Chainsaw sizing?

[rocksnstumps]

If my MS250 died I would step up to the MS261 for a really good combo of power/weight ratio. But my MS250 just runs and runs. I live with it cause with a sharp chain it cuts pretty well actually. As such I carry multiple chains with me and change them out without hesitation to sharpen back at home. A semi sharp aka semi dull chain on a MS250 is frustrating and not dealing with that crap. So for me lightweight trumps bigger power head and make up for it with only running sharp chains.

Also use wedges a fair amount. Want stuff to go where I want (mostly, lol)and if slight change of 10-15 ft avoids more rocks on the ground the better

 

[deepsleep]

If my MS250 died I would step up to the MS261 for a really good combo of power/weight ratio. But my MS250 just runs and runs. I live with it cause with a sharp chain it cuts pretty well actually. As such I carry multiple chains with me and change them out without hesitation to sharpen back at home. A semi sharp aka semi dull chain on a MS250 is frustrating and not dealing with that crap. So for me lightweight trumps bigger power head and make up for it with only running sharp chains.

Also use wedges a fair amount. Want stuff to go where I want (mostly, lol)and if slight change of 10-15 ft avoids more rocks on the ground the better

100% correct on a sharp chain. It doesn’t matter how strong your power head is if you’re pulling a dull chain. It sounds like that 250 is great for your needs. The difference with the 261 is 33% more hp at the same weight. The 400 is 20% heavier with roughly double the hp (it exceeds Stihl rating per dyno testing). It all comes down to your needs. I agree with you on wedges. I carry 3 and a mallet.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I run an older made in West Germany Stihl 044 with a 20" bar for tree felling and bucking up logs. About 71cc...it's a beast, but it's heavy.

I then have a 24 year old 50 cc Husqvarna 350 with an 18" bar that I absolutely love for delimbing and moving a little quicker in the woods, clearing trails, spring storm damage clean-up, etc. Nowhere near as heavy as the 044. I blew the crank seals on it about 6 years ago and bought a 45cc Stihl 251 Wood Boss as a commensurate replacement for the 350 at the recommendation of the guys at my local shop. It was not. I've hated that saw ever since I bought it. Underpowered and boggy. Got so sick of it last year that I paid to have my old 350 rebuilt. Just got it back. Doubt I'll get another 20 years out of it. But man, glad to have it back instead of the 251.

The Stihl 251 is a decent home-owners saw. But for what I'm doing it's just not adequate. I use it now solely for delimbing because it's light.

 

[rocksnstumps]

An 044 is a heavy beast. I used to run an 041AV similar. Not high revving saws back in the day but could completely bury the bar without bogging down. The higher revving saws of today do seem to cut faster in most conditions.

An opened up muffler on the 250 does help some too. Not sure what they did between 250 and 251 with keeping goobermint happy

 

[Natty Bumppo]

An 044 is a heavy beast. I used to run an 041AV similar. Not high revving saws back in the day but could completely bury the bar without bogging down. The higher revving saws of today do seem to cut faster in most conditions.

An opened up muffler on the 250 does help some too. Not sure what they did between 250 and 251 with keeping goobermint happy

Did you and I just have this same conversation on the Maple Trader forum? If it's not you, it's a strange coincidence. Guy from Wind Lake Wisconsin was telling me about running an 041 AV when he was younger and was giving me some tips to get more out of my 251....muffler job.

That's weird if that wasn't you.

But yes...my 044 is heavy. If I am just bucking up logs it's not too bad. Felling trees takes some work if I am out there for a while. But as I get older I have learned to slow down and not know when it's time to call it a day.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Nope Natty,
Not me. Ok officially weird coincidence.

Edit: Now you have to figure out who is AI and who is the real one

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Nope Natty,
Not me. Ok officially weird coincidence.

Edit: Now you have to figure out who is AI and who is the real one

LOL.

