My New Stihl MS 261C-M 18"

ovrszd · Feb 3, 2014

Yep, just like you said!!!! I would have never noticed that because I'm usually on the throttle a little after clicking off full choke. The only way to get it to detent in half choke is by going full first, then slowly and gently raise the lever until it soft clicks into half choke mode. No way I'd hit that with a pair of gloves on.

What kinda donuts???

Sorry to the OP for the hijack but maybe he's learning something too!!!

motownbrowne · Feb 3, 2014

Huh, that's interesting. Here I thought Stihl must have changed in mid model. I'm glad we got it figured out before I took my saw apart. I coincidentally had it apart yesterday for cleaning and checked the operation of that breather plate. Mine definitely has a position where it is half closed. My question for you Richard, is how do you start your saw? I typically use the leg clamp method with the brake engaged, and the decomp valve pressed. Two pulls on full choke, then bump it up to half and it screams to life. Then i Quickly blip the throttle to move the control to the run position, which prevents excessive clutch slipping.I never start mine without the half choke.. If you are about to try it, make sure you have the chain brake on, because the half choke holds the throttle wide open and it revs fast.

s219 · Feb 3, 2014

ovrszd said:
What kinda donuts???

I think it was a mistake to mention that -- now I have donuts on my mind....

We've been making them from scratch ever since I ordered an Emeril deep fryer on TV during a drunken stupor one night. Had skied that day, got a good dinner from wife, drank a few beers, fell asleep on sofa, and awoke to Emeril frying donuts on TV at 1am or so. Thought it was a dream next day, then the fryer showed up by UPS a week later.

I'm sure it's good for other food, but I've been experimenting only with donuts. Favorite so far are apple cider donuts dredged in sugar and cinnamon.

ovrszd · Feb 3, 2014

motownbrowne said:
Huh, that's interesting. Here I thought Stihl must have changed in mid model. I'm glad we got it figured out before I took my saw apart. I coincidentally had it apart yesterday for cleaning and checked the operation of that breather plate. Mine definitely has a position where it is half closed. My question for you Richard, is how do you start your saw? I typically use the leg clamp method with the brake engaged, and the decomp valve pressed. Two pulls on full choke, then bump it up to half and it screams to life. Then i Quickly blip the throttle to move the control to the run position, which prevents excessive clutch slipping.I never start mine without the half choke.. If you are about to try it, make sure you have the chain brake on, because the half choke holds the throttle wide open and it revs fast.

Bear with my long answer about starting.

When I bought my 361 the guy who owns the store was my Son's age, 40ish. He guided me toward the 361. Said the good part about it was for old guys like myself it had a compression release. Then with a red face he said, I don't mean you, I mean older guys. We laughed.

I've never used the compression release. Maybe I'm missing something.

I put it on full choke, no chain brake. Hold the saw by the trigger grip with my right hand, bar down, lift the saw 6 or 8 inches, pull the rope with my left while pushing the saw down with my right. Usually takes 3 pulls and it'll burp. Flip the choke off with my thumb and by the second pull it's running.

Excuse me while I try your method.

ovrszd · Feb 3, 2014

Panting...........

I tried your method, although I don't know what the leg clamp method is. So I sat the saw on the floor, slipped my toes into the trigger handle to hold it down, full choke, depressed compression release, pull twice, flipped to half choke mode and pulled 12 times with not so much as a thought of cranking.

Picked up the saw, went to full choke, held it my way, pulled once and saw burped, flipped choke off and pulled once and it started.

Not sure what I was doing wrong. Guess maybe leave it on full choke until it burps???

Panting.......

ovrszd · Feb 3, 2014

s219 said:
I think it was a mistake to mention that -- now I have donuts on my mind....

We've been making them from scratch ever since I ordered an Emeril deep fryer on TV during a drunken stupor one night. Had skied that day, got a good dinner from wife, drank a few beers, fell asleep on sofa, and awoke to Emeril frying donuts on TV at 1am or so. Thought it was a dream next day, then the fryer showed up by UPS a week later.

I'm sure it's good for other food, but I've been experimenting only with donuts. Favorite so far are apple cider donuts dredged in sugar and cinnamon.

I shouldn't even be having this conversation. I've struggled with addiction for years. I belong to D.A. Donuts Anonymous.......

motownbrowne · Feb 3, 2014

Richard, obviously your method works fine for you. I may be what some folks describe as overly safety conscious. I have always "drop-started" my saw: brake on, left hand on top handle, right hand pulling the cord. Then I took a one day chainsaw safety course in my area. I have changed methods, and prefer the leg clamp method. YouTube could probably describe the method better than me.

Also, back to the half choke. If you put it on full choke, then without touching the throttle, move the lever up, it will only move one position, to half choke. Then you blip the throttle and it moves up to run. Even with gloves on, half choke is easy to get to because it stops there unless you have the throttle pressed too.

