a funny thing happened on my way to pick up my brand new MS661....

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locustman

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Hello Arborsitesfolk!!
Occasional user here... more than a homeowner i guess cause we process all our own FW.
I do have extensive exp. cutting and processing big logs. in the late 80's I worked for a landscaping construction company in NJ that did FW sales in NYC in the winter time to wealthy clients that had stoves and fireplaces in their pads. So all week long we would cut rounds and split them, weeknights and weekends deliver last years pile. But felling big trees... not your guy!

So after realizing that my botanical garden boss MS290 ( or is it farm boss... :confused: ) just wasnt feeling those 18"+ locusts and cherries. I realized its time to invest in some pro level "beef".
Researched ( lots ) - Settled on the MS661.. called my dealer - he has one in stock... "Hold it for me.... I'll pick it up Saturday morning" I said on a Wednesday.

Thursday - new grandbaby is coming early. Off to Charleston SC on Friday. Saturday on my way back from the hospital with a grin on my face I see Ace HW store with "Stihl" sign on it... Ah... I need some 13/16 files anyhow let me stop in.

Well I got the files and THIS -



photo(2).JPG photo(1).JPG photo.JPG



YEP... NO COMPUTER IN MY SAW!!
Didn't even realize you could get these new. $1150 with 36" bar and chain.
Daul port muffler and 25" bar and chains on the way!!
gonna break it in this weekend with the 25" bar then go town on some large 30" appx logs later in the week!
 
Hate to say it but you should have gone with the 661. It will be night and day difference than your 290, but stock 660s are pretty underwhelming for a 90cc saw. You should plan on modding the muffler.

That said...congrats on your new saw! That should handle 30"+ wood well.


Yep, new DP muffler is on the way. Prolly gonna gut it and make the gasket and rear opening same size as the head opening. Just wondering if I should do it before or after the break in.

Hey maybe I'm old school but I dont want no new chip tech in the chainsaw. Its simple enough of a machine that we dont need that.
Maybe I overpaid... dont know really but there cant be many of these things new in the country. Are there?
 
I would hold off on mods until it's broken in, personally. Keep in mind that modding the muffler will likely void the warranty.

I don't think you overpaid, that seems ballpark with the 36" bar. But the gains in the 661 over the 660 are worth going computerized carb vs. traditional. The 660 is based on an outdated platform, IMO. I understand your position though, I am also hesitant to go with computerized technology. Tuning a saw by ear is easy enough for me...a screwdriver works just fine to keep the saws running sharp.
 
Hate to say it but you should have gone with the 661. It will be night and day difference than your 290, but stock 660s are pretty underwhelming for a 90cc saw. You should plan on modding the muffler.

That said...congrats on your new saw! That should handle 30"+ wood well.

Maybe he still is, he had the local dealer hold a 661 for him.

I think Ace Hardware selling Stihl will slowly kill the quality like has done with most other saw brand, but that's for another campfire.

OP, what are 13/16" files for?
 
I would hold off on mods until it's broken in, personally. Keep in mind that modding the muffler will likely void the warranty.

I don't think you overpaid, that seems ballpark with the 36" bar. But the gains in the 661 over the 660 are worth going computerized carb vs. traditional. The 660 is based on an outdated platform, IMO. I understand your position though, I am also hesitant to go with computerized technology. Tuning a saw by ear is easy enough for me...a screwdriver works just fine to keep the saws running sharp.

If you are talking about the AV... I'm sure its better than the stock 660. But I'm not a pro using it 20 hours a week so it was not a big concern.
But electronics aside, other than the AV what else is markedly better?
 
Performance. I have ran a stock 660 quite a few times wearing a 25" bar and honestly I thought it was a turd of a 90cc saw. Stock for stock I would grab a 372 over a 660 in most wood. The 660 will do OK with the longer bar though, they are decent in the torque department. But they are no speed demon, that is for sure.

If you're looking to put wood in the truck, it will be fine. If you're expecting to be wowed, you might be disappointed. Then again, you are used to running a 290 so...
 
Performance. I have ran a stock 660 quite a few times wearing a 25" bar and honestly I thought it was a turd of a 90cc saw. Stock for stock I would grab a 372 over a 660 in most wood. The 660 will do OK with the longer bar though, they are decent in the torque department. But they are no speed demon, that is for sure.

If you're looking to put wood in the truck, it will be fine. If you're expecting to be wowed, you might be disappointed. Then again, you are used to running a 290 so...


Not wowed... I have all my digits and limbs at the end of the day its a success! I just realized that the 290 is not gonna last long for what I'm doing.
Sounds like you are saying the EPA got its hands on a good saw ;)
I'll throw the dual port cover on after the break in and the run that way for some hours and after that we may void that 2 year thingy... :happybanana:
I'm also curious to see the diff between 36 and 25 bars.
 
If I was going to buy a new 90cc saw I also would go for the MS660. I have no desire to have any saws with computers or automation of any sort that would make it difficult to do my own repairs.

I won't argue with your reasoning but if you ran a stock 660 next to a stock 661 your reasoning might be swayed.
 
If I was going to buy a new 90cc saw I also would go for the MS660. I have no desire to have any saws with computers or automation of any sort that would make it difficult to do my own repairs.

That's my reasoning... well as soon as I saw I could still get a 660. The one thing I was concerned about is - " what do I have to do plug this thing into a computer and get codes?"
 

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