Another what chainsaw question?

[Billy Goat]

Evening all,

 

I am looking for a new saw which will be for cutting firewood and occasional felling, but nothing big.

 

I was keen on a Stihl ms391, but after reading the posts on here everyone recommends getting a pro saw, as it is worth the extra cost in the long term.

 

So it it down to either a Stihl ms261 or ms362. I haven't gone for a Husky as the reviews are there a bitch to start, unreliable and my local dealer doesn't stock them.

 

I have a 45cc domestic saw with an 18" bar which is constantly getting repaired and I feel it's not got enough guts when needed.

 

My main question is will either of the above saws run an 18" bar ok and what's your all round views on them?

 

I have seen clutch problems posted about the ms261, but there a few years old now and was wondering if Stihl have sorted the issue?

 

Many thanks.

[wyk]

Get a 261 before the 391. Not a big power difference, less weight, less vibration, longer lasting. And once muffler modded, the thing is a terror.

[Pinkfoot]

I was given a 18 " bar for my 261, so bought the chain and sprocket for it and it was rubbish.

I filed the rakers down a little and it is surprisingly good . I would go with it.

[R Haigh]

The Husky 357xpg is my main firewood saw but every now and then I use the 560xpg which cuts far quicker.

[RichieR]

Perhaps you may not need to go to the extra expense of a pro saw , have you thought of a husky 555

[littlerob]

cheap as chips is the husky 365 easy to start but don't use the decomp valve the saw have bags of power 70cc engine will pull the pants down on a stihl 261

[wyk]

cheap as chips is the husky 365 easy to start but don't use the decomp valve the saw have bags of power 70cc engine will pull the pants down on a stihl 261

 

It better - it weighs nearly 3 lbs more.

[TGB]

Not strictly on my bench, as he took it back to the dealer after I'd given it a once over.

 

Friend recently bought a new Husky 365 Special. Ran it a few times but no more than a single tank. All seemed fine at first, until it started smoking from under the top cover. He stopped it right then. He thought it might have been his imagination and tried in vain to restart it.

 

When we could meet, I had a look and started it without trouble, sounded good but it wasn't the quickest going and bogged in a test cut. Took the top cover off and found unburnt fuel on the fins. Not having a compression tester, I took the plug cap off and let the saw drop on the pull-cord. It got to the bottom a little too quickly.

 

I wiped down the fins and mopped anything that looked liquid like, refitted the top cover and started the engine without trouble. Ran it for a few seconds, then shut it off and removed the top cover. Yep, the fins were wet again but only on the righthand side and wetter near the top. I checked the head bolts' tightness and they were good and then thought, "What the hell, check the de-comp switch for tightness." It turned without fuss a 1/4 turn and then another 1/4. I didn't know the torque setting for this and wondered if it had a crossed thread, though it didn't feel like it.

 

I took the plug cap off, then let it drop on the pull-cord and this time it dropped more slowly. I advised he take it back to the dealer. History of the saw as far as my friend knows is this. The saw is new but has sat on a shelf for 4yrs. The dealer's main business is tractors but sells the occasional saw, (not so many 365s I surmise).

 

I'm guessing the de-comp switch was not fitted properly at time of manufacture. Time in dealers so far three weeks and no news.

Edited April 29, 2015 by TGB

[TGB]

Oops! Wrong thread.

[Stubby]

Oops! Wrong thread.

 

Interesting though Dafidd . Surely just tighteng the de comp it would be good to go ?