FR Jones Chainsaw Sale: Stihl MS 261 vs Husq 550XP

[MattyF]

Have a couple of each, as usual with stihl it has the slower pick up and possibly more torque where as the 550 is just a rev up and go Ferrari of snedding saws. Both have given no real issues with the 261's being absolutely smashed on sitka regen clearance when new and they still keep on going, I think they have had there needle bearings replaced once ! One of the other lads had a crank go within weeks with the261 and countless bearings and would never buy another ..... I would choose the husky the other operator would again replace with 261 so pick one up and see which you like better.

[harrythecat178]

Hi all,

 

In an effort not to start a huge Husqvarna vs Stihl debate I've got a question.

 

FR Jones' professional chainsaw sale looks very appetising, specifically I'm looking at a 261 for the extra 8cc and 9hp over the 241 (which is only £30 cheaper).

 

My local Stihl dealer quoted me 25% off catalog price for the 261, £565. At FR Jones they are £479; bargain!

 

How does that price compare to dealer prices on a Husq equivalent, 550XP is the closet match I found and FR Jones have it for £469.

 

My closest dealer/maintenance place is a Husq dealer so I originally planned to use him, for ease of maintenance/repair as he's only 2 miles from my place. I doubt I'll be able to get a price from him as low as FR Jones but might be worth paying the bit extra as he is my local guy.

 

Here is the controversial bit, from reading other posts it would APPEAR that the 261 is more reliable than the 550.

 

What are people experiences with these saws, ideally people who have used both?

 

I have a 66cc Stihl 039 already that I got for cheap, it's got a 20" bar and will be my "bigger" (I didn't saw "big" ) saw.

 

The 261/550 will be my main saw (probably with 16" bar) and used for ground arb application, processing and felling.

 

Also, do dealers usually provide warranty? Want to have a rough idea of the industry standard before rolling in and taking a dealers word for the truth right away.

 

Play nicely now gents.

I think a bit of fair comparison is called for here

The local dealer price is , assuming 25% off is for an 18 inch saw

The F R Jones price is for a powerhead only, their price for an 18" MS261 is £529.20, so there is £35.80 difference.

Every Stihl dealer has the choice how much discount to give and 25% off is a very fair price, just the same as every tree surgeon can decide his price for a job and how much margin he wants/ needs to make

Knowing the OP is based in West Wales , he will have to collect a chainsaw from FR Jones, 500 mile round trip and that will easily wipe out the extra discount offered. It may have even been us who quoted the 25% off, thats the best price we would offer. On the subject of warranty , the Stihl warranty is valid throughout the UK at any dealer, but if you buy local you are much more likely to get a better service if problems occur than if you arrive with a saw bought from the other side of the country.

The bearing issue with the MS261 looks to have been sorted , it wasnt the bearing but a poorly made batch of sprockets with a slightly off round centre hole

[carlos]

id go local dealer if there is not a massive difference, handy to build up a good two way relationship( they give you a fair price, you give them your custom) with your local dealer, can come in handy down the line when you want minimal downtime from broken tools.

carl

[Mark Wileman]

id go local dealer if there is not a massive difference, handy to build up a good two way relationship( they give you a fair price, you give them your custom) with your local dealer, can come in handy down the line when you want minimal downtime from broken tools.

carl

 

Yeah that is what is on my mind.

 

For some reason I'm drawn to Stihl, which is annoying, as the Husq dealer is primarily a garage and using him for everything would obviously make sense. I've also known him for years!

[carlos]

the echo cs501 sx is also a good saw, similar sort of size.

[aspenarb]

id go local dealer if there is not a massive difference, handy to build up a good two way relationship( they give you a fair price, you give them your custom) with your local dealer, can come in handy down the line when you want minimal downtime from broken tools.

carl

 

I agree, I was in Honeybros the other day trying to put the squeeze on them for a bit more discount , it seems all the dealers are all offering the same and are singing off the same hymn sheet so may as well shop local.

 

Bob

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

This thread just took me to a virus alert (fake) page.

[carlos]

I agree, I was in Honeybros the other day trying to put the squeeze on them for a bit more discount , it seems all the dealers are all offering the same and are singing off the same hymn sheet so may as well shop local.

 

Bob

 

wish that was the case round here, ordered a echo tophandle delivered to my door from italy for literally half what i was quoted locally!! try to shop local but sometimes just doesn't make sense.

[billpierce]

wish that was the case round here, ordered a echo tophandle delivered to my door from italy for literally half what i was quoted locally!! try to shop local but sometimes just doesn't make sense.

Yeah I did the same with a 360tes. Disgustingly cheap via Italian eBay company, think I paid 270 new all in. It's been mint, but felt rotten not supporting local dealer

 

Sent from my C6603 using Arbtalk mobile app

[Tommy_B]

550 all day. Had lots of problems with the 261