Those 261s are great saws. I cut timber everyday with a 20" bar. Your right, you can cut big trees with 20" bars. It makes a huge difference at the end of the day not having to carry all the extra weight.
Tried the 550 xp and the 261 cm. The 550 was definitely more powerful but felt foreign in my hands. Also didn’t like the long crank stub with clutch hanging off the end and the exposed plastic oil pump. Ended up back at the Stihl dealer and bought the 261 cm. No regrets here. Your video helped me make up my mind. Thank you
Great review, had a 550xp for few years good saw also , once ya got it to start ( which was also a chore ) ,550 had great power got rid of it ,now got a 261c few months ago & just simply love it, best all around saw I ever owned had a few ,mostly husky , thanks for your on the time on the review
I bought a 261 6 months ago, can't wait to use it. And got a 391 about 5 years ago best saw I've ever had, love those steel products. Great video hope to see more thanks!!! Fm. Southfield Michigan 👍
I don't use my saws every day, or even every month. I have an acre of land and it was heavily forested, I bought an MS250 and used it to clear my acre. Since then I've gotten involved in a group that helps clean up after hurricanes. That 250 got me through Matthew and Irma, but when Michael hit I decided to get a pro saw and I opted for the MS362. So I don't use the saws very often but when I do, it's all day for several long weekends in a row. I don't use the 250 much anymore even though it's significantly lighter than the 362, but the 362 is so much smoother and more powerful that it wears me out less than the 250. I'm seriously considering getting the 261 to replace my 250.
I've ran a 362 and I love that saw. I'm thinking about getting one and putting a 18" bar on it. I just got finished with a big job using that 261 in the video and she's still going strong. It's been worth every penny and more
My 261 is my main saw for firewood handling but my 400C 25” is great for ripping 30” rounds. Tree service wood is about all I get so “you get what you get”. Nice review, thanks.
Good video I agree with you on lighter saws not wearing you out . I have 2 saws one a Homelite bought like 15 plus years ago that starts on 1 or 2 pulls and mostly use for limbing out down trees. It’s like 12.8 lbs and I can work it a long time . My other is a Poulan Pro 50cc that weighs 16.8 lbs that starts hard and wears me out fast . Those extra pnds for me is hard on my back and arms . We have knee high snow in the woods which makes it extra hard for me. I was thinking of the MS271 Farm Boss which weighs 12.3 pnds without bar and chain. Bar and chain weighs maybe 2 1/2 lbs I think with your video the MS261 like you said weighs 10.8lbs and with bar and chain probably around 13lbs . The 261 is spendy and I only cut my wood for myself I still want something that’s light and starts good. Thanks for the video.
Thanks bro. This saw is still going strong. If you're not using it everyday then it's not worth the money for a Pro series saw. I couldn't imagine wading around in that much snow lol.
Agree on hot starts. Just crank them on “run” and off they go. Not surprised about the plug. People who use saws for work aren’t afraid to wind them up and the plugs last a whole lot longer. Agree on the file guide - it’s simpler and faster, at least for me. Just one pass with one tool rather than two times around with two files.
I have a 241 I’m rebuilding now. Awesome saw, a mini me 261! It’s a lot like the 261 with a foam air filter and muffler mod really waking it up. At first I thought it was mostly in the exhaust but then I took a closer look at the intake. The plastic mounting piece for the stock air filter is extremely restrictive, just as bad as that baffle on a 355t. Completely different saw after waking it up. I did find a place to order them new for only about $200…more than a 261.
