Stihl Chainsaws...Professional vs. Midrange

[woodchuck361]

I cut with a 361 and my father in law cuts with a 290. When he first picked up my saw it had been quite a while since he had used his saw. The first thing he said was WOW its lighter than mine and the anti-vibe is better too. If he could tell that my 361 was that much lighter and smoother than his after not using his saw for a while. Well you can be the judge of that. They are both good saws one is just better thats all, and the price reflects it.

 

[Junkwrencher]

Stihl debate,my opinion.

As far as the 262 that SawTroll mentioned I currently own one and have owned two and wish I hadn't sold it.It has been said by others that it was/is the most powerfull saw of its displacement my current saw runs a 20'' solid nose bar and you can lean on it in any wood.I've owned two 038's, definite commercial saws with big power,both still running.I also have an 026.I was recently given a MS290 that was dropped from way above busting the engine cradle/gas tank,the drop was from 32ft.The saw had low hours and still runs.The top handle,gas tank,and clutch cover will be replaced and I plan to try to wear this saw out!!A 361 may or may not survive such a drop. With about $150 I will have a $319 saw to experience.No it may not be what I'm used to but it will be useful.The way I work, I gas up 3-4 saws and run them one at a time till out of fuel and oil, the coldest one gets a touch-up with a hand file and refueled and away we go again.The 290 may have to run a 20" bar with full-skip chain but it will be in the rotation with the mix up I just mentioned.My back-up saw is a Swedish-built 330 POULAN that is quite dependable.

 

[Lakeside53]

why spend $150 -buy a junker for less than $50 and strip it for parts. And it's a $369 saw out here!

 

[bcorradi]

Anyway, to get to your question... (inhale, exhale) the 038? Hmmmm.... I dunno what it was sold as. Obsolete model. I see on the South Africa site that they still sell the 360 down there (hey, no 361?), and heeeeeey what the :censored: this? A 381????? 72cc saw. 3.9 Kw. 6.6 lb. Ooooohhh laaaaa laaaaa... the 381 is definately a pro model saw. Looks like they are selling the same size/class saw with the 441 and the 381 down there. The 381 looks like the big brother of the 361. And looks like THE NEXT SAW THAT I NEED! (damned chainsaw disease... whimper whimper).

I own an MS380 which is just an 038 mag II with a couple of new features like a side adjust tensioner, see through gas tank, some revised plastic, etc. To my knowledge the MS381 is just a even newer revised MS380 with a decompression valve and possibly some other small added features. They all are an old design (old air filtration system, old port design, rubber av mounts, non epa friendly, etc) and not like an MS361 in any way.

 

[fubar2]

You can use a hand cranked eggbeater for a powerhead. The true secret to fast cutting lies within the chain itself.

 

[pgg]

If it's a stihl, it'll cop a hammering no sweat even if it's not a professional saw, also I'd be surprised if an 036/360 doesn't match or better the fancy 361 for power, revs and response, talking opened mufflers, but the startling 365 motor outgrinds the 60cc stihl on the bigger trees even though while the stihl's screaming and howling at demented revs, the cool 365 husky is breezing thru the same trees with less effort, razor sharp chains on both too

 

[windthrown]

If it's a stihl, it'll cop a hammering no sweat even if it's not a professional saw, also I'd be surprised if an 036/360 doesn't match or better the fancy 361 for power, revs and response, talking opened mufflers, but the startling 365 motor outgrinds the 60cc stihl on the bigger trees even though while the stihl's screaming and howling at demented revs, the cool 365 husky is breezing thru the same trees with less effort, razor sharp chains on both too

Well, with the US EPA and EU requirements, the 360 is not available here any more. Specs compared:

Non-US 360: 61.5cc, 3.4 Kw, 5.7 kg.
US-361: 59cc, 3.3 Kw, 5.6 kg.

Splitting hairs there.

365... Dog saws. I never liked the feel of the Husky lineup. I prefer the German zing saws. And of course this thread is about Stihl saws, and you Husky goons just have to leap in and tell us what a POS Stihls are, and poop all over the place. I will have to start poaching in on Husky threads and tell you guys what POS saws that Huskys are.

 

[Just Mow]

Well, with the US EPA and EU requirements, the 360 is not available here any more. Specs compared:

Non-US 360: 61.5cc, 3.4 Kw, 5.7 kg.
US-361: 59cc, 3.3 Kw, 5.6 kg.

Splitting hairs there.

365... Dog saws. I never liked the feel of the Husky lineup. I prefer the German zing saws. And of course this thread is about Stihl saws, and you Husky goons just have to leap in and tell us what a POS Stihls are, and poop all over the place. I will have to start poaching in on Husky threads and tell you guys what POS saws that Huskys are.

you tell em

 

[timberwolf]

Don't think the 365 is a good example, it is like the 290 vs 390 in that it is the same saw as the 372 but the 372 is a larger displacement.

This is one thing I don't think advantages the customer. the 365 weighs the same as the 372, has 99% of the same components, but the 372 commands a higher sticker price for something that costs absolutly the same to produce.

Dito for the 290 / 310 / 390. If you don't realy need the power of a 390 and could settle with the power of a 290 then why cart around the weight and bulk, go for a 260 or even down to a little 250 if cost is a factor. Same for the husky if you dont realy need a 372 then drop to a smaller lighter frame, 359, 357, 353 or even 350 depending on what the budget dictates. Saws like the 365, 290, 310 are not much more than factory ploys to offer extra saw models at low manufacturing cost and squeeze bucks out of joe consumer.

