Stihl MS260 or MS261

Sir Arthur Daley

Two great saws no doubt, alot of improved features on the 261 but do these make it a better saw as its almost a half a kg heavier than the 260 and in terms of using it for snedding and light work is the 260 a better saw.
Im thinking in upgrading to a 261 along with better air filtration and captive bar nuts what do people find bettter if any on these saws. I find with the 260 alot of vibration and heard this is vastly improved also so I welcome all opinions and thoughts thanks.

kay 9

Get a 550xp and don't look back. The 260 was and still is a great saw though.

Oldtree

I havn't used either, but I still have my 026 going nicely, great workhorse.
There is no option for "Don't ever want a Husky" on the poll very biased imo

Sir Arthur Daley

Oldtree wrote: »

I havn't used either, but I still have my 026 going nicely, great workhorse.
There is no option for "Don't ever want a Husky" on the poll very biased imo

Heard the 026 were a great saw and alot sings its praises, i guess alot upgraded when the 260 came out with the tool less fuel and oil caps, has the 026 a side chain tensioner?
If you can add in another option on the poll "Don't ever want a Husky or a Stihl" please do

Oldtree

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Heard the 026 were a great saw and alot sings its praises, i guess alot upgraded when the 260 came out with the tool less fuel and oil caps, has the 026 a side chain tensioner?
If you can add in another option on the poll "Don't ever want a Husky or a Stihl" please do

My 026 is pre side tensioner just the screw type, and I simply "Don't ever want a Husky"

Sir Arthur Daley

Oldtree wrote: »

My 026 is pre side tensioner just the screw type, and I simply "Don't ever want a Husky"

Could you upgrade it to side tensioner? i often did it to 028s. bought the pieces on fleabay and drilled out a hole in the side cover.
Your 026 is a great saw no doubt but do you think you are missing out by not upgrading to a 260 or 261?

Oldtree

I will upgrade when I destroy the saw as I had to do with my 020T, but I have no problems with it and it is a fine saw to use. I don't need to change the setup of the tensioner as it works fine, and I might just mess it up anyway.

Sir Arthur Daley

The upgrade to side tensioner is an easy job but as you say nothing wrong with the original tensioner.
The decompression started my voyage to newer saws, had some great old husqys a 266xp was one but was torture to start, 254xp was another that was not too bad though.

Oldtree

I thought I was going to have to replace the 026 earlier this year but it was simply that the impulse line had slipped off. Took me awhile to figure that out. I have an 044 with a short blade and that can be a bugger to start in the cold but boy can it cut. Don't use it much as it just drinks the aspen.

Fiskar

I have the Stihl 261, It is a pro saw and to me it is the mutts nuts. Have it with the 16 inch bar and an RSC3 chain. Cutting beech with it today 14" thick. So far very reliable.
Have you looked at a MS241, ligher again and a near matchfor the 261

Greengrass1

Husqi here would always have been stihl. May look what model it is but its a pro version anyway.
Super say tbh. Absolutely flys threw wood. 16" bar on her.
Have a stiga saw too.
Currently getting ficked. Wont run right.
Was a good saw too when we got her first.
16" bar. Handy for chopping down the branches while the other saw cuts the trunk

Oldtree

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

If you can add in another option on the poll "Don't ever want a Husky or a Stihl" please do

Just got around to this added "Give me a Stihl any day" as well in fairness

Sir Arthur Daley

Oldtree wrote: »

Just got around to this added "Give me a Stihl any day" as well in fairness

Thanks for that, according to the poll the husqys are winning.

Oldtree

only just.... and its a tragedy

gazahayes

I'd sooner a jonsered than a husky here any day local dealer is a joke dropped in the brother in laws saw one day as it was turning over but had no compression heard after they said the engine was seized. Have a Stihl 391 for the heavy work and a 20+ year old jonsered for the rest

CJhaughey

gazahayes wrote: »

I'd sooner a jonsered than a husky here any day local dealer is a joke dropped in the brother in laws saw one day as it was turning over but had no compression heard after they said the engine was seized. Have a Stihl 391 for the heavy work and a 20+ year old jonsered for the rest

Jonsered and Husqvarna are the same animal wearing different skins.
Same factory same internals, different colour and handle angle.

kay 9

The most reliable of them all is probably the echos, not that highly tuned in comparison to the pro huskies or stihl equivalents but will run and run. Have an old cs 60s and it still runs.