Opinions on the "newest" model ms261/ms261cm and the husky 550 please help!!!

[Nitehawk55]

The way the saw feels to a person is subjective tho , what one person likes others may not so it's really best you try a saw out . Since you already seem to have a number of Stihl saws I'm going to suggest that you'll probably prefer staying with what's working for you already plus you wan't have to think about the control button either , the Stihl goes down to start the Husky is the opposite .

 

[stihl livin]

Another think I like about stihl saws it you can use the same bar mount from the 026/261-066/661. This is just a convenience thing to for some. I continue to buy stihl mount bars with adapters so I can use the same dl count chains on all of my saws. Makes it much easier in my opinion

 

[concretegrazer]

Another think I like about stihl saws it you can use the same bar mount from the 026/261-066/661. This is just a convenience thing to for some. I continue to buy stihl mount bars with adapters so I can use the same dl count chains on all of my saws. Makes it much easier in my opinion

I fail to see the advantage of it sharing the same mount as the larger saws. It won't pull a 20" 3/8 set up for a 440. So now I have to keep track of chains. I'd rather run .325 on it anyhow.

 

[stihl livin]

I fail to see the advantage of it sharing the same mount as the larger saws. It won't pull a 20" 3/8 set up for a 440. So now I have to keep track of chains. I'd rather run .325 on it anyhow.

Personal preference I guess. I run 3/8 on everything

 

[Khntr85]

This guy would know! A couple 261's and a couple 241's in his stable! He's the reason I have a new model MS261cm on the way. That is after its ported![emoji6]

Wow I bet the ported 261 will be very nice!!!

 

[PA Dan]

I'm sure it will be!

 

[Farmchuck]

Wow I bet the ported 261 will be very nice!!!

So is a ported 550. I have one & it's a screamer!

 

[Khntr85]

So is a ported 550. I have one & it's a screamer!

I hear the 550 are great saws stock too....

 

[sawmikaze]

I hear the 550 are great saws stock too....

You heard correctly...they would do you fine with a good muffler mod...factory hot rod.

The responsiveness of these 5 series hushee's is the real deal.

 

[pro94lt]

The 550xp is as good as they get for a 50cc saw. They have the throttle response, they handle so so well. And power. The same can be said about the. Ms241. I run a 3/8lp 55dl on the 241 and .325 72dl on the 550. If your wanting a 16" bar go 241. 18" go with the 550. But the 550 will pull a 18 harder than the 241 will a 16... theirs nothing bad to say about either.

 

[Khntr85]

The 550xp is as good as they get for a 50cc saw. They have the throttle response, they handle so so well. And power. The same can be said about the. Ms241. I run a 3/8lp 55dl on the 241 and .325 72dl on the 550. If your wanting a 16" bar go 241. 18" go with the 550. But the 550 will pull a 18 harder than the 241 will a 16... theirs nothing bad to say about either.

Yes I hear the 550 is a great machine

 

[GCJenks204]

For the OP @Khntr85 where are you located? Maybe a fine member is nearby and you can test one in some wood?

 

[Khntr85]

For the OP @Khntr85 where are you located? Maybe a fine member is nearby and you can test one in some wood?

Muncie/Yorktown Indiana...

 

[GCJenks204]

I don't know any in that area. @AVAstihl is south of you in Bloomington area. He would get you hooked on heated handles if you tried his 261.

Maybe someone else knows someone in the area that has something for you to demo.

 

[Khntr85]

I don't know any in that area. @AVAstihl is south of you in Bloomington area. He would get you hooked on heated handles if you tried his 261.

Maybe someone else knows someone in the area that has something for you to demo.

I did talk to a guy that lives kind of close to me....he maybe selling me a 550 that needs rebuilt.....so I may be going to the dark side by default LOL!!!!

