Talk Me In/Out of the Stihl MS261

[JeepHead]

Good points, and your experience sounds more recent than mine, as the Stihl's I own today and the Echo's I've owned in the past are all prior-generation models. I have one current-model Husky, but it's a top handle saw, not one of their big boys.

Did Stihl really go to plastic clutch covers on pro saws? That's surprising! All of mine are magnesium, or some other similar very light but strong metal casting.

No, not all of them... the 261 still had a metal cover and so did the 462 I was looking at. It was a top handle pro saw that had a plastic cover but I don't remember the model.

 

[WinterDeere]

No, not all of them... the 261 still had a metal cover and so did the 462 I was looking at. It was a top handle pro saw that had a plastic cover but I don't remember the model.

My newer Husky top handle (435T) also has a plastic clutch cover. It also has the cheapest and most frustrating chain brake mechanism I've experienced on any modern saw. You almost feel like you're going to break the stupid thing off in trying to reset it, as the brake lever is more flimsy than the force required to reset the mechanism. I liked my old Stihl 019 much better, in every way except horsepower.

 

[5030]

Interesting and mostly worthless comments based mostly on brand loyalty and not much else. Last time I checked, Stihl was being sold at box stores, not that it matters because it really don't. I own Stihl as well as Echo and they are both good saws and like I maintain, the difference between a good saw and one that isn't, lies in how sharp the loop is and nothing more.

In my case, I never hand file any chain, why should I when a precision chain grinder only costs a bit over a hundred bucks, in reality much less if you buy the HF cheapie.

 

[xyz123]

My newer Husky top handle (435T) also has a plastic clutch cover. It also has the cheapest and most frustrating chain brake mechanism I've experienced on any modern saw. You almost feel like you're going to break the stupid thing off in trying to reset it, as the brake lever is more flimsy than the force required to reset the mechanism. I liked my old Stihl 019 much better, in every way except horsepower.

Not trying to sound mean. But you couldnt give me either one of those saws. The 019 TH is a abomination to work on and the 435 is a China made saw for husky. I hate even taking those in to work on for locals.

They trick you by putting sweden on metal tag on saw. But notice metal tag dont say made in.

 

[5030]

Not trying to sound mean. But you couldnt give me either one of those saws. The 019 TH is a abomination to work on and the 435 is a China made saw for husky. I hate even taking those in to work on for locals.

They trick you by putting sweden on metal tag on saw. But notice metal tag dont say made in.

View attachment 851122

Covered that quite nicely......

 

[WinterDeere]

Not trying to sound mean. But you couldnt give me either one of those saws. The 019 TH is a abomination to work on and the 435 is a China made saw for husky. I hate even taking those in to work on for locals.

They trick you by putting sweden on metal tag on saw. But notice metal tag dont say made in.

View attachment 851122

Agreed. That was sort of my point. As bad as you think that old Stihl 019 TH was... the Husky 435T is even worse. But it did have the highest HP/weight ratio of any top handle I shopped at the time, probably ca.2013 or 2014.

Mine didn't come in a box, it was already assembled at the saw shop, so no "Made in China" box sticker was present. Not that I'd really care that much, damn near everything is made there, or assembled from parts made there.

On the subject, what's your favorite top handle today? I'd love to replace the Husky, at some point. Excepting anything super-anemic, I'd generally favor light weight over horsepower on the next top handle.

 

[xyz123]

Small echo 2511 even though I owned stihl 150. Full size I still would go echo 355 even though less power in cuts then a 201 540 mkIII. I just like regular carbs.

Now me being me and work on my own stuff. I really liked my 200T years back. So I bought a G111 China clone. Runs cuts just like it did.

 

[JeepHead]

Agreed. That was sort of my point. As bad as you think that old Stihl 019 TH was... the Husky 435T is even worse. But it did have the highest HP/weight ratio of any top handle I shopped at the time, probably ca.2013 or 2014.

Mine didn't come in a box, it was already assembled at the saw shop, so no "Made in China" box sticker was present. Not that I'd really care that much, damn near everything is made there, or assembled from parts made there.

On the subject, what's your favorite top handle today? I'd love to replace the Husky, at some point. Excepting anything super-anemic, I'd generally favor light weight over horsepower on the next top handle.

I would highly recommend you check out the Echo 2511T. It's am amazing little saw!

 

[5030]

Mine didn't come in a box, it was already assembled at the saw shop, so no "Made in China" box sticker was present. Not that I'd really care that much, damn near everything is made there, or assembled from parts made there

Actually, the sticker is on the saw itself (and maybe on the box as well), but regardless it's on the saw body if you had looked.

 

[5030]

I would highly recommend you check out the Echo 2511T. It's am amazing little saw!

Yes, it is, I have one as well and it requires some easy modifications to extract it's full potential, like a Muffler mod and repositioning the deflector shield so it don't melt the plastic over cover. No big deals actually.