@Today_Im_Living what muffler mod ? Aftermarket muffler or you opened it up a bit. I thought the 261 was a little irrelevant in some ways- too big to be an awesome small saw, too small to be capable of much more than what a 241 does. I love a 60cc or a 70cc saw for medium work
@@llewmatthews4828 West Coast Saw sells a nice stainless steel exhaust port with spark arrestor and they also sell the foam air filter for the 241/261. Stock powered numbers, the 261 is 0.9 lbs heavier and has an additional horsepower over the 241. The 261 takes the medium mount bar and the 241 takes the small mount, so a lightweight bar on the 261 really helps with that lighter-weight nimble feeling. As far as power goes, our 261 cuts about twice as fast as a stock 391 64cc boat anchor and can easily outperform a stock 362. Haven’t compared it to the, 2 lbs heavier, 400 but I’m pretty sure our 261 wouldn’t keep up. We run 24”, 28”, or 32” lightweight bars with 3/8” skip square or HEXA chain and an 7 or 8 pin rim. Most of the time now it has a 28” HEXA. The longer bars are for reach to save the back and to make limbing safer and easier. The saw is plenty capable of full cuts over 24” but, if there’s more a few, we usually just grab the 3 lbs heavier 500. The saw came stock with a 20” full house .325 RS (not RS3) and after my mods it’s cutting about 60% with a 32”, full cuts with both bars. That was with skip square on the 32” bar the exhaust opened up and foam air filter. I’m experimenting around with .404 skip HEXA on the 500 and if I get it cutting right, I’ll run it on the 261 with probably a 28” bar, maybe a 24”. We want the .404 chain for how much more durable it is and the wider kerf is nice with limbing and storm cleanup. The 261 feels more nimble with a 24” but is still balanced with a 28” has better reach plus can handle that much longer of a cut in a crucial situation. We deal with a lot of scrub/trash oak and our soil has a lot of sand, with thick clay in some areas, so it’s hell on chains and bars. It’s usually not a real hard oak, and it’s guaranteed to have some rot. Some pine and rock hard oak but not much. I sharpen all of our chain so it makes good chips with low pull, it’ll fall through the cut and hold an edge good. It not the fastest at cutting clean cookies but is usually still cutting at the end of the day and is a lot less fatiguing on the operator and saw. Our 261 is the go-to saw over our 500 because it’s lighter and more nimble but still has great power. I don’t know if makes that much of a difference in power but I run a 102 octane mix with 32:1 Saber. The M-tronic controls timing too so it might be getting more power from the higher octane.
@@smithworx1091 i had a 391 it was junk when it ran it was a good saw got the 261 with 20 inch bar hope it will cut oak an hickory just fine.. do y'all ever run carbide chains?? I love'em have them on my other saws the 261 will probley end up with one
Try Harvest King bar oil. It's more tacky to the bar and not as thick as Stihl orange bottle. Plus it's got kind of a sweet smell to it in the wood which I love
Pretty much all small engines like weed eaters and blowers and chainsaws, mowers etc will all act wired after they get hot and left in sun etc. not sure why they do that but everything I own does the same thing
Might be the fuel you’re running. Density can very from fuel to fuel and affect metering and atomization. I started running a higher octane mix and 32:1 oil mix, our engines do better. There’s more than one reason why they act up though.
How does yours do on fuel? Have you had any problems with the oil pump leaking bar oil ? Ours is doing better on fuel after getting some hours on it. The first clutch and drum got soaked in oil and sawdust. They got smoked in less than 20 gallons of fuel, probably closer to ten gallons. Cleaned it real good and replaced the clutch and drum and haven’t had any issues since. It stays clean too around the oil pump. Those 500’s are insane, one of the best investments we’ve made! Even more power with a foam air intake and bark box. If the bark box isn’t an option West Coast Saw has different sizes of auxiliary exhaust ports. We’re running 36” .404 full skip chain with an eight pin rim. It handles 42” good for milling and cross cuts. Because it’s so much lighter, our 261 is usually the go-to saw unless there’s a lot of cuts over 2 feet or so. It’s set up with a 28” or 32” full skip HEXA so it’s easier on the back and has some extra reach. It’ll handle full cuts just fine but if there’s more than a couple full cuts the 500 is usually used. A wrap handle would be nice for the stuff we use our 261 for.
I just bought the sharpening tool worth every penny..... I've never sharpened a chain where it's just as good if not better than new.... I've cut seven cords of firewood and I'm still on the same chain still good for another seven cords I bet....my boss 271 is doing excellent, but I wanna get a MS 261 C because it's lighter and I want to mill up some fur beams for a cabin....lol
@@livingstonexcavation732 I ran 2 huskys before I had a stihl. They were just cheap saws but they always did what I needed them to. I wouldn't mind having a pro husky. I know they're just as good
I have a 365 x tourq 28" bar that I purchased from a dealer 3 years ago. I have had no trouble with it. I'm on my second bar and 3rd or 4th chain. It's been a good one
Another Darwin Award. Chainsaws ain't macho. Whiskey Tango boy,why not use PPE ? You need to show what you know, then do it right. Know why mil uses protective gear ? Why my unit TRAINS on injuries ? Damn, one ER visit could negate your life. Nice saw.....it's in my group and has been for a decade. No offense, BUTT chaps are cheap insurance.
