husqvarna 550xp vs. stihl cm-261

[thor97]

I'm new to this forum, guys, and am wondering which saw you all think is best. I cut about 100 face cords a year and am a husqvarna man. My local dealer has both(but mostly stihl) and I would like to support him, he stocks the stihl but would have to order the husky. I currently am using a 562xp and 346xp. Both phenomenal saws. It would be hard for me to go with the stihl, but am willing to consider it. What are you're thoughts?

 

[TreeswingerPerth]

Stihl make some great saws , 461 /661 current . 260/440 /460 /660 older . In my opinion the 261 /361 are pretty poor in comparison , give me husky any day .
I use saws every day and the two 261's I had were the worst ever , spent more time at the dealer than working .

 

[sunfish]

In the 50cc class it's Husky. The new 261 is better, but still bulky compared to the 550xp.

I personally prefer a ported 346xp and have a few that get a lot of use.

 

[thor97]

Am also looking for a older 90cc saw just for noodling. Any suggestions?

 

[benp]

Am also looking for a older 90cc saw just for noodling. Any suggestions?

394/395 Husky........but I am partial to those.

They come up in the classifieds here so I would keep an eye out there.

 

[benp]

I'll add one more thought on the 90cc saw.

I bought mine with the same intent as you, for noodling.

It has become my go to saw. I love it.

 

[StihlinKS]

New member long time lurker. Just a five cord a year guy. I picked the 261CM two years ago after trying both. Have been happy with it. It feels slightly heavier than the 26 it replaced but runs stronger. Have not had a seconds worth of trouble with the auto tune cutting in summer or winter weather. Don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[Full Chisel]

Spend the money on getting your 346 ported and you'll have twice the saw of either and more reliable to boot.

 

[sunfish]

Spend the money on getting your 346 ported and you'll have twice the saw of either and more reliable to boot.

^^^This^^^

 

[cantoo]

Well, I'll be durned. I thought Husqvarna just made sewing machines. Now they build saws? Can you sew with them too?

Treeswingerperth, I'm not happy hearing that, I have a 260 and was considering getting a new 261 just to have a new saw. I really like my 260 and use it more than any other saw. Maybe I'll just stay with what I have.


I have a couple of husky's but seldom run them, they get lent out. I have a 455 that is a nice saw but when I put it in the truck with the Stihls, they just fight.

 

[thor97]

porting the 346xp would probably be a waste of time as it's getting old. and benp, doesn't that 395 get awfully heavy as you're main saw? You must cut a lot of body wood as I tend to cut mostly whole trees(and preferably small to medium size as the big ones are hard on my back) . I actually am trading a stihl 290 on either saw. My dealer will give me $200 bucks on a tradein. They are about the same price and the stihl is in really good shape as I hardly used it once I got the 346xp. How would a ported 550xp do? I think I'm leaning towards it right now, we'll see how the ergonomics compare.

 

[Full Chisel]

If it were me I would send it to a builder and have it rebuilt and ported. But since you are leaning towards a trade in, my choice would be the 550xp. If you are going with a Stihl I would rather have a 241 than a 261. It handles and feels more like a "small saw" to me.

 

[thor97]

Thank-you all for all the excellent advice.

 

[svk]

Even as much as I enjoy my 550 I would suggest just having a reputable saw builder do a pressure/vacuum test on your 346 and port it up.

 

[cantoo]

I agree with the lighter saw is handier thinking. Lately I've been cutting ash trees down for firewood. I cut them to 12' length and haul home on a trailer and cut into rounds later. Trees are small to 16" or so diameter, the 260 does a decent job with sharp chain and is much easier on the back when limbing. I use a 460 or a 660 to cut them into rounds. When I used to just get tops for firewood I used my 170 for limbing and the 260 to cut into rounds. I prefer to use a lighter saw with sharp chains than a heavy saw and dull chains.

 

[thor97]

Couldn't agree more. I cut the trees into rounds in the woods as its easier to load them. I guess your loading style depends on how you are set up. The big stuff gets rolled up the trailer ramp and into the trailer. The manageable rounds get thrown into the truck. Thats how I roll.

 

[cantoo]

Thor97, I have a tractor and loader and now 3pth grapple on the rear. I try not to manually handle the wood if I can help it. I have to do enough by hand as it is. I even use the loader to hold the logs while I cut them into rounds. I cut them at 32" for my owb and wood splitter with 4 way adjustable wedge.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have to do enough by hand as it is. I even use the loader to hold the logs while I cut them into rounds.

Holding them over a wagon or trailer with a tractor as you saw them IS the way to go!

No manual lifting to load them, and then you can roll them right off the trailer onto the splitters beam to split them!

SR

 

[cantoo]

I load the rounds onto my dump truck with the loader. The dump truck is backed up to the splitter table and I raise the hoist to roll them onto the table to be split. Only hand work is roll them onto splitter then of course the stacking into crates. 32" wood adds up in a hurry.

 

[cantoo]

Couple pics of splitting. I just pull the splitter ahead when the pile gets high enough.