50cc Saw Selection

[blsnelling]

MS261 20" B&C
[video=youtube_share;HxMPgN_2Mvs]http://youtu.be/HxMPgN_2Mvs[/video]

 

[blsnelling]

MS261 vs 346XP
[video=youtube_share;cyOPbMZEDlE]http://youtu.be/cyOPbMZEDlE[/video]

 

[blsnelling]

Brand new MS261, first tank of fuel. Bone stock.
[video=youtube_share;WOZTvF2XT4E]http://youtu.be/WOZTvF2XT4E[/video]

 

[kwhite1271]

The OP said he was interested in Husky because of the four year warranty. Buying a saw is like buying a car. They all make good ones and they all make some bad ones. On average though you will probably get to use that four year warranty from Husky! The 261 can't be beat for an all around firewood saw. Maybe not the lightest, maybe not the fastest, but will do most anything and very dependable. However if its mostly just a limbing saw, why not get the 241 if its available in your area.

 

[nmurph]

346 Stock with new RSC-

Husqvarna 346NE - YouTube


261 Stock with new RSC-

Stihl 261 - YouTube

Both saws are running 18" bars, so I would guess the wood is 12-14". It is very dry oak.

 

[Redoakranch]

I have an old MS260 Pro and a new 346XP and the 346 is a lot easier to use all day but the 260 is still fun and sounds throaty.(It has an adjustable carb and a MM). That being said I want a 562XP 20" techlite soooooo bad. I know it's too close to a 50cc saw but i can't seem to fight it... So I vote for a 562XP as a "50cc" saw, haha. It's light enough right????

 

[bower4311]

I see everyone is leaning towards the 261. Man, I do hate to get rid of the 260 come to think of it, just because of how clean and new it is. I'll probably go to ebay with the saws since it seems to get sellers more money than any alternative.

 

[SawTroll]

The OP said he was interested in Husky because of the four year warranty. Buying a saw is like buying a car. They all make good ones and they all make some bad ones. On average though you will probably get to use that four year warranty from Husky! The 261 can't be beat for an all around firewood saw. Maybe not the lightest, maybe not the fastest, but will do most anything and very dependable. However if its mostly just a limbing saw, why not get the 241 if its available in your area.

Except that it isn't a very good limbing saw, because of lackluster handling qualities and slow trigger response!

 

[nmurph]

I see everyone is leaning towards the 261. Man, I do hate to get rid of the 260 come to think of it, just because of how clean and new it is. I'll probably go to ebay with the saws since it seems to get sellers more money than any alternative.

I would list it here. On Ebay you lose sellers fees and then PayPal takes their cut. You also have to deal with a return policy that is strongly in favor of the buyer...and then there are the parts swappers that buy your saw to get what they need and then file a dispute to return your saw.

 

[bower4311]

I would list it here. On Ebay you lose sellers fees and then PayPal takes their cut. You also have to deal with a return policy that is strongly in favor of the buyer...and then there are the parts swappers that buy your saw to get what they need and then file a dispute to return your saw.

How much do you think I could get for a used 260, if there is a huge difference compared to what I see on ebay, I might take the chance. But I would like a good saw to stay here if it works for me.

 

[Philip Wheelock]

I see everyone is leaning towards the 261. Man, I do hate to get rid of the 260 come to think of it, just because of how clean and new it is. I'll probably go to ebay with the saws since it seems to get sellers more money than any alternative.

I was suggesting the 261 because you didn't sound satisfied with your 260 or maybe you'd just like to be running a new saw. But the grass isn't that much greener with any new stock 50cc saw. Here's why:

If a 260 will make a bucking cut in 12 seconds, a 261 or 550xp will take 2 seconds less, give or take. That's a drop in the bucket in the big picture of the firewood biz. Still have to move the wood to where it can be split, split and stack it, and perhaps deliver it. That's what takes the most time and energy, not to mention the $$$ to buy and maintain the hauling, splitting and delivery equipment.

If I didn't have a 50cc saw, I'd buy a 261 or 550xp for sure. But I do have a 2-year old trouble-free 260 that works as fast as I can. I have a small side business in land clearing/thinning and firewood. My role is to fell, limb and buck selected trees into 8-10' lengths on site, and I have to stay ahead of my partner who has the tractor/bush hog, skid steer/mulcher, and excavator to handle everything else. Where there's bigger wood, the 440 takes care of it; I'm never waiting on the 260 to finish a cut. Honestly, I don't think at the end of the day that I'd see a nickle's difference if I was running another 50cc saw. Seems to me that job efficiency has more to do with physical stamina, skill, planning, and teamwork.

 

[nmurph]

How much do you think I could get for a used 260, if there is a huge difference compared to what I see on ebay, I might take the chance. But I would like a good saw to stay here if it works for me.

$250-300 if it's in good condition, with no fees deducted. You need to clean the saw and post pics in a classified ad.

 

[exSW]

When I was a 20 year old college student I was exactly where this guy is now.I ran a three saw rotation all the same brand.It was handy dealer and service wise not so much when the brand faded(Remington)and the dealer got old.Just about every body makes a good 50cc saw.One guy mentioned Efco,no one mentioned Dolmar,Echo,Redmax and I'm sure I've forgot a few.Putting all your eggs in one basket might not be his best bet.He's young he's going to be running saws for a long time,having a relationship with more than one dealer is probably in his best interest.Brand loyalty is nice but he has to make money all along the way.

 

[blsnelling]

I'm thinking more like $200-$250. AS is not a sellers market and the 260 doesn't bring near what it used to.

 

[bower4311]

I'm thinking more like $200-$250. AS is not a sellers market and the 260 doesn't bring near what it used to.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Philip Wheelock]

How much do you think I could get for a used 260, if there is a huge difference compared to what I see on ebay, I might take the chance. But I would like a good saw to stay here if it works for me.

Go for it. $275 on Craig's List. No shipping costs or eBay scams. Local pickup and cold, hard cash.

 

[bower4311]

Go for it. $275 on Craig's List. No shipping costs or eBay scams. Local pickup and cold, hard cash.

This too.

 

[boxygen]

Its hard for this Husky guy to admit it, but it looks like that Stihl is giving that wood the bizzznissss...

 

[Icedogs28]

i love the ms261. good choice. if you are not married to stihl, look at the jonsered 2152, just got my hands on one the other day and it was awesome! for some reason the reds just feel better to me than the huskys. never had a jonsered i didn't like

 

[apn73]

i love the ms261. good choice. if you are not married to stihl, look at the jonsered 2152, just got my hands on one the other day and it was awesome! for some reason the reds just feel better to me than the huskys. never had a jonsered i didn't like

I don't have any experience J'red, but I spent most of my life in southern Maine and it seemed like most of the serious folks in the area swore by them. The void left by McC/Homelite had to be filled and J'red dropped right in and sold a lot of saws in my old area.