Should I trade? Ms460 for ms661

[SCOTT S.]

took my ms460 to the stihl shop for a carb adjustment, like I do once a year and when he came out of the shop he seen me looking at a used ms661. He said 50 bucks and my saw it is mine. His is 3 years old and in better shape than mine, the 460 was bought in 2000. I'm just not sure if I want or need the extra power and weight I do also have a 026 pro. Thoughts?

 

[DodgyNomad]

That's a great deal. If yours is 16 years old and his is 3, I'd do it. 661's bring a lot of money. Do it just to flip if you want.

Yes that's a lot of saw, but around here they go for roughly a grand lightly used.

 

[Jon1270]

Do you have a bunch of really big trees to cut? Are you thinking of getting into chain saw lumber milling? This sounds like a good deal in terms of cash value, but if I just wanted a good firewood saw then I'd stick with the 460.

DN's idea of flipping the 661 and using the proceeds to acquire a newer saw that's more appropriate to your needs is plausible, if you have the time and inclination to mess with additional transactions.

 

[woodhog73]

It sounds like a good deal. From the money side of the equation sure it makes sense.

From the actual cutting and need side of the equation I'm not so sure. What are you cutting ? The 661 and really any other brand of saw that size is in my opinion a logging saw and designed for large trees and heavy production. Tree service companies always have one saw of it's size on their truck too for the occasional very large tree where you need a bar well over 28 inches and much bigger even. However they probably get used less than 1 times per month though, which I say from having experience on a tree crew.

Saws of that size are far more common on the west coast than they are where I'm at which is Midwest. Obviously just based on what trees are cut and logged and what the sizes are.

Tough decision because it is a good deal. I suppose you could make the trade and then if you decide it's more saw than you want or need then sell it.

Plus you have a small 50cc saw already so it's not like you need to use the 661 for limbing tops and cutting over head etc if your dealing with large trees being dropped out in the woods and whatnot.

The more I'm thinking about it I'd probably do it simply because it's much newer, you say in better condition, it's higher value, and you only have to give an extra 50 bucks plus your saw ? Ya it's a good deal I myself would probably make the trade

 

[Jags]

That sounds like a heck of a good deal for the $$$. That said - for firewood, I think the 460 is a better animal than the 661 is. The 460 is really right at the sweet spot for HP to Weight.

 

[SCOTT S.]

Thanks for all the replys, I probably only have 1 or 2 trees a year that the 66 would be nice. I haven't ever had one I couldn't take care of with the 46. It's just hard to pass on a good deal, but there has to be a reason he wants the 46 maybe they are easier to sell?

 

[DodgyNomad]

I wouldn't over-think it. If the condition of the 661 supports that it's been well taken care of, and hasn't been used daily in production, (like a mill,) I'd swap it out. Ask the shop where it came from, and for a compression test. If it's OK, I'd give him 50, and walk away with the 661. But that's me. I own a 660 with a 32 inch bar just for those big tree/stump times when nothing else can do the job as well.

I don't fire that saw up for months at a time, but when I do, it's a time and back saver. Has gotten myself and friends out of jams. If you don't like it, toss it on Craigslist, and get something else.

 

[claydogg84]

I don't use my 660 often, but when I do, I sure do love having that extra power. I think the deal is really good, but it's definitely a heavy saw if it will be your main firewood unit.

 

[D8Chumley]

If it was near me I would trade mine just to have a 661 cause it's badass

 

[heavy hammer]

I wouldn't even need to think about it definitely yes. I have four 660 and one 880. The 660 is an animal of a saw. My father is turning 60 this year and when we cut he can't wait to get his hands on the 660. He has a 039 and a 361 both great saws but he loves the 660 with the 25 inch bar, and he runs it like a pro. I think if you got it you would love it, you could always put a smaller bar on it if needed. The new 661 has all the nice anti vibration stuff on it to make it easier to run less fatiguing. I never have ran one but for 50 bucks and a saw three years old compared to sixteen it's a no brainer. If you don't like it you could always use it to get another smaller saw but I doubt you will once you run it, plus it's not that much heavier than your 460. Get it!

