New/First Saw search

[The Deerslayer]

I heat exclusively with wood and am also in the two saw minimum camp as well of the mind set of buying quality. I have a smaller Stihl for limbing/dropping smaller trees and a MS 290 with 18 inch bar for larger trees and bucking. My next saw will most likely be a Stihl pro saw. Starting the research now...be careful, it can be addicting:laughing:

Somewhat off topic, but you mentioned eventually getting a fireplace. You may want to consider installing a woodstove as fireplaces are very inefficient for heating purposes.

 

[LD1]

I heat exclusively with wood and am also in the two saw minimum camp as well of the mind set of buying quality. I have a smaller Stihl for limbing/dropping smaller trees and a MS 290 with 18 inch bar for larger trees and bucking. My next saw will most likely be a Stihl pro saw. Starting the research now...be careful, it can be addicting:laughing:

Somewhat off topic, but you mentioned eventually getting a fireplace. You may want to consider installing a woodstove as fireplaces are very inefficient for heating purposes.

If you get a pro saw, like a MS361, you probably will never touch the 290 again.

I know it is one of stihls most popular, and people seem to love them. There is no doubt they are reliable and start easy. But they are heavy and slow in comparison.

........saw..........cc............HP...........weight
......MS290.......56............3.8...........13
.....MS261........50............4.0...........11.5
.....MS362........59............4.7...........13

Big difference jumping to a pro saw. For the same weight, you gan get 3cc more and ~25% more power.
Or you can keep power about the same and shed 1.5lbs off.

 

[jel1988]

I bought an entry level Stihl this year, the guys that work for me use it rather than the old 55cc pro saw. They love it because it's light, starts first pull. We mainly use it to clear construction sites for houses and outbuildings.

 

[TheSpoon]

OK. So, looking at the Stihl's since they're the closest available (and what appears to be a very common recommendation), my local dealer lists the costs for the following (all 16" bar):
MS 271 Farmboss: $379.95
MS 261 C-M: $609.95
MS 261 C-MQ: $719.95

Assuming the prices stay the same amount apart when dealing with a... dealer, is the $230/$340 price difference really worth it? According to the comparison chart HERE, it appears the differences are:
271 - 1.5lbs/0.84lbs heavier, optional ElastoStart (vs standard on 261), lack of decompression valve, "M-Tronic", and additional chain brake (on the C-MQ).

That doesn't seem like a lot of features for the additional price tag. But again, I would take others word for it since I haven't had a lot of use with chainsaws.

 

[s219]

The 261 has more power and weighs less, which is a great way to justify the extra $$ -- once you start using a saw a lot, you'll appreciate the power/weight aspect. The other hidden benefit of the 261 is that it's components are rated for a longer life, and it can more readily be repaired and rebuilt. It could be a saw you have the rest of your life.

 

[TheSpoon]

The 261 has more power and weighs less, which is a great way to justify the extra $$ -- once you start using a saw a lot, you'll appreciate the power/weight aspect. The other hidden benefit of the 261 is that it's components are rated for a longer life, and it can more readily be repaired and rebuilt. It could be a saw you have the rest of your life.

I'll give you the weight will be noticeable after a time, but is .5bhp going to be noticeable (though yes, I should have included that in the differences)?

 

[s219]

BTW, how much experience do you have with chainsaws? If little or none, I would not suggest jumping right in to a brand new and powerful pro saw. See if you can run a cheaper used saw first and figure things out. And don't skimp on safety equipment.

 

[s219]

I'll give you the weight will be noticeable after a time, but is .5bhp going to be noticeable (though yes, I should have included that in the differences)?

Definitely, especially coupled with the lower weight. The 271 weighs more and has less power, and that is the wrong direction to go in.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Ms-261cm offers more power for less weight. Costs $230 more. For some that is a deal breaker. For others it isnt. The CMQ seems like overkill to me.

 

[motownbrowne]

The extra power will be noticeable. The m-tronic feature is pretty interesting too. Although it adds a computer to a chainsaws, which you can't adjust with a screwdriver, it has a pretty major benefit: it's always tuned perfectly. The horsepower rating of the 271 will vary based on how good the tune is. You have to adjust the carb settings to compensate for things like gas to oil ratio, humidity, temperature, etc. If you are out of adjustment, your power will suffer. If you're far out of adjustment, the piston and cylinder may suffer, possibly catastrophically. This won't happen with the 261. Reports are that the m-tronic makes the saw really perform to the absolute best of its ability.

Also, because it is a professional grade saw, it's easier to rebuild. The non-pro saws are much more difficult to remove the cylinder on compared to pro saws.

I'd buy a 261 or 241 CM and skip the extra chain brake. Don't skip the chaps, ear protection, safety glasses and proper training to run one of these machines!