Lacking a Ballsy Chainsaw

The 261c will pull a 20” bar but that’s pushing it imho ... I run a 16” with ps63 on mine and it eats the wood right quick ... a 20” 3/8 .050 on a stock 261c is at the limit imho ... now with a little “surgery” and some flow-enhancements hmmm

 

I usually run 10-15 tanks thru ‘fore they go under the knife ... if they’re going to blow-up due to some defect (which is not very likely) they’ll usually go within the first few tanks of fuel

 

Ya I had a ms362 I think a 2012 model, standard carb....the saw was as reliable as a hammer...I cut hard woods and I kept a 20” bar on it....i sold the saw with a 24” on it, but I never once ran the 362 with anything other than the 20”....

When I got the 461, the 362 didn’t get touched agian until I sold it...like Dakota Hoarder said it’s a super 1-saw plan...BUT who here has 1-saw, LOL....

I personally love the looks of the newest 261 versions and damm near bought one my self.....last time I was looking, (few months ago) you could get the 261 in standard carb if you wanted....

 

I think you are making the right choice by going with the 261. I think later on you will still want a bigger saw, something in the 70cc or even 90cc range will compliment the 261. An 18'' bar with .325 chain is really nice on the 261. A 20'' bar will make it nose heavy. I actually run 16'' bars on mine. Most dealers have them equipped with an 18'' bar but they can put whatever you want on it.

 

You also have the option of running 3/8 Lopro on that saw ... I’ve tried 3/8 .050;.325 and 3/8Lopro all with 16” bars and the 3/8 lopro outcuts the others by quite a bit ... let me see if I can find link

 

You would need the rim sprocket ; 16” bar and chain ... I don’t believe STIHL makes 18” or 20” bars but I know cannon and some other bar manufacturers do ... definitely worth it as the video above shows

 

I have Picco on mine. It works pretty good til you get in extremely dry hardwood which I have been cutting a lot of. It (PS3) dulls in about one tank. I also have a loop of PM I should try. I don't think PM is much slower. I think .325 is the best all around chain for these saws, especially for your average firewood cutter.

 

One tank ! Wow using ps63 sqr/sqr I’ve gotten 7+ face cut up on 1 chain !... just carry xtra loops and stop drop and swap ... I was cutting ash ; red oak and sugar-maple - albeit it was VERY clean wood

 

This stuff I cut is pretty hard. You can see sparks flying if you are cutting when it is dark.

 

Well I got the 261c today and bucked up some Mulberry and Australian Pine in the yard. What a difference it is from running the 211. Waaaaayyy easier!

 

Sweet ... enjoy the new toy !

 

Nice saw hope it treats you well

 

That Ms 261 will serve you well and will get better after you put a few tanks through it.I have an 026 which is two models back and listed at 3.5hp vs near4 for the 261.When I get ti fixed up again,it will be my go to saw for anything small to average.I also have an MS362 for the larger stuff I would cut and for anything real big,i have friends in the logging business that run MS461s.My 026 run.325 pitch on a 20" bar but I rarely ever bury the bar.That's when the 362 goes to work.I probably should have bought a 441 when I got the 362 but it was the biggest saw I had run not counting my Grandad's 80cc McCulloch when I was young.
Keep a sharp chain and you'll cut more wood with less effort on you and the saw than a 60cc+ with a chain that should be sharpened and isn't.If you don't know how to file a saw,get someone in the business to teach you.It's not that difficult to learn.I've found when cutting anything but clean wood using a semi-chisel will get more work done because it dulls slower and forgives sharpening mistakes better.Buy good files.They don't cost that much more and learn to toss them when needed.Get a template or whatever it's called to file the rakers to the correct depth.Too high and your not cutting as much as you could and too low and you'll kill your saws power.at the least.Not to mention the bar jumping up and down in the cut.

 

That Mulberry might fetch a nice price from someone who makes handles or single trees for horses.You might check around before sawing it into fire wood.JMO

 

As soon as I ware out my 026 and 260 am getting a 261. Well it will probably be a 262 or 263 by the time they ware out!

 

Lol

 

Nice saw,as stated before when she wakes up you will grin ear to ear. Glad you are happy with it.