 

[mini kahuna]

pro vs midrange

I want to say 361 all the way but,I know a guy that does commercial firewood and he has five 290's,runs the guts out of them,chucks them and gets another one when they die.
thing is he has had some for two years,five days a week and they are still going,thats with abusive employees running them.
I still like the 361 because if the power/weight is much better,but those 290/310 hold up plastic or not.

 

[SawTroll]

Ignore the saw snobs. The 290's we sell work great for 99% of the guys that buy them.. and some of those saws are 12 years old. We even have "pro" customers that use them for ground saws and they really beat the crap out of them.

I've replaced a LOT of 361 recoil covers. Mag "breaks". Can't remember replacing a 290 cover.. . Oh, that's right, plastic sucks.

Husky use plastic for all recoil covers, and Mag for all clutch covers, down to the cheap but still good 340.....

I like the Mag recoil cover on the 361, it adds some "style".

My saws are not bumping around in the back of a pickup, or trailer.......

 

[SawTroll]

.... this? A 381????? 72cc saw. 3.9 Kw. 6.6 lb. Ooooohhh laaaaa laaaaa... the 381 is definately a pro model saw. Looks like they are selling the same size/class saw with the 441 and the 381 down there. The 381 looks like the big brother of the 361. And looks like THE NEXT SAW THAT I NEED! (damned chainsaw disease... whimper whimper). ....

I want to say 361 all the way but,I know a guy that does commercial firewood and he has five 290's,runs the guts out of them,chucks them and gets another one when they die.
thing is he has had some for two years,five days a week and they are still going,thats with abusive employees running them.
I still like the 361 because if the power/weight is much better,but those 290/310 hold up plastic or not.

The MS381 is just an updated 038MagII/MS380, with a bit more power output (.3kW more than the MagII) - not the big brother of the 361 - sorry. :greenchainsaw:

 

[SawTroll]

Well, with the US EPA and EU requirements, the 360 is not available here any more. Specs compared:

Non-US 360: 61.5cc, 3.4 Kw, 5.7 kg.
US-361: 59cc, 3.3 Kw, 5.6 kg.

Splitting hairs there.

365... Dog saws. I never liked the feel of the Husky lineup. I prefer the German zing saws. And of course this thread is about Stihl saws, and you Husky goons just have to leap in and tell us what a POS Stihls are, and poop all over the place. I will have to start poaching in on Husky threads and tell you guys what POS saws that Huskys are.

The Non-US MS361 is 59cc, 3.4kW, 5.6kg.

The 365 is 65cc, 3.4kW, 6.1kg, and much more bulky - not a saw I would want.

 

[spacemule]

Well, with the US EPA and EU requirements, the 360 is not available here any more. Specs compared:

Non-US 360: 61.5cc, 3.4 Kw, 5.7 kg.
US-361: 59cc, 3.3 Kw, 5.6 kg.

Splitting hairs there.

365... Dog saws. I never liked the feel of the Husky lineup. I prefer the German zing saws. And of course this thread is about Stihl saws, and you Husky goons just have to leap in and tell us what a POS Stihls are, and poop all over the place. I will have to start poaching in on Husky threads and tell you guys what POS saws that Huskys are.

But you do know that if Stihls were bull turds, they'd be big, runny, and steaming with a touch of scowers thrown in, don't you? :greenchainsaw:

 

[Lakeside53]

Only in the spring.

 

[OilHead]

In my book I dont see the 361 as being a mid range saw. Out of the box the muffler severly constipates that saw & requires PITA extensive modification. For the money the MS 440 is a better bet & with the addition of the dual port front cover will still hang with larger saws. Green cap saws are already on the shelfs with more to come in 09. As far as tech improvements go we have allready seen increases in the weight on some models that forstalls it as being an improvement at all. Make the step up to 70cc class & you'll be more in line with a midrange saw.

 

[SawTroll]

In my book I dont see the 361 as being a mid range saw. ....

It isn't, it is a full blown pro saw - and maybe the best overall design ever, all things considered......:rockn: :rockn:

...except for the 1970 vintage Jonsereds Raket 621, of course - but that is a different story.

 

[bcorradi]

It isn't, it is a full blown pro saw - and maybe the best overall design ever, all things considered......:rockn: :rockn:

...except for the 1970 vintage Jonsereds Raket 621, of course - but that is a different story.

I think he meant to say "Pro" not midgrade. If I'm interpreting him right he thinks its too constipated in stock form to be a pro saw .

 

[windthrown]

The MS381 is just an updated 038MagII/MS380, with a bit more power output (.3kW more than the MagII) - not the big brother of the 361 - sorry. :greenchainsaw:

Well, dammit, it looked good on the ZA web site. I would opt for a bigger 361 rather than the stratocaster rocking-horse 441.

Looks like I am leaning toward Dolmar more every day. A 350 at the low end and a 7900 to fit above the 361.

 

[windthrown]

But you do know that if Stihls were bull turds, they'd be big, runny, and steaming with a touch of scowers thrown in, don't you? :greenchainsaw:

Um, what exactly have you been smoking up river there? Snort...