What do you guys think of the Stihl MS 250?

[LuDookie]

Lol!…what this thread has done for me is let me know to stay away from the 250. I’ve never had one or even run one. But, I’ve had pretty good luck with all my Stihl stuff…chainsaws and a blower, in terms of reliability. My father in law on the other hand has had terrible luck with Stihl after switching from Echo because of his local dealer. Funny thing was, most of his Echo stuff was still going strong after 20 years. He gave some of it to me and was really proud of his new Stihl stuff. It’s been about 6 years and nothing but headaches.

 

[Zaedock]

Never had an issue starting my MS311 in any condition. A couple of weeks ago, she was left out in the truck and fired up early in the morning at -2*. The same for my Husky 450.
I picked up a MS180 last Fall for small cleanup and despite the non-adjust carb, it's been good in all weather as well.
I have no need for a MS250, but if I did, this has been an insightful thread.

Regarding Echo, my friend had to scramble to clear a lot for a new septic (he thought the company was going to do it -nope!), so we had a bunch of friends come down and we ran each others saws for a bit. I used a 590 and 620P.
The 620 was closer in performance to my 311 than the 590. The saws had good ergonomics and felt lighter than my 311, which is a beast. The plastic did feel a bit like one of my knock off saws, but not bad. I think bang-for-the-buck, the 620 is a good value. As many mentioned, it can come down to support and my Stihl dealer is right up the road. My friend from CT with the Echo's has the Echo dealer near his house.

 

[cookies]

How did this thread go from Stihl MS250 to Echoes and Motorcycles to other subjects?
I have a MS250 and I can state freely it's the most tiresome saw to start I've ever had. Someone mentioned choke not working or being lean. No, just the opposite. The Stihl engineers didn't do there homework before releasing this saw. If you put the choke on and give anywhere between one pull or heaven forbid more, you flooded it. Then you wear yourself out clearing the cylinder with wide open throttle before it starts. Once started and subsequent hot starts are no problem and it performs well, just don't let it cool off again. Like I said, not engineered well. Oh yes, Stihl knows it's a pain in A$$ to start but they won't do anything to correct the problem for owners. They should have had a total recall to fix this MODEL MS 250 but I guess there engineers never figured out a FIX. I own many other Stihl products, but I won't buy any more because Stihl has known about the problems starting with this model since DAY ONE but refused to take care of the customers. So yes some people just give it away because it's a POS.

Like I said previously in this thread, if your having starting issues from a ms250 rebuild the carb and readjust the jets. The low side often is set far too rich and others have voiced the needle lever being set too high from the factory. Once done it should only take 2 pulls on choke before it attempts to start then 2 pulls on high idle to roar to life. I think the more restrictive muffler exacerbated this issue, they are really great saws that start easily and scream once adjusted correctly.

Although I have not rebuilt a echo 590 yet I have seen a few teardowns on them, the port/transfer sizes and shapes are long and small and the carb is tiny to reduce fuel consumption. Do not be afraid to turn the H needle out 1/16" of a turn at a time to feed more fuel as the rings seat, you want the carb supplying enough fuel that it over fuels and effects the engine at wide open throttle yet once the saw is cutting and loaded up it clears up and cuts very strongly without burping, dropping rpm or fluctuating rpm but if the bar is lifted from the wood and load removed it begins to over fuel again. From memory the next size up saw (620?) has many many parts that can be used on the 590 that are better designed one being the coil and I believe it to be "unlimited".

 

[TK48states]

There is a thread somewhere all about how bad the ms250 can be.

My ms250 story is a simple one: about 12 yrs ago when the bark beetle ravaged Colorado pines my 5 acres in Jackson County lost 180 trees, had a little Husky 230 then too small for the job so got a ms250 w. 18” bar, cut every dead pine with this saw and hauled em out w. John Deere 1650’ had no problem with this saw, only sharpened the chain. These lodgepoles are pretty small 12” a big one. Now I’ve gone nuts w chainsaws, have 9 and use a ms361 mostly but if I had to choose only one to keep it would be the 250, good all round saw.

 

[ammoaddict]

It's strange how some people get good ones and some bad. I wonder if it has anything to do with what year they were produced, different carbs or something. I've never had one.

 

[Parkerpusher]

About to run these side by side on some small firewood. Interested to see how I like the 4910.

 

[ammoaddict]

About to run these side by side on some small firewood. Interested to see how I like the 4910.