@@smithworx1091 Not knowing how, knowing smart. You know Emergency Care ? Ever seen a deadly injury ? Offense here taken. I cut solo and have for decades for wood heat. NO major injuries. Look at CLP or GOL training as well as s. Advice if you want to tell the unwashed the "how".ince you're not a vet, Wilderness Med. Out.
Snorting snot thru the whole video. That air filter is a disaster. Why don't you change it? Why don't you keep the saw CLEAN? You say it is very important to you, so why don't you TAKE CARE OF IT? An informative video but has some things about what NOT to do. Geez.
Those 261s are great saws. I cut timber everyday with a 20" bar. Your right, you can cut big trees with 20" bars. It makes a huge difference at the end of the day not having to carry all the extra weight.
I still love mine. Gotten my money's worth that's for sure
Tried the 550 xp and the 261 cm. The 550 was definitely more powerful but felt foreign in my hands. Also didn’t like the long crank stub with clutch hanging off the end and the exposed plastic oil pump. Ended up back at the Stihl dealer and bought the 261 cm. No regrets here. Your video helped me make up my mind. Thank you
That's so cool to hear brother! My 261 is still working hard
Lots of good advice and insight in this video 👍🏻. I bought my 261 a month ago. I couldn’t be happier with it so far.
Thanks buddy. Mine is still running strong.
Great review, had a 550xp for few years good saw also , once ya got it to start ( which was also a chore ) ,550 had great power got rid of it ,now got a 261c few months ago & just simply love it, best all around saw I ever owned had a few ,mostly husky , thanks for your on the time on the review
Appreciate you buddy. My 261 is still going strong
I bought a 261 6 months ago, can't wait to use it. And got a 391 about 5 years ago best saw I've ever had, love those steel products. Great video hope to see more thanks!!! Fm. Southfield Michigan 👍
Thanks buddy! The 261 has never let me down.
Hey thanks a lot for the reply!
I don't use my saws every day, or even every month. I have an acre of land and it was heavily forested, I bought an MS250 and used it to clear my acre. Since then I've gotten involved in a group that helps clean up after hurricanes. That 250 got me through Matthew and Irma, but when Michael hit I decided to get a pro saw and I opted for the MS362. So I don't use the saws very often but when I do, it's all day for several long weekends in a row. I don't use the 250 much anymore even though it's significantly lighter than the 362, but the 362 is so much smoother and more powerful that it wears me out less than the 250. I'm seriously considering getting the 261 to replace my 250.
I've ran a 362 and I love that saw. I'm thinking about getting one and putting a 18" bar on it. I just got finished with a big job using that 261 in the video and she's still going strong. It's been worth every penny and more
My 261 is my main saw for firewood handling but my 400C 25” is great for ripping 30” rounds. Tree service wood is about all I get so “you get what you get”. Nice review, thanks.
I really like those 400's. Cotontop runs one and it's a beast
Can't go wrong with a Stihl. Good stuff!
Made a believer out of me 🤣
I like that gadget you knocked into wood limb to hold the chainsaw while you sharpened the chain. Where may I ask did you get it? Great tutorial
Thanks, buddy. I found them on eBay. But I believe you can get them at a hardware store, and Lowes and Home Depot.
I tell ya one good little saw for a bunch of limbing is the Stihl 170. You can buck logs with it too but it's slow. Things super light tho
Yes sir. I've got one to rebuild. That's what I wanted to use it for. Thanks buddy
I love mine. I put the light04 bar and it cuts even better than it did
Good video I agree with you on lighter saws not wearing you out . I have 2 saws one a Homelite bought like 15 plus years ago that starts on 1 or 2 pulls and mostly use for limbing out down trees. It’s like 12.8 lbs and I can work it a long time . My other is a Poulan Pro 50cc that weighs 16.8 lbs that starts hard and wears me out fast . Those extra pnds for me is hard on my back and arms . We have knee high snow in the woods which makes it extra hard for me. I was thinking of the MS271 Farm Boss which weighs 12.3 pnds without bar and chain. Bar and chain weighs maybe 2 1/2 lbs I think with your video the MS261 like you said weighs 10.8lbs and with bar and chain probably around 13lbs . The 261 is spendy and I only cut my wood for myself I still want something that’s light and starts good. Thanks for the video.
Thanks bro. This saw is still going strong. If you're not using it everyday then it's not worth the money for a Pro series saw. I couldn't imagine wading around in that much snow lol.
I have a 462 but really wanted the 261 after watching your video im getting one
I bought a 462 a few months ago. That thing is bad news!
