Stihl MS 261 C-M 18" vs 20" Bar

s219 · Apr 5, 2020

I had a 261 and it was a great saw. Being a pro model Stihl, it's built well and will last a long time. Only weakness was poor chip flow. If you noodle with that saw it will get clogged up something fierce. Stihl changed the clutch cover on newer models to save weight, and I don't know if that makes the problem better or worse. For regular cutting it will probably be fine for 99% of users.

I sold my 261 when I got a larger 60cc Husky that was much more powerful and not much heavier. I just stopped using the 261 enough to keep it around. Sold it to a forum member here.

I would buy another 261 in a heartbeat if I needed a 50cc Stihl. Husky and Echo also make good 50cc pro saws.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

dodge man said:
I知 not sure if you are looking at MS261 or just venting but I just bought a MS261 a few weeks ago. I致e run maybe 6 tanks of fuel through it so far. It starts easy, lots of power, and so far so good. I値l tell you in 5 years or so how it works in the long run.

Hi Dodge man...both, mainly the venting. 5 years at my age may not occur. Thanks for the reply.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

s219 said:
I had a 261 and it was a great saw. Being a pro model Stihl, it's built well and will last a long time. Only weakness was poor chip flow. If you noodle with that saw it will get clogged up something fierce. Stihl changed the clutch cover on newer models to save weight, and I don't know if that makes the problem better or worse. For regular cutting it will probably be fine for 99% of users.

I sold my 261 when I got a larger 60cc Husky that was much more powerful and not much heavier. I just stopped using the 261 enough to keep it around. Sold it to a forum member here.

I would buy another 261 in a heartbeat if I needed a 50cc Stihl. Husky and Echo also make good 50cc pro saws.

I'm a little gun shy of Husks...I'm trying to get the spring back in the cup it comes in now. So far no success but I'll give it a few more attempts. Thanks for the feedback.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

Motorboatin said:
My 261 is six or seven years old and has turned into a great saw. I bought it with a 20 bar and wasn稚 impressed. Went down to an 18 and it was still lacking. Once I switched to a 16 bar the saw really started to shine

I cut mostly oak and cherry

16 is whats on my 345E..wouldn't mind one that could handle an 18 for some situation. Working on putting the return spring back in now. Thanks

coxhaus · Apr 5, 2020

I have a Stihl 360 I have had for 15 years or more and I run an 18 inch on it. I like it for making firewood. In Texas our trees aren't real big just a lot of hard oak.

PS
I just realized I have a Stihl 36 not a 360. My buddy has a 360. And I use a lot of my firewood as BBQ wood. I also cut more dead wood than green wood.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

coxhaus said:
I have a Stihl 360 I have had for 15 years or more and I run an 18 inch on it. I like it for making firewood. In Texas our trees aren't real big just a lot of hard oak.

I'm in MS and run into the same trees, have a lot of pines that beetles have taken out, some good size ones. Couldn't find how to enter more profile data but will

try later. Thanks.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

Spent all day trying to rewind the spring, that's it, going into the trash/crush pile, never will I own a H again. Total pieces of uyt78urueiwy!

Looked up new spring, can't distinguish whether they come coiled or not, carbs same, made in China uidhjehuihgfruih!

As a side note, they, children, bought me a new H riding mower few years back which has less than 150hrs., cuts uneven, changed spindles twice, lost count of blades and

I'm fed up with it too.

yomax4 · Apr 5, 2020

minton said:
Spent all day trying to rewind the spring, that's it, going into the trash/crush pile, never will I own a H again. Total pieces of uyt78urueiwy!

Looked up new spring, can't distinguish whether they come coiled or not, carbs same, made in China uidhjehuihgfruih!

As a side note, they, children, bought me a new H riding mower few years back which has less than 150hrs., cuts uneven, changed spindles twice, lost count of blades and

I'm fed up with it too.

Ditto on the Husq Riding mower. I gave mine away. POS.

minton · Apr 5, 2020

yomax4 said:
Ditto on the Husq Riding mower. I gave mine away. POS.

Yes sad, a 1,700.00 piece of probably inferior metal and definitely poor workmanship. I'm gonna refrain from my opinion of IKEA, another Swedish manufacturer.

goeduck · Apr 5, 2020

s219 said:
I had a 261 and it was a great saw. Being a pro model Stihl, it's built well and will last a long time. Only weakness was poor chip flow. If you noodle with that saw it will get clogged up something fierce. Stihl changed the clutch cover on newer models to save weight, and I don't know if that makes the problem better or worse. For regular cutting it will probably be fine for 99% of users.

I sold my 261 when I got a larger 60cc Husky that was much more powerful and not much heavier. I just stopped using the 261 enough to keep it around. Sold it to a forum member here.

I would buy another 261 in a heartbeat if I needed a 50cc Stihl. Husky and Echo also make good 50cc pro saws.

I have an early version MS261 and yes, if you noodle with it or if you do not watch your chip flow it can be a problem. I just keep an eye on it and stop and pull the noodles out if necessary. I really like the saw and it is my go to. Good all around saw, starts easy, fairly light weight and decent power, dependable.