MS260 vs. Dolmar5100

[GlennG]

Actually, according to the specs of both companies the 353 weighs in at 11.0 lbs. with 3.3 horsepower. The revs. are 13,000.

The 5100 weighs in at 11.2 lbs. with 3.8 horsepower. The revs on the 5100 are at 14,500.

I've never ran a 353, but according to specs, I respectfully say this statement just doesn't add up.

I've ran a lot of saws. Not as many as some on this site, but the 5100 has become just about our favorite saw. I thought it would be too small, but the more I lean on it, it just seems to beg for more. The saw just flat out screams. My uncle has been in the tree business for 35 years and is a HUGE Stihl fan. He likes Jonesereds too. He just recently ran my 5100. Now, everytime we come to a job, he says, "Get me the Dolmar." I saw him again today and he said his next saw will be a Dolmar 5100. He say he likes it a LOT better than his ms280 and ms290.

Time will tell if it is dependable as the 260, but I'll tell you this: the design on the 5100 is practically perfect. The feel, the balance (with an 18" bar) is just perfect. It's easy to get to the necessary parts and it's designed to let the chips and dust just slide off on the outside. And under the clutch cover, it is the easiest saw to clean that I've ever seen. I just wish it had a compression release.

Just two weeks ago we ran side-by-side a fairly new broke-in 260 pro and a 5100. It was embarrassing. It wasn't even close. Torque? No comparison, the 5100 was by FAR torquier. I felt kinda sorry for the new owner of the 260 pro. But he had a Stihl dealer close by and they are a tried and true saw.

My son and I have been big Stihl fans and we regrettably had to admit that Dolmar has really out done the competition with their 5100 and 7900 models. These saws just flat out have GUTS and the Power Bands to match..

FYI: Saws I've ran and/or owned. Stihl 200t (2) - ms 260 pro - ms 280 - ms 290 - ms 361 - ms 460 (2) - ms 066 - ms 660 - Husky 575xp - 338 xpt California Edition - Dolmar 5100 - 7900

For your work load, I'd say my choice would be the 5100. It's the KING of the 50 cc class, IMO. I try to really be unbiased when it comes to saws and I really like the Huskies I've ran as well. (I hate the darn switch on the 338 though.)

BTW, a GOOD dealer will let you try the saw out RUNNING. A saw in your hand running feels different than just holding it in the store. Try them both. The 'feel' of a saw in my hands is extremely important to me. The 5100 is just right. It's just a better saw. (I haven't even mentioned the vibration levels.)

All this was comparing the saws as the same price. As a matter of fact, if the prices were flipped, I'd still buy the 5100. For example: if a 260pro cost 390.00 (which is what I paid for the 5100) and a 5100 cost 480.00 (which is what a 260 pro goes for) I'd take the Dolmar every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Please don't tell anyone, I don't want the prices to go up.

Take this advice for what you paid for it, I hope it helps.

+1.

I was going to type out a long well thought out reply but Yasha has already said everything that needs to be said.

I have 2 5100`s and they are my favorite saws to use. I am a proffesional arborist. I use big saws and small saws everyday. I like Stihl and Dolmar but the 5100 is my favorite saw to operate.

 

[bookerdog]

Like the 48 mudwasp condo could never happen in a stihl or a dolmar. I have a couple of each. WTF is that LMAO.... It goes on and on.

This, the 681 thing. I think the funniest thing was when the whole 7900 P/C incident happened between YOU and Gregg from Bailey's. You said WE have it, Gregg from Bailey's says we have it also. YOU say we have it $8.80 cheaper. Then YOU make a big fuss about it when Bailey's lowers their price below yours. "My opinion only" To me this was like them giving YOU the middle finger. "Just my opinion" If it was, I can't say I blame them. They kept their mouth shut and took action. While YOU had to pick up the pieces of your shattered $8.80 cheaper comment. The balance of respect was shifted.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=6239

I haven't been on this site to long, but I'll tell you what, I like the way Bailey's handles themselves on this site.

Now your ripping Bailey's for the Univent saw. Does it ever end LMAO..... I'm not sure what it is sour grapes or a case of jealousy is the best form of flattery.

I have never heard any other sponsor ripping another sponsor as much YOU. It seems to me that regular Joe Blow on this site gets banned for lesser.

I've never used a 260. I'm sure it's a great saw, if it runs anything like the 361 or 460 I have. I do have a 5100 and love it. I'm willing to believe Dean about the 260 having more stones down low. I have read many of his posts and come to respect what he has to say.

Brock.....

good post

 

[rbtree]

no mods.

Hmmm.....I've never run a 353.....but doubt it could beat a stock 5100. Why could it? Are the 353 factory specs wrong? Does it beat a stock 346 old style?

