Husqvarna 61

[Nate379]

Decent saw?

I found one in the parts pile at the shop.  Looks almost brand new, complete other than a muffler, but needs a new piston at least, probably a new cylinder.

I think was a new saw that got straight gassed (happens pretty often).

I'm not too up to speed on non Stihls.  I wanted to build a 440 or 460 but I wasn't able to find a parts saw complete enough (or several to make a complete one) so I'd have to buy alot of the small stuff that adds up real quick.

[sablatnic]

Decent saw! Absolutely!!
And if you can find a 162 - 266 - 268 - etc. with a good cylinder, you can use that as well.

[Pa woodchuck]

i have a grey top 61. Its a decent saw imo. It is deffinitly not in the 460 class though.

[weimedog]

A great chassis to build and they can be made to run as strong as most modern 65-70cc's saws.

Basically those 61's can be built into a 272xp with a little ingenuity. AND those 272's respond well to some simple hop up techniques... The no base gasket build being one. For the more sophisticated, Transfer port mods can make them almost a match of the modern 70cc saws... Have one that proves that point.

The kind of things to look for is if it's a "two" coil or later one coil ignition system setup. It doesn't matter from either a functionally or performance perspective, but there are slight changes to the cases that need to be understood when getting plastic for those saws and other minor parts. There are parts available for either ignition style, all three of the coils are still available from a variety of sources...

Bottom line... that's a great saw to either turn into a functional work saw OR delve into the world of "CAD"... they are addicting and easy to work on and build... AND collect. 162-61-266-268-272-625-630-670 etc.......

[Nate379]

It will be a gift for my sisters husband.  He has been cutting their firewood with a dumpster picked Pooland Wild Thang.

[sawguy21]

He will be moving from a Yugo to a Pontiac. :D The 61 was one fine farm/ranch/weekend warrior saw, I would like to find a clean one.

[chet]

He will be moving from a Yugo to a Pontiac. :D

A '68 GTO with a 400 CI and a Hearst 4 speed tranny to be exact  :D

[HolmenTree]

I loved those Pontiacs  too.

[Nate379]

This one looks brand new aside from the piston being beat up.  Has compression still though.

He will be moving from a Yugo to a Pontiac. :D The 61 was one fine farm/ranch/weekend warrior saw, I would like to find a clean one.

[Cedar Savage]

Hopefully a little muriatic acid will clean up the cylinder, & you can just pop a new piston in it.

[Nate379]

Cylinder is hosed along with the piston.  I have a new set on order, was about $60 so no too bad.
Probably have a new cylinder at the shop but $60 was cheaper than spending a day or more digging though all the cylinders  :D

[Brandon1986]

That is a great saw! Pops and I were just talking 2 days ago about finding Fischer Bros. first 61 and restoring it for nostalgia sake.  I'd like to see that when its all done and running.

[dennyb]

Decent saw?

I found one in the parts pile at the shop.  Looks almost brand new, complete other than a muffler, but needs a new piston at least, probably a new cylinder.

I think was a new saw that got straight gassed (happens pretty often).

I'm not too up to speed on non Stihls.  I wanted to build a 440 or 460 but I wasn't able to find a parts saw complete enough (or several to make a complete one) so I'd have to buy alot of the small stuff that adds up real quick.

They were a good saw. But if you were going to carry the same weight the 162 or 266 was way better for professional use. I used 61's spacing before and we used them for training. They were very durable