Agree on hot starts. Just crank them on “run” and off they go. Not surprised about the plug. People who use saws for work aren’t afraid to wind them up and the plugs last a whole lot longer. Agree on the file guide - it’s simpler and faster, at least for me. Just one pass with one tool rather than two times around with two files.
Appreciate you watching bro
You ever tried a 241 for smaller work. I bucked a gum on a slope and I love the light and nimble nature of that saw that is like a baby 261.
I haven't. I'd like to try it though!
I have a 241 I’m rebuilding now. Awesome saw, a mini me 261! It’s a lot like the 261 with a foam air filter and muffler mod really waking it up. At first I thought it was mostly in the exhaust but then I took a closer look at the intake. The plastic mounting piece for the stock air filter is extremely restrictive, just as bad as that baffle on a 355t. Completely different saw after waking it up. I did find a place to order them new for only about $200…more than a 261.
@@smithworx1091It would be great for a ground guy with those smaller pines, especially if you could hold the tree at waist height while they cut.
@Today_Im_Living what muffler mod ? Aftermarket muffler or you opened it up a bit. I thought the 261 was a little irrelevant in some ways- too big to be an awesome small saw, too small to be capable of much more than what a 241 does. I love a 60cc or a 70cc saw for medium work
@@llewmatthews4828 West Coast Saw sells a nice stainless steel exhaust port with spark arrestor and they also sell the foam air filter for the 241/261. Stock powered numbers, the 261 is 0.9 lbs heavier and has an additional horsepower over the 241. The 261 takes the medium mount bar and the 241 takes the small mount, so a lightweight bar on the 261 really helps with that lighter-weight nimble feeling. As far as power goes, our 261 cuts about twice as fast as a stock 391 64cc boat anchor and can easily outperform a stock 362. Haven’t compared it to the, 2 lbs heavier, 400 but I’m pretty sure our 261 wouldn’t keep up. We run 24”, 28”, or 32” lightweight bars with 3/8” skip square or HEXA chain and an 7 or 8 pin rim. Most of the time now it has a 28” HEXA. The longer bars are for reach to save the back and to make limbing safer and easier. The saw is plenty capable of full cuts over 24” but, if there’s more a few, we usually just grab the 3 lbs heavier 500. The saw came stock with a 20” full house .325 RS (not RS3) and after my mods it’s cutting about 60% with a 32”, full cuts with both bars. That was with skip square on the 32” bar the exhaust opened up and foam air filter. I’m experimenting around with .404 skip HEXA on the 500 and if I get it cutting right, I’ll run it on the 261 with probably a 28” bar, maybe a 24”. We want the .404 chain for how much more durable it is and the wider kerf is nice with limbing and storm cleanup. The 261 feels more nimble with a 24” but is still balanced with a 28” has better reach plus can handle that much longer of a cut in a crucial situation. We deal with a lot of scrub/trash oak and our soil has a lot of sand, with thick clay in some areas, so it’s hell on chains and bars. It’s usually not a real hard oak, and it’s guaranteed to have some rot. Some pine and rock hard oak but not much. I sharpen all of our chain so it makes good chips with low pull, it’ll fall through the cut and hold an edge good. It not the fastest at cutting clean cookies but is usually still cutting at the end of the day and is a lot less fatiguing on the operator and saw. Our 261 is the go-to saw over our 500 because it’s lighter and more nimble but still has great power.
I don’t know if makes that much of a difference in power but I run a 102 octane mix with 32:1 Saber. The M-tronic controls timing too so it might be getting more power from the higher octane.
Great saw, I have been more than happy with mine
She's still running strong.
Been waiting for my 261 since January, they can't seem to get them. Have the 362 , and 400 m tronic
Dang man that's a long time for a saw! Lol. What you think about that 400?
@@smithworx1091 400 is a good saw !
STIHL = Superior 🤙💨👌
It's hard to beat a stihl!
@@smithworx1091 oh beat and outlast a husqvarna any day!
