Hey guys, spoke to my dealer today about the Stilh 661 and the 880
I can get the ms880 for a extra 700 bananas 8)
I have some muscle still at 59 yrs.
I would also like to do some slabbing as well as noodeling with this saw
just a tad over 2gs for the 880...pull the trigger or what
thats a tough one imo i will wait a couple years before spending the money on the 661. let others find out all the problems with the new set up. The 880 is a very tough saw but i heard that they dont have the chain speed like a 660. If your not strictly stihl you might try a husky 395xp. I have had good luck with them and im pretty hard on saws. the old 660 is bulletproof compared to husky but much less power
Quote from: so il logger on January 15, 2015, 05:04:08 PM
thats a tough one imo i will wait a couple years before spending the money on the 661. let others find out all the problems with the new set up. The 880 is a very tough saw but i heard that they dont have the chain speed like a 660. If your not strictly stihl you might try a husky 395xp. I have had good luck with them and im pretty hard on saws. the old 660 is bulletproof compared to husky but much less power
On this edge of the town they don't offer the 395 anymore plus ITS out dated...old
I need a 60" bar and not sure what small bar to get maybe just the 36" on the Stihl 880 Wow
well the 880 should turn that 36inch lol. Id pay the extra money just to keep away from 661 a couple years. I havent seen the 661 in person. None of the dealers round here has any yet. I recently bought new 660 and asked dealer then if he had sold any 661 yet. he replied no and he didnt really want to because of the electronics
Quote from: so il logger on January 15, 2015, 05:27:03 PM
well the 880 should turn that 36inch lol. Id pay the extra money just to keep away from 661 a couple years. I havent seen the 661 in person. None of the dealers round here has any yet. I recently bought new 660 and asked dealer then if he had sold any 661 yet. he replied no and he didnt really want to because of the electronics
The guys up here loging are using the 661 and they love them, they also use the 880.
Only bad new I herd on the 661, It was a brand new saw, got caught up and the whole darn tree fell on the new saw. wow that hurts... I hear it was just smashed to bits...brand ne saw.
Im leaning hard on a 880. they knocked another 100 off 8)
I hope the 661 is as dependable as 660. And hopefully more powerful. I havent found one yet that can take a tree getting on it. I got lucky awhile back because the ground was soft and didnt hurt my saw. We mainly cut 20 in and up stump limit and heavy hardwood does a number on saw if saw gets pinched and tree wont let it go. Seen a couple that wasnt even worth carrying outta the woods. that makes for a bad day
Quote from: so il logger on January 15, 2015, 05:39:30 PM
I hope the 661 is as dependable as 660. And hopefully more powerful. I havent found one yet that can take a tree getting on it. I got lucky awhile back because the ground was soft and didnt hurt my saw. We mainly cut 20 in and up stump limit and heavy hardwood does a number on saw if saw gets pinched and tree wont let it go. Seen a couple that wasnt even worth carrying outta the woods. that makes for a bad day
Logger that's exactly what happened to this saw...It was a pinch...and he ran
Tree Dan it looks like you're set up real nice for making lumber.
I think the 880 would be a better choice then the 661 for what you need a big saw for.
It's not going to win any speed cutting races but a heavy duty saw like that should do your slabbing work for years. It will only get stronger with use.
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Quote from: HolmenTree on January 15, 2015, 05:46:57 PM
Tree Dan it looks like you're set up real nice for making lumber.
I think the 880 would be a better choice then the 661 for what you need a big saw for.
It's not going to win any speed cutting races but a heavy duty saw like that should do your slabbing work for years. It will only get stronger with use.
Thanks, that good advice coming from you.
I use the 361 for most of my tree work . I have some big buggers here like...40 to 60" dia
I see some income on slabbing them and maybe the 661 will do it but the 880 runs the bad boy chain. so I thinking the 880 with a 36" bar or should I get the 41...plus the 60" bar for slabbing
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 05:56:09 PM
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Yaa I just seen your thread,,,I would go for the 661 if your not doing any big slabing or feal some 80" monsters...The 661 rocks...and we have No problems with them up here,,,the guys like them more than the 660.