That's really weird. Two guys, both from Wisconsin, both who ran an older 041 AV, both who recommended a muffler mod to get more out of my 251...within 4 days of each other on 2 different forums. Too funny.

I always heard that the 041 was slow...but full of torque.

 

[Skeeter]

I thought two saw was necessary so you can cut out the first saw when you punch the blade?! I did that twice yesterday on some small limbs…


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I went the cheaper route and bought a second bar and chain so I can just pull the power head off and cut out the stuck bar. Got pretty quick at it my first year doing a bunch of cutting.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Natty
Yah, us Sconnie guys all think alike except the lefty loonies in Madison lol

 

[bigboreblr]

ms261 with a 16 inch bar rocks! Have mine for almost 15 years. IGnition coil died maybe 5 years ago. Only ever used non ethanol. Carb hasnt been touched.

Only 2 gripes. IT is a loud saw and wish it had a priming bulb. Just stop the motor once you think it's out of gas. Higher idle is one cue. Great power, lightweight, easy to start if it has gas. Out of gas, you got to pull it 10 times till the fuel pump moves enough fuel. Rarely use the decompression. Tempted to get the plug out for it, never did though.

Keep a good air filter on it, take th covers off and clean it once a year. You got a great saw for a decade or two. ITs lightweight, a bit more powerful than the farmboss, handle absord vibes good too.

My 2dn saw it a M18 hatchet. Love that little thing.

Do about 6 or 7 cords or less a year, great tool.

 

[Mortenson]

90% of what I need done is with the 201. Really like how light it is. Have a 361 for the bigger stuff. My newest pole saw is HT 135. Still have the 75 but wanted more power. A project someday will be to get my dad's old 056 Super running. Also have a milwaukee that's kinda silly but I guess it comes in handy around the yard once in a while. It's a backup.

 

[T-Max]

I was cutting with dad yesterday and saw ours is a MS271. Couldn’t remember, but it does plenty for us. It replaced a Farm Boss (MS 029?) that we finally wore out. We had that one forever and it was an awesome machine. Scored pistons did it in. Anyhow, I have cut many hundreds of trees with the 271 since we got it maybe 5 years ago. Like others have said, a good sharp chain is the difference maker. I swapped chains yesterday and probably cut twice as many trees in the same time as last week.

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[Howboutthemdawgs]

I had been piddling with a dull chain for a while now. Too lazy and cheap to get a new one. Just been trying to sharpen it on my own with limited success. Got a new chain for Christmas. My goodness.

 

[Tree Spud]

I had been piddling with a dull chain for a while now. Too lazy and cheap to get a new one. Just been trying to sharpen it on my own with limited success. Got a new chain for Christmas. My goodness.

Buy 2 extra chains. Take 2 into the local hardware store for sharpening. That way you have one to use if needed and another that should be ready in a week or two.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Buy 2 extra chains. Take 2 into the local hardware store for sharpening. That way you have one to use if needed and another that should be ready in a week or two.

Absolutely. That’s my plan. Gonna buy one or two more and always have sharp chains on the saws. Dull chains are such a waste of time and energy.

 

[T-Max]

If I'm making chips, I'm still going. When I start making dust, it's time to change. Of course the first thing I did with the new chain yesterday was find the tree with the old wire grown in it.......

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Sometimes I like to bring out the big saw.

 

[SD51555]

I have 8 chains. I don't really need 8. I could probably get by with 4, but I like having extra supplies, and when I get down to 2 sharp ones left, I take the other ones in for sharpening. I can tell some of mine might not get another sharpen now, but that's ok. I could get down a few chains before I need to buy a new one.

 

[gjs4]

One thing I would mention, and i am sure there will be opposition, is do not buy a top handled saw if you get a smaller one. They're dangerous with arborists and deadly for the recreational user.

 

[TreeDaddy]

If I'm making chips, I'm still going. When I start making dust, it's time to change. Of course the first thing I did with the new chain yesterday was find the tree with the old wire grown in it.......

or one brief pass through dirt and you're done

bill