Choose me a saw!

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Wood-row Wilson

Member
Nov 4, 2011
44
SW Michigan
Here are my constraints:
  • Cost is not a huge issue
  • Partial to Stihl, as I've had good luck with my current, commercial weed whipper and blower, and the dealer is close. However, a husqvarna is not far away. Would rather go to the Stihl dealer.
  • Balancing between new and old. Not real mechanically inclined, but know I could fix something if needed with ample time set aside. Also may not have the eye for knowing a used saw that was abused or not.
Current Gear
  • 96 Tacoma 4 cyl 4x4
  • 6x12 landscape trailer
  • Fiskars x27
  • couple wedges
I have all the access to wood as I'll ever need. Grandpa owns more land in the area than I even know.

I know my truck trailer combo can't handle a terrible lot, but like the idea of bucking and splitting on site and don't think size of rounds are an issue, but don't want to handle BIG wood either. Given that I can be picky, I'm thinking around a 50cc saw with 18" bar? So, used or new? I'm pretty conservative, but am in favor of investing in something that will last. I do have ample time, so I know I don't need a 70cc saw. Would be nice to have something that does the job, lasts me a long time, and doesn't take a whole lot of fuel/maintenance.

How would this do for me, good deal?

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/2979220585.html

Stihl Pro 260 chainsaw. Less than 2yrs. old,like new, hardly used; comes w/carrying case. $350 firm. Call or txt. Robbie @ 269-680-5529
 
The 260 advertised would be a good choice. The seller wants top dollar though and is firm.

If I were you and wanted a stihl for sure, I would buy new.... once. Go to your dealer and buck up for the 261. If you get by the initial price, you will never regret buying it.
 
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I would take a good look at a Stihl MS290 w/18" bar. Good value and Stihl reliability.
 
My BIL just bought a new Husqvarna 562 XP..... Beauty of a Saw...

Will kick any other 59cc Saws A$$.

Although I have Husqvarnas too. My 455 Rancher is a runner. But...... I have grown impartial to Stihls myself. My 036 got me hooked. Just got my 32" bar for the 460 today. Wont need it much. But will have it when I do need it! !!

To stay in that range, as suggested, an 026 (260) or 029 (290) are hard to beat. But a entry level (cheap) 455/460 Rancher or stepping up to a 555/562 XP. These are the Next Generation in Chainsaws.
 

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Good advice, guys, thanks! Boy, I'm sure I would like the 261, but feel the upfront cost may be too much for me. I see you have one though, hittinsteel. How much do you cut on average per year? I'm guessing I'll be anywhere from 3 to 5 max, but initially more to get ahead.

Maybe, as you say DMXZ, the 290 is a better option everything considering...
 
ms271, mid range saw, priced between a 290 and a 261, great filtration and AV, no problems, great saw
 
Wood-row Wilson said:
Good advice, guys, thanks! Boy, I'm sure I would like the 261, but feel the upfront cost may be too much for me. I see you have one though, hittinsteel. How much do you cut on average per year? I'm guessing I'll be anywhere from 3 to 5 max, but initially more to get ahead.

Maybe, as you say DMXZ, the 290 is a better option everything considering...
Click to expand...

I have a 260 non pro (no decomp button or adjustable oiler) with a 16" bar. It is a very solid saw. It has the muffler opened for more power and is very light. I cut about 5 cords a year spread out over all my saws hahaha...... saws are my hobby, so don't use me as an example :)

That 260 in your area craigs is worth a look. I said he wanted top dollar, but thats about what I'd want for mine if I were to sell.
 
doug crane said:
I had some friends recently but this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07135269000P , you cannot deny the value of this 20" beauty for the money! One friend is only using this saw for one job and then will be selling it but for $400 its hard not to simply buy this brand new from sears (hurry because these are going like hotcakes im sure).
Click to expand...

The 455 is $400 new at my dealer, everyday, all day ( MSRP on Husqvarnas site). The 460 is almost $500.

Fantastic saw, but will be hard to re-sell at $400 used. IMO
 
Look on craigslist for sw michigan there is a 260 pro looking in good nic for 350 bux...I bought my 261 for 350 bux and it is a pretty gooed saw.
 
Find the best independent dealer in your location, get the saw from him, This will give you a working relationship should difficulties arise. when looking at S or H saws be aware that both have consumer grade as well as pro saws, get the the prosaw yes they cost more but they wont burn out in one season either. My saws are all Dolmars that I use got a couple others when someone wants to barrow a saw, saves headaches
 
What is your budget? If you don't want to spend a ton, I'd look into a 290. If you don't mind getting spendy, look into a 261 or 362.
 
