Echo CS490 is 11.1 lbs. MS361 is 12.3 lbs. For an extra pound and a lot more power, why get another saw? Go to a 16" or 18" bar.
Need a mid-range saw recommendation
- Thread starter JAXJEREMY
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Agree with the 250 crowd. I’ve repaired and modded a half doz or so and they are a great saw for the average homeowner who cuts a few cord a year. Muffler mod is a must to wake him up, imo. Carb issues are the most common complaint. Sometimes hey just need cleaning but oe replacements are relatively cheap, so…
Reminds me…need to order another 250 carb for the one on the floor, lol…
18”, .325 works great.
Reminds me…need to order another 250 carb for the one on the floor, lol…
18”, .325 works great.
I been using 025's ànd the newer version ms250 a good 20 years. I find them a very comfortable saw to run with out getting fatigued and still getting a lot of work per hour of use. They are sweet handling and have been as reliable as pro saws the 3 ones I spent a lot of time using. 2 we're personal, the 2nd I got cause 1 was stolen, . Now I am older I use it more . We had 1 at the state nursery decades old well used, much by careless ameutures, was still going strong when I left. I never had a problem with easy starts, you just don't pull them fast and hard like standard starters and they work well.
A good muffler mod and 3/8 picco makes them zip through the wood quicker, are easier and cheaper to maintain but they are quite peppy with standard .325 also.
A good muffler mod and 3/8 picco makes them zip through the wood quicker, are easier and cheaper to maintain but they are quite peppy with standard .325 also.
Not sure what your other two saws are but my 250 is by far my hardest to start. Educate me on "user error" please.
JAXJEREMY
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks for all the good information. I really appreciate it.
SteveSr
Addicted to ArboristSite
The starting "issue" that usually occurs with the 250 is with a cold start with the choke on. Due to the slow cranking speed the user might not notice the "pop" and continue to pull with the choke on flooding the saw.
To prevent this limit the number of pulls on full choke or better yet pay attention to the saw pulling on your arm or ripping the handle out of your hand. If you experience either the saw has 'popped" and just remove the choke and pull until it starts. Warm starts are usually not a problem.
I owned an 025 at one point (early 2000s), and I've handled a few MS250s over the years. I'll never own another one. I'd take a used 026 over a new MS251 any day of the week.
FWIW, a 361 is a midrange saw
For what you're wanting, you're looking for a good 50cc saw. Personally, my requirements for a saw of this size is that it has to put out at least 3-1/2 hp and has to weigh less than 11 pounds, and of course it has to be reliable.
FWIW, a 361 is a midrange saw
For what you're wanting, you're looking for a good 50cc saw. Personally, my requirements for a saw of this size is that it has to put out at least 3-1/2 hp and has to weigh less than 11 pounds, and of course it has to be reliable.My neighbor has a 250 that starts just fine when its cold, but once its running, you better not shut it off. He even goes so far as to refuel it while its running because once it stops, its done for the day.
This was the most common complaint I encountered in my dealership days. To the point of gas running out of the muffler and hydro-locking the engine.
Pay attention to your starting procedure as SteveSr says.
Try richening the low speed mixture screw a tiny bit- 1/16- 1/8 turn and see if that helps.
Zama carbs sometimes develop internal air leaks when they get old.
Warm restart problems can also be the ignition coil fading away when it gets hot.
Only use 2-3 pulls on choke then flip it up to next position up which is high idle.
After the saw has been used and is warm it starts on the 1st pull on high idle.
Example of high idle position
Evidently some start harder then others. I speculate fine tuning of something is off most likely the choke fully closing, an air leak somewhere or a fault in the carb.
Try this if u haven't, put it on full choke, pull it over slowly about 12 reveloutions of the piston, leave the choke on, get the saw well braced, give it a strong full pull until it pops and go to part throttle and use a cocistent strong full pull. If it doesn't pop it will probably be flooded after a few to several pulls.Then hold the throttle wide open until it starts and revs fully up.
Kdavis2685
ArboristSite Lurker
I agree with this start technique. If the ms250 has ran in the last 15-20 minutes even, just go to high idle first. Should fire up in 2-4 pulls.
Another tip, that I don't think was mentioned, but applies to a lot of saws if they are either prone to flooding or are hard starters - starting from cold pull 2-3 times on full choke - then put saw on the ground, put your boot toe in the handle so it puts the saw at full throttle position (disengage chain brake first and make sure bar is not going to hit anything on ground), and then pull til it starts. This will start them, almost all of them. If it doesn't then you for sure have a vacuum, air filter, carb, or larger leak issue. If warm restarting (15-20 min post run on an ms250 in mild or warm temps), just skip the full choke step.