If this thread encourages anyone to update their starting method to a safer way, I will be so pleased.

motownbrowne · Feb 3, 2014

Yeah, have to pull at full choke till it burps. Then half choke. Leg clamp is putting the handle between your thighs.

ovrszd · Feb 3, 2014

motownbrowne said:
Yeah, have to pull at full choke till it burps. Then half choke. Leg clamp is putting the handle between your thighs.

Oh man, you soooooo lost me. I'm not putting any part of my saw between my thighs. Are you talking about putting the throttle handle between your legs, gripping it with your legs, then putting your right hand on the top handle, then pulling the rope with your left hand??

Oh,,, no,,,, you are saying put the trigger handle between your legs, hold the top handle with your left hand and pull the rope with your right!!!! You are not only standing with your feet together, you are crossing your arms to pull the rope???

Is that a prescribed safe method of starting a chainsaw?? I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do that.... I'll try it tomorrow when I'm fresh.

It's your method, not sure I should have to YouTube it to figure it out. I'd rather you just explained it to me. But I'll search.

motownbrowne · Feb 3, 2014

Well it's not my method. It's actually one of two methods approved by OSHA for starting a chainsaw, the other being on the ground with your foot on the handle. I'm not saying it's the only way, but it is safer. You don't "have to YouTube it" you don't "have to" do anything. I'm just saying, it's not my method and a video might be helpful. I honestly should say that I am amazed you would even be willing to try a different method than what you use. Most people are dead set in their ways when it comes to anything regarding a chainsaw. I appreciate your open mindedness, and ask that you give it one more chance for me, if you like. Good luck.

catskinner · Feb 3, 2014

N ow I'm wanting to get the MS 201 I've been wanting. Nice saw, happy cutting

XSKIER · Feb 3, 2014

Now it's exceedingly obvious that ovrszd has never seen an MS 361 operators manual.

XSKIER · Feb 3, 2014

Is this pix any better?

motownbrowne · Feb 3, 2014

Whew, I'm glad someone else knows what I'm talking about. Like I said earlier, I always used to "drop start" my saw. I never did it without the chain brake, and figured it was good enough. Then a professional logger and chainsaw safety instructor taught me the leg clamp method and I agree it's better. Especially if you use the decomp to prevent nutting yourself.

I'm not saying that OSHA approves it so that's why I do it, but once i got the hang of it, I like it just fine. If you are going to drop start, use the brake (actually use it however you start the thing) and if you are going to start a saw with one hand on the throttle, make sure there's nothing that saw can grab and kick back on. I've seen pics of a guy doing just that and the saw started, revved, hit a skidder tire, and hit the guy on the seat of his pants. Not life threatening in his case, but wrecked his day to be sure.

TomSeller · Feb 4, 2014

XSKIER said:
Popular misconception. The C-M M-Tronic saws don't have a half choke position. They'll run on "start" (^) or full choke until you blip the throttle or shut it off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMj5ticEz7g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Page 25 has the half choke.

http://en.stihl.ca/p/media/download/en-ca/MS_261.pdf

My 261 is not Mtronic.

ToyCollector · Feb 4, 2014

I know this thread is already at 4 pages, but also having a newborn son I have no idea how you've got the time to be running around trying out a new chainsaw!!!

I've had an MS-250C for a couple of years now.. I can't imagine living without it. Nothing is better than the knowledge that I can put it away clean and sharp and when I have a tree fall over my fence lines and need it in a hurry it will start and operate without issue as long as I need it to.

ovrszd · Feb 4, 2014

Hey, I'm very open minded. Sometimes opinionated. But always open minded. My willingness to learn serves me well.

I've learned of the half choke system. Although I'd call it fast idle. Because it does not apply enough choke to assist in starting a cold saw at all. Found that out when I first attempted it according to detailed instructions given on this thread. It didn't work. But I adjusted and figured it out.

I just now tried the crotch method. Yep, saw started with the same amount of rope pulls as normal. I saw nothing easier about it. I saw nothing safer about standing leaning forward with my feet together pulling on the rope with my right hand. Very unbalanced.

I'll continue to use the drop saw method without using the compression release because it serves me well. I'm not a muscle bound 30 something. I'm 62, 5'10" 185lb. I use the saw's weight about as much as using arm strength to pull the rope. Takes a good grip which I've got.

This thread has produced a lot of good information that might help some readers. Certainly not intended to sway anyone. I understand why Stihl would equip their saws with the fast idle setting if they are going to recommend starting by using the crotch method or putting your foot in the trigger handle. Impossible to run the trigger while starting with either of those methods. I start with my saw in fast idle too, it's done with my throttle finger. It's all good!!!

s219 · Feb 4, 2014

TomSeller said:
Page 25 has the half choke.

http://en.stihl.ca/p/media/download/en-ca/MS_261.pdf

My 261 is not Mtronic.

My 261 is not Mtronic, but the one the OP posted a picture of is -- they are relatively new in the lineup. If you look in the photo, it's missing the carb adjustment screw holes on the case, which is the telltale sign (don't even need to look at the switch).

TomSeller · Feb 5, 2014

By coincidence I stopped by a hardware store today that carries Stihl. They only had an Mtronic 441 and sure enough there was no half choke position. I did not know that until this thread.