For the money, Stihl is the way to go
Got a 261 the other day and cant wait to use it
It's a fun saw. Still have mine and work it like a dog
@@smithworx1091 i had a 391 it was junk when it ran it was a good saw got the 261 with 20 inch bar hope it will cut oak an hickory just fine.. do y'all ever run carbide chains?? I love'em have them on my other saws the 261 will probley end up with one
@@wickedchevy55 I haven't tried the carbide. Would like to though
Try Harvest King bar oil. It's more tacky to the bar and not as thick as Stihl orange bottle. Plus it's got kind of a sweet smell to it in the wood which I love
Thanks brother. Will do
I got 2of them and got rid of all my outher saws except 1 of my 310s got tired of haveing so many different chains
They are great saws. Still running both of mine
Pretty much all small engines like weed eaters and blowers and chainsaws, mowers etc will all act wired after they get hot and left in sun etc. not sure why they do that but everything I own does the same thing
Might be the fuel you’re running. Density can very from fuel to fuel and affect metering and atomization. I started running a higher octane mix and 32:1 oil mix, our engines do better.
There’s more than one reason why they act up though.
I have a 2015 261 c and it is awesome
Really can't beat em! Thanks bro
I also notice the farm boss doesnt have near as much power to
@@haydenshores9943 this same saw is still kickin.
Nice video ✌️
Thanks buddy
Where do u get the portable stand???
I ordered that from ebay. Think it's called a wedge chainsaw holder
I love my old ms360 pro
Gday mate yea use bigger files is the go but if you want top saw MS500i
That 500i is bad news. My brother in law has one and he loves it.
How does yours do on fuel?
Have you had any problems with the oil pump leaking bar oil ?
Ours is doing better on fuel after getting some hours on it. The first clutch and drum got soaked in oil and sawdust. They got smoked in less than 20 gallons of fuel, probably closer to ten gallons. Cleaned it real good and replaced the clutch and drum and haven’t had any issues since. It stays clean too around the oil pump.
Those 500’s are insane, one of the best investments we’ve made! Even more power with a foam air intake and bark box. If the bark box isn’t an option West Coast Saw has different sizes of auxiliary exhaust ports. We’re running 36” .404 full skip chain with an eight pin rim. It handles 42” good for milling and cross cuts.
Because it’s so much lighter, our 261 is usually the go-to saw unless there’s a lot of cuts over 2 feet or so. It’s set up with a 28” or 32” full skip HEXA so it’s easier on the back and has some extra reach. It’ll handle full cuts just fine but if there’s more than a couple full cuts the 500 is usually used. A wrap handle would be nice for the stuff we use our 261 for.
I just bought the sharpening tool worth every penny..... I've never sharpened a chain where it's just as good if not better than new.... I've cut seven cords of firewood and I'm still on the same chain still good for another seven cords I bet....my boss 271 is doing excellent, but I wanna get a MS 261 C because it's lighter and I want to mill up some fur beams for a cabin....lol
Nice buddy! Those sharpeners are the best thing since sliced bread. You'll love a 261
I’ve had a 20 inch on all my saws 10:44
She's still going strong.
Good evening Sir.
What's up buddy...
I been busier than two cats covering up one pile of stinky crap. Great video I'm just not Stihl fan. I kinda stick to Husqvarna personally.
@@livingstonexcavation732 I ran 2 huskys before I had a stihl. They were just cheap saws but they always did what I needed them to. I wouldn't mind having a pro husky. I know they're just as good
I have a 365 x tourq 28" bar that I purchased from a dealer 3 years ago. I have had no trouble with it. I'm on my second bar and 3rd or 4th chain. It's been a good one
@@livingstonexcavation732 I bet that things a beast. If I buy anther saw I think I'm gonna get a pro husky just to have one.
Another Darwin Award. Chainsaws ain't macho. Whiskey Tango boy,why not use PPE ? You need to show what you know, then do it right. Know why mil uses protective gear ? Why my unit TRAINS on injuries ?
Damn, one ER visit could negate your life. Nice saw.....it's in my group and has been for a decade. No offense, BUTT chaps are cheap insurance.
If you don't know how to use a chainsaw just say that. No offense
@@smithworx1091 Not knowing how, knowing smart.
You know Emergency Care ? Ever seen a deadly injury ? Offense here taken. I cut solo and have for decades for wood heat. NO major injuries. Look at CLP or GOL training as well as s. Advice if you want to tell the unwashed the "how".ince you're not a vet, Wilderness Med. Out.
Snorting snot thru the whole video. That air filter is a disaster. Why don't you change it? Why don't you keep the saw CLEAN? You say it is very important to you, so why don't you TAKE CARE OF IT? An informative video but has some things about what NOT to do. Geez.
What a cry baby.
I give you 0/10 for safety
@@kevo5512 ahh man.... 😔 can you at least give me a 1 or a 2?
@@smithworx1091 😂😂 ok 1/10
@@kevo5512 thanks buddy