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Stihl 661 recall

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013.

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  1. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    My bet is the m-oronic control module is set to lean....

    :popcorn:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 12, 2013
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  2. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    :rolleyes:

    Hey Mike, I got you a shirt for x-mas...... :D

    [​IMG]

    Where is that pot-stirring smiley...... [​IMG]
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  3. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    upload_2013-12-12_8-12-26.jpeg

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  4. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    On a more serious note, I've not heard of Stihl issuing a recall of this magnitude during recent memory...... I really wonder what's up?

    I doubt it's the m-tronic module. Not because I like the m-tronic/AT saws, but because that's easily field replacable under warranty. Why are they yanking saws off the shelf and buying them back? (rumored...)
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  5. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    Your not thinking like a big corporation... If it is a problem with the control module they wouldn't want consumers to lose faith in that tech... If they don't have enough properly working spares to swap them they'd rather take a short term pr hit by issuing a recall without saying what is really wrong. Most consumers won't hear anything about the saws being pulled off shelves and the M-tronic name won't be ruined

    In the end financial hit from the recall is better then chainsaw users losing faith in an entire generation of Stihl M-tronic saws.

    If it was something like poor plating on the cylinder they'd just replace and repair them as needed. People would understand/accept a bad run of cylinders on a new product line and not lose faith in Stihls ability to make lasting saws.
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  6. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I think you're 180° out of time on this one Mike. I'd be a bit more understanding of a glitch with a semi-conductor device like the m-tronic module or the micro-solenoids in the carb than a cylinder plating failure. They've been manufacturing plated aluminum cylinders for decades and I would hope that would be the least of their worries. Then again, being in the coatings biz, I know first hand that quality issues may not show up until long after the part is installed.

    Look at Husky and the 1st gen AT systems. There were defective components left and right on that (576XP anybody?) and Husky field warranted all of them. Hasn't seem to ruin the roll that AT saws like the 550XP and 562XP are on.... Then again, durability issues with early 346XP's didn't ruin that machine's reputation either.

    A quick recall for tight-lipped reasons however certainly seems to get folks talking...... But it's going to take a whole lot more than a failure with one saw model to shake my confidence with any manufacturer. I have BTDT with teething issues on new Stihls, (Early BR600's anybody?) and they generally do it right as far as getting the customer taken care of. Which is why a recall, rather than a repair campaign, surprises me so much with them. When the BR600 was sticking valves into the piston like daisies, we replaced the entire long-block right there in the shop. No buy-backs, no secrets.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  7. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    I'm thinking like you MM an electronic device I'd be more tolerable of a failure vs a plated cylinder that is probably not much different that the 066/660 that they have made for decades.
     
    clemsonfor, Dec 12, 2013
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  8. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    Most average chainsaw users have never heard of m-tronic. Stihl wouldn't want the bad press of a lot of m-tronic failures. If there was when harry homeowner goes to buy a saw their first thought would be to buy one without that 'recalled, new fangled tech'
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  9. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    There has been a couple like new 550's for sale in the 3-400 range on CL on and off for over a year -- people are afraid to buy them without a warranty. One guy got smart and sold his to the saw junkies in the AS classifieds, but the average user is already hesitant.
     
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    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  10. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    How many Harry Homeowners are buying MT/AT saws anyways? Especially 90cc class? Maybe the 545/555 but M-tronic saws start at over $600. That's not really Harry Homeowner territory for a 50cc machine.

    I highly doubt the recall is to save face with the homeowner crowd. Guys in the UK are saying it's a power issue? That would explain the recall vs. repair.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  11. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    Stihl wouldn't want m-tronic to have a bad reputation when they put it in the farm boss.
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  12. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Believe me, MT/AT is going to be a good thing for homeowners with mid-range saws. Husky already did it with the 455R.

    Homeowners who are not saw geeks, are not going to know how to, let alone want to play with the little screwdriver.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  13. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    I'm sure more than one saw has died a premature death from an out of tune Carb and a plugged air filter.
     
    clemsonfor, Dec 12, 2013
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  14. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    That's the kicker tho. This is a saw with a self-adjusting carb and centrifugal pre-filtration (like Husky's air injection).

    I could throw out theories all day, but I'm watching and listening for now.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  15. clemsonfor

    clemsonfor

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    I was speaking about the theory of it being in a farm boss and how good that would be...sorry for not clarifying.
     
    clemsonfor, Dec 12, 2013
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  16. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    You just touched on the second reason I don't want mt/at saws... The first is its more complicated system with more to go wrong, I'd give the electronics 10 years or so before they start to fail.

    The second is the big brother, 'we know best' attitude. These systems are being designed to meet govt mandates. There are probably some benifits, but what happens when the govt mandates some sub routine that measures operating parameters to determine if the saw has been modified and then shuts the saw off?

    Then we will be left with saws that can't be modified, the govt will impose stricter mandates and we will be left with poor performing overweight saws.

    /libertarian rant off
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  17. lukem

    lukem

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    If they are really buying back saws and pulling them from the shelf, it has to be something pretty big going on. If it were a simple field rework situation then that's what they would do - rule #1 of any business is make more money than you spend...so it must cost less to ship them back than pay the dealers to rework them...which smells like a big tear-down is required. My guess is something is going on internally - slug/jug and/or bottom end issues.
     
    lukem, Dec 12, 2013
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  18. the GOAT

    the GOAT Banned

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    You'd think if there are mechanical issues people would be posting failure pics...

    I still think it has something to do with the emissions. But I'm going to change my rampant internet gossip/ guess --- The saws are actually running fine but are set to rich to meat gov't mandates regarding emissions.
     
    the GOAT, Dec 12, 2013
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  19. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I think that's a long shot. But I guess we'll see. Maybe I'll stash the 034 and something bigger/smaller. Just in case. ;)

    For right now, I know the MT/AT saws take mods like a champ and even the stockers run noticeably better than the non-MT/AT versions of the same or similar saws. Of course there are models from the past that there will be no replacing.

    The only thing on a $1000+ saw that I can think of would warrant recalling all of them would be something out of spec on the crank/con-rod assembly. Something that requires splitting the case. Even a slug/jug is pretty easy and quick for a good tech to swap out in the field.
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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  20. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Software changes to lean/richen them out would be much less $$ to do in the field. Whatever it is, it's big, or someone is overreacting big time. :rofl: :lol:
     
    MasterMech, Dec 12, 2013
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