Second hand ms661

[Muddy42]

1 hour ago, kram said:

Milling is hard on saws. If buying it for that specific purpose I'd be getting an 880/881 size, the new price is not much different near £2k. I dont know how the used prices compare, £1k used or more for a decent one?

 

I've not used a 660, I have used a 500i which is near enough the same spec, not for milling, but it wants as much power as you can get.

 I would get a cheapy Farmertec or two. My G372XP works quite well (I didnt buy it for milling but have done a bit).

£600 for a new G888 with bar, chain etc.. the G660 clones are about £300.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204816296107

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205154078035

 

I am very tempted to get a G888 myself however Im only doing occasional domestics and not very often we remove a larger tree. So it would likely take up space and rarely get any use.

 

A ripping chain is for milling along the end grain, its slow and dusty. When I want to mill a log I use a standard chain from the side of the log, "noodling", called as it makes long noodle like chips, instead of dust. Much quicker and satisfying, easier cleanup, easier on the saw but may take more skill to get a straight cut.

 

 

 

Wise words. I tried a ripping chain for a while (10 degrees rather than 30) but went back because I didn't notice enough of a benefit.  Correct sharpening and not pushing nor see-sawing the saw is more important.

[Doug Tait]

23 hours ago, topchippyles said:

Mark member gobbypunk has been selling stuff off I'm sure he has an 880 that would make a great saw for milling.

 

13 hours ago, W66 said:

That sounds good - anyone know how I can get hold of him to enquire?

 

@gobbypunk

[Dan Maynard]

On 04/03/2025 at 19:20, W66 said:

Really I want to know opinions on second hand Vs new

A looked after 660 goes on for a long long time, the problem with buying secondhand is that you don't know why it's being sold.

 

In general I think big saws are less of a gamble than small, more likely you get a believable story of the saw just not getting used rather than not working right so dumped onto eBay. You have to be prepared to do some work on a secondhand one though, I bought a 90cc saw a few years ago and it needed new oil pump, bar, air filter.

[Muddy42]

And they are less fiddly to work on.

[htb]

Only potential problem with a second hand large saw can be they are seldom used, only when needed left with fuel in it for a period. They are picked up fuel has gone stale fired up and worked hard and can nip up.

My large saws are used infrequently, I normally run them dry of fuel, or if fuel left in them, fuel drained off and replaced with fresh.

[Mark_Skyland]

If you cant get your hands on a 2nd hand saw before buying it then its a bit of a lottery IMO. On a big saw like the 661 you can get away with a few issues, even a knackered engine if its cheap enough. I wouldn't pay more than 500 maybe 600 for a second hand one unless you know the operator or can try it before you buy.

 

Don't forget, on big saws bars and chains aren't cheap, you need to factor that in when comparing 2nd prices to new.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 21:21 by Mark_Skyland

[topchippyles]

33 minutes ago, htb said:

Only potential problem with a second hand large saw can be they are seldom used, only when needed left with fuel in it for a period. They are picked up fuel has gone stale fired up and worked hard and can nip up.

My large saws are used infrequently, I normally run them dry of fuel, or if fuel left in them, fuel drained off and replaced with fresh.

I am guilty of this got X2 661 saws I've not used for a while and left fuel in them.