661 magnum toasted again.

O

Ostrowski

Location
Houston
Do 2018 and newer Stihl 661 magnums have a rev limiter?

Im on my second locked up motor. Bought it in Sept2018 , locked up after 3 tanks of fuel. I even thought I broke it in really nice. 1 tank was just idle and small limbs. Let if cool down, 2nd tank was a little more, ect.... Dealer and Stihl fixed everything at no charge and NO real explanation, I heard one guy said it was lean. Now at 7 hours it has bad bottom and top end. They said it was over revved. Got a second opinion from another dealer, said they could only get damaged from over revving if the bar was off and you just sat there with the trigger pulled. Not sure what to do now as the other dealer said my warranty was out.
 
The only stihl I've ever had problems with when new, was the one that I tried to break in. All others get used as normal as soon as their on the job. My 661 I have now was bought the morning of a storm job cleanup and was used to cut up a 5.5' diameter trunk and then quartered for the mini skid to haul it. Lots of cutting that day and still running strong (also still fairly new).

My only advice with your saw is to contact corporate stihl instead of the dealer as far as needing to be rebuilt multiple times during the warranty. I've gotten good responses from them on smaller issues than that, when coming up empty at the dealer. They may declare it a lemon and get it replaced for you.
 
Jehinten said:
The only stihl I've ever had problems with when new, was the one that I tried to break in. All others get used as normal as soon as their on the job. My 661 I have now was bought the morning of a storm job cleanup and was used to cut up a 5.5' diameter trunk and then quartered for the mini skid to haul it. Lots of cutting that day and still running strong (also still fairly new).

My only advice with your saw is to contact corporate stihl instead of the dealer as far as needing to be rebuilt multiple times during the warranty. I've gotten good responses from them on smaller issues than that, when coming up empty at the dealer. They may declare it a lemon and get it replaced for you.
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Thanks, couldn't agree with you more! Ill call them today.
 
How did it go? Did you have any Luck? I just had issues with my 661c after 5 months. Bought it end of January used it 5-6 times I’m a Woodturner, last time I was ripping some wood for wood blanks and the saw stopped and wouldn’t start again. I thought maybe I flooded but there was a smell so I stopped trying. Took it to my local shop and told me that I burned the saw. I said ok... It is still under warranty, 2 weeks later I will have to pay for labor and they will cover the parts since I was “the one that burned the saw” I went back and forth with the regional specialist and he kept saying it was my fault and I burned the saw because I was ripping wood and these saws are not made for that kind of work, and they couldn’t find an issue but my bad practice and he even told me that this is not a saw for me, you look at my saw and it looks brand new, never abused and not much work done. I’m frustrated now I have to pay for labor to get my saw back, and since I’m not much knowledgeable about how all of this works I’m dead in the water thinking I might screw the saw again if I get it fixed. $1400 to the toilet...


Attached is the picture of the email the regional rep of Stihl sent me. Any help is much appreciated it.

Adam
 

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The 661 is a great saw. I have a 4 year old one that has seen loads of big hard wood. The couple experiences lead me to believe user error. Big saws do not like high revs unless loaded ie in wood dogs set. To the gent ripping wood I would suggest trading in for an 880. Even then if not running saw smoothly in cut you are looking for trouble. Many folk can use saws. Few can use them well. Listening to the saw as it cuts is imperative. Dull chain no matter will kill a saw. When cutting a chain must be precision sharpened....both the tooth and depth gauges set. Many climbers are saw killers because they never take the time to learn about them. Even though they are our money makers. Get the saws repaired. They do not need babying or breaking in. Just use how they are meant to be used. Set dogs in wood and cut.
 
JeffGu said:
A chainsaw is a crosscut saw, not a rip saw. It's a poor choice for the job. If you're after turning blanks for the lathe, a bandsaw and a resaw jig for ripping them down is the way to go.

View attachment 60521

View attachment 60522

This is a resaw jig I built for a Rikon 10-326 bandsaw, that I use to rip boards from 2-foot long logs, as well as turning blanks.
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Gotta agree. We use an 880 in an alaskan mill for mahogany. It just is not ideal. Rebuilt the saw after 2 years. Also have a bandsaw mill. But can only do logs less than 24 inches.
 
Adamluna said:
How did it go? Did you have any Luck? I just had issues with my 661c after 5 months. Bought it end of January used it 5-6 times I’m a Woodturner, last time I was ripping some wood for wood blanks and the saw stopped and wouldn’t start again. I thought maybe I flooded but there was a smell so I stopped trying. Took it to my local shop and told me that I burned the saw. I said ok... It is still under warranty, 2 weeks later I will have to pay for labor and they will cover the parts since I was “the one that burned the saw” I went back and forth with the regional specialist and he kept saying it was my fault and I burned the saw because I was ripping wood and these saws are not made for that kind of work, and they couldn’t find an issue but my bad practice and he even told me that this is not a saw for me, you look at my saw and it looks brand new, never abused and not much work done. I’m frustrated now I have to pay for labor to get my saw back, and since I’m not much knowledgeable about how all of this works I’m dead in the water thinking I might screw the saw again if I get it fixed. $1400 to the toilet...


Attached is the picture of the email the regional rep of Stihl sent me. Any help is much appreciated it.

Adam
Click to expand...
I have to take it back to a dealer of choice for a better inspection. The stihl rep was wondering why neither of the dealers I initially took it to had not contacted Stihl. I'll let you know. I suspect the 1st rebuild missed some lower end damage.
 
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