Stihl MS362

[Jw5875]

Two years ago I bought one from a neighbor next to as new as you can get. He cut's firewood for a living and said that it was too small for his needs (he used it for a day).
Paid $500.00, receipt. manual, tools, and 20" bar with extra "Yellow" chain. I have used it sparingly as my Echo CS440 is my go to saw for most chores.

Well I just picked up another MS362 used from CL with a 16" chain / bar and 18" new bar and "Yellow" chain for $375.00. It runs good but shows signs of heavy use.
Thought about keeping it for spare parts, but decided to give it to my son to replace his Sears and Rubish home toy.

I found that the 3/8 chain gets a lot done faster compared to the .325 chain.

Prior to getting the MS362 earlier, I sold my as new MS261 that was going to replace my EchoCS440.
Now I'm thinking that I should have kept it for CS440 backup!!

For Xmas to myself (gift card from step daughter) I purchased the Stihl 2 in file!!!!!!!! Impressed with the results.
A little pricy, but Hey --- "it's only a buck more to go first class"


Winter Well!

JW5875

 

[Tompet]

That was a great price on a basically new 362. I bought one a couple years ago to replace an 031av. I looked at a 261 at the time which I really liked the weight feel, but it ran .325 chain and since I had a couple other saws with 20" bar and 3/8 chain wanted to keep it simple and went with a 362.

At first I was a little disappointed with it, but I did read that the strato engines needed five or six tanks run through them before they open up and was happy that was the case. I'm pretty happy with it now as it runs great.

At the time while I was deciding what to buy, I did get out my dad's old 041. It had lost some power over the years, and had been quite a few years since it last ran but I remembered I ran it dry before I put it up. Anyway I put some gas in it and barely got a full pull and it fired right up...shocked me for a second it started so quick! Better than the 362. I did use it for awhile and remembered one thing I didn't like about it...no anti vibe...cramped my hand. I appreciate anti vibe for sure.

I never saw the Stihl file setup you mentioned before your post, looked interesting. I always hand filed, and that looks like a step up. I did by a timberline which is pretty slick, but your Stihl file set up looks pretty good.

 

[Jw5875]

Stihl video on using 2 n 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWwjcMUEC7o
Handy out on the site, but I will take my chains back to the Oregon Pro Grinder every so often to make sure that all the cutters are the same length.

JW5875

 

[Garandman]

We have a Stihl MS271 Farm Boss (50cc) with 18” bar for most work. As I’m doing more cutting the MS362 was recommended as lighter and more powerful (59cc).

Swapping out as used saws will probably cost me $100 - $150. Worth it?

 

[atsah]

We have a Stihl MS271 Farm Boss (50cc) with 18” bar for most work. As I’m doing more cutting the MS362 was recommended as lighter and more powerful (59cc).

Swapping out as used saws will probably cost me $100 - $150. Worth it?

I would say so..

 

[ericm979]

I like my MS362CM a lot. It's light enough to do some limbing though if I'm doing a lot I'll bring a smaller saw. But it's powerful enough to fell moderate sized trees. I have an 18" bar on it but I think 20" would be good too. 24" is a little long for the power and the oiler output. I use a larger saw for a bar that long. The 362 is my favorite firewood saw unless the wood is too large.

 

[ruffdog]

I have a near new MS361 as a spare. I cut one log up to break it in a bit and to see how I like it. I have a 20" bar on it, it's light, but still powerful.
I have a modded MS460 that I use for the big stuff and even that oiler struggled with dry oak. I installed the oiler from the full-wrap handle model so I get a bit more juice. I then installed the standard 460 oiler in the 361 to push the oil more.

 

[pgk]

I hear ya on the oiler, I picked up a MS462 a month ago and these newer saws are set up to use less oil supposedly more efficiently. I have a 20", 25" and a 32" light bars and noticed even with the 20" the chain sounded on the dry side so I turned the adjuster up to max and it helped but still on the dry side. I took the bar off and opened up the oil holes in the bar wu to 7/64ths. That helped a lot. I haven't used the 32" bar yet if it runs on the dry side after enlarging to 7/64ths I'll put the high output oiler in it. The 462 was the first new saw Iv'e bought is decades, still have my ole PM605 I believe is 58cc and works really nice down low and has good mid range hit to, the newer saws like to rev a lot! Took me some getting used to that 462's 13,500 redline LOL


Pete

 

[s219]

While Stihl is probably my favorite brand overall, they have not had a real good 60cc saw for several years now -- take a look at the Husky 562XP instead.

 

[Garandman]

While Stihl is probably my favorite brand overall, they have not had a real good 60cc saw for several years now -- take a look at the Husky 562XP instead.

You didn’t like the 362?

