My New Stihl MS 261C-M 18"

[walker450]

I finally decided to buy a smaller saw to compliment my trusty Stihl 039 20". I decided on the Pro model MS 261C-M.

I have only ran 1 tank of fuel through it so far and I tried to somewhat take it easy on it to let it break in before making any long WOT cuts.

Runs very smooth and is noticeably lighter and easier to handle than my 039.

I had to stage a pic with my son, this will be his saw one day. My 039 was my dads...









My only gripe so far is the fuel and oil caps. It is very hard to clean debris off before opening. I may need to try some sort of brush, a rag doesn't seem to cut it.

 

[xring100]

congrats the MS261 is a very nice saw all the pro saws are. Should be around for a long time. My dads 026 is still running good 20 some years later

 

[TomSeller]

I have an old school wisk brush in my chain saw tool kit. It gets most of the debris before I open the caps. I have a Stihl MS261 as well, great saw.

 

[s219]

Good saw choice!

I use an old paint brush to clean dust/gunk off the saw when I need to do any work on it. I don't worry about it when adding bar oil or fuel though, unless it's real bad. The flippy caps are fairly robust against dust/gunk getting inside the tanks.

 

[mikey517]

Congrats of your saw.... and on the continuation of your family traditions...

 

[RobertN]

Yep, nice, well balanced saw. I have my Dad's 024AV; I think he got it in 1980. Still works great. The 024/026/26x series is a nice handling saw.

I have other nice saws, bigger and smaller. But that 024 is typically the first saw I reach for.

congrats the MS261 is a very nice saw all the pro saws are. Should be around for a long time. My dads 026 is still running good 20 some years later

 

[mountainlake]

You picked a good one this time. Steve

 

[walker450]

Just giving an update... I have ran 4 tanks of fuel through it and it seems to be a great saw! Starts and idles great, revs very nicely and is fairly lightweight. I can also tell that the vibration is lower vs my 039.

I'll try to give another update when I reach the 10-12 tank full range.

 

[xring100]

I can also tell that the vibration is lower vs my 039.

Amazing what 20 years of developments and going up to a pro saw does

 

[TomSeller]

Every Stihl that I have ever used will sputter on cold start under full choke, at which time I put them on half choke and they start in one or two more pulls, except my MS261. If I am quick enough with the 261, I can flip it from full choke to half choke while it is sputtering and it revs up.

 

[motownbrowne]

I just bought a 50cc saw myself. I've been looking for an ms260 for a while, but didn't want to drop $300. Then I scored a shindaiwa 488. It's the same size and I bought it from a guy who had just way overpaid for a husky 562xp ($1300). I got my shindaiwa for $60 with three brand new chains and a gallon of bar oil. Don't get me wrong, I still prefer stihls, but for that price I couldn't say no. And I must say, I love the size. My stihl is a 361 with a full wrap, 25" bar and dogs off a 460 (bought it that way). The 50cc is an awesome compliment to it. Dropped a poplar with the stihl on Saturday then limbed with the shindaiwa, perfect. Have fun with the 261! You'll love it.

Y'all remember your chaps now,
Ryan

 

[TomSeller]

I got my shindaiwa for $60 with three brand new chains and a gallon of bar oil.

Shoot, the chains and oil are worth the $60. Great find.

 

[XSKIER]

Every Stihl that I have ever used will sputter on cold start under full choke, at which time I put them on half choke and they start in one or two more pulls, except my MS261. If I am quick enough with the 261, I can flip it from full choke to half choke while it is sputtering and it revs up.

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

 

[ovrszd]

My MS361 and MS250 do not have half choke positions, even though it is pictured on the case. Full choke til they burp, flip choke to off and by 2nd pull are running.

 

[XSKIER]

My MS361 and MS250 do not have half choke positions, even though it is pictured on the case. Full choke til they burp, flip choke to off and by 2nd pull are running.

....

 

[motownbrowne]

Hmmm, my 361 definitely has a half choke. It has the position on the case and I have watched the plate in the carb too.

 

[ovrszd]

Well, I've never took the breather off and watched mine. But the Lever has an "off" detent, "on" detent and "full choke" detent. It don't even slow down when flipped from "choke" to "on", goes right past the "half choke" symbol on the case.

I'll investigate.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's some photos. My MS361 does not have "half choke". First photos are with cover installed showing the marking on the cover of half choke. Next photos with cover off showing the various detent positions of the lever. No half choke.

 

[XSKIER]

Nice clean '361!

 

[s219]

On most all Stihls I have run except the newer computerized models, you cannot get to the "half choke" position by sliding the lever down (if you try, you'll feel a long spongy section of travel and it will finally click into full choke). You can only do it by going to full choke first and then moving back up. And I use quotes around "half choke" because it's more of a fast-idle / warm-start setting than anything else.

So, slide to full choke and pull until saw burbles. Move lever up, which will engage the "fast idle" position. Pull again until saw fires up, let it rev for an instant, then briefly hit the trigger to disengage fast idle, which also moves the lever into the run position.

In certain cases, where a saw is warm but hasn't been run more than 5-10 minutes, I will start it by sliding lever down to full choke, then move up one into "fast idle". Then pull the string and hit trigger to disengage "fast idle" once it starts. This is called a "warm start" in Stihl terminology.

If a saw has just been running, I just move lever into run and it should start fine there without going to warm start.

Richard, I'd bet a sack of donuts you can engage the warm-start position if you do it on the way back up from full choke. If you can't, then it's broke!