Stihl MS 261 w/ 20” a “do all”?

Since we are talking about this combination what about chain pitch.

With the 20 inch bar it runs a 3/8 pitch. What chain is on the shorter bars ; 18 or 16 inch?
Seeing that this is a 50cc saw would it have .325 on shorter bars.

I was thinking that .325 on 18 inch bar would be a good combination.
Am I thinking straight?

 

The .325 or 3/8ths is determined by the sprocket on you saw and bar. The larger saws are generally the 3/8ths chain. If you throw the wrong pitch chain on the saw you'll very quickly know there's something wrong.

 

I know that.
I am questioning weather 3/8 or .325 is better on a smaller bar with a 50cc saw.
Thought that around 50cc is the breaking point for .325 vs. 3/8

Thinking about selling my 290 and 391 to help thin the heard and upgrade to a pro saw of this size to use as a daily driver.

 

The.325 is a thinner chain as I understand it, I would run that on the 261 if you go that route.

 

I did a bunch of testing, all on a 50cc saw. 3/8 wins the race and is faster. 325 is smoother in the cut. It's all personal preference and the result was very close. One is not superior or "better" than another. 261 will run 3/8 no problem at all. I run 3/8 on all but one saw for ease of sharpening and the convenience of swapping bars and chains among the rest of the fleet. Only reason one saw has 325 is I got 3 all but new loops with a saw purchase once so why not use it up.

 

Thats subject to debate!

 

This is kind of what I was thinking. With .325 a little thinner , smaller cutters and cutters being a little closer together it would be smoother and a little less aggressive.
Right now all my 18 inch stuff is .325 , spare bar and chains so this would most likely be the road I go down.

Thanks for the input.

 

Don't start ; it's too early.

 

The "good old days", lol! I used to have fun playing around like that.

 

Sounds more nawthun to me...maybe Boston...

 

Don’t be lumping me in with those East Coasters

 

Guilty by association.
Thanks for the support.

 

Actually it does now that i think about it.

 

Best answer all the way around.

 

Hey, brother, you don't sound like those East Coasters...
I can understand y'all...

 

Close to a 300$ spread between the 400 and 462 but yeah close in weight ect. I like my 400 with a muffler mod and timing advance. I also have a 500i but still surprisingly use the 400 a lot still.

 

They’ve never quit the 362 standard and actually it’s easier to find now that the mtronic harnesses are a bit limited because it the Ukraine war. If a 362 and 362c are on the shelf together I pick the c every time personally. I like mtronic saws way better overall

 

Need to do a test between the new Stihl .325 .050 gauge chain vs the 3/8 on a 50cc saw. The new chassis Stihl chain is supposed to be fast.

 

My 400 came with a bark box muffler and foam air filter. LOUD!!! I ran them side by side once and ill take the 500 personally. Hard to grab any other saw when one owns a 500 though.
I was swapping B&C between the two