A 36" is alot of bar on a 660 as I've had them on my 066Mag. But with the length of the 880 powerhead that looks like a freight train I'd go 41".
I have a 60" on my 090 and its alot of steel
Chain if not kept tight derails easily on that bar when doing cuts with the saw on its side.
880 has been well proven since its introduction as a 084 way back in 1985-86.
Quote from: Tree Dan on January 15, 2015, 06:16:45 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 05:56:09 PM
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Yaa I just seen your thread,,,I would go for the 661 if your not doing any big slabing or feal some 80" monsters...The 661 rocks...and we have No problems with them up here,,,the guys like them more than the 660.
I'm wanting a saw to run 41" and 50" bars for quartering logs. Same cut as slabbing, no? No one has told me where to get a 50" bar for the 661 nor whether it would run it.
I have no input on the 661 but that 880 will pull the chips out for sure. We used one for a while and it was flat out a cutter. But good grief it should be it weighs a flat metric ton lol
If a person were going to do a lot of slabbing work it's hard to beat displacement .Huge trees for take down ,same .
A large saw new is two thousand bucks so keep that in mind. Now I have 5 of them over 100 cc but they are older and I'm a collector not a lumber man .I have them if I need them but I don't make a living with them .
I can't get my head around paying 2 g's for a saw either. :D
Quote from: sawguy21 on January 16, 2015, 03:58:54 AM
I can't get my head around paying 2 g's for a saw either. :D
I know its a ton of dough, remember this is 2000 Canadian not US...our dollar is way down in the gutter.
But that saw can pay for itself peaty darn quick with a couple of $1000 tree jobs.
Im going for the ms 880.
Its a once in a while use saw for me, but so would the 661. My main saw Is the 361 for my work.
For what you are going to use the 880 for I think you are making a good choice. Let us know how powerful that beast feels with a 36 in bar ;D
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 06:57:43 PM
Quote from: Tree Dan on January 15, 2015, 06:16:45 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 05:56:09 PM
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Yaa I just seen your thread,,,I would go for the 661 if your not doing any big slabing or feal some 80" monsters...The 661 rocks...and we have No problems with them up here,,,the guys like them more than the 660.
I'm wanting a saw to run 41" and 50" bars for quartering logs. Same cut as slabbing, no? No one has told me where to get a 50" bar for the 661 nor whether it would run it.
Look at Bailys for the long bar for the 661 ;D
Yes.. Baileys should offer a 50 in for 661 or 660. woodland pro brand i believe. they are built same as oregon but seem to last much longer
I know nothing about a 661,never even saw one .As general information for what it's worth a 36" bar is about standard in these parts for an MS 660 .
I don't know where that information came from that it lacks the power because unless it were totaly worn out or badly tuned it certainly has enough to do the job .
I might also add the 084 which resides in my shed wears a 42" with .404 chisel skip .Doesn't see much action though.As a side note that 42" Oregon bar is actually for the 066 size mount that has the slot milled out .Works just fine .
the 660 has power just wont hang with a 395 is all. From the factory all the way up till its wore slap out. I own and run both of them. I have even went as far as +2mm big bore top end, walkerized muffler, porting and polishing, and hi flow air filter set up. Sure it livened the 660 up but sure lost the durability
I vote for the 880 while it's still available. I bet an 881 is in the works. Keep in mind that your regular 3003 mount bars won't fit the 880. Not sure if they come with a .404 sprocket or .375. Anyways, yea I'd wait a few years on the 661. I just ran out and bought a 660r awhile back when I heard they weren't going to be producing them anymore, also cause my old 066 is getting a bit tired. My old boss is a diehard Jonsered guy, or so I thought. He used to give me a hard time for slingin stihls, then after I had stopped working there I went back to visit and he pulls out an 880 with a 5 foot bar. I said look at that decided to switch to a real saw! He loves it. It isn't a racer by any stretch of the imagination, but boy will it pull a big bar. It's a torque monster, not a hp demon.
