346xp, 353 or others?

[Fast]

Hi chainsaw guys.

Well, currently I have two saws that just don`t give me the last percents of performance I wan`t.

The two saws I have:

Stock Stihl 260: Bit too bulky and big, use much petrol compared to power, little low accelerating - more like a chevy than a corvette, low vibrating.

Stock Stihl 200: Fast response and acceleration, ok power for small things, easy and fast to move and use.

So what I want is to have the best of each of these two saws mixed into one saw. I know, not easy. A light and handy saw - lighter is always better, fast to move and go with, fast acceleration and response, high quality....

What would you suggest then?. Preferably stock saw.

Can ms200 be tuned too?

 

[Typhoon]

Suggestions..

The 346xp, 353, and 350. In that order. All three of these saws are top notch in my opinion as far as power/weight ratio and vibrations. Of all the saws I have ever used, the 346xp has impressed me the most. Followed by the 350. Good luck!

 

[Chainsaw_Maniac]

In my opinion it doesn't get any better than a Stihl 260. If it's too bulky and big for you then there isn't a stock saw made that you'll like.

The only thing you can really do is make sure that the 260 is running at peak efficiancy with a good sharp chain and everything. Consider opening up the muffler or having a saw builder completly mod one for you.

 

[rbtree]

The 346/350/353 chassis is a more compact package than the 026. I've run and owned several 3 cube saws, in this order, I rank them:
346, Shindaiwa 488, 026 and Solo 651SP. Some of these I've mostly run in modified form. There's nothing I don't like about the 346, but I had a few issues with the 026...softish vib mounts, poor master control switch design, minor stuff really.

But if you mod that 026, it should perk right up...and save you buying another saw.

 

[rbtree]

So what I want is to have the best of each of these two saws mixed into one saw. I know, not easy. A light and handy saw - lighter is always better, fast to move and go with, fast acceleration and response, high quality....

What would you suggest then?. Preferably stock saw.

Can ms200 be tuned too? [/B][/QUOTE]

The two saws are completely different, for differnet applications, there is nothing in between.

Ken Dunn (kdhotsaw) is the only builder I know of that has modded a 200T. The power gains were amazing. I'd bet it would have smoked a stock 260.

A simple fix on the 200 is to pull out the screw that holds the muffler screen and the screen, if I recall correctly (I dont own a 200). This results in a nice gain all by itself. My worker's 200's will beat my 338 Husky that has had $200 worth of mods done to it.

 

[Fast]

Re: Re: 346xp, 353 or others?

Can ms200 be tuned too?

The two saws are completely different, for differnet applications, there is nothing in between. [/QUOTE]

Well, not exactly. I have the standard model. Just the plain MS200, but it doesn`t seem to be stocked in US. We have it in europe, it looks like this:

http://www.mowers-online.co.uk/itm00576.htm

It has the same body as the ms200 t.

But to the choices. Seems like the competition is between a bloodtrimmed ms200 and a xp346. If Ken could have janked the 200 up the power of a pp346, that had been nice. And without too much screaming and with less vibration than stock. :angel:
My fantasy saw.


What are the most important things to do with the ms 200 if you start with the most important first. Was it first exhaust?..what is next.

Otrher pro`s for the ms 200: No gyro forces as the cylinder is laying horisontally. Can`t say that about ms260. If I am sawing like a crazy with iit, I can really feel the gyros from it. If full throttle and moving it around. Agh..kinda slows me down. Don`t like that.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

If you are intent on having a real good saw in the 3 cu. range, my suggestion would be a Husky 346XP built by Dan Henry. I have 2 of these insane saws and nothing that I have run in the 3 cu. range has come close. Mind you, I am not saying that a Stihl 260 can't be made to run like a Dan Henry 346 I am just going from personal experience. I think it fair to say that Husky has the smoothest saws out there now too. Good Luck.

 

[Bill G]

Am I missing something or doesn't that website break the "Stihl Golden Rule" The prices are terrible but it says that includes shipping in the UK.

Bill

 

[bwalker]

Bill, Add 80% to that price to convert it to USD and it doesnt sound so good.

 

[Bill G]

Ben,

As I stated the prices are terrible. The thing that is really amazing is the fact that they appear to be selling saws over the internet. That is against the golden rule with Stihl.

Bill

 

[jokers]

Hi Fast,

Something is wrong with your 026 if it`s slow revving and using alot of gas. It should also have very good power for a saw that weighs 10 1/2 pounds. If you aren`t proficient in troubleshooting and repair, maybe you should have a dealer look at this saw.

I`ve got to ask though, how could the 026 be too big and bulky for anything other than one handed operation? You should have a 346xp however and it sounds like the factory kit that Qatanlison mentioned is a good investment.

BTW, what part of Norway are you in? I`m looking for someone to shack up with when I go to Bergen. I don`t eat or drink too much and in time you will get used to my snoring.

Russ

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Jokers, the 026 is huge compared to a ms200, even that rear handled thing.

 

[tony marks]

i would agree with russ there. i dont own but one husk,, so cant comment on your other choices. but if your 026 was
rite ,im bettin u would not want to replace it. it aint the best fire wood saw as i think a little more wt helps in cutting firewood up. but for going in an working a felled tree up ,limbs an all. its been a real dependable hard worker. fast exceleration,is one of mines strong points. dependable and durable would be other words id describe it with. it fills its slot pretty good.