*Coming up on having had this saw for a year....am a casual user and bought it to cut up sections for bowl blanks. Easy to start, **Bestfor.Garden** also recommend even after storage for a couple of months. Simple chain tension adjustment. Just cut up some 20" Osage Orange, including ripping bolts in half (at an angle). Like butter!*
Best advise for new owners: treat it like it's flooded all the time! After two hours shut off, I went through the cold start procedure and flooded the hell out of it! Removed the plug and burned it with a propane torch to dry it out. Started, used it, shut it down. Came back the next morning, used the cold start procedure again and it FLOODED! Been starting it at half choke for cold starts and running WOT with no choke if it has been run in the last 10 hours.
I went Friday and intended to get a 311 but the size for myself seemed a little big and after comparing the feel between it and a 271 I went ahead and went with the 271. I picked up an extra chain, 6 pack of stihl hp ultra fuel oil mix. 3 days later and still haven't had time to even fuel it up for a first start. And to make things interesting I still keep thinking about the 311. Today will be the day i will have time to run it and see how I like it. I have No doubt I will. As every stihl chainsaw I own or operated be it 1 cut or countless cuts I've been pleased with. I just hope the size making decision factor didn't leave me wanting more power. But I have a backup plan if indeed if I find myself second guessing myself. Which is I will go back and get myself a 311. A spare chain a hat and a nice pair of gloves I looked at my last visit. That'll leave me a few bucks out of my $1200 " pay it forward" check that popped up in my mailbox a couple weeks back. Or should I be a nice guy and pass on the 271 to another nice guy at a very generous discount and spend the combined amount on another model saw all together ? My goal is to get the best saw I can in the $900 range. Maybe I should have shared this with the young fella at the dealer but I rushed myself and now look at me. All mixed up and confused. Haha Thanks for any ideas and thanks for taking the time read my post. Take care and have a nice day.
If you want a chainsaw that will test your patience, this is the one. I've used chainsaws for 4 decades and I've never experienced one this difficult to start. From day 1, it is more likely to flood than to start. Avoid it. I cannot stress this enough. I encourage you to read reviews, you will notice that among the bad reviews, its always the same message; a pain in the arse to start.
Same. my first start up I flooded it. Everything i watches and read said pull till burp, then move up to warm start. Pulled like 12 times probably. It was very choppy and hard to pull. Called and talked to the mechanic at rural king and he said never pull more than a few times before moving to half choke even if it doesnt burb. I ended up having to perform a flooded start my first time. Runs like a maniac tho
I bought a new Farm Boss it wouldn't even fire at all. Took it back to Rural King they couldn't get it fire either. Gave me an new saw it also leaked bar oil (Bad ) just sitting on the floor .The new saw had Stihl gas and bar oil . Service thought this was the cause of not starting and oil leak. It started 1 time, I cut 4 boads, cannot get it started now. I have been using Stihl saws since the 1970's.on the farm .This is my last ,2 new saw the are just junk.
This is a solid and reputed saw, however, spend the extra $50.00 or so, and get the MS 291! Same size and weight, but a bit more power, and features. A no brainer
@@btcarawan I don't think many know just how expensive stuff is over here. Even with our dollar being around 70c US , still doesn't justify the costs here. Now there's something for ya to make afew bucks , start sending them over here.
I just bought a 250 I'm in México I went in and asked for the 271 at my local stihl dealer but I guess it's a model exclusive to usa. I was told the 271 doesn't exist. They do however have the 260 I would like to see a comparison between the 260 and 271 I have large mango trees that need to get cut down. I don't mind spending the money on a good chainsaw I just don't know which saw I'm better off with
What if my ms 271 is just not cutting through the wood like when I first bought the saw? It’s no more than a week old but it’s cutting power has dropped its just not cutting or penetrating into the log. It’s a brand new saw. What’s wrong?
