New saw for my dad?

[FatGuy-LttlCoat]

thanks for all the input. Looks like the common consesus is for the 361. I'm heading to the dealer today to check out the saws, and looks like the 361 will be first on the list. Thanks again for the help.

@Marco: Yeah, i've been trying to figure a way to talk to him about it without giving away too much of the supprise. He said that the next saw he gets would be a new one, and that's what got me looking.


thanks again everyone for your help.

 

[B_Turner]

thanks for all the input. Looks like the common consesus is for the 361. I'm heading to the dealer today to check out the saws, and looks like the 361 will be first on the list. Thanks again for the help.

@Marco: Yeah, i've been trying to figure a way to talk to him about it without giving away too much of the supprise. He said that the next saw he gets would be a new one, and that's what got me looking.


thanks again everyone for your help.

I think a 361 is a fine choice, with great dealer support likely.

In terms of the suggestion for a bigger saw, depending how old one's pop is, it is good to remember that there comes a time when even a robust pop starts to slow down and too big a saw will make him feel worse about not being able to do what he used to do. When we are young, it is easy to forget that pop is getting older, and is having to deal with it. When we get a bit older and start to deal with it ourselves we get a little wiser here.

Plus, pops are often not quite as impatient for a fast cut as we are....

 

[timberrat]

saw

saw model depends on what pops is planning on cutting and how much cutting he is planning on doing .also pro model stihls are better then the home owner krapp . if you are going too do lite use 18" logs and smaller look at stihl ms 260 pro.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Given a choice between a 026 and a 028, which he has, I'd take the 028.
In fact, if you gave me an 026, I'd sell it. They are heavy, have slow throttle response, and vibrate the arms right off your body. The 361 is a much nicer saw all the way around, not even in the same class as the 20 something year old design of the 026.

 

[B_Turner]

Given a choice between a 026 and a 028, which he has, I'd take the 028.
In fact, if you gave me an 026, I'd sell it. They are heavy, have slow throttle response, and vibrate the arms right off your body.

Based on this post and an earlier post about the 026 (the thread about .325 chain), I am kind of confused. The 026 must have changed during the last 14 years a lot. My 026 is a pretty decent saw, including in terms of smoothness. Not magical, but very decent. Hardly a bad vibrator.

Have they changed that much since mine or did I just get a good one? I won't argue that the 361 is a step and a half up.

 

[SawTroll]

Given a choice between a 026 and a 028, which he has, I'd take the 028.
In fact, if you gave me an 026, I'd sell it. They are heavy, have slow throttle response, and vibrate the arms right off your body. The 361 is a much nicer saw all the way around, not even in the same class as the 20 something year old design of the 026.

One thing that I would not critisize the MS260 for, is the weight - it is probably the lightest pro quality 50 cc saw around, at least among the major brands.....

I believe a Husky 353 would be a much better (user freindlier) choise, though.

Either way, these saws will not have more power than the 028 - so they don't add up with the original criteria......

 

[adkranger]

The 260 is a fine limbing/small wood saw, 20 year old heritage or not. But if your dad is still working everyday for the Town I'm sure he can handle the 361 just fine. Besides I don't believe the new 361 will wiegh anymore than the old 028, but he will benefit from the refinements in design and power. Haven't checked the listed wieghts but my 036 is not much heavier than my older 028s and I believe that they lightened the 361 a tad??

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

If you think the 026 is smooth, I'd hate to what you call bad. A few years back I saw a chart comparing most of the modern saws and the 026 was one of the worst of the saws that had some type of suspension. The saws with the motor directly mounted to the motor were the worst.
The guys on our crew always called our 026s the carpel tunnel machines.
Being as the 026 and the 028 are from the same era, and about the same power. Although the 026 is about 3 pounds lighter, I don't see the sense of replacing one with the other, especially since the other is still running.
The 361 is lighter than the 028, almost twice the power, and has great anti-vibration, so it's the obvious choice.