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 06:57:43 PM
Quote from: Tree Dan on January 15, 2015, 06:16:45 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 05:56:09 PM
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Yaa I just seen your thread,,,I would go for the 661 if your not doing any big slabing or feal some 80" monsters...The 661 rocks...and we have No problems with them up here,,,the guys like them more than the 660.
I'm wanting a saw to run 41" and 50" bars for quartering logs. Same cut as slabbing, no? No one has told me where to get a 50" bar for the 661 nor whether it would run it.
Go to baileys. they sell a 3003 mount 42" bar and a 50" bar. If a 660 will pull it I bet that a 661 would too. They wouldn't make a bar to fit the saw if it won't adequately pull it, at least I wouldn't think so.
Well now a 660 or an 066 won't hang with my 30 year old Husqvarna 2100 either but that's not the point in question .
I don't get it .Seems like everybody thinks a fairly large work saw should cut like a 120 plus cc hotsaw in 8 by 8 poplar cants . ??? Where did that come from ?
Short answer, No, I would not, I would shop
for a second-hand one. Look here on the board first
I have seen 090's here, or post a want for used 090 or 880.
good luck with your search,
DGDrls
The one thing I noticed with the 660 that I believe makes it feel underpowered is that it doesn't pull the same rpms in the cut than say a 460 will. On the other hand, it will keep right on pulling when other saws will stall. My uncle's, which I use when I need that size saw, also did a LOT better when I gutted the muffler and put on a dp cover. Vast improvement in power and a much better runner now IMO.
yeah theres alot that can be done to make 660 faster. We dont cut timber with race saws but i think most timber fallers will agree that you cant have a doggy saw. The 660 is a solid saw from factory I personaly just like the 395 power a little more. I have 4 of the 660s and they go to the woods as well cause i know they will always run if i need one. But they dont get used often
O and tree dan.....NEVER buy a used saw EVER. If buying the new 880 that you want isnt putting you in a bind cash wise then go for it. Dont inherit someones tired saw
This is the 660 that haunts my dreams. Course it is modded...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x7MXn5zuEw
Quote from: so il logger on January 16, 2015, 11:25:25 PM
O and tree dan.....NEVER buy a used saw EVER. If buying the new 880 that you want isnt putting you in a bind cash wise then go for it. Dont inherit someones tired saw
I kinda agree. There are some good used saws to be had. I know that for a fact because I'm selling my 346 that's in great shape, I'm selling it because I don't like the AV system and it's underpowered. The saw is fine, I just don't like it, I prefer 70cc and up saws. I have to add one- never buy a used
logger's saw. Unless it's for parts that it has and you need.
From looking at the expensive equipment Tree Dan lists in his avator no way in heck should he have to buy a used saw :D
Yeah haha thats what i meant dont buy a loggers saw. I run mine till theyre parts only and i keep them for parts. But i have bought a couple used logger saws that bit me in the u know
In the now 40 years I have made a living with a saw I never bought a used one.
I think the saw dealers are happy with that. :D
Hope im not getting far off the post subject but what do you use your saw for? And 40 years of buying used saws you must have went through alot
Am i right in saying that you went through less than 30 by buying new saws i should say? 40 years of used saws would add up to a bunch. ;D its good to see someone siding with me :)
As a teenage farmboy from Saskatchewan I started logging with a new Jonsereds 621. Today I own and operate a urban tree and stump removal service.
I relied on saws all my working life, but I do miss the old John Deeres on my dads farm though :D
I look at a new saw from out of the box as something that "molds to my hands". not someone elses. :laugh:
Buy them new and you can't go wrong... I respect the fact you're on the same page as me so il logger ;)
Couldn't have said it better. Buy a new saw and its yours.... buy a used one and its just seconds
Exactly and with someone else's saw you don't know what you have. :)
Quote from: Tree Dan on January 16, 2015, 04:41:04 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 06:57:43 PM
Quote from: Tree Dan on January 15, 2015, 06:16:45 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 15, 2015, 05:56:09 PM
Dan, I'm up against the same question, see my thread close by "anyone using an MS880". I want a saw for long bar ripping cutting off flare and using 41 and 50" bars to quarter some logs lengthwise.