The 251 and 271 are farm and ranch saws. The 261 is the smallest rear handle pro saw. The engine is totally different on pro saws you can change the piston and head in field.
@@seanhammer6296 the 391 is the biggest farm and ranch saw,. Though I'm light years from an expert I'm not aware of a 371. The 361 and 362 are pro saws. Even if all the numerical identification is missing you can easily tell by looking at the saws.
I've had my 271 for 4 years and it's been a work horse. However, while using it yesterday it made a funny sound and just stopped. Checked the gas and it looked like it was out of gas. Filled it back up but it would not start up and sounds different now. Checked to see if I had spark and it was good. Took the air filter out and cleaned it out. Made sure it wasn't just flooded. Still would not start. It won't even fire. Put some starter fluid in it and still no start. Anybody have any ideas? Took it to my local dealer and he thinks the carburator but why would it do it all of sudden?
@@brich2929 Well, this sounds crazy but I may have accidently put some raw gas in it cause the engine was all scored and had to replace the block and piston. My son did the work and it's worked great every since then. I don't how I did that because I have all my cans marked and am very careful about making sure that it's the mixed gas.
@@tommalcolm1741 I had same issue but I use the premium gas and mix it with stihl but it did similar and got hot and wouldn’t start. Took to mechanic at my work and they saw no compression. They said ya can hold saw by pulling cord and if it stays up towards top and doesn’t drop a lot or all way down you’re good.. mine wasn’t . It was scored piston and toast and saw looks brand new. The mtronic can mess your saw up too if ya leave it running on ground so if you’re by yourself doing some work and moving branches it can be easily done. Then there’s 2 chain brakes. The one by handle and the internal one. So if ya accidentally get the internal one locked or the mtronic adjusts carb . Which it’s supposed to do and adjusts itself but can burn your stuff up too. The scored piston and cylinder setup is $291 and saw was like $600 or so few years back. Not farm boss either. And that’s not labor from a mechanic. Ya can do it yourself. Which I will and buy sprockets , and other parts to be on safe side and really baby it I guess and get deep into to clean it cause I already take great care. Blew my mind and not cheap lesson . I’ve got 2 more saws but it’ll give me something to do and worth it and I’m Gonna go through my older saws too so they’re primed and ready as I help people out a lot especially when Mother Nature strikes or family or elderly need help. But I use stihl blower and weedeater ,
I will be cutting down a lot of crowded feral pecan trees that are no more than 12 inches in diameter. Then I will be trimming limbs a lot more, so this saw would be too big and heavy, but the saw I do use will get a lot of rugged use. Which saw would you recommend?
Trimming branches, I'd go with an MS201T, 170 or 180 saw as they're lighter weight. Felling trees of that size, go with either the MS250, 271 or the 261.
I bought one 6 weeks ago. Too much money and won’t keep running. The Poulan I had for two years before it died was better than this. If I have to finish a tree off with an axe something isn’t right.
About 5cc's difference, not really a whole lot.... Ms291-55cc's Ms271-50cc's Both share about all the same parts, just a slightly bigger hole in one of the cylinders.
I bought a ms 271 3 years ago. Cut 3-4 cords per year. Now it bogs under a load. Starts easy. Idles good. High idle good. New plug. New fuel. Uses almost one tank of oil for every tank on fuel. Cleaned the air filter. Took the carb off and cleaned all the ports. 90lbs of compression. New bar and chain. Still bogs under a load. Waiting on new carb to come in the mail. What am I doing wrong? After this video I'll probably buy a new air filter, but mine seems clean after I blow it out with compress air.
@@mattlivingthedream I use premium gas and use stihl synthetic oil mixed 50:1. I also store it in the case. I ordered a new carb. I took the clutch off and cleaned it too. The sprocket's drum that the clutch expands into has a very slight groove from wear. I'm going to order a new drum/sprocket today. Thanks for trying to help.
