Long bar on a top handle saw.
- Thread starter JTree
- Start date
I feel the power to weight is where 60s shine man, around 1lb more than a 50cc. For softer stuff my 60s pull a 25” full comp nicely and rip with a 20”
Plus for this guy he already owns the saw, it just needs ~30$ part and 15 minutes to put it on.
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
Oh it's already on order. Actually ordered one before I left the site the same day it broke. I'm a fixer, not a buy new kinda guy 95% of the time. That's why all my vehicles are paid for.
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
....and I'm in the market for a 261. Yes, I could just use the 361 once the handle comes in, and I will when it is the tool I need, but I usually like to keep the 361 set up with an aggressively filed chain for ground work and keep something smoother on the larger climbing saw. Not nessicarily a low kickback chain, but something with rakers close to the "correct" height.
I'll probably pick up an 18" bar for the 201t as well. Redundancy is a big part of productivity.
I'll probably pick up an 18" bar for the 201t as well. Redundancy is a big part of productivity.
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
And I am shocked yall don't all love the 361. The power to weight ratio is really amazing.
I had my ground guy pick up a saw for me the other day. Asked him to get a ms261, but it wasn't in stock. Ended up telling him to get the next size up and hurry up. He arrives and I see "FarmBoss" on the bar and I'm like "f*ck my luck!", and I'm just waiting for my mini skid to turn into a tractor... It wouldn't start, it wouldn't stay on... At one point I was passing it behind my back to my left hand with the throttle engaged... Needless to say, I returned it.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
I love mine... It is a funny inbetweenie but when i know I will wind up needing a 20-25" bar in a tree, I will go for it after the 200t. If I just need a few more cuts up to 20" I call for the 261.
I really fucked up buying saws, if I sized them better I'd have a better range. Instead I basically have a full line up in the truck. 150, 020, 261, 361, 440.. Now looking at a 661.. Out of all those saws the one I could easily do without is the 361, not that it doesn't get its fair share of use or that I don't love it. Just it was my first saw, and it's basically a under powered lighter 440.
ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
I've been going back and forth for a couple of weeks. Went to a dealer who sells both. I was hoping he would jump all over one over the other, but noooo - he was going to make me choose.
Was tempted by the original 550XP as it was on sale for $525 - and they said they'd swap out the sprocket to 3/8" .050 so I can use the other chains I have.
The Mark II was $610.
A 216CM was $580 (16" chain....have other 18" bars on a couple of Husqvarna saws, so I just want to make it impossible ot mix chains up).
I started Friday with 6 Husqvarna saws and 2 top-handle Echos. No Stihl saws.
Now I have 1 Stihl. I don't think I could have gone wrong either way. I went with the Stihl because of the power:weight ratio. The non-Mark II 550XP weighs the same as the 261 but is rated at 3.75 HP while the Mark II picks up the extra 1/4 HP, but adds a pound.
I'm convinced I couldn't have gone wrong with any of the 3. Saving $50 was very tempting, but I couldn't decide between the 2 Husqvarna models, so I didn't!
The 361 is a great saw.
My working collection is 192T, 200T, 024, 026, two 034s, 036pro, 361, 391, 441cm.
I’ll be getting something around 90cc eventually.
The 391 is lame, got it like new for cheap. I probably won’t buy a non pro saw again no matter the price.
Stuck an aftermarket 3/4 wrap for an 044 and big spikes on the 036 pro, looks like a big boy saw now lol. Opened the muffler up a wee bit too. I do like the wrap handle when climbing.
My working collection is 192T, 200T, 024, 026, two 034s, 036pro, 361, 391, 441cm.
I’ll be getting something around 90cc eventually.
The 391 is lame, got it like new for cheap. I probably won’t buy a non pro saw again no matter the price.
Stuck an aftermarket 3/4 wrap for an 044 and big spikes on the 036 pro, looks like a big boy saw now lol. Opened the muffler up a wee bit too. I do like the wrap handle when climbing.
climbstihl
Branched out member
- Location
- Germany
What would you guys choose between a 024 and a 026? Mainly as a ground saw, for felling and limbing/ bucking, but some in tree use too. I'm leaning towards the 26, especially since I have a lot of apple trees, which is quite hard. Since they obviously don't have warranty, I plan on modding either one.
