First Chainsaw

[Muddy42]

I find the professional versus consumer saw debate is a tricky one.  If just looking at price when new say a Stihl MS162 is £160 versus a Stihl MS261 at £850 (professional saw).  You could buy 5 of them for the same price.  If you are not good at maintenance, replacing parts and/or wreak a consumer saw, there is a lot less to cry about.

[tree-fancier123]

2 hours ago, Muddy42 said:

If just looking at price when new say a Stihl MS162 is £160 versus a Stihl MS261 at £850 (professional saw).  You could buy 5 of them for the same price.

the 261 may be 5 times the price, but is more than twice the power of the 162. It's not like they both do the same job

[Muddy42]

18 minutes ago, tree-fancier123 said:

the 261 may be 5 times the price, but is more than twice the power of the 162. It's not like they both do the same job

More power but also more weight. If you are only cutting small stuff, 35cc is ideal.

 

also will it last 5 times as long?  i have owned both. The 161 lasted 5 years, im not sure my 261 will last 25 years.

 

 

[Peter 1955]

21 minutes ago, Muddy42 said:

 

 

also will it last 5 times as long?  i have owned both. The 161 lasted 5 years, im not sure my 261 will last 25 years.

 

 

Whaaat? I sincerely hope you are jesting! Why, my 038 in the shed will still fire up and do a day's work, and it's nearly 40 years old, I think. Surely a Pro saw will outlast a Farm saw? 😉                                                                                                                                      Mind you, even if it only does a couple more years, it might outlast me! 😂😂     

OK, whimsy over, it's big money, but a 261 is small enough to handle, and big enough to pull an 18" bar if needed. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Peter 1955

[NJA]

Had various pro range stihl saws ms 260/240/361 would recommend any of these.  Don't go for ms181 or domestic range saw even from a good brand, they're Chinese rubbish.

If its just round the garden go battery unless you're jumping to a pro range stihl or equivalent 

[Muddy42]

6 hours ago, Peter 1955 said:

Whaaat? I sincerely hope you are jesting! Why, my 038 in the shed will still fire up and do a day's work, and it's nearly 40 years old, I think. Surely a Pro saw will outlast a Farm saw? 😉                                                                                                                                      Mind you, even if it only does a couple more years, it might outlast me! 😂😂     

OK, whimsy over, it's big money, but a 261 is small enough to handle, and big enough to pull an 18" bar if needed. 

not jesting but its difficult to prove either way unless you can time travel? Lifespan depends on hours of use, style of use, maintenance and a bit of chance.

 

I used to just go for pro saws but even they can fail. Ive recently realised that there is value in having a small cheap saw as part of the collection. I can lend it out and if it fails it doesnt matter as much.

 

I too had a 028 that lasted 20 years until there was an issue with the crank and seals, and an 088 that is still going but I think larger engines always tend to last longer. Im not convinced today’s MS saws are as tough as the 0-somethings , but we’ll see. My piston is already a bit scored after 3 years and Ive had to replace a lot of parts.

 

 

[Steven P]

14 hours ago, NJA said:

Had various pro range stihl saws ms 260/240/361 would recommend any of these.  Don't go for ms181 or domestic range saw even from a good brand, they're Chinese rubbish.

If its just round the garden go battery unless you're jumping to a pro range stihl or equivalent 

 

It doesn't get so much use as it used to, but I've had a MS181 for about 12 years - just domestic and smaller firewood, doesn't miss a beat still, but as Muddy suggested, maintenance is the key, perhaps missed out if the tool is in a 'disposable' price tag? Service and clean when it needs it, OEM recommended oils, sharp chain and watching how much you abuse it, should last pretty well... However for just around the garden if I was to recommend anything I'd go battery as well.

[NJA]

1 hour ago, Steven P said:

 

It doesn't get so much use as it used to, but I've had a MS181 for about 12 years - just domestic and smaller firewood, doesn't miss a beat still, but as Muddy suggested, maintenance is the key, perhaps missed out if the tool is in a 'disposable' price tag? Service and clean when it needs it, OEM recommended oils, sharp chain and watching how much you abuse it, should last pretty well... However for just around the garden if I was to recommend anything I'd go battery as well.

Maybe I just had a bad one.  Always kept it clean and sharp, carb clean as a whistle, filters replaced when needed.  Still looks like a nearly new saw as hardly done any work, every time I have job it could do there's a new reason it won't run, pull the 361 out and off you go.  I might get it running, sell it and go battery with 12" bar.  Smaller and cheaper the engine the more problematic I've always found.

[Steven P]

Yes, get it running and someone off ebay will take it. Conversely I might have just been lucky.