Echo cs 490 vs stihl ms 271 both are 50cc's 20" bar with .325 pitch chain Echo cs 490- ( now replaced by the cs 4910) comes with a rim sprocket, magnesium case, adjustable oiler and decompression valve. Features normally only seen on pro saws. A proper crankcase (not a clamshell) top end can be removed in about 10 mins. About $50 cheaper than the 271 (in the U.S.) and is non stratified. Stihl MS 271- uses a spur sprocket, polymer (plastic) case, is a clamshell, oiler is non adjustable, no decompression valve, you have blow the whole saw apart to remove the top end (much more time consuming) is stratified and about $50 more than the Echo. Don't get me wrong I like Stihl, and 271's are good saws, but the Echo is superior in almost every way when you compare these two models. Most people that hate on the Echo have never owned, used, or worked on one.
Tiffany Mullins U can buy the pre mix fuel in 50:1 it’s called Tru Fuel it’s ethanol free and mixed to the right amount. Then u would have to get a good bar oil to keep the chain oiled. The bar oil has its own reservoir to keep filled
Junk. Long time Stihl owner here. My MS271 has been trouble for me since day 1. It was hard to start and is always hard to start from the first time fired up at the dealer. I went to cut a downed ash tree and it struggled. I went thru 2 chains and had to sharpen the chain after each session. It just didn’t cut. I then dropped it onto a concrete step and it broke into pieces… its plastic!! Don’t bother.
*Coming up on having had this saw for a year....am a casual user and bought it to cut up sections for bowl blanks. Easy to start, **Bestfor.Garden** also recommend even after storage for a couple of months. Simple chain tension adjustment. Just cut up some 20" Osage Orange, including ripping bolts in half (at an angle). Like butter!*
We have a free firewood ministry at church, cut LOTS of wood.
The MS 251 finally detonated, got the 271, LOVE it !
I bought my 271 back in 2010.
Runs like a champ
I have mine going on over 2 years and have used it atleast 4 times a week and hrs a day. Still runs like it's new. Ps. I own a tree service
My favorite saw I got 2 buddies with a 271 each and they love there's too
I've had mine for about a year and absolutely love it.
Good review. I just bought a Farm Boss MS 271 - excellent saw.
Best advise for new owners: treat it like it's flooded all the time!
After two hours shut off, I went through the cold start procedure and flooded the hell out of it!
Removed the plug and burned it with a propane torch to dry it out. Started, used it, shut it down. Came back the next morning, used the cold start procedure again and it FLOODED!
Been starting it at half choke for cold starts and running WOT with no choke if it has been run in the last 10 hours.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I went Friday and intended to get a 311 but the size for myself seemed a little big and after comparing the feel between it and a 271 I went ahead and went with the 271.
I picked up an extra chain, 6 pack of stihl hp ultra fuel oil mix.
3 days later and still haven't had time to even fuel it up for a first start. And to make things interesting I still keep thinking about the 311.
Today will be the day i will have time to run it and see how I like it. I have No doubt I will. As every stihl chainsaw I own or operated be it 1 cut or countless cuts I've been pleased with.
I just hope the size making decision factor didn't leave me wanting more power.
But I have a backup plan if indeed if I find myself second guessing myself. Which is I will go back and get myself a 311. A spare chain a hat and a nice pair of gloves I looked at my last visit.
That'll leave me a few bucks out of my $1200 " pay it forward" check that popped up in my mailbox a couple weeks back.
Or should I be a nice guy and pass on the 271 to another nice guy at a very generous discount and spend the combined amount on another model saw all together ?
My goal is to get the best saw I can in the $900 range.
Maybe I should have shared this with the young fella at the dealer but I rushed myself and now look at me. All mixed up and confused. Haha
Thanks for any ideas and thanks for taking the time read my post.
Take care and have a nice day.
Should have got the 291, for only about 50.00 more!
If you want a chainsaw that will test your patience, this is the one. I've used chainsaws for 4 decades and I've never experienced one this difficult to start. From day 1, it is more likely to flood than to start. Avoid it. I cannot stress this enough.