But seemed like no one answering my questions in the other thread liked the MS880. What do your people nearby who use the 880 think of it?
Yaa I just seen your thread,,,I would go for the 661 if your not doing any big slabing or feal some 80" monsters...The 661 rocks...and we have No problems with them up here,,,the guys like them more than the 660.
I'm wanting a saw to run 41" and 50" bars for quartering logs. Same cut as slabbing, no? No one has told me where to get a 50" bar for the 661 nor whether it would run it.
Look at Bailys for the long bar for the 661 ;D
I have and they don't offer a 50" except for 404 chain. Don't think that combo will work very well on a 660 or 661. Longest Bailey's has is a 41", Cannon, for 375 chain, CSB-S1-50-63-3. http://www.baileysonline.com/Chainsaw-Bars/Professional-Replaceable-Sprocket-Nose-Guide-Bars/Cannon-RSN-Guide-Bars/Cannon-Superbar-Guide-Bars/Cannon-42-SuperBar-Chainsaw-Bar-130-Drive-Links-CSB-S1-41-63-3.axd
If anyone knows otherwise where to get a 50" bar that a 660/661 will run, please post the link or other specific information.
If it were me, I would not do the 880 for the extra bucks, and would purchase the 661. I have separately picked up an 084, an 090, a 54" bar, and a 60" bar with the total being well under two grand. None of these are new, but I have never been lacking on any tree. Just my two cents.
Quote from: so il logger on January 16, 2015, 05:19:43 PM
Yes.. Baileys should offer a 50 in for 661 or 660. woodland pro brand i believe. they are built same as oregon but seem to last much longer
Thanks, but I can't find any Bailey listing for a bar over 41" for the MS660 except a 50" with a 404 sprocket. 50" with 404 chain is too long for an MS660, in other opinions here.
Give Baileys a call. They might be able to help you, I messaged one of them awhile back looking for a 42-50" bar for my 066, I couldn't find it on their web page. Talked with them and they found one for me.
http://www.baileysonline.com/Chainsaw-Bars/Bar-Chain-Combinations/Oregon-Bar-Chain-Combinations/Power-Match-Bar-Chain-Combinations/Oregon-42-Power-Match-Bar-and-Chain-Combo-for-Stihl-135-Drive-Links-423RNDD025-75JGX135G.axd?PartFinderType=BarSelector
I just used their bar finder. Took 5 min. You can also get the bar only for $119.
I already know about a 41" bar as I posted above. OK 42" is longer, but I'm asking about a 50" bar suitable for the 660/661.
Thanks for pointing out the bar selector tool on Bailey's. it is faster than the way I was looking. But still no 50" bar except the Cannon 404. Maybe they could swap to a 375 sprocket on it.
you may have better luck calling them. unless they discontinued them they had 50 inch 375 pitch for 660. I looked and it is a woodland pro. Have one hanging in the shed.
Didn't see it mentioned. But why not get the 661 and have one of the well known modders (tree monkey, mastermind. etc.) go over it for half the price increase to the 880 and enjoy the power increase.
7
Didn't know about that. An idea. There's almost no warranty on a Stihl anyway if the registration was checked off "professional use". Sort of crazy, they advertise saws as professional but then use them that way and it practically voids the warranty.
I'm wondering how the MS880 might do if I put 375 chain on it rather than 404.
The 880 would sure spin the 375 that's for sure ;D
Heres the info from when I got my 50 in 660 bar. baileys part# BAWP 50 5563. bar is 63 gauge 375 pitch 158 drive links weighs 11 lbs and whew costed 299.99. They may have discontinued but theres the info for what its worth
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 17, 2015, 09:44:54 AM
I already know about a 41" bar as I posted above. OK 42" is longer, but I'm asking about a 50" bar suitable for the 660/661.
