My new 260 Pro took no prisoners today

[Slamm]

I just had a buddy that ported and modded all my Stihls, get a 260 and work it over, straight from the dealer and I just love this little thing. I've never owned such a little saw.

He went a little extra crazy on this thing as its the loudest saw I've got (while being the smallest), but man with a 20" bar, buried in Pinn Oak and new Stihl Semi Chisel Chain from the box you could literally pull on the back handle and pry it into the wood and it wouldn't slow down. I have been using it a lot to cut branches and trees off of our insurance customer's houses when I am making inspections and other than its insane loudness, LOL, its great and really fast.

I brought the modded 441 with 24" bar for bigger stuff and ended up whacking an 22" oak off of a house just with the 260 and it was quite the little worker. I never even bothered with the 441.

When he shipped it to me, he appologized for making it so loud. While waiting for it in the mail, I said,"Oh, thats alright if its loud, I don't care."

He said,"No you don't understand this thing is really, really loud."

I got it, started right out of the box with the little bit of fuel still in it and was shocked it is really, really loud, LOL. I haven't run the Modded 084 lately, but it might rival it, its way louder than the 441, it just about makes your ears bleed, LOL.

He has a hole in that thing be enough to stick your finger in, but it sure does run strong so we wear our ear protection like always.

I run a 3/8 - 7pin and I cut a bunch of firewood up at the house and have to agree with the gas tank milage thing a little. Look I know it has a little "dixie cup" gas tank, but I kinda thought it would run longer than the legendary 361 on a tank of gas, but no way, my 361 will still cut more wood on a tank and probably a gallon of gas than any saw I know of any size. So the 260 only has it bet in lighter size but not better mileage, LOL.

I still think the 361 is the greatest saw period, ever made, and modded its even better, but I do like this little 260 for being just a handy little thing rinky dink thing, for odd trimmings and higher tree work or packing away in a car or something.

My opinion,

Sam

 

[Plasmech]

I just had a buddy that ported and modded all my Stihls, get a 260 and work it over, straight from the dealer and I just love this little thing. I've never owned such a little saw.

He went a little extra crazy on this thing as its the loudest saw I've got (while being the smallest), but man with a 20" bar, buried in Pinn Oak and new Stihl Semi Chisel Chain from the box you could literally pull on the back handle and pry it into the wood and it wouldn't slow down. I have been using it a lot to cut branches and trees off of our insurance customer's houses when I am making inspections and other than its insane loudness, LOL, its great and really fast.

I brought the modded 441 with 24" bar for bigger stuff and ended up whacking an 22" oak off of a house just with the 260 and it was quite the little worker. I never even bothered with the 441.

When he shipped it to me, he appologized for making it so loud. While waiting for it in the mail, I said,"Oh, thats alright if its loud, I don't care."

He said,"No you don't understand this thing is really, really loud."

I got it, started right out of the box with the little bit of fuel still in it and was shocked it is really, really loud, LOL. I haven't run the Modded 084 lately, but it might rival it, its way louder than the 441, it just about makes your ears bleed, LOL.

He has a hole in that thing be enough to stick your finger in, but it sure does run strong so we wear our ear protection like always.

I run a 3/8 - 7pin and I cut a bunch of firewood up at the house and have to agree with the gas tank milage thing a little. Look I know it has a little "dixie cup" gas tank, but I kinda thought it would run longer than the legendary 361 on a tank of gas, but no way, my 361 will still cut more wood on a tank and probably a gallon of gas than any saw I know of any size. So the 260 only has it bet in lighter size but not better mileage, LOL.

I still think the 361 is the greatest saw period, ever made, and modded its even better, but I do like this little 260 for being just a handy little thing rinky dink thing, for odd trimmings and higher tree work or packing away in a car or something.

My opinion,

Sam

Do you feel a big difference between a stock 260 and a stock 361?

 

[resotek]

Let me clue ya in a little. That little "air purge" / primer bulb is there for a reason. It's called "cold starting". If you lived up here in "The Great White North" you would grow to appreciate that "little thingy"!!!!!! Try starting your saw when it , say, 5 degrees outside! That was a primary reason for me to buy another saw. My MS260 Pro is a ****** to start. Sometimes the simple antiquated "choke system" just doesn't cut it. Hats off to Husky for it's ability to "think outside the box".

Hate to tell you this but I've always run Stihl saws. Yes they are good saws. But they are not flawless. The NE346XP is my first Husky. And I'm damned impressed. Bought it on the advice of my local Stihl/Husky dealer and his head mechanic as they both own these saws. They are personal friends of mine and gave me their honest opinions. They were right.

I have countless hours with boths of these saws bucking firewood.(We supply two camps and 5 households!) I can't knock the 260. Light, nimble but it is underpowered compared to the 346. And yes, we are talking about both of these saws by the way! As far as the plastic cowl clips go, they aren't a problem at all. They are MUCH, MUCH easier to use when you rarely have to open up the cowl to clean the air filter in the first place!!!!! Again, superior design.

Bottom line guys, try "thinking outside the box"!!!!!!!!! I did and it has paid big dividends.

So, you think putting a Poulan primer bulb on a pro saw is thinking outside the box? That's funny. I also find it amusing that you characterize a "tried and true" design as antiquated. I don't live in the frozen tundra, but ALL my STIHL's start fine when it's below freezing here. The bigger point you missed is that we're not talking about the 346 on this thread.

-Mel

 

[Chaz1]

So, you think putting a Poulan primer bulb on a pro saw is thinking outside the box? That's funny. I also find it amusing that you characterize a "tried and true" design as antiquated. I don't live in the frozen tundra, but ALL my STIHL's start fine when it's below freezing here. The bigger point you missed is that we're not talking about the 346 on this thread.

-Mel

Maybe your right Mel. Maybe I should have you come start my Stihl for me when it's cold outside. Below freezing isn't cold. It's day to day life up here in the winter. It's when it's well below zero at night for days on end with highs in the single digits that you would appreciate the primer. Besides exactly what does it hurt? If you don't need it, don't use it. But, when you do need it, it's there and IT WORKS GREAT!

By the way, take the primer bulb off the 346 and it's STILL a superior saw! It just is. But hey, to each his own.

 

[KD57]

I love mine, it gets used more than any saw I own. Just a muffler mod, re-tune and it screams.

 

[resotek]

Maybe your right Mel. Maybe I should have you come start my Stihl for me when it's cold outside. Below freezing isn't cold. It's day to day life up here in the winter. It's when it's well below zero at night for days on end with highs in the single digits that you would appreciate the primer. Besides exactly what does it hurt? If you don't need it, don't use it. But, when you do need it, it's there and IT WORKS GREAT!

By the way, take the primer bulb off the 346 and it's STILL a superior saw! It just is. But hey, to each his own.

Chaz... It just doesn't get that cold down here and I'm glad you like your 346. We can disagree with no worries.

-Mel

 

[Slamm]

Do you feel a big difference between a stock 260 and a stock 361?

Yeah, there is a reasonable difference. Both of mine are modded so the only way I can measure them now is the 260 you can stop it with a 20" bar in oak, with a little forcing of the handles, but the 361 you can pull hard and not stop it, it just keeps cutting.

Sam