I encourage you to read reviews, you will notice that among the bad reviews, its always the same message; a pain in the arse to start.
So what is the plug supposed to be gapped at? Bought one new yesterday and it's very hard to start. Never burps on choke position
Asked a question about why mine doesn't burp on choke and iys very hard to start so asking what the plug gap should be so please help me
Sthil saws r they best.
Nice 👍
Got mine out today, couldn't start it. Went to my back up, a much older, smaller model of another brand and it cranked up right away.
Same. my first start up I flooded it. Everything i watches and read said pull till burp, then move up to warm start. Pulled like 12 times probably. It was very choppy and hard to pull. Called and talked to the mechanic at rural king and he said never pull more than a few times before moving to half choke even if it doesnt burb. I ended up having to perform a flooded start my first time. Runs like a maniac tho
Pull mine 1 time she fire's right up
I bought a new Farm Boss it wouldn't even fire at all. Took it back to Rural King they couldn't get it fire either. Gave me an new saw it also leaked bar oil (Bad ) just sitting on the floor .The new saw had Stihl gas and bar oil . Service thought this was the cause of not starting and oil leak. It started 1 time, I cut 4 boads, cannot get it started now. I have been using Stihl saws since the 1970's.on the farm .This is my last ,2 new saw the are just junk.
This is a solid and reputed saw, however, spend the extra $50.00 or so, and get the MS 291! Same size and weight, but a bit more power, and features. A no brainer
This is really good
Nice
I blow out my air filter all the time, it still works like new.
Just be sure you blow the filter from the clean side. Never blow the filter from the dirty side.
Want to send one to me ? The Stihl 271 is about $900 in Australia. We ge ripped off big time over here by Stihl
For $900, that will almost buy you an MS 441!
@@btcarawan I don't think many know just how expensive stuff is over here. Even with our dollar being around 70c US , still doesn't justify the costs here. Now there's something for ya to make afew bucks , start sending them over here.
They are a ripoff any where. The quality is not what it used to be. Here in the US the video complain of vapor lock and other problems
Same here in the UK mate, £684!
@@tgsgardenmaintenance4627 just got it for £519 😐😐 I'm in northern Ireland but would expect it to be more than mainland
I just bought a 250 I'm in México I went in and asked for the 271 at my local stihl dealer but I guess it's a model exclusive to usa. I was told the 271 doesn't exist. They do however have the 260 I would like to see a comparison between the 260 and 271 I have large mango trees that need to get cut down. I don't mind spending the money on a good chainsaw I just don't know which saw I'm better off with
Make sure they put oil mix in it that's a plus
Ms 261 all day 25" bar and my I pod fn great times
What if my ms 271 is just not cutting through the wood like when I first bought the saw? It’s no more than a week old but it’s cutting power has dropped its just not cutting or penetrating into the log. It’s a brand new saw. What’s wrong?
Dull chain or low quality air filter, don't know what else 🤔
What chain should i use for my ms 271 on hardwood thanks
A SHARP chain
I have an MS251C. Is that a pro grade saw? Even though it's smaller?
The 251 and 271 are farm and ranch saws. The 261 is the smallest rear handle pro saw. The engine is totally different on pro saws you can change the piston and head in field.
@@justinhiggins2210 Hey, thanks for the info.
@@seanhammer6296 your welcome, any time.
@@justinhiggins2210 So then would the 361 & 362 be pro saws and the 371 & 391 be ranch saws?
@@seanhammer6296 the 391 is the biggest farm and ranch saw,. Though I'm light years from an expert I'm not aware of a 371. The 361 and 362 are pro saws. Even if all the numerical identification is missing you can easily tell by looking at the saws.