Thanks for pointing out the bar selector tool on Bailey's. it is faster than the way I was looking. But still no 50" bar except the Cannon 404. Maybe they could swap to a 375 sprocket on it.
They can, the gal who works there (webgal on AS) told me they would
I just wonder about hanging a 50" on a 661 :) It's not going to happen here that's for sure.
I found out my other dealer guy will drop the price down $200 :o
That's a extra $600 for the freight train 8) this will come with the 61" bar, and I will order the 60" all with 10 degree skip ripping chains.
I only like to cry the one time when buying these big saws.
Remember what the engineers recommend for the 661 , and it's not a 50" bar
There's a reason for that.
I'm still sold on the 880 8) I may need to buy a bigger pick up truck now to fit the new saw in :o
Quote from: so il logger on January 17, 2015, 08:53:29 PM
Heres the info from when I got my 50 in 660 bar. baileys part# BAWP 50 5563. bar is 63 gauge 375 pitch 158 drive links weighs 11 lbs and whew costed 299.99. They may have discontinued but theres the info for what its worth
so il logger,
how did the 50" bar on a 660 work for you, what were you doing with it?
Tree Dan, what chain is that you're referring to, 10 degree skip?
btw appreciate all the responses so far still haven't decided what to do get a 661 or 880. thinking maybe I should take my 090AV & 41" bar and do some ripping I"m thinking about first. Just don't like the thought of starting up the AV090, that poops me out thinking about it.
I was using it for splitting logs in half that were too big to saw on circle sawmill. I didn't use the 50in very much it really put a pull on the 660. For what I was doing the 135 drive link 42in bar worked better. I used Oregon 75lgx chain and I filed it at a 10 degree angle across the tooth. Worked well for me I was splitting large cottonwood and hardwoods such as oak maple hickory.. etc. Another tip on ripping logs with a 660 is to take an old bar side cover and cut the rear portion off of it. I cut mine along the felling sight line. This allows it to discharge the long shavings much better. ;)
Typo in my last post... the 880 comes with the 41" bar for 1900 and change
and I would order in the 60" 10 degree skipt tooth.
I know how heavy this saw is with a 36" bar...I better start lifting my dumbells like right away :o
Go for the 880 you won't regret it.
Yes go for the 880 while theyre still making them. You will get a lot more life out of the 880 pulling the long chain versus the 661.
Go for the 880,[theirs no replacement for displacement].I use a 660 with a 32"bar for cutting down stumps,if i was to replace this saw it would be with a 880 and a 42" bar
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 18, 2015, 03:43:11 PM
...thinking maybe I should take my 090AV & 41" bar and do some ripping I"m thinking about first. Just don't like the thought of starting it up, that poops me out.
Maybe the 090AV does too but, the 880 has compression release and became easier to start the more it was run.
And don't forget the pictures!
8 Cubes go forth and fear no evil!
Which one did you end up choosing?
Not sure whether addressed to me or TreeDan. I haven't decided yet. Probably when it takes too long to decide then the options are close and its just a judgment call.
sorry about that, I didn't read the rules close enough. :P
Quote from: fishpharmer on January 18, 2015, 09:02:15 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 18, 2015, 03:43:11 PM
...thinking maybe I should take my 090AV & 41" bar and do some ripping I"m thinking about first. Just don't like the thought of starting it up, that poops me out.
Maybe the 090AV does too but, the 880 has compression release and became easier to start the more it was run.
090AV has compression release but I think it needs to be held in while pulling the starter. I am used to drop starting but not that saw. Get it on the wrong place in the compression cycle and it will pull the starter out of your hand no matter what your fingers think about it.
If I get an 880 and a 50" bar, should I put 375 or 404 chain on it? Why one or the other?
