Suggestions on 20” pro saw

[Sprocketman]

I'm definitely a Stihl man. I've ran an 036 but personally I wouldn't have anything smaller than an 044 or 440. I have an 046 that's a 95 model and it runs like a new one. I wouldn't buy any new saws. Buy old and have them rebuilt. The small saws make me impatient. I cut logs with a saw for years and you get used to the power.

 

[Hay Dude]

Got to use it again today. Had this pesky 36” pine to get dropped. Saw went through it like butter.

Once I got 95% cut, I used the old chain & farm tractor trick to snap it off the stump rather than pinch the saw.

Like taking candy from a dem….baby!

 

[Hermio]

Looking at adding a 20” saw to the fleet and have been looking at a new Stihl 261C.

Without a brand warfare eruption, is there any reason I should look at another comparable brand?

I like Stihl because my neighborhood dealer is very good and I like Stihl‘s business model. That might overwhelm the temptation to buy another brand that is only slightly better.

Little hesitating on the non adjustable carb, but that’s my only perceived drawback.

This is a saw I intend to use weekly as a general purpose small to medium size grab & go saw.

Constructive, non brand warfare thoughts appreciated.

I just note that the 20" bar is the longest recommended for that saw. You probably have to baby it a bit if you bury the full length of the bar in hardwood. Personally, I would go for a bigger saw, but the 261 should be reliable and powerful enough for smaller bucking chores. I use an MS500i. It may be a bit overkill for my 20" bar, but I like it. Previously, I had a 441c. Before that, I had an 038 Super. That was OK with a 20" bar, but I had to baby it a bit. The 038 Super was a tad more powerful than the 361.

 

[RandR10]

Looking at adding a 20” saw to the fleet and have been looking at a new Stihl 261C.

Without a brand warfare eruption, is there any reason I should look at another comparable brand?

I like Stihl because my neighborhood dealer is very good and I like Stihl‘s business model. That might overwhelm the temptation to buy another brand that is only slightly better.

Little hesitating on the non adjustable carb, but that’s my only perceived drawback.

This is a saw I intend to use weekly as a general purpose small to medium size grab & go saw.

Constructive, non brand warfare thoughts appreciated.

I've never had any issues with Stihl saws and I don't know anyone else who has ever had bad things to say about them. My father had a fairly new one seize up many years ago but he let someone borrow it and we think they put straight gas in it. We heated a pretty big house exclusively with firewood for a lot of years so those saws got a lot of hours on them. Great saws. They're pricey but you get what you pay for.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just note that the 20" bar is the longest recommended for that saw. You probably have to baby it a bit if you bury the full length of the bar in hardwood. Personally, I would go for a bigger saw, but the 261 should be reliable and powerful enough for smaller bucking chores. I use an MS500i. It may be a bit overkill for my 20" bar, but I like it. Previously, I had a 441c. Before that, I had an 038 Super. That was OK with a 20" bar, but I had to baby it a bit. The 038 Super was a tad more powerful than the 361.

I would rather have “reach” and push it a bit on power. I mean it’s a 4BHP saw, so it has been fine so far.
I wonder if the 20” limit is more based on displacement? The 261C is only 50.2CC.
I have a 24” saw with 64CC’s for the bigger stuff. I think it’ll take up to a 30” bar.

 

[Soloz2]

The MS261c is a fantastic saw, and honestly my favorite saw. I've had one for a good 3 years and it has felled, limbed, and bucked 40+ trees. I had a MS180 for little stuff, but found I would often just use my 261 as it's light enough. I have both a 20" and 18" bar for it. Last year I added a MS400c to the stable and since doing so, I've kept the 18" bar on the 261c. My 400c typically wears a 20" bar and just screams with it and pulls a 25" bar nicely for bigger trees.
I just purchased a 16" bar for my 261c and sold my 180 today.

Picture taken last week of a tree I used both my 400c and 261c on. And another from a couple weeks ago where my 400c wore the 25" bar. I really do need to get a lightweight bar for it as the 400 and solid bar just doesn't balance well and is nose heavy.

 

[JOATMON3]

I have a MS261CM (M for mtronic) and it is a fine saw. It is light enough to limb and can be used in felling of trees up to about 35 inches diameter with the 20" bar if you're willing to work at it. It's been a great do-all for me. The dealer tried to sell me a heavier Echo with more CC's but the same power as the Stihl and I said "no, thankyou."

Mine doesn't like to be ran bone dry of gas. It can be hard to get restarted. If it gets flooded or doesn't want to start, I found that if I put it on the ground securely and hold the throttle wide open as I pull the starter cord, it will start right up.

 

[ljgordon]

Looking at adding a 20” saw to the fleet and have been looking at a new Stihl 261C.

Without a brand warfare eruption, is there any reason I should look at another comparable brand?

I like Stihl because my neighborhood dealer is very good and I like Stihl‘s business model. That might overwhelm the temptation to buy another brand that is only slightly better.

Little hesitating on the non adjustable carb, but that’s my only perceived drawback.

This is a saw I intend to use weekly as a general purpose small to medium size grab & go saw.

Constructive, non brand warfare thoughts appreciated.

i bought a Stihl 009L in 1994. I cut 5 cords of Ponderosa from 1994 to 2003. I used it sparingly while traveling in a motorhome until 2009. Used it for a couple years to cut firewood until a friend told me to get a Stihl Farm Boss 290. Worst investment ever. Every time I started it, (more about that later) when I took the choke off the innards fell apart. I had it in the shop 3 times for that until I modified the innards myself so it would not fall apart after starting. Starting: I thought I was doing something wrong. It took 50 t0 60 pulls to get it to start. Ran fine after it started. I took it to an expert a couple times to determine why it took so long to start. Unable to determine. After several years I took it apart to do a good cleaning and found that on side of the ignition module was sitting on the flywheel. I adjusted that and now it runs and start as one would expect. Now back to the 009L. About 2010 I took it in because it was not running well. Replaceed the carb a decided to replace the oil pump. It was 16 years old and had run for hundreds of hours. Kept the old one. In 2021 the new oil pump stopped working so I TRIED to order a new pump. I was told that Stihl no longer supports that model saw. Am I to expect the same of the 290? Thankfully I kept the old oil pump.
SO I bought a Husqvarna 455. It starts on the 3rd pull. It is a very good saw.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve had an Echo Timber Wolf 59cc, 20 inch bar For years. Came with 5 year homeowner full Warranty. Use it a lot, plenty of power, always starts. Quality saw.

I was unable to get a “homeowner” (longer) warranty on my Stihl. Buying it under my company name reduced me to a 1 year warranty.

 

[dodge man]

I just looked up what I had paid for my 261c, it was $569 and by the time I got a bar and chain and tax it was about $630. That was a little over 3 years ago. I got a couple parts today and looked at the saws and it’s $669 today, that’s inflation for you.