stihl 661

[Cub]

What are your options about them? You guys have good luck with them? Any and all opinions welcomed. 

[Weekend_Sawyer]

I have the MS661-C M-tronic. I like it a lot!
It replaced my old 066 and has more power and weighs less.
I use it with and Alaskan mill to mill wide slabs the biggest so far was a 42"wide red oak.
If I want to go wider Ill need to get a longer bar.

I'm for it.
Jon

[Cub]

Ok thanks. My 064 keeps giving me fits and I'm about ready to leave it in the garage as a conversation piece and replace it with a 661. 

[HolmenTree]

Rebuild that 064 with OEM parts and keep it for backup. 
MS661 I've demoed and love it but waiting for the 80cc MS500i

[Cub]

So your saying I should just get a 661? Hahaha!!!

[HolmenTree]

Well if you're man enough cub, go for it. :laugh:

[Cub]

I think I can handle it :D. I only use it to drop trees. The job I'm on now is big ash maple and basswood. The 440 doesn't quite have the beans to pull a 28 inch bar through a 46 inch maple. (I mean it does work and I could by). So I'd use the 064 to drop and buck the 1st few logs then use the 440 for the rest. I like a powerful saw with speed when it comes to dropping them big guys. 

[D2 Cody]

I have been wondering about the 661 also. I would like to buy one so i can put a 36 inch bar on it to bore bigger cottonwood and walnut. I would also like opinions and more detail from a few others. I thought about going with the 461 but for 200 some more dollars i can get the 661. Any thoughts or opinions? 

[YellowHammer]

It's a good saw and the one I reach for most times.  A 28" bar balances it perfectly, and allows me to walk with the tip horizontally by the carrying handle, with no unsafe tip down and I can bury the blade in a log and not care.  Plunge cuts, bore cuts, buck cuts, whatever, it's fast and will just drop through a log.  Noticeably more power and zip than my old 660 which I traded for this one.  Not even close to my old 440 Magnum.  I also use a 32" on it for cutting wedding cookies.  
  
We also use it to split and buck the occasional big logs with a 52" bar and skip tooth chain.   I should get an 880 but this works fine.

  

[leonid123]

I bought 661 this summer, and I can say that it is valid beast. For thick trees just right. Good luck will not regret.

[hedgerow]

I bought 661 this summer, and I can say that it is valid beast. For thick trees just right. Good luck will not regret.

How many hours do you have on it? I think I have decided I am going to start shopping for a 661 in 2019. I sold my Solo 694 because of no compression release and my shoulder is not good. Kind of ruled out a husky as there seems to be no dealer support in my area.