New Saw Day on Sat...

I had the dealer put the clutch cover dog on when I got my 261 last summer it was like $12, not sure the part number. It’s well worth it.

 

Me too even though i run a Carlton bar on mine from time to time. Its a 22"and came with a used 361 i bought last year. Didnt think id use it but i like it a lot. Not as unwieldy as a 25 or 28" when working in tight quarters.

 

It is indeed the first time I've tried an aftermarket bar. It was between Tsumura and Sugihara but I read about oil issues on the latter. Price was about the same... IE: Too much...

 

Looks like the outer dog comes in a kit with a replacement inner. Part number is 0000 660 0800 and guys on eBay have them for $20 bucks plus a couple for shipping.

 

Yesterday they landed and the clutch cover side was bolted on. Looks much better and I'm sure it will help the saw track straighter when hooked. Thank's for the helpful enabling guys...

 

That saw looks great! You'll love the dual dogs. To detour the thread slightly, I threw a 16" 3/8 set up on my 036 XS to buck some smaller Beech & Oak logs today. Imma thinkin the new 036XS is gonna get a 16" Sumi bar & RS chain & get left that way. That is a really vicious saw in 8-16" Oak & Beech.

 

I haven't run it much with the new 16" bar but from the little I did, it seems like quite the surgical weapon now. I love the balance of the light bar and the power to weight ratio seems spot on. I've read the 261 really wakes up after a few tanks too so I'm looking forward to being impressed even more. The only thing that I'm not 100% satisfied with is the number of pulls to start. I'm spoiled by my Husky saws having primer bulbs and the 500i having fuel injection. 3 or so pulls is now 8 or so on a cold start. It's an easy pull and not the end of the world. I am just in the camp that would like Stihl to have a primer bulb on their saws. I understand that the "pros" don't care for it since it's a maintenance item but to me, replacing it once a decade is worth the decreased pulls when cold starting.

I'm going to put a light 20" on my 500i too. I never realized how heavy the 20" ES bar was until I tried it on the 261. It's darn near 3lbs. The Sugi light 20" is 2lb 2oz and the Stihl 20" light is 2lb even. (Tsumura is out of stock in 20" .050 3/8.) $75 for the Sugi and $100 for the Stihl. Dealer has both in stock. Time for some more analysis paralysis. I'm guessing I could get $50 for my ES bar to offset the cost too...

 

My 261 is 3-5 pulls on cold start but mine is not Mtronic. Ive read that shutting the saw at idle is better as the chip "remembers" what the carb was running at and will use that as a basis for the next start up. Dont quote me on this though.

Funny about "primer" bulbs too. Of my Mtronic saws the 500i and 201 rear handle have them but the 201 top handle doesnt. Id like to upgrade my 261 to a 261c.

I didnt think the light weight bars were that lighter. For for thought for me!

 

Brad, good info on the shut down. I think that's what I usually do but I'll verify next time she's out. On the light bars, yes, they make a difference. For example, my 28" Stihl ES Light bar is the exact weight as my 20" Stihl ES standard bar.

 

Mine is about 6 pulls from cold 2-3 when warm.

 

Good to know Steve. That may be where mine was at the other day. I wasn't carefully counting and only made a mental note since it took more pulls than I thought it would.

 

The 500i felt left out so I gave her a present too today...

 

Last night a nice gentleman from a town over came up and bought my 20" ES bar that came on my 500i. That offset the price of the Sugi a good deal so it was about a $20 upgrade... Heck, a burger and a beer costs that these days so I think it was a worthwhile way to spend a couple dollars...

 

My 261 is finally getting broken in. I bought it when I was done cutting last year so it only got maybe a couple tanks or so through it. It had new saw bog for sure. Yesterday, I dropped a nice red oak and suddenly she was alive... The oak was the perfect job for the 261. About 16" across at the base and telephone pole straight. I have a lot of them on the hill I'm clearing to get a view. Many are more suited to the 500i though. The pics just show a few along my trail but I have quite a bit more. I love em because most are deep woods trees with no crotches or low branches.

 

Those "growing in the woods" trees can be nice and straight for sure as they compete for sunlight. Lots of fun to process and primo splits produced.

My carb 261 is en route to stihl kicking as my 261c replaced it. It is a great saw and my go to. I run a 16" bar even though the first came with a 20" which i did use for a while. What do you run on it?

 

16”

 

Counting down the days till it gets here, even though it'll be a week or two before I will really be able to appreciate it. Of course I'll start it up, and feel the power compared to my 30 year old 025.

 

This week the 261 will get some more work. My mom still heats with wood so I'm on the hook for getting her supply sorted. I'm heading down after the rain on Tuesday to get her stacks replenished. There is a spot on her land I sorted today that is full of goldilocks sized BL and red oak. Nothing that will require the 500 to come out of hibernation for. So, the 261 and Husky 540 twins will be called up to the plate.

 

I'm thinking of getting them both ported actually...