Should be interesting. I noticed that the handle bar on the echo sticks out a lot farther than the 550. I hope you like it. I am still looking at them on ebay. I can't help looking but I know I can't buy one. I have a 545 and have two old 50s. One has a 55 cylinder and piston, base gasket delete, timing advance and muffler mod, but the 545 still has a little more power, I think.

 

[Pioneer]

I wonder if it's the restrictive muffler that's causing problems with the 250. The two that I've worked on were both dogs until they were given muffler mods. After that both of them had the same starting drill, two pulls on choke two pulls off. One of them sometimes wouldn't pop after the first two pulls, but would always start after the choke was off and pulled a couple of times more.
I think if somebody wanted a 250 their best bet is to buy a used one and see if it started normally before the cash was handed over.
In my experience anyway, the saws are no better or worse than anything else when it came to reliability. Proper tuning makes a big difference with any saw, it could also be the 250's are just a little bit more critical in that respect.

 

[Parkerpusher]

The 4910 felt a lot like a 250, from what I can remember of running one. Similarities or differences, to me:

Better ergonomics

Little more power

Better dogs for sure

Well balanced with 20” bar

Similar amount of vibration. Not smooth but not bad, just reminds you what you’re doing.

Definitely more capable in bigger stuff

East to start. Good old fashioned on off switch and separate choke control

I like it and I’m glad I picked it up. Great firewood saw.

 

[ammoaddict]

Im glad you like

The 4910 felt a lot like a 250, from what I can remember of running one. Similarities or differences, to me:

Better ergonomics

Little more power

Better dogs for sure

Well balanced with 20” bar

Similar amount of vibration. Not smooth but not bad, just reminds you what you’re doing.

Definitely more capable in bigger stuff

East to start. Good old fashioned on off switch and separate choke control

I like it and I’m glad I picked it up. Great firewood saw.

I'm glad you like it. Is it anywhere close to the speed of the 550xp?

 

[Parkerpusher]

Im glad you like

I'm glad you like it. Is it anywhere close to the speed of the 550xp?

Chain speed no. But with that pile of wood being all small stuff, it easily cut just as fast and was lighter. The 550 likes to rev out and 4 stroke in little stuff like that.

 

[Bobrstrong]

SB47 Yep, that's the way most small engines. But obviously you haven't tried a cold start on a MS 250.And don't say CARB . I've tried new, and rebuilt, same problem. It runs fine when you finally get it started. But, good luck with that. MS 250 was and is a LEMON from day one. And Stihl won't stand behind it.

 

[stihlruns]

I wonder if it's the restrictive muffler that's causing problems with the 250. The two that I've worked on were both dogs until they were given muffler mods. After that both of them had the same starting drill, two pulls on choke two pulls off. One of them sometimes wouldn't pop after the first two pulls, but would always start after the choke was off and pulled a couple of times more.
I think if somebody wanted a 250 their best bet is to buy a used one and see if it started normally before the cash was handed over.
In my experience anyway, the saws are no better or worse than anything else when it came to reliability. Proper tuning makes a big difference with any saw, it could also be the 250's are just a little bit more critical in that respect.

Yes, the spark arrestor screen on the original muffler can plug up and cause starting problems. And as well noted, once they flood they are a pain. You can just remove the muffler and burn the crud off of the arrestor screen with a little propane torch and a steel brush, put it back together, and it will work like new.

 

[Chuckshu]

I am a home owner that cuts wood to supplement heating of my home.
I wanted to comment on my MS250 experience, as little as it may be. My saw was purchased in Dec of 2015. I purchased it on sale ($350) to replace a Homelite Old Blue. My old blue is a heavy saw and the reason I was replacing it. I do however find the MS250 lacking in power. So, it sits and rarely gets used. I have not had any issues with it starting or running, regardless of the temperature. So, maybe the date of manufacture has an impact on how well it starts. I went back to using old blue. In the fall of 2019 I upgraded to a MS261C-M. The MS261 is now the only saw I ever use. My MS261 is running a 20" Oregon Versacut 3/8 .050 bar with a 33rd3 carbide chain. It did not take long to regret purchasing the MS250. I do not regret purchasing the MS261 or the carbide chain. Its the best saw I have ever owned.

