Stihl Haters, help me out!

[Dub11]

2153. Duh

Those suck and are junk, no one should ever look in to buying them junk ass thing.

@59billy buy a Stihl asap.

 

[farminkarman]

I have been a Husky fan for years, but I bought my first Stihl this year (MS261 CM) for my Dad. It is an excellent saw, and I prefer it to my 550xp 1st edition.

 

[Orangeinthebarn]

The new 550mkII is available still I think, you might have trouble finding a new MS261.

I bought a 261c in November manufactured date October 2020. Dealer placed order for it in Feb. so they are starting to show up. Another store just got in a nov 2020 manufactured 261. So they have started recently shipping

 

[Ketchup]

261 is a top tier saw. It can also be had in a standard carb version, which solves the hot start issues and makes some parts cheaper. My consistent complaint with them is that the pull starter disintegrates over time. They port pretty well too.

346 is still better if ported properly. More speed, similar or better torque. Slightly heavier though, and not as good stock. The ported ones seem easier to burn up and the carbs are a bit more erratic.

Dolmar 5100 has nice torque, but is heavy and doesn’t seem to gain as much in porting.

550mk2 is better than mk1, but still has starting issues. Not sure what can be accomplished with good port work.

026/260 just don’t have the nuts the others have. The quad transfer 50cc saws walk all over the older design. Not bad in a budget scenario though.

There aren’t a lot of Stihls in my personal quiver, but 261 is one of them. I prefer 346, but you can’t go handing your ported 346 to a new groundy.

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

Love my 260 apart from the terrible intake manifold / cylinder design

 

[Wilhelm]

I might need help building a bigger shed!

Don't keep them all in the same place!

You scatter them around inside Your house!

I can recommend a Makita EA5000/Dolmar PS-5105 (same saw).
But mine is stuffed with XtraSausages, I never ran a stock one.

 

[59billy]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions!

I found an 026 that feels right.

But that doesn't take any of your suggestions off the table!

 

[FergusonTO35]

No, you just now need a backup for it. I recommend Echo CS-501P or Dolmar 5105/Makita EA-5000.

 

[Nathan lassley]

I should have been more clear that I'm thinking used. Sometimes part of what I'm thinking doesn't typed.

Although, I guess there's something to be said for buying a new saw and leaving it stock. I hear some people do that.

 

[Wilhelm]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions!

I found an 026 that feels right.

But that doesn't take any of your suggestions off the table!

No, you just now need a backup for it. I recommend Echo CS-501P or Dolmar 5105/Makita EA-5000.

Makita EA5000, contact @166

 

[82f100swb]

I have a couple 026's and a MS261. My 261 is a gen 1, carbed. I grab my ported 026 before the also ported 261 every time. I just like the feel of the 026 better, it's smaller and feels lighter in the hand.
The 026 is slightly stronger as well, but the 261 had cylinder damage that I ported out so timing #'s aren't exactly where I wanted them.

 

[Turner Saw]

I recently picked up a couple ms260's cheap with scored cylinders. I didn't have any prior experience with this model but after cutting the bases and porting them they are a great little saw. A friend of mine who does tree work has one of them now and loves it! He runs new Stihl M tronic saws regularly.

 

[fearofpavement]

I feel that the Stihl 026 is one of the best chainsaws ever made. And I've owned and used most models of most manufacturers. It's a model of saw that will always be in my line up. Any saw will cut wood if you keep the chain sharp. Some saws just feel better than others to me and my preferences are partially based on that. I've owned an 026 since shortly after they came out 30 years ago and still have 2 or 3 of them including that one.

 

[ayoungtexan]

Depends on what you want

Value - Echo 4910- basically a 490 with a 501P engine

Power - Makita EA5000 or Husqvarna 550MKII

Lightweight - Echo 501P

Build Quality - Makita 5000

Best Alternative (IMO) - Makita EA5000


But none of them compare to the 261

 

[P.M.P.]

Those suck and are junk, no one should ever look in to buying them junk ass thing.

@59billy buy a Stihl asap.

 

[huskyboy]

But none of them compare to the 261

Why is that?

 

[PA Dan]

Why is that?

Well duh...its a Stihl!

 

[huskyboy]

Well duh...its a Stihl!

Smart people ask questions

 

[deye223]

Smart people ask questions

I'm proof that's bullchitt

 

[FergusonTO35]

Depends on what you want

Value - Echo 4910- basically a 490 with a 501P engine

Wow, that is a good deal indeed!

Power - Makita EA5000 or Husqvarna 550MKII

Lightweight - Echo 501P

Build Quality - Makita 5000

Best Alternative (IMO) - Makita EA5000


But none of them compare to the Dolmar 5105

Fixed it for you.