office voicemail.
Christine my saw saleslady says "Willard it's 11:30 am guess what's sitting on my desk?"

I phoned her back and apologized profusely. I told her if you don't sell that 261 by the time I get back in 4 days I'll pay you whatever price you put on I promise.
She laughed and said "I told you I could get it in for you under 2 days."

 

[Willard]

I'm coming onto my last day of cottage country tree and stump removal.
Now I wish I would have turned around on Friday to return the 550 and get the 261.
Got into the job Saturday morning with the new 550XP. Long story short very cold blooded saw after it cools down and I wasn't making any production waiting for it to warmup. Now if it was doing normal work like logging or firewood cutting 8 hours a day it would be ok. But stop and go arborist work not so good.
But I have no problem with my older Huskies being cold blooded warming up sputtering and popping
So I grabbed my 562-18"Cannon Mini bar and 23RS .325 Stihl chain and I was ripping down trees without a hiccup.

Also turned out to my benifit the cottage owner just wants the 105 bigger trees and stumps removed and leave the heavy underbrush to the landscaping company.

Here's some pics from the last 2 days.
Last night after 14 hours straight going I got the 2 big poplars down blocked up and chipped the limbs. Trees are all done, now today I'm grinding the stumps and job is done.
Before I head er home I got 5 medium poplars with stumps to remove for the customers parents at another cabin down the road.

It's been lonely the last few days, no cell or internet service out here at the lake.
I also have no employees and work alone.

 

[Simondo]

I'm coming onto my last day of cottage country tree and stump removal.
Now I wish I would have turned around on Friday to return the 550 and get the 261.
Got into the job Saturday morning with the new 550XP. Long story short very cold blooded saw after it cools down and I wasn't making any production waiting for it to warmup. Now if it was doing normal work like logging or firewood cutting 8 hours a day it would be ok. But stop and go arborist work not so good.
But I have no problem with my older Huskies being cold blooded warming up sputtering and popping
So I grabbed my 562-18"Cannon Mini bar and 23RS .325 Stihl chain and I was ripping down trees without a hiccup.

Also turned out to my benifit the cottage owner just wants the 105 bigger trees and stumps removed and leave the heavy underbrush to the landscaping company.

Here's some pics from the last 2 days.
Last night after 14 hours straight going I got the 2 big poplars down blocked up and chipped the limbs. Trees are all done, now today I'm grinding the stumps and job is done.
Before I head er home I got 5 medium poplars with stumps to remove for the customers parents at another cabin down the road.

It's been lonely the last few days, no cell or internet service out here at the lake.
I also have no employees and work alone.

14 hrs is a long Long ! day Willard....doing that kind of work. Being there on your own and wanting to get done and away has something to do with it i would think . Eyes in back of head ,working on your own but at least the lake view looks nice. That 550 not improved any after giving it some sustained cuts ? Ps..oil seed rape oil over here = your canola .

 

[Willard]

14 hrs is a long Long ! day Willard....doing that kind of work. Being there on your own and wanting to get done and away has something to do with it i would think . Eyes in back of head ,working on your own but at least the lake view looks nice. That 550 not improved any after giving it some sustained cuts ? Ps..oil seed rape oil over here = your canola .

The new 550XP is a beautiful little saw no doubt, and it's a real performer. The NK H25 .325 chain is a perfect match for it.

I tried the old run it out of the box at WOT in the wood for 5 minutes by ripping verticle rip cuts down a fire block.
But the manual now says just run them normal for the first couple of days and the saw will adjust
Anyways I got enough 50cc saws now, so I don't know what to do about the MS261CM sitting at the dealership. What I do need is a good 70cc saw as my OE 372XP is getting a little dated.
So my next saw purchase I'm liking to get the MS462C. Unless Husqvarna gets their 572XP out first...

Yes I can only do these 14 hr days in short bursts. Just finished my jobs tonight and it was 16 hrs 7am to 11pm by the time I got to the hotel. But it's worth it as I got a wife and 3 young daughters waiting at home.
Just have to limit these road trips to last resort and stick with the little jobs back home. Absent does make the heart fonder for everyone

 

[Willard]

Ps..oil seed rape oil over here = your canola .

We used to call it rape seed here in Canada too before the early 1970's.
Canola was actually developed here in Manitoba. A new more diet friendly vegetable oil for the consumer.
Definition is said to mean "Canadian oil low acid".

 

[Simondo]

We used to call it rape seed here it Canada too before the early 1970's.
Canola was actually developed here in Manitoba. A new more diet friendly vegetable oil for the consumer.
Definition is said to mean "Canadian oil low acid".

One thing iv found you need to be aware of when using the veg oil for bar oil is ..Mice.. the little sods will chew stuff if you leave a saw for a while and they can get at it. They seem to love the stuff.

