Cheap MS361 Seattle area craigslist

[Elderthewelder]

Looks like a nice saw, misprint on the title. calling it a M5361. looks to have a MS290 bar on it

(broken link removed to http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/tls/3848101326.html)
STIHL farm boss m5 361 - $300 (kent)

Starts first pull. Strong reliable,good cuttin saw brand new bar and chain. Comes with extra chain and case with sharpeners

• Location: kent
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Posting ID: 3848101326
Posted: 2013-06-03, 11:58PM PDT
Updated:

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(broken image removed)

 

[wesessiah]

i just picked one up for $320... i'd have to see this, starts on first pull, trick... unless he means when warm. is there any difference between the two bars, outside of the writing that is?

 

[MasterMech]

Farm Boss bar is just a Rollomatic E bar with different lettering. Nothing fancy, bottom of the heap as Stihl bars go. Guaranteed to double the resale on whatever saw it's mounted on however!

 

[loadstarken]

Saw that and was going to mention it here but you beat me to it. Hehe

 

[Highbeam]

Excellent deal. If it had 4xx instead of 361 I might be busting out the cash. I can be in Kent in 10 minutes.

 

[StihlHead]

Excellent deal. If it had 4xx instead of 361 I might be busting out the cash. I can be in Kent in 10 minutes.

Trade up your 290 for that 361, and you will never look back. Seriously. It even has the Farm Boss bar to make you think its a Farm Boss saw! Except you will be grinning more in the cuts, and your hands will not be buzzy after cutting. Its also a pound lighter. If you do not like it, you can always sell it for $300 on CL.

I ran a 290 for a couple of years, and I wish I had bought a 361 sooner.

 

[StihlHead]

Extra chain and case... I want it at that price! Even though I do not need another 361...

 

[Highbeam]

Hmmmm. Trying to resist. Momma's yukon is getting 800$ worth of tires tonight.

 

[StihlHead]

Resistance is futile. The longer you wait, the more likely you will regret not acting sooner.

You can unload the 290 for $200 easy! It would cost you $100 for the upgrade, and get a case and extra chain and files.

You can lead a horse to water... *sigh*

 

[mikefrommaine]

Hmmmm. Trying to resist. Momma's yukon is getting 800$ worth of tires tonight.

DO IT, DO IT, JUST DO IT!

 

[loadstarken]

Did you do it yet? Hehe

 

[Highbeam]

I'm on a motorcycle today.

How do you check these things over? Still let it hang by the pull cord for a compression check?

 

[loadstarken]

I have read of people using that method.

The last 3 saws that I bought I just opened the case to verify it was there and shook hands and gave them cash. They were all from older guys just downsizing and not some young punks all sketched out so I felt good about it.

 

[Highbeam]

So my 290 is 56.5cc the 361 is 59. The 290 and 361 both weigh 13 lbs. The 290 is 3.8 HP and the 361 is 4.6.

I use every bit of the 20" bar on my 290, is the extra grunt of the 361 super important? Why should I buy it?

 

[Highbeam]

What if some pieces are cracked? Cheap to replace plastics?

I printed it out and will probably call tonight and pick up.

 

[loadstarken]

I don't have a 361 but I'm sure someone will have those answers.
Good luck!

 

[Highbeam]

Resistance is futile. The longer you wait, the more likely you will regret not acting sooner.

You can unload the 290 for $200 easy! It would cost you $100 for the upgrade, and get a case and extra chain and files.

You can lead a horse to water... *sigh*

I would keep the 290. She is my first stihl.

Plus, you really need two saws at least.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I Had a 290 and for years thought it was all I'd ever need. Now I have a 361 among others. There is no comparison between a 361 and a 290. You'll never use your 290 if you get the 361.

Check the compression with rope trick. Ideally you would pull the muffler and check the piston. You will need a t-27 torx bit on a screwdriver handle. A t27 socket will not fit. If it starts, runs and has good compression I'd buy it.

And then sell the 290. If you want two saws watch for an 026.
You'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago.

 

[StihlHead]

I Had a 290 and for years thought it was all I'd ever need. Now I have a 361 among others. There is no comparison between a 361 and a 290. You'll never use your 290 if you get the 361.

Check the compression with rope trick. Ideally you would pull the muffler and check the piston. You will need a t-27 torx bit on a screwdriver handle. A t27 socket will not fit. If it starts, runs and has good compression I'd buy it.

And then sell the 290. If you want two saws watch for an 026.
You'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago.

