Educate me please, Husqvarna model 61

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

I have a customer with one, it’s not currently for sale, but he says he can’t start it anymore because of his shoulder so he favors a 455 Rancher that he has. Not sure why, but it calls to me, I like the size, I like the look. My family went first to Johnsereds then Husqvarna from Stihl in the early 90’s so we don’t have any relics kicking around. In looking it looks like the 61 ran from 1980-97 and I see some that look like a modern 2or 300 series and some with a black top, some with a white, I think this one has an orange top and steel wire chain brake lever.
What is what with these series, what should someone know if they were looking for one ?

 

[Mad Professor]

I have a customer with one, it’s not currently for sale, but he says he can’t start it anymore because of his shoulder so he favors a 455 Rancher that he has. Not sure why, but it calls to me, I like the size, I like the look. My family went first to Johnsereds then Husqvarna from Stihl in the early 90’s so we don’t have any relics kicking around. In looking it looks like the 61 ran from 1980-97 and I see some that look like a modern 2or 300 series and some with a black top, some with a white, I think this one has an orange top and steel wire chain brake lever.
What is what with these series, what should someone know if they were looking for one ?

I got one free a while back. Have not played with it yet, but gifter said it was running but sat a while.

What I've read is related to 266 and 272 saws, I think? And some parts can be swapped.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Detuned open port saws for firewood cutters back in the day to cost cheaper. JMO.

2 series husky

With crap muffler baffle in middle and side almost closed up depending on year.

Fine saws you can buy cheap. Not much resell on them I found out.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

I have a customer with one, it’s not currently for sale, but he says he can’t start it anymore because of his shoulder so he favors a 455 Rancher that he has. Not sure why, but it calls to me, I like the size, I like the look. My family went first to Johnsereds then Husqvarna from Stihl in the early 90’s so we don’t have any relics kicking around. In looking it looks like the 61 ran from 1980-97 and I see some that look like a modern 2or 300 series and some with a black top, some with a white, I think this one has an orange top and steel wire chain brake lever.
What is what with these series, what should someone know if they were looking for one ?

Okay, Husqvarna 61 as you point out, come in white top, grey top and orange top- with the white being the earliest marque and the orange the latest- orange top should be plastic brake flag and single coil- but here is the kicker- pretty much everything from a 162 Husqvarna to a 272 XP swaps over to the original 61 chassis crankcase.
Now there are some "catches" like front top cover screw in front or behind the recoil cover, intake tract differences, height of cylinder not fitting under top cover, coarse thread and fine thread cranks on PTO side- but they all share the same stroke.
Then you can throw a spanner in the works and claim the Jonsered 625 is a Husqvarna 61- which essentially they are, except for the rubber intake manifold, choke set fast idle and separate impulse line the Jonsered has.
61's are still very capable and usable as a firewooding and general purpose farm saw. They sit nicely with an 18 or 20 inch bar and standard 3/8 chain- they generally do not like a whole lot more than that, but who really needs more for firewood?
Easy to work on, catered for well if you like aftermarket parts, can be upgraded to 266/268/272 without too many issues, but if it aint broke- dont fix it, run it as is.
Being orange topped and metal brake flagged- it might have been a grey top and had a replacement- might even have been cylinder upgraded already.
Fish gill muffler is trash- if it has one, replace it- Asian aftermarket are fine for mufflers- not so much for pistons and cylinders.

 

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

Okay, Husqvarna 61 as you point out, come in white top, grey top and orange top- with the white being the earliest marque and the orange the latest- orange top should be plastic brake flag and single coil- but here is the kicker- pretty much everything from a 162 Husqvarna to a 272 XP swaps over to the original 61 chassis crankcase.
Now there are some "catches" like front top cover screw in front or behind the recoil cover, intake tract differences, height of cylinder not fitting under top cover, coarse thread and fine thread cranks on PTO side- but they all share the same stroke.
Then you can throw a spanner in the works and claim the Jonsered 625 is a Husqvarna 61- which essentially they are, except for the rubber intake manifold, choke set fast idle and separate impulse line the Jonsered has.
61's are still very capable and usable as a firewooding and general purpose farm saw. They sit nicely with an 18 or 20 inch bar and standard 3/8 chain- they generally do not like a whole lot more than that, but who really needs more for firewood?
Easy to work on, catered for well if you like aftermarket parts, can be upgraded to 266/268/272 without too many issues, but if it aint broke- dont fix it, run it as is.
Being orange topped and metal brake flagged- it might have been a grey top and had a replacement- might even have been cylinder upgraded already.
Fish gill muffler is trash- if it has one, replace it- Asian aftermarket are fine for mufflers- not so much for pistons and cylinders.

Thank you for all of that! So am I correct that the 61 is a larger version of the 55 ? When did the rancher name
Get added?

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Thank you for all of that! So am I correct that the 61 is a larger version of the 55 ? When did the rancher name
Get added?

Well, no not really the larger version- more the bigger sister. 55 is more related to the 154 family- 61 more the 162 family.
Rancher- well they were always kind of known as Practica from white topped ones- which is Swedish for Rancher so to speak.
Rancher is just a marketing name and does not define one 61 from another- there is no Rancher/Non Rancher- they are all just 61's.

 

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

Well, no not really the larger version- more the bigger sister. 55 is more related to the 154 family- 61 more the 162 family.
Rancher- well they were always kind of known as Practica from white topped ones- which is Swedish for Rancher so to speak.
Rancher is just a marketing name and does not define one 61 from another- there is no Rancher/Non Rancher- they are all just 61's.

In 97’ my grandfather bought a 55, looked just like the 300 series saws, then shortly after that it seemed like they went to the 455 Rancher. My brother still has that saw, after he kills it… and he will.. I hope to get it back. It was a great little saw to carry around.

 

[StoneyMeadowMaple]

Is there any reason to avoid a white top saw? I like the look, it would be for entertainment use, not something I need or plan to use regularly.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Is there any reason to avoid a white top saw? I like the look, it would be for entertainment use, not something I need or plan to use regularly.

Not really- they are all pretty much the same- just the white tops will be the earliest version.
It will have twin coils- or rather coil and trigger pack, has a close fitting top cover that you cannot really fit a 272 cylinder under, will have a coarse thread clutch and it is getting hard to find a white top with an unmolested white top! One not cracked, or melted, or some dirty shade of grey.

 

[madhatte]

One of the best saw families. Collect 'em all!