Stihl ms 362cm and ms661cm

[The Diesel]

Anyone have this combo?  Been using my 362cm with 25" bar like crazy to tackle all the big stuff since we never had a 25" bar and now I am noticing we have alot of 40" plus wood to cut.  Looks like 661cm goes up to 32" bar.  How would saw handle 32?  I can get new with 32 for about $1k.  Is it worth it or just stick with 362cm and take my time? Will the 661 be alot faster cutting than 362cm?  How is handling of such big saw?

[DelawhereJoe]

My dads has a 660 with a 36" bar, it cuts oak and beech great, at over 7 hp it should pull a 48" with full skip chain with no problems.

[teakwood]

I dont know the 362 but i have a 066 and its a beast. kinda heavy though for a full days work, although its just to hot here anyway for a full days work.

[DelawhereJoe]

My dad uses a 16" 346xp, 20" 036, 25" 440 and 36" 660. Great spread on saws and not to much chain for hp.

[YellowHammer]

I've had a 660 with 32 inch and it cuts great, in hardwoods, at full width.  I also used it to trim off solid packs of wood, 48 inch wide, 32 inches tall, and it works full length with the bar buried.  I just traded to a 661, and the 32 inch bar cuts very well also. 

[killamplanes]

I've got 661,660 and killed my 460 last week fell in a creek wide open and locked up a day later. It was tired anyway. I use only 25in bars u can go up to a 46in tree with a 25in bar if you have big dogs. I do own a 36in bar but only use a few times a year. I hand file everything and keep in mine when they need sharpened the bigger the bar the bigger the pain. And yes I carry 661 in timber all day and have for several yrs love um. 2-4 gallons of fuel on a good productive day.

[Randy88]

Had a 660 and 361 cutting side by side for years, then traded the 361 for a 362 side by side with my 660, huge difference in the same size bar and wood, we'd usually keep the 660 in larger diameter stuff and the 362 in smaller wood.     

If your going over 25 inch bar, I'd never put it on a 362 for any length of time cutting hard wood anyhow.   Never cut soft wood so don't know about that.     

You not only gain hp but also torque with the 660 saws, major difference.   Yes you can go skip tooth to help yourself out somewhat, I've never used skip tooth before myself, been around some using it, have mixed feelings about it for the cutting we do, it has pro's and con's but before you work a 362 to death, buy a larger saw to go along with it and put half the hours on each saw as compared to one, is how I look at it, but do as you wish.