026 for sure.
The 024 is nice but weighs almost same as 026 and 7 cc less. 42cc I wouldn’t put more than a 16” bar on it, while I’m fine with a 20” on the 026.
There’s an 024 Super too, 024AVS, 45cc I think, but 026 is still better at 49cc.
My 024 is almost as old as me I think it’s 1982, the chain tensioner is on the front of the saw. Don’t much care for that part, but it changed to side access on later models I think.
I don’t get too whacky about old saws, but 024/026 was a solid platform that kinda stayed the same for a couple decades.
The 024 is nice but weighs almost same as 026 and 7 cc less. 42cc I wouldn’t put more than a 16” bar on it, while I’m fine with a 20” on the 026.
There’s an 024 Super too, 024AVS, 45cc I think, but 026 is still better at 49cc.
My 024 is almost as old as me I think it’s 1982, the chain tensioner is on the front of the saw. Don’t much care for that part, but it changed to side access on later models I think.
I don’t get too whacky about old saws, but 024/026 was a solid platform that kinda stayed the same for a couple decades.
climbstihl
Branched out member
- Location
- Germany
That's what I was thinking, I was just wondering since there was a thread a while back about how great the 241 is.
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
My current line up is a 201t, a 361, and a 660.....soon to add the 261 back in. Just figuring out where I want to buy it. The top handle and the 261 are for in tree use. The other two for the ground.
If I had it to do over I would have forked out the extra cash for an 880 instead of the 660. When I reach for the 660, I am really wanting an 880, every single time.
The 361 is a great saw for ground work in my opinion. Get aggressive with the grind and you really won't tell the difference between it and a 440. I can't anyway other than the weight. I miss the 440 none at all.
By the time I am ready for the big guns, the 660 disappoints. I may have to do some horse trading on the big saws, but right now my pennies are going toward a grcs. It's past time I had a grcs. It would speed up so much and would let me bid more competitively. Better prices for my customers, less work for me and the groundie, more money in my pocket. The big saw issue really only affects how fast I clean up big trunks......which isn't every job.
Ug....I guess I am back in this industry. I thought I had kissed it goodbye, but I get one job and now it's all I want to do.
If I had it to do over I would have forked out the extra cash for an 880 instead of the 660. When I reach for the 660, I am really wanting an 880, every single time.
The 361 is a great saw for ground work in my opinion. Get aggressive with the grind and you really won't tell the difference between it and a 440. I can't anyway other than the weight. I miss the 440 none at all.
By the time I am ready for the big guns, the 660 disappoints. I may have to do some horse trading on the big saws, but right now my pennies are going toward a grcs. It's past time I had a grcs. It would speed up so much and would let me bid more competitively. Better prices for my customers, less work for me and the groundie, more money in my pocket. The big saw issue really only affects how fast I clean up big trunks......which isn't every job.
Ug....I guess I am back in this industry. I thought I had kissed it goodbye, but I get one job and now it's all I want to do.
241 is a pro saw. Diffrent animal.
climbstihl
Branched out member
- Location
- Germany
I thought the 024 was as well? Just like the 026 is just the older version of the 261, the 241 is the updated 024. Or did they upgrade the 024 to a pro saw with the 241?
I'll be honest - my grcs sits a lot. I took it out to get my 2wd E350 unstuck this week. Time before that was too long ago to remember. Great device, but don't sweat getting one.
I'll even sell mine for 80% list price plus shipping. I need a cement slab for a shop.
I have done trees of all sorts big and small for 12 years. Have never owned one. Have used the device a few times but there are many ways to skin a cat. It sure has it's place. All big production companies should own one. I am not that biz model.
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
That's something to consider. IDK. I usually end up with the big trees overhanging 500,000 immovable antique Chinese vases, gramma's petunias, and at least one fence line. It seems like half the time I would benefit from having a way to lift largish limbs quickly and control their decent in small ultra controllable increments. Of course as soon as I own a grcs, I won't get another one of those jobs for a decade, but I know I've felt the lack more often than not.
I know there are other ways to get the hide of the feline. I've skinned that cat many different creative ways and always gotten the job done, but I know how much time a winch would have saved me too.
I'll let you know when my penny jar is 80% full.