 

[2manyhounds]

The 550's are nice little saws, but they have plastic in bad spots for winter work,drop a warm saw in the snowbank to throw brush and the try to restart it and you'll bust the recoil cover. The 261's are also nice little saws, but 3 years of line clearance work takes out the crank under the clutch bearing, not an easy spot to grease like the husky. All told either saw is a good or even above average homeowner saw. Out of the last 5 huskys 3 are still running strong. Same goes for the Stihls. Crank seal and idiot damage on the 2 husky that died, bad crank took out the oilers on the stihls

 

[KiwiBro (deleted)]

Andrew's SkinnyPins' 241 against my SkinnyPins' 261 NE.

I also have a stock 241 and have not tried a modded 241 nor a stock 261 NE.
As to which I prefer or would recommend, it depends, unfortunately. The 261 covers a wider range, but if you've a bigger saw to call on and would definitely need it regardless of what small saw you'd use, then I'd say a modded 241. If you could benefit from running just one saw and often see hard/dry timber above 16" but no more than about 20", I'd say grab the modded 261.

I'm a simple guy, like things kept simple and had hoped to sell either the 241 or the 261 NE once the latter got here. But I like them both for different reasons and it has just screwed up (in a good way) a good three saw plan (241,7900,395). Yeah, I know, first world problems and all that.

*ETA* With a bit more experimentation on bar and chain combos across different wood, it may be optimal to drop the 7900 and 241, and just use the 261 and 395. Just want to be sure I can get by with the 261. It doesn't feel as balanced/easy in real world use on small trees as the 241, but by no means a fatigue-inducing saw.

 

[Ktoom]

Ive owned all three saws that are being talked about in this thread and loved them all.

The 241 is a little screamer that comes in a lighter package and loves for the whole bar to buried in wood. These saws are well worth the money. Only down fall that I seen was that the power head was just as big as my 550xp. In a sense, if 2 saws are the same physical size, but one stronger than the other, why keep the smaller of the 2 regardless of the weight difference? When I needed to move some saws, as much as I liked the 241, it was the easiest to part ways with. Either way the 241 is an awesome saw and will handle bigger wood than you think it would.

My 261cm happens to be ported. I never ran it in stock form. What i can say about my 261 is that it isn't as much of a rev monster like a 550xp, but it has some very good torque matched well with enough speed for limbing. My version of the saw happens to be the "o.e." which weighs about a half pound more. Is the weight difference noticeable? Yes and no. In your hands, the 261 might feel a little more chunky than a 550xp. I feel the 261 is great for a much wider array of wood sizes, especially if you are going from limbing, to bucking to noodling. Ive tried a few different bar/chain sizes on this saw and I've always gone back to the 18" .325 setup. It balances well for me, handles well and your still getting optimal power as well. I always want the longest bar with the most power when I'm out cutting. The 261 is still in my lineup... for the time being lolololol.

The 550xp is a small, nimble package that is a rev monster yet still packs a good punch for bucking. Out of all my saws I've owned, I have the most trigger time on this saw as I use them at work too. At my job, we use them for a lot of brush clearing, limbing and some bucking. These saws handle amazing and balance well. I also like the 18" .325 on this saw too. This is a great saw and one of my all time favorites next to my ported 2153. If I didnt have my 2153, I would still own my 550xp.

Its all about what your needs are and its also dependent on the other saws that you may have. Both saws that your asking about are great saws and you can't go wrong with either one.

 

[Khntr85]

Well just let me say to all you guys I really to appreciate all the responses.....as I stated before I have all Stihl equipment by default(only dealers around).....however I do believe that I am going to be trying a husky 550....I have a guy who I buy non-runners from and he says he has a few coming his way...so I told him if he wants to part with one I will take it.....now this saw will need work/rebuilt, but either way I look forward to getting her going....

As I said before, when I held the 550 in my hands it felt very small/light, in a good way!!!

I will keep you guys informed as I am very excited to try out a husky......I have been watching videos of them and wow the throttle response is very fast!!!

 

[Khntr85]

Is there anything I should be aware of as far as when I am rebuilding this saw......I have only rebuilt/worked on Stihl saws, so I do t even know what kind of screw holds the husky together lol....