 

[Khntr85]

The new 550XP is a beautiful little saw no doubt, and it's a real performer. The NK H25 .325 chain is a perfect match for it.

I tried the old run it out of the box at WOT in the wood for 5 minutes by ripping verticle rip cuts down a fire block.
But the manual now says just run them normal for the first couple of days and the saw will adjust
Anyways I got enough 50cc saws now, so I don't know what to do about the MS261CM sitting at the dealership. What I do need is a good 70cc saw as my OE 372XP is getting a little dated.
So my next saw purchase I'm liking to get the MS462C. Unless Husqvarna gets their 572XP out first...

Yes I can only do these 14 hr days in short bursts. Just finished my jobs tonight and it was 16 hrs 7am to 11pm by the time I got to the hotel. But it's worth it as I got a wife and 3 young daughters waiting at home.
Just have to limit these road trips to last resort and stick with the little jobs back home. Absent does make the heart fonder for everyone

Well I guess you could alsways pass on the ms261 and get the ms461....

Have you picked up or ran a ms461....I just stumped a damn willow and blocked the big pieces at the base with my 461...I love mine, but I have not ran a 372 yet....I "have" a nice 372, in a box, bad thing is it has the worst seized piston I have ever seen...it's literally stuck to the damn cylinder...I haven't put much time into freeing it yet, but I want to get it running BADLY!!!

 

[Willard]

Well I guess you could alsways pass on the ms261 and get the ms461....

Have you picked up or ran a ms461....I just stumped a damn willow and blocked the big pieces at the base with my 461...I love mine, but I have not ran a 372 yet....I "have" a nice 372, in a box, bad thing is it has the worst seized piston I have ever seen...it's literally stuck to the damn cylinder...I haven't put much time into freeing it yet, but I want to get it running BADLY!!!

Khntr85, is your 372 a early edition or newer XTorq?
Mine is the earlier (lightest and most power) it's about 14 yrs old but very low hours even though it doesn't look it.

Stihl MS462C is already introduced in Germany and should be here in North America later this year. At 73cc and just passing 13 lbs it's basically a grownup MS261CM. Will replace both the MS441 and MS461.
Husqvarna has a yet to be introduced 572XP, no specs yet but pictures show it's a super sized 562XP.

 

[Willard]

Update
Raining today, jobs put on hold so now officially a equipment day.
Took the new 550XP to the dealer this morning to get it plugged in and see what's up with it.
The tech reported it has 1 hr 40 minutes on it, he rebooted it, made 6 cuts in a test log and said it's fine now.
On the way out I saw the MS261CM that I ordered a few weeks ago was still sitting by the sales ladies desk.
So I bought it. Will see how both saws do tomorrow.

 

[Willard]

Got the 63PS MS261 Tuning Kit out ready to replace the .325 23RS chain on the 261.

The 550 I'm sticking with The. 325 H25 NK chain.
They'll make a good team in my tree service stable.
Will be fun in the next while putting some hours on them and make some comparisons.
Now only have to cull the herd of the older units.

 

[Khntr85]

Got the 63PS MS261 Tuning Kit out ready to replace the .325 23RS chain on the 261.

The 550 I'm sticking with The. 325 H25 NK chain.
They'll make a good team in my tree service stable.
Will be fun in the next while putting some hours on them and make some comparisons.
Now only have to cull the herd of the older units.
View attachment 72954

Awesome, I am looking forward to your review of both exspecially the ms261cm!!!!

 

[Willard]

The MS261 hasn't cut a stick of wood yet. Still a virgin.
All this morning I was grinding stumps then after lunch I put the 550 to work removing a dead poplar to see what the reboot did.
Used my T536 Li XP on spurs cutting from the top down but left enough spar for the 550 to buck up plus a few bigger cookies .
The 550 was back to slow sputtering boggy warm up. When it finally got cutting without the lean condition it cut great.
Got her good and hot, shut her down and she immediately started on the first pull.

After 10 minutes of chipping limbs I grabbed the 550 again and tried to start it.
Had to choke it after noticing the primer bulb was dry. Pumped it up and choked more then got it going with same old bog condition.

After the job was done I threw a 14" diameter by 2 foot long block on the trailer and took the 550 and block to the tech at the dealer.
I talked to him in the shop, just a freshly trained young kid.
Just as I figured he had a little 6 inch diameter log in his sawhorse what he cut the 6 cookies with yesterday.
I stood the block on end and told him to make as many rip cuts as the 550 can make in 3 to 5 minutes, then shut it off, let it sit for 10 minutes and try it again.

With a laugh I told the kid "after you finish cursing go plug the saw in and call Husqvarna."

I suspect the carb's inlet needle is not set at the right height.