What say you fellow members, since the M-tronic have been around for a while. What are the good,bad, and ugly on this series of Stihl's. Iam still a manual carb type that can be adjusted by myself. Also looking to upgrade to the Stihl 661, however I think they maybe all M-Tronic.
I feel the same way. I finally broke down last year and got the M-Tronic MS362 and like it. I've had it a year and probably have 30-40 tanks through it. The only thing I have noticed is after using it and then it sets for half hour or so, I pick it up and pull and if it doesn't start by the 3rd pull put it back on full choke for a pull or two and then it will start. I had some struggles with this the first few times I used it, but like everything else new, there is usually a small learning curve. I've heard of others with similar issues but I'm thinking it's just learning a slightly different timing on when to choke and when not to. I typically err on the side of not flooding. Not sure if it's really designed this way or not, but when it is fully warm, the choke lever won't stay down anyway. It just returns back to "run". I just assumed it was made that way to keep dummies like me from flooding it when it doesn't need choked. My experience has been all good so far.
I have 661 M-tronic ; zero issues to this point. I have only used it with chainsaw mill and it didn't skip a beat.
I like them. I rarely had to turn screws on a Stihl carb. Only had one that I can remember having to dial in. I have 201c 261c 462c 661c. The only issue I’ve had is the one mentioned above about needing to use choke if it sits for 5 min, but the auto on feature makes up for it. They are lighter, use less gas, good balance, good ergos, adjust themselves for optimum cutting, easy starting in any condition. The filter system on the 661 should have been better. The power is not earth shaking. It didn’t impress me as much as the 462 and 261 did. Typical Stihl awesome that it’s always been.
I have 3 rusty ranger 44. 241,261 and 462. No issues so far. Lost track of how many gallons of fuel I've used. Like MAF143 said there is a bit of a learning curve on starting. Where are you in SC PA?
There was prior discussion of the m-tronic having issues with smoke on wildfires so the preference for saw crews is the new magnum. I too have had starting issues after shutting down. Found something that recommended pulling the start rope while holding the trigger at full throttle and that seemed to alleviate the problem.
LOL I guess I never really looked or read up on it... I had to go look at my saw... I'll call it the "black triangle" position. I've never had any problems with it so I've never looked into it other than oil it, gas it, and go... Touching up the chain, cleaning the bar, and blowing out the air filter every couple of tanks is all I've ever done to it. However it works inside, the black triangle seems to be just fine by me. Like I mentioned earlier, I've always been a tweaker / tuner on the quads and saws, but I'm liking this M-Tronics so far. I never thought I would like a back-up camera, lane keep assist, working from home, or adaptive cruise control, but I can't imagine going back now... I've never been accused of being a progressive kind of guy as I pretty much stay with the tried and true, but... Time marches on. After a year of breaking it in stock, I'm thinking it's time for a muffler mod and a quick squish check... and if I decide to pull the cylinder I'll pick up a new carbide burr too.
It seems to me that later versions of the M-tronics have had the bugs worked out of them the version 1’s were the problem children from my reading. Stihl is re-introducing the standard carbs on the 661’s, I have read that & it’s been confirmed by several folks.
my dealer wouldn't sell me a 661 until last summer when he said the bugs were gone. So far I'm very happy with it and have never had any starting issues. Maybe around the 20ish tank mark.
I was just out in the garage cleaning the air filter on the 362 m -tronics and it does have a throttle butterfly and a choke butterfy, or at least it appears to. I didn't take off the filter mount to look down the throat, but it has a choke shaft that rotates 90* when the switch is put in the "black triangle" position. It looks very similar to the mechanism on the plain carb saws, it just electronically meters the fuel air mix real time while running.