My stock 5100 was mighty impressive...it's now sporting an ehp triple ported muffler....and does lag my 5100 ehp, but not by all that much.

Are you coming to the GTG? I'm gonna try.....got a stocker 353?

 

[1rockinacman]

Hmmm.....I've never run a 353.....but doubt it could beat a stock 5100. Why could it? Are the 353 factory specs wrong? Does it beat a stock 346 old style?

My stock 5100 was mighty impressive...it's now sporting an ehp triple ported muffler....and does lag my 5100 ehp, but not by all that much.

Are you coming to the GTG? I'm gonna try.....got a stocker 353?

That You Tube video of you and your piped EHP 5100 was sweet. The best part was that big old grin on your face. That was priceless. He does build a nice saw. My 359 came back one angry little s.o.b.

 

[SawTroll]

Yup, someone at elux got their arse kicked.

Elux have been out of the picture for a couple of years - but you keep forgetting that.......:blob5:

 

[SawTroll]

This about enough of this crap flying all around. I've run them all, and with considerable time behind me on all of them now... The 260 is a slight step up from the 510, that's about it. For like $150 more it damn well should be. THE 026 WILL NOT CUT WITH THE 5100... I hate to tell you, somebody had to break the news, might as well be me. The 5100 is just barely a step down from the 5100, but is faster for limbing and small bucking up to around the 12 inch or so range. The 026 is a saw, as far as I'm concerned, mostly made for limbing and small bucking. The 5100 is way more versatile, just as light, and quite a bit faster, IMO!!!! The 026 is a damn fine saw, very smooth, VERY good torque for it's size, a little better than the 510 IMO, built a little heavier duty than the 5100/510, and super reliable like the old 036's. I've Nothing bad to say about any of them, the 026 is just not what the 5100 is. For the money, the 5100 and the 510 are the BEST saws on the market in the 50cc class. .....

You got the relative weights completely wrong - otherwise I mostly agree....

There is a very notisable weight difference between the MS260 and the 5100, with the 353 and NE346xp about midway between. The 510 weights about like a MS361....

...
The 5100 weighs in at 11.2 lbs. with 3.8 horsepower. The revs on the 5100 are at 14,500.. .....

It weights .4 or .5 lbs more than that, and is the heavyweight of the 50cc pro saw class, while the MS260 is the lightweight along with the old 346xp - otherwise I agree with Scott that it was a great post........

 

[SawTroll]

The 5100 you ran must have had a hole in the piston or something. The 5100 will whoop all over an 026, and the 353 also. The 353 has about the same amount of torque as a 5100, but the 5100 has a lot more zip and cuts faster in wood up to 12" easily.

The 026 is okay, but for $475, it costs the most and has the least performance per dollar of ANY 50cc saw anywhere.

I mostly agree, but ime the 353 has notisably less torque than the 5100 and the NE346xp.

 

[Erick]

.

(We now return you to the original topic already in progress....)

Let me start by saying IMO I really think a one saw "firewooder" should be looking at 60cc saws. I know the 361 is a lot more money but it really is worth it in the long run..... just my opinion. There, got that out of the way.

Now,
I love my MS260

it's the one saw that goes with me every time I cut.

That said I'm gonna recommend the 5100 (if you absolutely can't swing the MS361) for your needs. I think the MS260 would do the work and do it just fine but I think it is approaching the upper end of the "comfort zone" for the 260. I think the little bit of power gained with the 5100 will put it in the "just right" category here, and make it worth the extra weight for you.

The 5100 is definitely the stronger of the two saws..... and it should be.
It is a bigger heavier saw than the 260.

If the MS260 is like a Ford Ranger, and a MS361 is like an F-150....... than the 5100 is the Dodge Dakota of the bunch. It's not quite full size but it really is a bigger truck...... errr saw than the MS260.

 

[SawTroll]

Very good post Erick!

 

[hill]

Saw # 3

This will actually be my 3rd saw, I've got a little Homelite XL that's running very well that I use for limbing, so the Dolmar would be my "bigger" saw. I've been using a Homelite XL-113 for the bigger stuff, but have issues with it every time out. It tends to be a bear to restart after cutting for a half hour or so, thus the reason I'm looking for a 50cc saw.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

I mostly agree, but ime the 353 has notisably less torque than the 5100 and the NE346xp.

I was assuming the 353 had about the same amount of torque as my 55, which is pretty close to the 5100. But the 5100 runs 2000 more rpms so it kicks my 55's ass every time. Of course my 55 is muffler modded, so that might be the reason for the torque difference...

 

[Yasha]

.

(We now return you to the original topic already in progress....)

Let me start by saying IMO I really think a one saw "firewooder" should be looking at 60cc saws. I know the 361 is a lot more money but it really is worth it in the long run..... just my opinion. There, got that out of the way.

