Stihl 461

[spudulike]

Have to love customers like that. Fortunately I was pretty lucky and had very few like this👍

[markieg31]

Thanks for the replies. 

I have had the saw since 2017, maybe even before then, it was newly purchased. 

 

I had a 441. Went to replace it and a 461 was not much more so went with that. 

 

I have put some hours on it out felling and ringing up timber over the years. 

 

The saw to me doesn't strike me as low on compression but has always taken a decent number of pulls before it would fire. 

 

One thing that knarks me off is that this saw picks up sawdust around the air filter like crazy, compared to my 550xp where I hardly ever need to.clean the air filter out. 

 

I do.notice that fine dust can get past the air filter where the filter mates against the case, always thought it should have a better seal. 

 

I doubt I have ever been at the carb adjustment screws so maybe it does need some adjustment. 

 

As for fuel left in it. It was a saw that used to go out fairly frequently but certainly the last year it has had some periods of rest. So that certainly could be an issue.

My 066 is in a similar boat with even longer periods, that takes a number of pulls to get going but chugs through the lumber at a sedate pace, two saws that are not setting the world ablaze.  

 

 

 

 

[Muddy42]

12 hours ago, markieg31 said:

Thanks for the replies. 

I have had the saw since 2017, maybe even before then, it was newly purchased. 

 

I had a 441. Went to replace it and a 461 was not much more so went with that. 

 

I have put some hours on it out felling and ringing up timber over the years. 

 

The saw to me doesn't strike me as low on compression but has always taken a decent number of pulls before it would fire. 

 

One thing that knarks me off is that this saw picks up sawdust around the air filter like crazy, compared to my 550xp where I hardly ever need to.clean the air filter out. 

 

I do.notice that fine dust can get past the air filter where the filter mates against the case, always thought it should have a better seal. 

 

I doubt I have ever been at the carb adjustment screws so maybe it does need some adjustment. 

 

As for fuel left in it. It was a saw that used to go out fairly frequently but certainly the last year it has had some periods of rest. So that certainly could be an issue.

My 066 is in a similar boat with even longer periods, that takes a number of pulls to get going but chugs through the lumber at a sedate pace, two saws that are not setting the world ablaze.  

 

I have a 460 that let in fine sawdust aswell even with the foam insert.  I keep meaning to try and punch out a gasket with an old air filter. Let me know if you find a solution.  Otherwise its an awesome size of saw that I find useful for felling and larger diameter wood. I found the bar oiling very stingy so I upgraded it to high output oiler.  I got the saw wreaked so installed a meteor piston and cylinder.  It also had the carb symptoms you describe - fixed with a carb kit.  Honestly the time and money I have spent on this saw is extreme!

[Pete Mctree]

The older stihl air filters were poor. I replaced mine with aftermarket max flow set ups. Really expensive now, but they are a good investment, especially for high use saws

[markieg31]

On 14/02/2026 at 10:41, AHPP said:

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

Fyi I have been in the trees many years before I came to the farm, collage then prominent company before setting up my own show. 

 

[AHPP]

Yeah. Sorry. I was being pointlessly snide. 

[spudulike]

Your 461 and 066 will be going long after these more modern machines have clapped out.

The 550 has the Husqvarna air cleaning system where the flywheel fins spin the air in to the air box so it is relatively clean before it hits the air filter. There was a vid on YouTube with a Husky and Stihl running side by side and he piled saw chip over both saws, turned them off and looked at the air filter. The Husky was remarkably clean.

I would give the carb a service, new diaphragms and fuel strainer (the one in the carb) and would then get someone who knows what they are doing to adjust the carb L screw and tach it on the H screw. I have gone many and every one ran lean and was revving higher than it should. Less fuel makes the saw more difficult to start. 

It is worth making sure that the choke is actually completely shutting off the choke when applied and the fast idle setting is actually holding the throttle open a bit. This will show up as the saw not revving much on the mid setting between choke and idle on the choke lever.

It is all basic stuff.....these saws should burp on two pulls and start on the third if cold. No saw should need 8-10 pulls or more to get it going 

[Tree monkey 1682]

5 hours ago, markieg31 said:

Fyi I have been in the trees many years before I came to the farm, collage then prominent company before setting up my own show. 

 

Think the problem is , saws aren't what they used to be  , fuel isn't the same , chains and bars aren't what they used to be . 

If im thinking correctly the sthil rescue saw was based on a ms 460,

Sthils always have been slower cutters, and husqvarna have been quicker. But most firms run mixed fleets of saws, not one model is great any more .