Deciding on a new saw

[KarlD]

Just buy the best and get a 500i

 

[huskihl]

I’d port the 361

 

[BradSt]

The 462 smokes a 361 and 362 all day long, especially in bigger wood. I cut side by side with both saws regularly (buddy owns a 361 and 362). The bigger the wood, the bigger the difference, and it ain't "buyers remorse". A 462 trades wins with a 500i, not a 361. Also, the 462 doesn't have any "vibe" issues. Some of the stuff I read on this site is baffling.

 

[Derrick Sawyer]

I also just got a ms400 which will wear a 20" lite bar but if you already have a good running 361 i would agree to instead get a 461 or 572 or 661 for the 25" bar All depends on how much money you got and how much weight you like to carry around

 

[Dennisthemenace]

I have had a MS361 I bought new for many years, probably 04-05. Run it mainly with a 20" bar, I have a 16" as well when I want to put it on. I cut firewood mainly, and live on 35 acres of woods plus my dad owns 90 more acres of hunting land so I do a lot of work there as well. Lately I have been cleaning up a lot of larger blow downs. I now have a big beech tree blown down and a large elm. I started debating on buying a new saw to handle some of this bigger stuff i have been getting into. I still love the 361, but when you bury the 20" bar in hardwood it feels it. New saw would probably wear a 20" most of the time and have a 25" as a second bar. Went to the dealer the other day and he had just gotten in a MS400. He gave me an out the door price with a 20" light bar of $900. Said he would give me $300 on trade if I wanted. His sticker price on the 462 is $1089 with an 18" standard bar. So probably another hundred or so for a 20" light. So the difference between the 2 is substantial. I like the idea of the MS400 being the same weight as what I got with an extra 8cc which is almost 14%more. But everything I see about the 462 is that its an awesome saw. I dont want to go 500i, he said he already has a waiting list of about 20 people. But he is keeping the 400 behind the desk for me to decide today. What are everyones thoughts? What about trade on the 361 at $300? What could I sell it for? Its in good shape, no broken plastic, bar is well worn, but it runs great.

I'd keep the 361, put a 18 "on it, get a 462 /461 with a 20"and when you can, add a 660 for extra big stuff or milling. The 462 is a great saw, with a muffler mod it pulls 20" 404 in Aussie hardwood no worries.
I don't understand comments about excess vibration, mine is a lot smoother than my 461

 

[johnsayen]

I'd keep the 361, put a 18 "on it, get a 462 /461 with a 20"and when you can, add a 660 for extra big stuff or milling. The 462 is a great saw, with a muffler mod it pulls 20" 404 in Aussie hardwood no worries.
I don't understand comments about excess vibration, mine is a lot smoother than my 461

According to the UK site which lists the antivibration numbers the left hand has a higher number than many other saws. No Idea if that means anything in the real world as the numbers don’t really mean anything to me other than the smaller the better. But I have no idea how they scale. You can see the 461 has a lot bigger numbers than the rest.

The 261 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 400 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 461 has 5.8/5.3 m/s^2
The 462 has 4.8/3.6 m/s^2
The 500i has 4.2/4.0 m/s^2

 

[Reesedlightning]

For what you are going to pay for a new 462 or 661, you could buy a used 064 (85cc and only 15lbs) but in great shape and that is a hell of a fun saw. Great power to weight ratio and muff modded will pull a 30”+ bar. Food for thought

 

[sled_22]

According to the UK site which lists the antivibration numbers the left hand has a higher number than many other saws. No Idea if that means anything in the real world as the numbers don’t really mean anything to me other than the smaller the better. But I have no idea how they scale. You can see the 461 has a lot bigger numbers than the rest.

The 261 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 400 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 461 has 5.8/5.3 m/s^2
The 462 has 4.8/3.6 m/s^2
The 500i has 4.2/4.0 m/s^2

I've ran the 462 for approx. 15-20 tanks thus far. I don't ever remember feeling a noticeable vibration. That's felling, bucking big & small and limbing all wearing a 28" light bar with full chisel chain.
My honest belief is those numbers don't really mean squat and they're all likely similar.

 

[hwrdpromac7900]

Get the MS361 ported and muffler mod. 25 inch bar all day long.