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I'm not a Stihl man, but I know a little about the Husky's discussed here. The Husky 353 (decade old model 3.3HP $400) and 555 (brand new model 4.3HP $600) have magnesium crank cases and are "prosumer saws" that share most of their parts with the either 346xp or 562xp. The 455 is a homeowner saw with a plastic crank case and the price/power of the 353 but the weight of the 555. The only upside I see to the 455 is that you can buy it at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Otherwise the 353 or 555 are better choices.
 
I'm with KarlP, I prefer to ignore any 3 digit "Rancher" saws. The last good one was the 55 Rancher. Not that the 455/460 are bad units, just lackluster performance and a power to weight ratio that makes me -yawn-. MS290's power to weight ratio is nothing to brag about either but the saw construction is bonehead simple and they have proven to be very reliable units as well as slightly less $$ than the 455 Rancher. I believe MSRP on the MS290 is $389 with a 20" bar but if you don't need the 20" I'd throw a 16" on it and use the $20 you save to pick up an extra chain. Another benefit to the MS290 is that there is quite a bit of aftermarket support for parts (piston/cyl kits and the like) so it won't be big $$ to fix/maintain should it need repair. They respond quite nicely to simple, free, modifications like a muffler mod as well.
 
I went through exactly what you are going through about a year and a half ago. At that time it came down to $. I was considering the MS290, MS261 and MS361 (362 now). I went with the MS290 at the urging of my dealer. Now, in hindsight I wish I had gone with either the 261 or 361. Not that the 290 has given me problems, no muffler mod by the way, but I have found that I cut a lot more wood than I originally expected. My 290 bogs down in the harder woods like oak and locust when the bar is buried. I plan on selling my 290 and upgrading most likely to the MS261. For me it is coming down to the power-to-weight ratio which I know I can do better than the 290 and don't mind the extra $ to get there. Now I just need to talk the wife into the extra $ once I sell my 290. Good luck with whatever you do decide on.
 
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For $350 the 260 is a pro built saw. A lot more saw than the clamshell 290/455. With proper care it should last for years. Go look at the 260 pull the plug inspect the bore through the hole scratches =leave, Start it run it (take a block of wood with you) a compression check if you can and if it checks out hand the man the $ and go cut wood for the next 20-30 years.
 
Clyde S. Dale said:
I went through exactly what you are going through about a year and a half ago. At that time it came down to $. I was considering the MS290, MS261 and MS361 (362 now). I went with the MS290 at the urging of my dealer. Now, in hindsight I wish I had gone with either the 261 or 361. Not that the 290 has given me problems, no muffler mod by the way, but I have found that I cut a lot more wood than I originally expected. My 290 bogs down in the harder woods like oak and locust when the bar is buried. I plan on selling my 290 and upgrading most likely to the MS261. For me it is coming down to the power-to-weight ratio which I know I can do better than the 290 and don't mind the extra $ to get there. Now I just need to talk the wife into the extra $ once I sell my 290. Good luck with whatever you do decide on.
Click to expand...

Not for nothin' but, I believe, the 290 makes more horse pressure than the 260/261. If your 290 doesn't have the snot you wish it had, neither will the 261.
 
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Bigg_Redd said:
Not for nothin' but, I believe, the 290 makes more horse pressure than the 260/261. If your 290 doesn't have the snot you wish it had, neither will the 261.
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, the HP rating of the 290 vs. 261 is the same but the 261 (powerhead only) is 1.5 lbs lighter. If I go 362, same weight as 290, but more HP. My BIL has an MS460 I can borrow if I run into something that the 261 can't handle. With the 261 I can still run an 18" bar with no power loss but less weight. That's what is driving my decision.
 
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I thought the same and it says this in the stihl documentation:

ms290 2.8kw/3.8bhp

ms261 2.8kw/3.75bhp

It makes no sense but the my ms290 16" is a year and some change but started using it this past fall. The ms261 18" is only several months old and it will cut faster and pull you into the wood better than the ms290! In this case I think the numbers are a mistake....And the mpg is better also ;-)

That is I say stock for stock! My saws are not modded except for the spark arrester is removed which is nothing. Chain speed I think is the key! So I think I explained why it maikes no sense.
End or rant!
 
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PLAYS WITH FIRE said:
I thought the same and it says this in the stihl documentation:

ms290 2.8kw/3.8bhp

ms261 2.8kw/3.75bhp

It makes no sense but the my ms290 16" is a year and some change but started using it this past fall. The ms261 18" is only several months old and it will cut faster and pull you into the wood better than the ms290! In this case I think the numbers are a mistake....And the mpg is better also ;-)

That is I say stock for stock! My saws are not modded except for the spark arrester is removed which is nothing. Chain speed I think is the key! So I think I explained why it maikes no sense.
End or rant!
Click to expand...

HP specs seldom tell the story....it is in the cylinder/piston porting among other things. A great example of this are the 290 and the 261. One is an anemic pig and the other is a hot rod.
 
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