 

[inode]

I have a Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss (20"), MS 250 (16") and a MS 362CM (20"). The 290 is just plain old reliable. It's doesn't rev high but can get the job done. The 250 is hard to start but seems to be a good performed for a homeowner saw. It feels stronger and considerably lighter than the 290. The 362 just plain impresses me compared to the other saw. I get that I'm comparing a pro saw to homeowner/farm saws. However, it had the best power to weight up until the 462 came out. If I was to buy today, I'd consider the 462 over the 362. You get 10cc increase for the same weight.

 

[s219]

You didn稚 like the 362?

Not as good as the Husky 562XP in the 60cc class.

 

[Garandman]

Not as good as the Husky 562XP in the 60cc class.

You used them head to head? What is better?

 

[s219]

You used them head to head? What is better?

The 362 was a bit of a disappointment compared to the old 361 -- they went to a strato design for emissions and the saw lost some guts. About then Husky came out with the 562XP and it was notably better, with more guts and better able to hang on to revs in the cut. The 362 isn't a bad saw, but the 562 is a better choice in the 60cc class. If you google "stihl ms 362 vs husqvarna 562xp" a lot of comparisons will come up. This has been hashed out many times before.

 

[Garandman]

I always thought .45 ACP. vs 9mmP was the longest running internet worm. Not even close!

The 362 was a bit of a disappointment compared to the old 361 -- they went to a strato design for emissions and the saw lost some guts. About then Husky came out with the 562XP and it was notably better, with more guts and better able to hang on to revs in the cut. The 362 isn't a bad saw, but the 562 is a better choice in the 60cc class. If you google "stihl ms 362 vs husqvarna 562xp" a lot of comparisons will come up. This has been hashed out many times before.

I am asking if you have used the two saws yourself. It appears you are just stating your own conclusion based on GIS. On arboristsite it’s like a Chevy vs Ford pickup thread.

For example, these tests show the Stihl to be more powerful, use less fuel, quieter and vibrates less, while you have operators stating the exact opposite. I wouldn’t give the local Husqvarna dealer a cent so it’s a choice of Stihl models in my case.

Stihl MS362 data

Husqvarna 562 data

And Dolmar 6100 is more powerful than both.

 

[s219]

I always thought .45 ACP. vs 9mmP was the longest running internet worm. Not even close!

I am asking if you have used the two saws yourself. It appears you are just stating your own conclusion based on GIS. On arboristsite it痴 like a Chevy vs Ford pickup thread.

For example, these tests show the Stihl to be more powerful, use less fuel, quieter and vibrates less, while you have operators stating the exact opposite. I wouldn稚 give the local Husqvarna dealer a cent so it痴 a choice of Stihl models in my case.

I have run dozens, maybe hundreds, of saws in the last 10-15 years, including the Stihl 361 and 362, and Husky 562. While I don't blab about that resume everytime I answer a chainsaw question, I would not be giving opinions about a saw if I didn't have personal experience. Even diehard Stihl guys like me were disappointed in the 362 when it replaced the 361.

All the brands have good and bad models, so it pays to shop around when looking for a particular size saw. I have owned and do own larger Stihls and smaller Stihls, but in the 60cc class, the 362 is just not a compelling choice or the best bang for the buck. Conversely, the Husky 562 is among the best.

I don't know why you're asking for opinions if you can't buy anything but a Stihl. You're missing out on some great saws from other brands. Brand loyalty in chainsaws is not beneficial unless you purposely want to own a dog of a saw now and then.

This reminds me of the green versus yellow chain debate, or full-chisel versus semi-chisel. Those debates also seem to elude practical experience.

 

[Garandman]

Thanks!

Summary: "Buy an MS361 instead." Just what I wanted to know!

We could buy a Husqvarna but dealer logistics don't work very well for us. The other dealer we use that is a servicing dealership for Huskie sells Jonsered: which he says are identical to Huskie.

 

[xyz123]

There was a heavier OE 362 that came out that replaced the 361. Yes it was a pig IMO. But ran fine.

I ran a demo 562 and wasnt impressed with it myself. The 562 was updated too, but gained weight. Had to strengthen the cases up.

Now there is a updated lighter 362 Type 2 which is lighter then the husky 562. Also the stihl T2 362 comes in the regular carb and mt.

I owned the 036 361 357xp 262 etc etc in 60cc saws.

Type 2 updated in pic. Can tell by slanted back cyl fins and clutch cover and the weight loss plan.

 

[s219]

I haven't been impressed by Stihl's weight loss plan (good way to put it). They did this to the 261 too, and ruined it if you ask me. A smaller clutch cover with more plastic is not what I would prefer on a saw. I'd prefer if they just engineer the saws to be lighter in a more fundamental way, but I think they were looking for some sort of stopgap solution since competing saws were beating them on weight.

 

[Garandman]

FWIW been looking for a 361 and they seem to sell for quite a bit less than the 362. Watching some on eBay as closest for sale on CL is over 100 miles away.