 

[5shot]

Get the MS361 ported and muffler mod. 25 inch bar all day long.

Who would you suggest for the Muffler Mod?

 

[huskihl]

Who would you suggest for the Muffler Mod?

It’s included in the port job

 

[Jonny Quest]

Husky guy here, so my comments come with a Swedish accent. Keep the Stihl you have and get a 390XP with 24” bar. I lived in TX and went through several hurricanes. The 390XP ate hundreds of southern yellow pines and monster oaks. Amazing saw. Smooooooth and they take mods well if you feel so inclined. I like that two saw line-up with the 361 on small and the 390 on big.

JQ

 

[hwrdpromac7900]

Watch a few video's of some ported ms361 saws on youtube.

 

[Vanguard]

The 462 smokes a 361 and 362 all day long, especially in bigger wood. I cut side by side with both saws regularly (buddy owns a 361 and 362). The bigger the wood, the bigger the difference, and it ain't "buyers remorse". A 462 trades wins with a 500i, not a 361. Also, the 462 doesn't have any "vibe" issues. Some of the stuff I read on this site is baffling.

My experience sings the same tune. I run an MS 261 and MS 462... ran an 029 Super with an 044 Magnum in the past. The 261 is great for small stuff... excellent power to weight ratio, less fuel consumption, and that smooth .325 pitch. My 462 comes out for big stuff and has excellent power to weight ratio as well, and has the power to pull up to a 32" bar in Doug Fir if I really want it to.

The 462 with 28" bar, skip tooth chain smokes every 361/362 I've cut next to as well when it comes to larger wood, especially older wood. Go buck a <100 year tree vs >400 year tree, both the same diam and you'll see the 462 outshine. Cutting small, young diam trees doesn't show a meaningfull difference in one cc class compared to another, ie. my 261 is close enough to my 462 in <12 inch wood, so I use the much lighter saw.

I've always looked at the 361/362 class of saws almost as an attempt for a "Goldylocks" saw, but falling short in power with bigger, older wood or in power to weight ratio in cutting small stuff when a smaller cc saw is all that is needed. I suppose the MS 400 could reign as a better "Goldylocks"... I've always wished for more power, not for a handful of ounces lighter. If I'm not mistaken, the 400 was aimed more for smokejumpers?

Three key things I've found that matters on any cc class of saw... chain filing, bar maintenance, and tuning in the wood, not on the bench. I've bucked a cord of 24" wood just for fun in no time with my 261... curious if the original poster has all three things aligned, making sure their 361 is in tip top shape. It should run a 24" bar no prob with a sharp chain, dressed bar, and proper tuning.

I'd suggest a 461 or 462 all the way for the original poster. If the 361 is in great condition, sell for more cash rather than trade for $300 if finances permit and work on getting a 261. I've found a 50cc saw with a 70cc compliments each other very well in alot of work... if big wood was the norm, than my smallest saw would be a 461 / 462, maybe that new 400 once proven. Otherwise, if they keep the 361, I'd look into a 500i.

Looks like post started back in April, but if they haven't pulled the trigger yet, hopefully more feedback from experience helps...

 

[Trailsawyer]

One saw plan?
My son got a new "power tuned" 400 for Fathers Day..... pretty impressive saw! We were comparing it to my 462 a couple days ago....
both saws running 28" light bars in a 30" fir. Pretty close to equals - except the 400 is about 1 1/2 lbs. lighter! Mods include port "cleanup", squish set, air filter, Bark Box muffler cover, bigger clutch cover, West Coast Saw dogs, and a wrap handlebar.

 

[Canyon Angler]

According to the UK site which lists the antivibration numbers the left hand has a higher number than many other saws. No Idea if that means anything in the real world as the numbers don’t really mean anything to me other than the smaller the better. But I have no idea how they scale. You can see the 461 has a lot bigger numbers than the rest.

The 261 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 400 has 3.5/3.5 m/s^2
The 461 has 5.8/5.3 m/s^2
The 462 has 4.8/3.6 m/s^2
The 500i has 4.2/4.0 m/s^2

And according to the data sheet at
https://static.stihl.com/security_d...Y14Z*MTYyNDgzNTQ1MC4xLjEuMTYyNDgzNTU4Mi42MA..the 361 has lower left-hand vibration than any of them (2.9).