I've had my 271 for 4 years and it's been a work horse. However, while using it yesterday it made a funny sound and just stopped. Checked the gas and it looked like it was out of gas. Filled it back up but it would not start up and sounds different now. Checked to see if I had spark and it was good. Took the air filter out and cleaned it out. Made sure it wasn't just flooded. Still would not start. It won't even fire. Put some starter fluid in it and still no start. Anybody have any ideas? Took it to my local dealer and he thinks the carburator but why would it do it all of sudden?
Check the spark arrester screen in the muffler.
what did you figure out with the saw?
@@brich2929 Well, this sounds crazy but I may have accidently put some raw gas in it cause the engine was all scored and had to replace the block and piston. My son did the work and it's worked great every since then. I don't how I did that because I have all my cans marked and am very careful about making sure that it's the mixed gas.
@@tommalcolm1741 I had same issue but I use the premium gas and mix it with stihl but it did similar and got hot and wouldn’t start. Took to mechanic at my work and they saw no compression.
They said ya can hold saw by pulling cord and if it stays up towards top and doesn’t drop a lot or all way down you’re good.. mine wasn’t . It was scored piston and toast and saw looks brand new. The mtronic can mess your saw up too if ya leave it running on ground so if you’re by yourself doing some work and moving branches it can be easily done. Then there’s 2 chain brakes. The one by handle and the internal one. So if ya accidentally get the internal one locked or the mtronic adjusts carb . Which it’s supposed to do and adjusts itself but can burn your stuff up too.
The scored piston and cylinder setup is $291 and saw was like $600 or so few years back. Not farm boss either. And that’s not labor from a mechanic. Ya can do it yourself. Which I will and buy sprockets , and other parts to be on safe side and really baby it I guess and get deep into to clean it cause I already take great care. Blew my mind and not cheap lesson . I’ve got 2 more saws but it’ll give me something to do and worth it and I’m
Gonna go through my older saws too so they’re primed and ready as I help people out a lot especially when Mother Nature strikes or family or elderly need help. But I use stihl blower and weedeater ,
What is the size of the piston sir?
Just got one of these.
I have one and switched the sprocket and bar for 3/8 chain.
Did you switch the oil pump
Hope you see my comment
@@coreytaylor7541 no, oils just fine
Can you put the link on what to order I've been wanting a skip tooth on it
I’m so indecisive between this and the ms250??
The MS271 is a great saw! We recommend.
maybe dumb question but why is the 261 “better” than 271
I will be cutting down a lot of crowded feral pecan trees that are no more than 12 inches in diameter. Then I will be trimming limbs a lot more, so this saw would be too big and heavy, but the saw I do use will get a lot of rugged use. Which saw would you recommend?
Trimming branches, I'd go with an MS201T, 170 or 180 saw as they're lighter weight. Felling trees of that size, go with either the MS250, 271 or the 261.
@@TheKrayusKorianisYou can't put 261 and 271 in same sentence, 261 is league above 271
what causes my Stihl farm boss to idle, but then die when I start sawing with it...clogged fuel line or what?
Fuel filter maybe?
Check spark arrestor
Is this a pro grade saw like the 261 ??
No. This one is a farm and ranch saw.
Had to edit that guy out from advertising his business.
I just picked up a brand new 271 and it will not start.
I bought one 6 weeks ago. Too much money and won’t keep running. The Poulan I had for two years before it died was better than this. If I have to finish a tree off with an axe something isn’t right.
I would take it back to the dealer
Anything mass produced is going to have a few being problematic, but the dealer should replace it for you so long as it's under warranty.
Needs 2 -3 tanks of gas to break in
Nothing mentioned about any oil adjustment
271 has none... auto oiler.
@@CowboyAxe thank you
@@dqmc07 welcome
Oils very well if you clean bar groove and oil hole, most complaints are of poor care of their 271.
@@CowboyAxe understood, reason why you cant trust many with your equipment, thx and have a blessed day
How much beter stihl 291 or 271 ?
About 5cc's difference, not really a whole lot....