The .404 may cost more then the 3/8" but in the long haul the extra life you get out of the .404 will pay for itself.
Running 50" chain loops ripping big wood you need a heavy chain with a strong chassis that is low stretch and large durable cutters with lots of sharpening life.
If you went .404 you'd have a tougher chain that would last longer. It would also be safer. But you waste more wood with bigger kerf, and would also have to buy different files, or a different grind wheel if you grind your chains. A .404 chain will use a little bit more power, but the 880 should still pull it just fine. I would get the .404 if I were you. There are some people out there who will have a real long bar, and run a .325 chain to get the narrowest kerf. The only thing is you have to get a spool of .325 chain in .063 gauge and make it yourself or have a dealer make it I don't think you can buy a pre made one but it's not impossible.
Thanks. It's all sinking in slowly. I've already got Stihl 30" hard nose and 41" sprocket nose bars and 404 chains that will fit the 880, because of my 090AV history. And I see the point about cutter length and chain wear especially if I do more than a bit of ripping, and also start grinding chains to 10 degrees, where cutter length disappears before even getting to the wood. If I get serious about ripping more big logs there will be metal and regular chain wear too.
I've got grinder, CBN & other wheels, files, breaker, spinner, and already know what wearing out 404 chains from running my Peterson slabber. Don't care that much about the extra $ for the 880 although I wouldn't want to have spent it and then also regret the weight. But lets say I get I buy it with a 28" bar. That combination will only be a couple pounds heavier than my 660 was with a 36" bar, and would satisfy a good part of the needs that my MS460/20" bar can't handle in prepping logs for bandsaw milling, with a lot more power than I could do with a 661. Then I use the MS880 with the 41" or a 50" bars for the fewer occasions a long bar buried in wood is needed. Or get a 59" bar with the saw and keep the 41" bar on the saw.
And finally sell my 090AV's. There's the wow factor but some of it's lost when the geezer has to take a rest after getting the saw started.
Hmmmmm......
FWIW a .404 and a 3/8" chain use the same file--7/32".If you are slabbing wood,ripping with a chainsaw who cares if you cut a bigger kerf .Most of the time you are salvaging logs that would other wise be fire wood any way .If you were serious about it you would use a bandsaw . ;)--and don't even think about drop starting any saw with a long bar ,good way to cut your leg off . :o
If that's addressed to me I am using a bandsaw. My MS660 was stolen 2 weeks ago. I am trying to decide whether to replace it with a 661 or 880. For trimming flare off of big logs, or quartering logs either too big to put on it or where too much flat sawn waste & customer wants QS lumber. I also use a Peterson slabber with 404 chain for wide slabbing. I won't be making any more slabs with a chainsaw, gave that up years ago. When I ask about 375 and 404 in the same sentence it is cutting ease and speed and not waste I care about.
Just throwing this question out there because I don't know the answer: does the 880 and 090 share the same bar mount size/configuration?
Yes
Quote from: Al_Smith on January 19, 2015, 08:51:03 PM
FWIW a .404 and a 3/8" chain use the same file--7/32".If you are slabbing wood,ripping with a chainsaw who cares if you cut a bigger kerf .Most of the time you are salvaging logs that would other wise be fire wood any way .If you were serious about it you would use a bandsaw . ;)--and don't even think about drop starting any saw with a long bar ,good way to cut your leg off . :o
I use a 13/64" file for 3/8 and a 7/32" for .404
Stihl used to specify a 7/32"file for 3/8" chain, but have since specified the smaller diameter 13/64" file from all the complaints of the hard effort to file Stihl chain.
I use a 7/32 on .375 and .404 Except for stihl RM chain. I have found that 13/64 does work well on the RM
I have been busy digging out trash metal from some nice Black Cherry ;D
I haven't had time to get the saw yet...the weather up here has been nice,
so I was picking up some free wood and doing a bit of sawing on the lt40.
If I were just looking for a saw to trim up for the mill I would for sure get the Stihl 661.
And put a 36 bar on it for falling and the 50" for trimming up.
