MS661 Love/Hate

[Brewz]

Possible issues -

1. the 661 likes to warm up a little before you cut.
2. shutting the saw off immediately after a good long cut and then trying to restart it.
3. running the old 4700 coils. They allow the saw to go too lean.
4. running the old intake boot.
5. opening up the muffler too much on a stock saw.

6. running a 7pin sprocket on anything under 32" bar. Stock 661 has the torque to pull 8pin right out of the box. A 7pin 661 = slow. None of my stock or muff modded 660s could ever pull an 8pin faster then 7pin even on a short 20" bar.

7. always "resetting" the saw. Saw learns/tunes pretty fast. A "reset" should be tried when it's really not working right.

It seems to me that in my conversations and from the comments made in this thread, most of the hate comes from guys using 661's in logging/tree service commercial applications.
I am sure there are plenty out there that love them also but it seems that the drama that the 661 can exhibit is not everyone's cup of tea.

Part of the power argument is hard for you guys in the states to compare to what we have to deal with timber wise here in Oz.
Point 6, if I put anything over a 7 pin sprocket on a saw here, it doesn't always cut faster. I just get more dust and the saw chatters so bad it breaks things. The timber is to hard for the increased chain speed and it just bounces and skips through, unable to shave the timber out.

I think the saw I am going to be handed is a dud saw with issues but considering that people in the know consider a 70cc their limbing saw in Australia has to say something. This guy uses 660's as his climbing saws when dealing with big Aussie eucalyptus

I am going to an aussie GTG in May and they will have pine which I have never cut. I cant wait to see hat its like.

661 FTW

View attachment 57002

Oh come one mate, that may as well be foam wrapped in cardboard, with a core made from icecream

 

[jmssaws]

661 ftw

 

[Adirondackstihl]

It seems to me that in my conversations and from the comments made in this thread, most of the hate comes from guys using 661's in logging/tree service commercial applications.
I am sure there are plenty out there that love them also but it seems that the drama that the 661 can exhibit is not everyone's cup of tea.

Part of the power argument is hard for you guys in the states to compare to what we have to deal with timber wise here in Oz.
Point 6, if I put anything over a 7 pin sprocket on a saw here, it doesn't always cut faster. I just get more dust and the saw chatters so bad it breaks things. The timber is to hard for the increased chain speed and it just bounces and skips through, unable to shave the timber out.

I think the saw I am going to be handed is a dud saw with issues but considering that people in the know consider a 70cc their limbing saw in Australia has to say something. This guy uses 660's as his climbing saws when dealing with big Aussie eucalyptus

I am going to an aussie GTG in May and they will have pine which I have never cut. I cant wait to see hat its like.




Oh come one mate, that may as well be foam wrapped in cardboard, with a core made from icecream

I assure you it was hard maple sir

 

[jmssaws]

Doesn't matter if you cut USA foam or Australian concrete
Listen to the saw cutting and you can hear if it's strong or not.
Wood is wood,chain needs to match what you are cutting.

 

[Cigmaker]

661 ftw

 

[Mastermind]

Potato

 

[Magnumitis]

Potato

My 661 makes shoelace fries out of 'em.

Speaking of, I'll be a getting it and the 395 out a running Thursday/Friday.

 

[maulhead]

Potato

Noodles...

 

[Magnumitis]

Couple of hardwood cutters I know around here, love the 661. Power AND efficiency.

 

[Wood Doctor]

The new 661 M-Tronic is a great saw until it dies or bogs down in the cut. The dealer can fix it -- maybe. I doubt most owners can. Carb is out of reach. Ignition module a bear to replace. Special tool needed just to check for a spark. Closed architecture like this is not my cup of tea and never has been.

 

[CR500]

064 FTW

 

[Wood Doctor]

064 FTW

Just bought one with fabulous compression and power. Heckuva saw. Two thumbs up on this vintage masterpiece. A logger who just bought three new MS661's and paid through the nose tried my 064 out. He told me, "Edwin, don't you dare sell this saw."

 

[Mastermind]

Carb is out of reach. Ignition module a bear to replace. Special tool needed just to check for a spark.

Huh?

Carb and coil are just as easy to R&R as a 660. Checking spark ain't a problem either.

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

The 660 cured world hunger, the 661 cured cancer, 395's are the 8th wonder of the world.

Are we there yet b/c I need to piss (rev).

 

[Adirondackstihl]

The new 661 M-Tronic is a great saw until it dies or bogs down in the cut. The dealer can fix it -- maybe. I doubt most owners can. Carb is out of reach. Ignition module a bear to replace. Special tool needed just to check for a spark. Closed architecture like this is not my cup of tea and never has been.

I changed my ignition module in 10min.
I fail to see how it was a bear?
Oh BTW....I have the best dealer and he sent me the updated coil at no cost, along with a solenoid just in case

 

[sawmikaze]

You boys just never ran a sawmikazed hacksaws ms390.

You don't know what power is...yet.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I changed my ignition module in 10min. I fail to see how it was a bear?
Oh BTW....I have the best dealer and he sent me the updated coil at no cost, along with a solenoid just in case

OK, I stand corrected. You are one whale of a mechanic and your dealer is in a class by himself. If you check the service manual on the MS661, the IM replacement compared to the MS660 and any other comparable Stihl saw is different and far more complex.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Huh?

Carb and coil are just as easy to R&R as a 660. Checking spark ain't a problem either.

Service manual I have says that a special part from Stihl is needed to check for a spark. Simple jumper wire won't work. Once the plug is out, the spark is disengaged. I've already run into this on a 661 C. What am I missing? Please advise.

 

[Mastermind]

Service manual I have says that a special part from Stihl is needed to check for a spark. Simple jumper wire won't work. Once the plug is out, the spark is disengaged. I've already run into this on a 661 C. What am I missing? Please advise.

How does the plug know it's out, and not just grounded?

 

[CR500]

Doesn't matter if you cut USA foam or Australian concrete
Listen to the saw cutting and you can hear if it's strong or not.
Wood is wood,chain needs to match what you are cutting.

This is true...My stock 461 whooped my 661 once....

ONCE