Ms291-55cc's
Ms271-50cc's
Both share about all the same parts, just a slightly bigger hole in one of the cylinders.
Gonna buy a carbide chain for my 391 with a 25 inch bar at some point.
I bought a ms 271 3 years ago. Cut 3-4 cords per year. Now it bogs under a load. Starts easy. Idles good. High idle good. New plug. New fuel. Uses almost one tank of oil for every tank on fuel. Cleaned the air filter. Took the carb off and cleaned all the ports. 90lbs of compression. New bar and chain. Still bogs under a load. Waiting on new carb to come in the mail. What am I doing wrong? After this video I'll probably buy a new air filter, but mine seems clean after I blow it out with compress air.
Josh Matthew run mid grade gas or buy the pre mix gas.
@@mattlivingthedream I use premium gas and use stihl synthetic oil mixed 50:1. I also store it in the case. I ordered a new carb. I took the clutch off and cleaned it too. The sprocket's drum that the clutch expands into has a very slight groove from wear. I'm going to order a new drum/sprocket today. Thanks for trying to help.
Josh Matthew use medium grade not premium. An zero corn if you can find it.. ethanol.
@@mattlivingthedream This. No premium gas. The way that they increase octane in pump gas is... More ethanol. No thanks. 87 or 89.
@@ILruffian I can get 91 octane, no ethanol.
My damn ms 271 does not start I need help anyone out there. Thank you
Put gas in it
Need something I can use then chuck in the van and maybe not use for another week. Probably go for a Husky rancher. Cheaper too!
271 or echo 490?
Echo cs 490 vs stihl ms 271
both are 50cc's 20" bar with .325 pitch chain
Echo cs 490- ( now replaced by the cs 4910) comes with a rim sprocket, magnesium case, adjustable oiler and decompression valve. Features normally only seen on pro saws. A proper crankcase (not a clamshell) top end can be removed in about 10 mins. About $50 cheaper than the 271 (in the U.S.) and is non stratified.
Stihl MS 271- uses a spur sprocket, polymer (plastic) case, is a clamshell, oiler is non adjustable, no decompression valve, you have blow the whole saw apart to remove the top end (much more time consuming) is stratified and about $50 more than the Echo.
Don't get me wrong I like Stihl, and 271's are good saws, but the Echo is superior in almost every way when you compare these two models.
Most people that hate on the Echo have never owned, used, or worked on one.
@@nm6405 excellent reply
If it is only good for one or two days a month... why buy it? You need to edit that statement out.
We keep this saw on trucks that need a saw 1-2 days a month, they don’t need a big saw. It’s a good light weight saw
Sawl.
Stop talking with your hands I can't see what you're doing I know it's hard but do it anyway
Can someone please tell me what kinda oil this takes, and does it use regular gas or does it need oil in it like a weed-eater 🤦🏼♀️ help!
Tiffany Mullins Oil-Mix gas like a weed eater I use 50:1 in my MS 170
Darryl Muse so if I buy a little thing of oil how much gas do I need to mix with it? And does the same oil use for the chair?
Tiffany Mullins U can buy the pre mix fuel in 50:1 it’s called Tru Fuel it’s ethanol free and mixed to the right amount. Then u would have to get a good bar oil to keep the chain oiled. The bar oil has its own reservoir to keep filled
Basically any good pre mix fuel that is 50:1 is good and ethanol free easier then mixing it yourself and a good bar oil
You would need 5 litres of gas for one of those 100ml bottles of oil. That would be a 50:1 mix.
Junk. Long time Stihl owner here. My MS271 has been trouble for me since day 1. It was hard to start and is always hard to start from the first time fired up at the dealer. I went to cut a downed ash tree and it struggled. I went thru 2 chains and had to sharpen the chain after each session. It just didn’t cut. I then dropped it onto a concrete step and it broke into pieces… its plastic!! Don’t bother.
No thank you. The same money will get an echo cs 590