Stihl 461

[markieg31]

I have a 461 from new, always takes about 6-10 pulls to get it to fire initially, my friend has one the same. Out on a job the other day and my friend hit a nail, when slabbing down a stem, with his 572xp so I passed up my ms461 with a brand new 25inch  bar and chain. He was not very complimentary about it. It does take some feathering to so it doesn't bog down, we were in some Conny so not exactly oak or elm. 

 

Anyone had a similar experience or is it just that the husky is a much better saw of that class?

[AHPP]

Farmer’s saw doesn’t run well. I’ll have to pick myself up off the floor before I can offer any advice. 

[Mick Dempsey]

572 is a pretty sweet saw.

But I was always under the impression the 461 was a bit of a legend.

 

You reckon the poor starting and the underwhelming performance are indicative of an issue?

[tree-fancier123]

I bet it's carb - if you have had period where you've left mix in for months at a time and not used it.

My 441 I always tip the fuel out with it still running then rev till it stops. If it's a saw you use each month without fail, shouldnt matter. 

Farmer or no, my 441 is good for ringing up 2ft diameter stuff, revs so high I wonder how they do it.

Pro forestry saw is how I like to think of mine - boosts my self esteem more than thinking I own a 'farmer's saw'

[AHPP]

The 461 is a proper saw. The owner is a farmer. That’s the gag. 
 

Never saw the point of the 441. It’s basically the same as a 461. 

[Josey Wales]

Both the 461 and 441 were pro saws. Attached is a screenshot from a thread in 2020. A lot of fans of the 461 including Steve Bullman on that thread. 

The comment below from spuddog0507  sums it up for me. After swinging my 441 around, and then having a go on a MS 462 or 500i you realise what a heavy lump it is in comparison. Add on the extra power of the 500i and it shows how much saws have moved on.

 

[AHPP]

Didn’t realise 441 and 461 were any more or less square.

 

I was between a 461 and a 500i. Got the 500i. Occasionally worry I’ll one day not be able to repair it like a 461 but to be honest I’ve had my money out of it now anyway and it’s been broadly fine. 

[Dan Maynard]

I'm still running that 461, what you're describing doesn't sound like yours is really running right.

 

Maybe it hasn't done enough work to really wake up, but start with basics - air filter needs cleaning quite often, clean drum/clutch area. Maybe you've had oil leak around the pump so clutch slipping? Last thing would be carb but could need a tune.

 

The 572 came out later but shouldn't embarrass a 461

[spudulike]

The 461 is a decent saw as it was pretty much a 460 with a few eco mods on it.

I would check out the state of the piston/ compression...taking the exhaust off and inspection would help.

I would then check out the carb and fuel lines as fuel issues made up around 80% of the issues I saw in my time. These, and 460s, used to accumulate fine wood chip around the metering diaphragm, the fuel strainer is worth checking and a final adjustment of the carb as typically, I found the H screw would be lean and the L screw needs a retune when the saws had run in well. Manufacturers tend to lean the settings to achieve a better eco setting. The limiters will most likely need to be removed for a retune.