Used ms250c just fell in my lap

[DaveGunter]

After processeing about 20 cords of logs over the past year, including felling some 24" diameter spruce on my property with my ms180 I am now at least three years ahead. I was just out taking down a snag thinking to myself I wish I had a little bigger saw, when my neighbor comes over and offeres up his ms250c, said after seeing all the work I've done, that I might want a back-up saw. Said he just picked up a new saw and wondered if I wanted to buy his old one. He bought it new in 2003, had the receipt for the 10 hour service in 2008, it has the original chain with a ton of life still in it, I doubt it even has 10 hours on it! Comes with a case! I'm standing there looking at it, thinking man if I could get it for $150 that would be a great deal, when he says " how about $150, that's about half what I paid for it". Only thing is, it's got a 16" bar that I will definitely switch to 18". Guess which saw will be the "back-up saw"?

 

[osagebow]

Nice score! ms 180 is gonna get lonely.

 

[fossil]

"Used ms250c just fell in my lap"

Dang, I sure hope it wasn't running!

 

[bogydave]

Very nice !
Low hours on a 45 cc saw. That saw's probably barely broke in

33% increase in HP , you are gonna love it

Try a chisel chain: 63 PS3 61 (18")
Picco chisel chain


Don't forget pictures with the new 18" bar & chain

 

[jensent]

I would stick with the 16in bar. Seems to give the MS250 better balance. Stihl 63PMC3(55dl) makes that saw smooth. Cuts up to about 24in dia fine.
Tom

 

[MasterMech]

Try a chisel chain: 63 PS3 61 (18") Picco chisel chain

Most MS250's came with .325" chain.

26RS68 would be the 18" loop

But I wouldn't hesitate to run 3/8" Picco on one with a big sprocket.

 

[DaveGunter]

Very nice !
Low hours on a 45 cc saw. That saw's probably barely broke in

33% increase in HP , you are gonna love it

Try a chisel chain: 63 PS3 61 (18")
Picco chisel chain


Don't forget pictures with the new 18" bar & chain

Thanks Dave
Talking to the dealer later today about the 18" bar, pictures later. The pictures of your stacks with the cross members going all the way through the double rows to stabilize the whole stack were helpful to me. I had a stack fall over onto a family dog when I was a kid, dog was OK, but now I like STABLE stacks, amazing how much more stable the cross member makes the stack. I burn mostly birch and spruce like you.

What does the 250C have that the 250 doesn't? It does have the quick adjust no tools needed for the chain tension, same as the 180, was worried about that when I bought the 180 but the dealer said no problems. Will the 18" bar still have the quick adjust option?

 

[bogydave]

I think the "C" is a faster acting chain brake model, but not sure.
Maybe the "Q" stands of faster chain brake.
Not sure with just a "C" on it?

 

['bert]

The C -E version would be the Easy 2 Start version. Uses a spring to assisting in starting if I understand correctly.

 

[smokinj]

Ms 180 cutting a 24 inch tree.....lol Whats next milling

 

[MasterMech]

What does the 250C have that the 250 doesn't?

There were two versions of the MS250C. The newest, and most popular, the MS250C-BE has a primer bulb on the carburetor. Makes it a 2 pull machine when it's cold. It has the quick chain adjuster as you mentioned and the Easy2Start system which I actually like on those saws. The quick chain adjuster will work with any "mini" mount bar. (part # starts with 3005)

Pretty much the exact same saw as my MS230C-BE, just another 5 cc.

Here's mine.

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[DaveGunter]

There were two versions of the MS250C. The newest, and most popular, the MS250C-BE has a primer bulb on the carburetor. Makes it a 2 pull machine when it's cold. It has the quick chain adjuster as you mentioned and the Easy2Start system which I actually like on those saws. The quick chain adjuster will work with any "mini" mount bar. (part # starts with 3005)

Pretty much the exact same saw as my MS230C-BE, just another 5 cc.

Thanks, nice video.
I don't have the easy to start feature, but it does have the primer bulb. Ran it a bit yesterday for the first time, bucking some spruce. I did not use the primer bulb on startup, just tried to start it like I would the ms180, was pretty much the same although it was wicked cold-blooded. It took a minute or so before I could hit the throttle at all without it bogging and even then it was a bit sluggish for another minute or so. I had just topped it up with fresh gas, there was only a little in the tank, not sure how old the little bit was. I'll ask my neighbor about the cold bloodedness today when I pay him. Obviously it did have noticeably more power, getting through the log a few seconds quicker than the ms 180 would have. It has a green chain on it and I did have one incident of kickback, never felt that with the ms180. Talked to the dealer about the 18" bar, his advice was the same, run it with the 16" for a while, was going to pick up a yellow chain, but the kick back I got yesterday is making me think I'll wait on that for a while too. I am pretty much caught up for now, getting a 9 cord load of tree length hardwood in the fall to start filling in when I start burning again. Just keeping an eye out for scrounges in the meantime.

 

[Sean McGillicuddy]

Keep some tree length on hand @ all times!!
You need to play often and not just in the fall!
You never have enough split wood!

 

[MasterMech]

I did not use the primer bulb on startup, just tried to start it like I would the ms180, was pretty much the same although it was wicked cold-blooded.

You're missing out on the best part of that saw. Prime it, pull it, it'll burp on the first tug 99% of the time. Flip the lever up a notch and it'll start on the 2nd tug. I love the old MS250C's without the Easy2Start, probably my favorite version of the saw overall.

 

[maple1]

Nice thread. I just came home with my first Kijiji saw score - a MS250.

Haven't checked it all over yet - but the guy started it up when I got there & it sounded good. Looks pretty decent too - aside from needing a new bar. Older fellow, was almost done with wood cutting & I think the bar nose seizure was the final push. Didn't exactly fall in my lap - I had to do some driving for it - but when he said OK to the $60 offer, well, I was a happy camper. Might not be the most higly valued Stihl in the lineup - but at this point I don't really care.

 

[salecker]

I got a near new ms250 that fell out of the back of the power companys truck.Supposedly only cut a few trees on the power lines.The brake handle and wrap handle were broken,which i switched from a dead 025.Runs nice,thought i had a real score,traded for future considerations.Then i found the cracked oil tank,so now i will try and glue it,or switch the screw cap tank from the 025.
I'll keep this one and sell the 021,it's mint and runs great.
Looks like the 250's like to fall
Thomas

 

[DaveGunter]

I have been following the Tractor Supply sale thread and am headed there this afternoon to hopefully pick up a spare set of chaps and a new helmet. Was wondering about a Husky chain that will work on the ms250 with the 16" bar. I know the Stihl chain is the gold standard but for half price I thought I might pick one up if available. The saw currently has the Stihl 26RM3-62, the only Husky chain I can see is the H26-62? so a full chisel as opposed to the current Stihl semi-chisel? I know next to nothing about chain.

 

[maple1]

Are the Huskys the same guage/pitch? I've got a 'dead' 345 here to try to resurrect sometime (was given to me) - but I don't know the bar/chain details on it. The Stihl is 0.325 pitch/.063 guage.

I need to get a new bar for my 250 - I haven't decided whether to stick with the 16" or go to 18". I was leaning to 18" to complement the shorter one that is on my ms170. I haven't been to the dealer yet though to price things out - that might be the deciding factor.

 

[MasterMech]

Are the Huskys the same guage/pitch?

Husky gauge is usually .050 or .058.