Gone to the other side

Darn nice looking saw

 

I have a 261 V2. It is, or was my primary deck saw until the 550xp showed up. A buddy of mine prefers Husky and Ive been a Stihl guy forever so I figured give one a shot.

The 550 feels better on the low end and seems to pull better on the high end compared to the 261. It handles vibrations a little different, the springs seem softer than the 261.

I'm running .325 50 gauge on a 16" Tsumara Light bar.

I like it so much I just picked up a 562xp. Ill be interested to see how that stacks up against the 362.

 

Going to run it as is for now , I will say I am very fond of the Stihl chains though. Something about them that I have always been partial to.
Thanks everyone !!
Looking forward to spending some more time with it.

 

Nice! I was on the fence between that and my 261. Ended with with the 261 but that was more so all of my saws would stay matching.(weight swayed me a bit too)

The 50cc pro saws are great. My 71 yo dad ran my 261 all Sunday and loved it.

 

They certainly are nice. I went from an MS-250 to the 550XP. I grinned for a couple months

 

Nope, still sitting all comfy in the box. In fact, I ashamed to say that I haven't started a saw since winter set in. May do some next weekend helping dad with a few chores.

 

damm I got screwed ; mine didn't come with a box.
Without a box there was only one choice = Run It!!
Hopefully can get to it on Sunday depending on Mother Nature ; doesn't look to promising but I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

Got mine from HL Supply when he was doing a 20% off sale. Sold my 026 that I just wasn't grooving with for most of the funds. Also picked up a roll of X-cut chain for it.
Enjoy the saw.

 

Is the .325 chain you run their " RS " chain ?

18 inch bar
.325
.050
72 links

Stihl Part # 23Rs-72

 

That would work on husky 18” bar.
Have to be careful. Stihl and Husky have different number of teeth for the same bar lengths.
The numbers you have there are what is called “bastard” chains at my local Stihl dealer
They keep them stocked for us degenerates.

 

That's the chain I have been running for years on all my saws and love them , with the exception of the 170 and the 192 top handle , otherwise the RS on everything else. Gauge is different for the Husky at .050 and .063 on the Stihls. I am sure the Husky was 72 links. Just found 2 on ebay for $35 shipped to the door , much cheaper than anyone local around here.
Will let you when I can compare the two.

 

My 550 really came alive when I put that on. Wider kerf than anything Husky/Oregon made at the time. Finally the saw was able to clear chips comparative with the power it was making instead of choking on its own dust.
Carelton is pretty similar.

 

Yes RS23
16” bar
.325
.050
66 drive links
I really like the way it performs on the saw.

 

I love that chain.
72 on the 18 inch for me.
Good to hear that the saw likes it.

Thanks !!

 

I like the 550 so much, I picked up a 562.

I ran the 362 for the first time in at least 2 years yesterday so I can have a decent comparison to the 562. Should have a good run this weekend with the possibility of the 400 being here as well.

 

So many people don't understand about that part. The clearing of the chips.
In frozen , and I mean Completely frozen Hard. Or really hard , hardwood a narrow kerf might work well.
But having the kerf width to clear the chips is where a saw gains speed in the cut.
That's why 404 cuts faster than 3/8 in big softwood running a long bar.

 

Husky for the win .

 

400 ?

 

Stihl MS400