 

[Hard_Yakka]

I am a home owner that cuts wood to supplement heating of my home.
I wanted to comment on my MS250 experience, as little as it may be. My saw was purchased in Dec of 2015. I purchased it on sale ($350) to replace a Homelite Old Blue. My old blue is a heavy saw and the reason I was replacing it. I do however find the MS250 lacking in power. So, it sits and rarely gets used. I have not had any issues with it starting or running, regardless of the temperature. So, maybe the date of manufacture has an impact on how well it starts. I went back to using old blue. In the fall of 2019 I upgraded to a MS261C-M. The MS261 is now the only saw I ever use. My MS261 is running a 20" Oregon Versacut 3/8 .050 bar with a 33rd3 carbide chain. It did not take long to regret purchasing the MS250. I do not regret purchasing the MS261 or the carbide chain. Its the best saw I have ever owned.

I couldn't agree more ... the 250 would have it's morning after headaches at times but both 362's have been excellent saws. Now the 2 week old 261 with a 20" bar is great but since one 362 has a 20". I'm replacing the 20" on the 261 with a 18" sugi but have to wait until this weekend to give it a try. I posted earlier the 261 darn near keeps up with the 362 in the white oak, madrone and ash we are cutting and it's lighter. Got the parts for the 250 to reduce it to a 14" earlier in the week and it's on the bench waiting for conversion.

 

[kentuckykid]

I’m seeing the 251 new, not the 250 for about $350 on the low end. I’m also seeing some second hand 250’s for over $300 as well. In many cases the 590 can be had for that, and the two saws are not even remotely comparable. If you are on a tight budget and can have a 250 in good condition for $200 or less, I could see the reasoning. I really have to hand it to Stihl for marketing though. But unfortunately I believe it’s the consumer who ends up paying for that overhead. Not trying to bash on Stihl. Never an issue with Stihl quality.

Cs590 $400

 

[Gagliano7]

Bring back an old thread. I was thinking of buying the ms 250 saw. I wanted a third saw. I like that is light. I have a stihl 261cm and an echo cs590. The echo cuts as fast or faster than my 261cm but the 261cm is lighter. Recently I had to replace the coil on the 261cm $160. After reading this thread I think I am going with the Echo cs4910. Never had one problem with the cs590 and always starts on 3 pulls. Both my saws run 20 inch bars. And for anyone looking at a 60 cc saw the Echo cs590 is by far the best saw for the price. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[dboyd351]

I only own one small Echo, but consensus seems to be the 590 and 620 are the best bang for the buck of anything out there.

 

[johnfawn2000]

Looks like I might have to buy a new chainsaw. I'm thinking of the Stihl 250, but here's the problem: I use my chainsaws for firewood and sometimes I cut down some pretty big trees. My old MS 311 did the job, but they are expensive.

I'm not sure if the MS 250 can handle the big trees. I read one review - I think it was Bob Vila - who rated the 250 as the best overall chainsaw on the market, dollar for dollar. But, can they handle the big stuff? Thanks for any opinions you can offer.

Dear EasyT, I would purchase the stihl 261 , I am a husqvarna nut , nut and a also stihl nut ,nut. I started soon enough I would have been a johnred fanatic. I say get the stihl 261. I also sent the saw to Eric Copsey, with 20 inch bar it is a war wagon. I am using 325 ,50 gauge saw chain. I say you don't have to have ported and worked on. This size will out do the stihl 250 and not grunt on 20 inch trees. I worked at stihl dealership, and we sold a lot of stihl saws. There was timber feller come in to buy a saw and he asked for a stihl 261 . he said the 261 will cut with a 362 and a lot cheaper . The only part I don't remember if he used 325 pitch or switched to 3/8ths
I saw a YouTube video and the stihl 261 outcut a stihl 362, by one second , now whether it was rigged or not I don't kno. The
stihl 250 is a lot cheaper, but I say if you run into 20 inch stuff , the 250 may grunt a little bit . I also recommend the the 261 the timber faller had cut with both the stihl 261 and the pro 362 and like the 261 and a better buy. He did say if bigger trees he has a larger saw for that, but most of the time uses the 261. I am going for my use and a timber cutter, get the stihl 261. Money is a problem get the 250
Thanks Buck

 

[Marley5]

I have a garage full of chainsaws and run them all but the one I pick most often is the MS 250 " muffler modded ".
My brother and my best friend both have 250's and we've not had any issues starting these saws.
2 pulls on choke and 2nd pull on high idle every time.
If I were to compare it to an Echo, it cuts very equivalent to the CS 490.