KenJax Tree
Terraphobic
For me the 261 was an easy choice, weight wasn’t a issue. Hell, i sold a like new Dolmar 421 to buy it.
New Stihl 241 or 261?
- Thread starter mtown
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Overkill338
M-Tronicly Obsessed
Thanks for the info, just wondering what others are doing. Nice having only two chain sizes instead of adding 325 in there as well I guess. I have a bunch of 50cc saws on 325 I enjoy running, but run them the most on firewood. The 241's sip fuel which makes the cut time average even better than it appears cutting cookies.
I like that little picco chain myself, stays sharp a long time.
I've had a couple stock ones in the past I sold on here, they were great, so I grabbed up a ported one.
I like Picco chains a lot. I prefer them over my 325 I have for the 241, but I'm still going to try a 16" 325 on it.
Overkill338
M-Tronicly Obsessed
How did the 421 run? It was in my final choices before I got the 241. I was looking at the 543XP (Zenoah), 241 and 421.
What size bar did yours have?
Do 241s come with spur sprockets or replaceable rim sprockets?
Overkill338
M-Tronicly Obsessed
6 tooth spur.
Did it cut it okay
.Don't worry, you'll figure it out, my loggers are kinda like high heels, the dress part I'm not sure about lol.
rumatt
ArboristSite Operative
I got my 241 today. Woohoo! It's awesome. A 14" bar and sharp Pico blade cuts through limbs like butter.
I really like the short bar for limbing. It forced me to move my body rather than reaching for things.
Before:
After:
I really like the short bar for limbing. It forced me to move my body rather than reaching for things.
Before:
After:
They are fun little saws.I got my 241 today. Woohoo! It's awesome. A 14" bar and sharp Pico blade cuts through limbs like butter.
I really like the short bar for limbing. It forced me to move my body rather than reaching for things.
Before & after:
EDIT: this site won't display the photos I'm attaching. Oh well.
Screenshot them and then post that.
rumatt
ArboristSite Operative
I weighed both the 241cm with a 14" bar + pico chain, and the 261cm (2018 model) with a 18" bar + 325 chain.
The 241 powerhead empty weighed 10.05 on my scale (vs 9.9 spec) so I don't know if that means my scale weighs high, but it's close enough.
The powerheads when full are 1.2 pounds different. The smaller bar and chain it saves another 1.3 lbs, bringing the total to 2.5 lbs difference. The handling difference is night and day.
Should I have just put a shorter bar on the 261? Maybe? But then I'd have to switch the bars when I get to the fatter part of the tree. This way I can be lazy and just pick up a different saw.
Edit: Tapatalk doesn't render the fixed sized fonts properly. If you want to view my beautiful table below properly formatted you'll need to get out of your lazy boy and walk the 10 feet to your computer.
Below shots are maxed out fluids. Scale shows pounds and ounces
The 241 powerhead empty weighed 10.05 on my scale (vs 9.9 spec) so I don't know if that means my scale weighs high, but it's close enough.
The powerheads when full are 1.2 pounds different. The smaller bar and chain it saves another 1.3 lbs, bringing the total to 2.5 lbs difference. The handling difference is night and day.
Should I have just put a shorter bar on the 261? Maybe? But then I'd have to switch the bars when I get to the fatter part of the tree. This way I can be lazy and just pick up a different saw.
Edit: Tapatalk doesn't render the fixed sized fonts properly. If you want to view my beautiful table below properly formatted you'll need to get out of your lazy boy and walk the 10 feet to your computer.
Code:
241cm 261cm
Weight in lbs: 14" bar 18"bar Difference
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Powerhead (empty) 10.05 ? ?
Powerhead + full fluids 11.2 12.4 +1.2
Powerhead + full fluids + bar & chain 12.7 15.2 +2.5Below shots are maxed out fluids. Scale shows pounds and ounces
rumatt
ArboristSite Operative
Done! (edited posts above)
You need a Chipper for doing tree work.
I just picked up a parts saw at a house, the guy was selling a pintle hitch, I'm ready if I find one now lol.
I weighed both the 241cm with a 14" bar + pico chain, and the 261cm (2018 model) with a 18" bar + 325 chain.
The 241 powerhead empty weighed 10.05 on my scale (vs 9.9 spec) so I don't know if that means my scale weighs high, but it's close enough.
The powerheads when full are 1.2 pounds different. The smaller bar and chain it saves another 1.3 lbs, bringing the total to 2.5 lbs difference. The handling difference is night and day.
Should I have just put a shorter bar on the 261? Maybe? But then I'd have to switch the bars when I get to the fatter part of the tree. This way I can be lazy and just pick up a different sawdit: Tapatalk doesn't render the fixed sized fonts properly. If you want to view my beautiful table below properly formatted you'll need to get out of your lazy boy and walk the 10 feet to your computer.
That's what I thought, around 2# more for the 261 the way we use them and that's a lot when the cutting speed is close due to that 3/8 lp chain. Steve
Code:241cm 261cm Weight in lbs: 14" bar 18"bar Difference ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Powerhead (empty) 10.05 ? ? Powerhead + full fluids 11.2 12.4 +1.2 Powerhead + full fluids + bar & chain 12.7 15.2 +2.5
Below shots are maxed out fluids. Scale shows pounds and ounces
View attachment 656596
View attachment 656597
I weighed both the 241cm with a 14" bar + pico chain, and the 261cm (2018 model) with a 18" bar + 325 chain.
The 241 powerhead empty weighed 10.05 on my scale (vs 9.9 spec) so I don't know if that means my scale weighs high, but it's close enough.
The powerheads when full are 1.2 pounds different. The smaller bar and chain it saves another 1.3 lbs, bringing the total to 2.5 lbs difference. The handling difference is night and day.
Should I have just put a shorter bar on the 261? Maybe? But then I'd have to switch the bars when I get to the fatter part of the tree. This way I can be lazy and just pick up a different saw.
Edit: Tapatalk doesn't render the fixed sized fonts properly. If you want to view my beautiful table below properly formatted you'll need to get out of your lazy boy and walk the 10 feet to your computer.
Code:241cm 261cm Weight in lbs: 14" bar 18"bar Difference ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Powerhead (empty) 10.05 ? ? Powerhead + full fluids 11.2 12.4 +1.2 Powerhead + full fluids + bar & chain 12.7 15.2 +2.5
Below shots are maxed out fluids. Scale shows pounds and ounces
View attachment 656596
View attachment 656597
Honestly, I forget. It's been way too long since I took those pics. The only way to know would be to dig back through old threads where I originally posted these pics.
I found the original post and it doesn't mention bar length. It also says there is only 1# difference. So, I'm not sure what the pics I posted above are from. I've probably taken them out of reference and given misinformation. For that reason, I'm going to delete that post.
https://www.arboristsite.com/commun...he-stihl-ms261c-ii.298040/page-4#post-5895051
https://www.arboristsite.com/commun...he-stihl-ms261c-ii.298040/page-4#post-5895051
Could be. I doubt I've weighed one since.
Cody
ArboristSite Guru
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I really want a 241, as mentioned with the 14" bar as well. Someday I'd like to handle one, just to compare it to the 171 that I've got. Obviously it will cut much faster, but I rarely cut wood larger than 6-8" diameter with it since I own a 261C. I like that from the tip of the bar on my 171, to the vertical recess in the clutch cover, is exactly 17". That works rather well to cut wood, or mark out a log as I work my way down from the top.