 

[SCOTT S.]

What is the range for exceptable compression on a 661?

 

[DodgyNomad]

I'm guessing 140-160 would be good for that saw as a guess. Some guys say 130 and up is still good.

 

[woodhog73]

Thanks for all the replys, I probably only have 1 or 2 trees a year that the 66 would be nice. I haven't ever had one I couldn't take care of with the 46. It's just hard to pass on a good deal, but there has to be a reason he wants the 46 maybe they are easier to sell?

Have you asked what the price of the 661 is by itself ? You are bringing up a valid concern in that why is he willing to make such a lopsided trade financially speaking.

Eitherway no doubt the 661 is harder to sell. I see you are in WI. There are probably zero trees in the state of WI that cannot be felled and bucked with a 460. Even with a 25 inch bar a person can easily fell a 50 inch diameter tree if they have the skill. And certainly the 460 will run a much bigger bar than the 25 so it's easy to conclude WI just doesn't have a tree big enough that would defeat your 460.

The 460 has an awesome power to weight ratio. It's a very popular saw out where I'm located for folks who do a lot of timber processing.

Out in the Pacific North West totally different story. The 661 and 880 are probably very common out there .

The Stihl dealer where I'm at keeps one 661 on display. He says it's for looks because nobody every buys it. He said he is lucky if he sells 1 a year. But he will move a ton of 290s, 261s, and also 362s and 441s.

Still your getting a great deal. Even if the compression is low it's easy enough to rebuild the top end. I'd probably still do it and rebuild the top end if needed.

 

[SCOTT S.]

He had $650 on it. I was talking to my buddy about it as I was about to pull the trigger and he offered me 625 for mine, I took it. So now I can get the 661 or look for a newer saw any suggestions? I paid just over 800 new $175 for 16 years of service not bad.

 

[woodhog73]

If you have good Stihl dealer stick with that brand.

Or if you want something different and have good dealers switch to a Swedish made saw Husky or Jonsered.

They are all apples to apples. Only advantage I can think of with the big Swedish saws is I've noticed the air filters stay cleaner longer. This is from having owned both.

 

[D8Chumley]

Now the 661 will only cost you $25 instead of $50. Or offer him $625 cash. Win-win

 

[heavy hammer]

I would just purchase it can always get rid of it later if you don't use it. That is a pretty good price for that saw. Does it look like it's clean and not abused?

 

[Jon1270]

Now the 661 will only cost you $25 instead of $50. Or offer him $625 cash. Win-win

Unless he now has to pay sales tax on $650, instead of $50...

 

[D8Chumley]

Unless he now has to pay sales tax on $650, instead of $50...

Oh, good point. Didn't think of that

 

[SCOTT S.]

Well after I sold the 460 I started to have serious sellers remorse. What the hell was I thinking I have never had a log the 460 wouldn't take care of in short order. And as I'm getting older the 026 is seeing more action so why am I buying a saw that weighs more than the 46? As luck would have it this popped up on Craig's list.

 

[SCOTT S.]

I'ts 3 years old not mint but in better shape than my 460. I know I'm nuts but this time I think that worked out in my favor.

 

[DodgyNomad]

Well I'm glad that's all sorted out.

 

[D8Chumley]

That's not how my luck would work! So did you go buy it?

 

[heavy hammer]

Get the 461 sell the 661 be money ahead and have a newer saw than what you started out with. See if they would trade and give you a little money!

 

[SCOTT S.]

I did get the 461 that picture is on my work bench. I didn't get the 661, but did come out ok sold my 16 year old 460 for 625 and bought the 3 year old 461 for 500 from a stihl technician who makes his own dual port mufflers and added one for me, the 461 sounds awesome with it. The difference that I noticed so far is the 461 seems to have more torque, you can push it harder in the cut with out it snubbing the engine.