MS 251 clamping nut/damaged casing

[eldon]

Hi,

New on here so go steady but have been watching for a while. With a new log burner install I treated myself to a new saw as I was fed up with the father in laws cast offs being temperamental.

Narrowed it down to a MS251 and find it ok generally especially once I put a better chain on it but only one month in and its faulty.

The clamping nut that holds the bar on seemed like a weakness from day one as i noticed nearly all other saws had two nuts where as this family only has one. Anyway comes to take the tension off the chain when finished and the nut turns half a turn but not in a nice correct way. The stud was being ripped out of the plastic casing. I have returned it under warranty and await the response.

 

Anybody else had this issue as the supplier said this was the first one he'd seen?

 

It turns out that the two nut clamp is the same design, so no better really, with a stud fastened into the casing with glue and a self tapping design. Sounds rubbish to me and I was expecting a locking nut or something on the blind side. Apparently the older designs were as i anticipated, this is obviously a saw designed by an accountant.

 

Anyway await the response from the dealer, fingers crossed.

[wisecobandit]

Even the older plastic bodied ms saws suffered the same problem.

There is even an official stihl repair stud available to use if the its pulled/stripped the threads out of the body.

 

I personally hate the 1 bar stud saws and even more so with the newer easy tension feature.

[eldon]

Yes I was advised away from the easy tension feature so was expecting a tried and tested easy user but its disappointed me at the moment. Not sure I have confidence in the one stud solution?

Awaiting Stihl's response as they do have a good reputation

[C.J]

Even the older plastic bodied ms saws suffered the same problem.

There is even an official stihl repair stud available to use if the its pulled/stripped the threads out of the body.

 

I personally hate the 1 bar stud saws and even more so with the newer easy tension feature.

 

Learnt that lesson with a Jonsered 361 in the 1980s - Never again:001_rolleyes:

[NFG]

Hi,

 

I have the earlier MS250 version of your saw which also came with the 'easy tension system' with one stud and the 'almost impossible to set the chain tension correctly' large wheel.

 

As it was a PIA (for me), I converted mine to conventional 2 studs & nuts using the following parts from L&S Engineers:

 

Chain Tensioner Kit for Stihl MS181, MS230 - 1123 007 1000

Sprocket Stud Collar Screw for Stihl Chainsaws - 1123 664 2400

Chain Sprocket Cover for Stihl MS170 MS180 - 1123 640 1705

Sprocket Cover Nut M8 for Stihl Chainsaws - 0000 955 0801

 

If you decide this is a way ahead, please check these parts fit your 251 saw as mine is the earlier version MS250.

 

Hope this helps anyway & hope it gets fixed soon

 

 

N

Edited June 10, 2014 by NFG

[SawTroll]

Hi,

 

I have the earlier MS250 version of your saw ....

 

 

The 251 replaced the 250, but they are complety different basic designs, not different versions of the same.

[Macpherson]

Even the older plastic bodied ms saws suffered the same problem.

There is even an official stihl repair stud available to use if the its pulled/stripped the threads out of the body.

 

I personally hate the 1 bar stud saws and even more so with the newer easy tension feature.

 

hi, it`s the same as the ms180 yesterday, if it`s any help, in the usa they seem to go more for a helicoil repair with loctite and back to the original stud rather than the 1115 664 2405 10mm repair stud, and when they do go for this there tapping out to 10mm x 1 first, rather than it self tapping but to be tbh i`ve not seen the repair stud yet,so...........

not a fan of 1 stud either, my old 012`s only fault, apart from the noise, at least it`s metal.

[eldon]

Thanks guys for responses.

Currently the saw has had to go back to Stihl for assessment. The dealer said that normally he gets a go ahead but this one due to being a one off had to go back. The dealer stated tonight that it wasn't definite but a repair was likely. I stated I wouldn't accept that on a four week old saw and to be fair the supplying dealer has been pretty straight up with me. I asked what the casing change would cost and he said around £200 with labour........ I said I wasn't happy with such a short time to failure.

 

He has offered after I questioned the possibility that I pay the difference and go for a MS261 with spur gear. This looks likely to be the way forward and he is going to get one in.

 

Anybody got any comments or opinions they want to share on the 261?

 

I have read the posts on the bearing failures hence why I have requested the chain gear change.

[Macpherson]

HI again Eldon, imo....any main dealer worth his salt should be able to successfully repair a stripped thread, if they can`t then I definately wouldn`t trust them to strip an engine to change the casing, with out seeing it ,If it`s just stripped, either of the two repairs I mentioned before I would do for £15-£20 and shouldn`t take more than 1/2 hour,at four weeks old if they can`t fix it you should get a refund.

Personally I would go for a good s/h saw without autotune , if you can get it local and hear it running, all the better, if it`s just for firewood there`s loads of slightly older saws out there that should be trouble free......good luck

[mendiplogs]

Thanks guys for responses.

Currently the saw has had to go back to Stihl for assessment. The dealer said that normally he gets a go ahead but this one due to being a one off had to go back. The dealer stated tonight that it wasn't definite but a repair was likely. I stated I wouldn't accept that on a four week old saw and to be fair the supplying dealer has been pretty straight up with me. I asked what the casing change would cost and he said around £200 with labour........ I said I wasn't happy with such a short time to failure.

 

He has offered after I questioned the possibility that I pay the difference and go for a MS261 with spur gear. This looks likely to be the way forward and he is going to get one in.

 

Anybody got any comments or opinions they want to share on the 261?

 

I have read the posts on the bearing failures hence why I have requested the chain gear change.

Hi mate get 362 as there's loads of chaps on here with 261 and like you bearings going on the 261 that not good so get a 362 thanks Jon