Now,
I love my MS260

it's the one saw that goes with me every time I cut.

That said I'm gonna recommend the 5100 (if you absolutely can't swing the MS361) for your needs. I think the MS260 would do the work and do it just fine but I think it is approaching the upper end of the "comfort zone" for the 260. I think the little bit of power gained with the 5100 will put it in the "just right" category here, and make it worth the extra weight for you.

The 5100 is definitely the stronger of the two saws..... and it should be.
It is a bigger heavier saw than the 260.

If the MS260 is like a Ford Ranger, and a MS361 is like an F-150....... than the 5100 is the Dodge Dakota of the bunch. It's not quite full size but it really is a bigger truck...... errr saw than the MS260.

Well put, Erick. Agreed.

 

[Zodiac45]

Either a 260 or 5100 will do, but you are not going to beat a 260, it has proven itself for many years.

Yes you can beat a 260 quite easily. With a 5100.

 

[mini kahuna]

260 vs 5100

I have a 5100 and worked for 4 years on a trimming crew using 026/260's
5100 is stronger than a 260....that being said I cannot say one bad thing about those 260's,ran the guts out of them and they just take everything you throw at them.
people make it sound like the 260 is a slow cutting saw,260 is no slouch either
the 5100 is the hotrod of the 50cc class and the 260 is the dependable,no bs saw.

 

[Erick]

I have a 5100 and worked for 4 years on a trimming crew using 026/260's
5100 is stronger than a 260....that being said I cannot say one bad thing about those 260's,ran the guts out of them and they just take everything you throw at them.
people make it sound like the 260 is a slow cutting saw,260 is no slouch either
the 5100 is the hotrod of the 50cc class and the 260 is the dependable,no bs saw.

+1000

Definitely no slouch on performance.

The 026/MS260 is a bullet proof tank of a saw..... reliable as gravity and will take anything you can dish out short of just plain ole out and out abuse.

 

[SawTroll]

....
The 026/MS260 is a bullet proof tank of a saw..... reliable as gravity and will take anything you can dish out short of just plain ole out and out abuse.

Not so sure about that really - how about all the issues with the choke flap/air filter arrangement, and some carbs that have been used........

 

[bcorradi]

All of the carbs that were ever on the 026/260's work fine, but there are just some that are more desirable than others.

The choke flap works plenty adequate and I have seen very few issues with them. Some have argued that the air filter has sealing issues, require too much maintenance, the surface area of the smaller filter is inadequate etc. If your running a stock saw or a muffler modded saw these are all non issues too imo.

 

[04ultra]

All of the carbs that were ever on the 026/260's work fine, but there are just some that are more desirable than others.

The choke flap works plenty adequate and I have seen very few issues with them. Some have argued that the air filter has sealing issues, require too much maintenance, the surface area of the smaller filter is inadequate etc. If your running a stock saw or a muffler modded saw these are all non issues too imo.

I agree with Brad............The only time the carb on some newer models needs to be changed is when muffler modding or porting.........I have not had any choke issues with my 026 pro's..........

In fact only choke issue I have had with any saw was on a Husky.......

 

[Esbjug]

Some opinions from Norway

I have both a Dolmar 5100S, Stihl MS260 and two Husqvarna 346XP (45 ccm) and just recently got a NE 346XP (not yet started up). My use is soft wood (spruce and pine) and firewood production, cutting smaller dimensions than normal in the US. I think the 346XP (45 ccm) is a very fast saw, with the Dolmar 5100S just a tiny bit slower, but with more torque. Its a great saw for sure. This is a US import, the version here is the Dolmar 5000 without the extra 1k rews from the S type coil. The Stihl MS260 is a great all round saw, but lacks the speed and the force from the Dolmar. Still its a great contruction, well proven. I would recommend both saws, but go for the type you like the best. Dealer location and friendliness is also a thing to consider.

Greetings, Hans, Norway.

 

[bookerdog]

I have both a Dolmar 5100S, Stihl MS260 and two Husqvarna 346XP (45 ccm) and just recently got a NE 346XP (not yet started up). My use is soft wood (spruce and pine) and firewood production, cutting smaller dimensions than normal in the US. I think the 346XP (45 ccm) is a very fast saw, with the Dolmar 5100S just a tiny bit slower, but with more torque. Its a great saw for sure. This is a US import, the version here is the Dolmar 5000 without the extra 1k rews from the S type coil. The Stihl MS260 is a great all round saw, but lacks the speed and the force from the Dolmar. Still its a great contruction, well proven. I would recommend both saws, but go for the type you like the best. Dealer location and friendliness is also a thing to consider.

Greetings, Hans, Norway.

The old 346 is just a great little saw IMO