Stihl ms 261 c is there a difference?

[Eithieus]

What is the difference between the Stihl MS 251 C the newer model that first showed up in Europe that has black coloring on the top of the chain break cover instead of the older model that is clear/white? It’s my understanding that the black variant is lighter. If that is the difference, how is it lighter? What has been changed?

Thank you
Eithieus

 

[Reach]

Without having seen it, I can’t say for certain, but Stihl has been updating a lot of their saws the last couple years. One of the biggest differences that I have seen is the clutch cover, they re-designed it to make it less prone to clog, and much lighter than the old one. They’ve also managed to cut some weight out of the saws elsewhere, but I’m not real sure where. I just know that they are noticeably lighter, but still perform the same.

 

[Jonny]

Your post asks about the MS 251C, but thread title is about the MS 261C.
Pretty different animals, which saw are we talking about here?

 

[Eithieus]

Without having seen it, I can’t say for certain, but Stihl has been updating a lot of their saws the last couple years. One of the biggest differences that I have seen is the clutch cover, they re-designed it to make it less prone to clog, and much lighter than the old one. They’ve also managed to cut some weight out of the saws elsewhere, but I’m not real sure where. I just know that they are noticeably lighter, but still perform the same.

Thank you!

 

[chipper1]

Without having seen it, I can’t say for certain, but Stihl has been updating a lot of their saws the last couple years. One of the biggest differences that I have seen is the clutch cover, they re-designed it to make it less prone to clog, and much lighter than the old one. They’ve also managed to cut some weight out of the saws elsewhere, but I’m not real sure where. I just know that they are noticeably lighter, but still perform the same.

I've found their covers to be more prone to clog, not less. A lot of the weight has been removed from the cases, hence the reason many of the 462's are cracking at the bar studs when running longer bars.

 

[Reach]

I've found their covers to be more prone to clog, not less. A lot of the weight has been removed from the cases, hence the reason many of the 462's are cracking at the bar studs when running longer bars.

Interesting, we have found the opposite to be true. And we we run the 462 with the 25 inch bar, we’ve been running them since it was a fairly new model, and I don’t think we’ve ever had one crack.

 

[chipper1]

Interesting, we have found the opposite to be true. And we we run the 462 with the 25 inch bar, we’ve been running them since it was a fairly new model, and I don’t think we’ve ever had one crack.

That's not a long bar for a 70cc saw.
They actually updated the case since they came out, adding to the weight. I've had many of them myself, just ran the one I currently own yesterday with a 32" in white pine and it did great(has an aftermarket muffler cover). This one I bought off a friend in PNW, he and others have been having problems with them cracking for many yrs now, and this particular saw has a cracked case.

 

[Reach]

That's not a long bar for a 70cc saw.
They actually updated the case since they came out, adding to the weight. I've had many of them myself, just ran the one I currently own yesterday with a 32" in white pine and it did great(has an aftermarket muffler cover). This one I bought off a friend in PNW, he and others have been having problems with them cracking for many yrs now, and this particular saw has a cracked case.

Ok, so we live in the land of big eastern hardwoods. A 25” bar is all that saw can handle cutting green Locust or the root flare of a big Sugar Maple. A 32” bar is not going to work around here on a saw that size unless you keep it as your pine-tree-only saw.

 

[Barc Buster]

Ok, so we live in the land of big eastern hardwoods. A 25” bar is all that saw can handle cutting green Locust or the root flare of a big Sugar Maple. A 32” bar is not going to work around here on a saw that size unless you keep it as your pine-tree-only saw.

Same trees here in Michigan bro. It’s a solid 25” bar saw all day, but I would never call that a long bar for a 70cc class saw. It’s not unreasonable to expect to be able to mount a 28 in hardwood when necessary. I like my Stihls but it was a known issue with the early 462s.

 

[chipper1]

Same trees here in Michigan bro. It’s a solid 25” bar saw all day, but I would never call that a long bar for a 70cc class saw. It’s not unreasonable to expect to be able to mount a 28 in hardwood when necessary. I like my Stihls but it was a known issue with the early 462s.

I don't like my stihls, that's why they're getting the call on the nasty pines .
Hope all is well out your way.