+1

Plastic is way better on these than the 290 and all that looks bad in the photo is a scuffed up air cleaner cover. Unless you wax your saws and display them under glass, it will work fine as is. I would pull the limiter tabs on the carb and re-tune it richer, but that is the only issue I have had with any of my 361s. You can do a shark-gill muffler mod pretty easy as well, but they do not really need one. They pull a 20 inch bar just fine, and will pull a 25 inch bar as well.

 

[StihlHead]

So my 290 is 56.5cc the 361 is 59. The 290 and 361 both weigh 13 lbs. The 290 is 3.8 HP and the 361 is 4.6.

I use every bit of the 20" bar on my 290, is the extra grunt of the 361 super important? Why should I buy it?

Well, if you really have to be convinced, whining, kicking and screaming all the way, I will just tell you to go jump. I will tell you this though: IMO, the 361 is the best saw that Stihl ever made, and the best saw I have ever run, period. In the 60cc class, it cannot be beat. I have owned 6 of them, 5 stock and 1 ported.

 

[wesessiah]

i'd get the 361 and put a 16" bar on the 290.

 

[StihlHead]

The 361 story... sadly, there was a good story on the development of the saw posted by a guy that worked at Stihl, but the site he posted it to is no longer (treeworld dot info is now defunct). For future reference, there really is no comparing the 361 to the 290 (or the 310 or 390, for that matter). Classic pro vs. homeowner saw, great saw vs. boat anchor, etc. etc.

Some differences off the top of my head are:

The 361 has quad ports, a breakthrough in their engine designs that they now use on the newer saws like the 461 and 661 (290 is dual ported)
The 361 has way better nikasil plating on the cylinder (a quarter tank of straight gas is far less likely to score a 361)
The 361 has a magnesium lower engine case (the 290 is plastic)
The 361 top end can be easily pulled, repaired or replaced (the 290 has a clam shell engine)
The 361 is almost a pound lighter at 12.3 pounds (290 is 13.0 pounds)
The 361 has a top grade white plastic rear handle and lower section (290 has cheaper orange plastic)
The 361 has a metal side cover and a metal starter housing (they are plastic on the 290)
The 361 has a decompression button for easier starting (which the 290 sorely needs but never had)
The 361 has far better AV, and is spring mounted (the 290 is rubber mounted)
The 361 has 60% less vibration than the 290 (3.6 vs 5.7 m/s*s)
The 361 has a clear gas tank so you can see if it is full or low on gas
The 361 has a far better air filter than the 290, it is easier to clean and clogs up less
The 361 revs higher than the 290 and the power range is better
The 361 has 4.4 HP vs. 3.8 HP for the 290
The 361 will run a 25 inch bar
The 361 comes with a pro style rim drive*
The 361 has upgrade options, like a 3/4 wrap handle, a larger sprocket side cover, a chain roller and larger dual falling dawgs
The 361 is easier to tear down and work on

One advantage of the 290 over the 361 is that the muffler is easier to modify on the 290.
*The 290 can be upgraded to run rim drives by putting on a 360 clutch drum.
The 290 does have a stock adjustable oiler, which is one if its better features.

 

[Highbeam]

One of those too good to be true deals. Email at 5 went unanswered. First call of mine at 6 went through to some young woman who said she would call me back with the paper containing the info about the saw but that it was orange and white. Okay. No call for 30 minutes. I call back, straight to full voice mail. Repeated calls go straight to full VM so no message can be left.

I'm thinking that there are lots of folks interested or something else? Maybe they're taking a dinner break.

Cash in hand, no 361 in hand. I'm convinced that I want it.

 

[StihlHead]

Yah never know with CL. Around here that saw would have sold in 30 minutes for that price.

 

[NH_Wood]

+1 on the fast sale at that price - unless I was very fast, that saw would be gone before I could have made a decent attempt at buying it. You'll probably see the ad disappear soon (if they keep up on CL postings) - they'll get tired of the calls once it's gone. I'll hold out hope for you! On another note - if you do see the saw - if I'm spending good cash (over 200 or so), I'm going to do a compression test, pull the muffler to look at piston, check all the plastics for cracks (yes, they are expensive - look at eBay sold prices for cylinder covers, rear handles, air filter covers, etc., etc. - not cheap), and make sure it's oiling real well and chain brake works. IMO those are the main things that will ultimately keep the saw valuable if it doesn't end up working out for you, for whatever reason - you can at least get a large amount of your $ back. If the saw ends up a keeper, excellent. Good luck! Cheers!