Stihl MS261...

[Catman]

My Stihl MS261 is pretty rad.

Hilarious!

 

[trooney]

My Stihl MS261 is pretty rad.

Even got a NASCAR engine in that bad boy!!

 

[PA Plumber]

Wow Brush Ape... my 026 is loud, but not quite on that level.

 

[trooney]

Got the 261 today. It seems to run alright, little screamer. Its got a rattle in it though. Bearings turn smooth, recoil cover cracked. Maybe do some investigating this weekend. Any areas known to come loose on these things?

 

[huskyboy]

Got the 261 today. It seems to run alright, little screamer. Its got a rattle in it though. Bearings turn smooth, recoil cover cracked. Maybe do some investigating this weekend. Any areas known to come loose on these things?

Clutch drum/springs/bearing?

 

[trooney]

Good possibility Mason. But it sounds like something internal. Sounds like something flapping more pronounced at idle than full throttle.

 

[huskyboy]

Good possibility Mason. But it sounds like something internal. Sounds like something flapping more pronounced at idle than full throttle.

Anything in the muffler?

 

[trooney]

Naah, pulled it earlier. Screws loose everywhere. Clutch bearing missing a needle. I'll put it all back together and see what I've got.

 

[huskihl]

Good possibility Mason. But it sounds like something internal. Sounds like something flapping more pronounced at idle than full throttle.

Make sure the recoil pawls are retracting

 

[SimonHS]

The needle hearing in the sprocket drum can wear away the crank, like in the picture attached. Then the sprocket wobbles about. What year is the saw? Later saws don't seem to suffer this problem.

 

[trooney]

Dont know. I'll inspect the crank.

 

[Brush Ape]

Hilarious!

Thanks Catman. You look like you might be an oldfart like me. At that you’d be surprised how easily people get butt hurt when a guy takes a little time to crack a joke these days. An A-type personality always either sees a joke coming and knows how to re-direct or reverse it or he has a laugh at his own expense which pays dividends. That video stirred a little animosity with the sensitive types.

Even got a NASCAR engine in that bad boy!!

The audio is from a 2000+ hp aluminum hemi machined and being tested on a dyno owned by Nelson Racing.

Wow Brush Ape... my 026 is loud, but not quite on that level.

I’ve had my MS261 since 2011. It is in daily use around six month a year. Since I grease it within the service interval, I’ve not had the crank issue caused by dry clutch bearings. Also have not had the problem with the switch mentioned by Edwin or any other issues with that saw.
Only time I ever blew up any Stihl and I have owned a mountain of them...was within two runs of a new MS441-CM it scored the piston. The M-tronic had a bug and Crader’s backed it up. That was within a couple weeks of those kind of saws going on the market and it has been a screamer ever since.

 

[trooney]

The crank looks good. Tightening up the loose screws took alot of it out. Someones been in here before. But it runs alright, oils alright, piston has plenty of machine marks on it. I put a new bearing on it. Going to cut with it this weekend.

 

[trooney]

I read that the max rpms are 13.8 on this machine. Can only get 13.2 before maxed out on limiters.

 

[Wonkydonkey]

Love the sound effects

also the forcing it, HARD in the wood..

and don’t forget the 4x speed

 

[trooney]

I'm gonna cut with it first, but gotta pull the carb and figure out why if I screw in the H all the way it still stays at 13.1-13.3. Doesnt matter if its all the way out or in thats what you've got.

 

[RockiesRider]

My ported 261 pulls 3/8 20 in chain better than my ported 260 pulling 3/8 16 in through same wood. Ported by same guy. My 261 can keep up with a stock 460 in 20 inch wood and usually beats it in the cut no matter who runs either saw. 261 is my go to saw for everything up to 20 inch and a lil bigger just because it's light weight and fast cutting.

I seriously doubt that, unless the 460bis bad out of tune with a dull chain.

 

[trooney]

Well, I cut with it last week. Going through some 12" red oak. Was not all that impressed. Sharpened the chain cause it probably needed it, going to cut with it tomorrow. I did get it up to 13.7 though. I'll reserve judgement until tomorrow.

 

[Backtroller]

I guess you need to remember what it is... 50cc saw. I think we lose perspective running ported and big cc saws.

I’ve never ran a version 1 261. I’ve had 2 - version 2 and I’ve been impressed with them. Ones from Randy. They are smooth so they don’t feel as “ fast” as the ported 026.

 

[trooney]

I guess you need to remember what it is... 50cc saw. I think we lose perspective running ported and big cc saws.

I’ve never ran a version 1 261. I’ve had 2 - version 2 and I’ve been impressed with them. Ones from Randy. They are smooth so they don’t feel as “ fast” as the ported 026.

Your probably right. My XS 2055 will embarass it and so will my Rattler 346. But my Pro 026 kept right up with it. Dont know, with the chain sharpened it might wake up some. But ported saws have definately changed my perspective.