But the way I look at it if I have a big 50" plus Oak to fall I think the 880 will be the saw I would grab before the 661...But Im sure we can all agree the 661 will drop a 50" oak as well.
Im going to use it for slabbing as well, so this is why im leaning towards the 880...and plus I gotss muscels ;D
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 19, 2015, 08:57:48 PM
If that's addressed to me I am using a bandsaw. My MS660 was stolen 2 weeks .
No I wasn't taking a shot at you .That was a random statement .Random ducked the shot and it hit you.
Really somebody was worried about kerf and somebody else about drop starting a saw.Simple as that . ;D
Quote from: Al_Smith on January 20, 2015, 09:13:39 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 19, 2015, 08:57:48 PM
If that's addressed to me I am using a bandsaw. My MS660 was stolen 2 weeks .
No I wasn't taking a shot at you .That was a random statement .Random ducked the shot and it hit you.
Really somebody was worried about kerf and somebody else about drop starting a saw.Simple as that . ;D
fudd-smiley hurt_smiley :D
One can drop start a saw with a big bar, just rest the bar on a log and hold rear handle with right hand and pull starter with left hand. If you set the chain brake you won't have any problems, if you don't set the chain brake you prolly be fine as long as the saw is warm and you don't have it on high idle or any choke set.
*Disclaimer, I do not take responsibility for your actions, I don't recommend you drop start a saw, and do not try this at home. Always wear protection.*
My 090AV has so much compression I'd break the starter if I didn't use the decomp. These 090 decomp valve buttons don't lock down and have to be held down with your thumb of your left hand that grips the top handle, with your foot in the rear handle on the ground.
No chain brake on 090 saws either, just a hand guard as mine is the newest model. With the 5 ft b/c it's best to rest the tip on a log or stump to prevent dulling the chain in the dirt when starting cold on fast idle.
Not a drop start friendly saw :D
Quote from: HolmenTree on January 21, 2015, 03:30:17 PM
My 090AV has so much compression I'd break the starter if I didn't use the decomp. These 090 decomp valve buttons don't lock down and have to be held down with your thumb of your left hand that grips the top handle, with your foot in the rear handle on the ground.
No chain brake on 090 saws either, just a hand guard as mine is the newest model. With the 5 ft b/c it's best to rest the tip on a log or stump to prevent dulling the chain in the dirt when starting cold on fast idle.
Not a drop start friendly saw :D
'zactly. :o But once it's running, and you're heading toward the big wood with it, it is very friendly. :)
Terrific...maybe you should get the 880 and I grab the 661 :D and you can sell me the Peterson slabber :D
Or I may just order the 880 and the 661 and be done with it :new_year:
Oh momma would be happy with me, when she walks in the shop and sees me polishing up 2 brand new freight trains.
Well come on into the 21st century and try some of these new saws! ;D
Not bashing the 090, it's a classic saw. I love the old saws. I still run some old girls. Homelite SXL, 041av, 045av and an 056 mag II when I get a wild hair. I try to keep fresh gas in em. I am glad I have them, and I do run them, but I pick up the 660, 461, 066, and 362 much more frequently.
Quote from: 4x4American on January 21, 2015, 02:09:19 PM
One can drop start a saw with a big bar, just rest the bar on a log and hold rear handle with right hand and pull starter with left hand. If you set the chain brake you won't have any problems, if you don't set the chain brake you prolly be fine as long as the saw is warm and you don't have it on high idle or any choke set.
*Disclaimer, I do not take responsibility for your actions, I don't recommend you drop start a saw, and do not try this at home. Always wear protection.*
Unless you have an 090, like mine, that has no chain brake. No way to start it without pushing, and holding, the decomp button. Now I drop-start my 084s . I always engage the chain brake on every saw that has one prior to starting.
I dont have an 090. Ive seen one at a chainsaw gtg, but didnt run it. Sounds like you need to use both hands and both feet to start it :D
Ah, the 090. When men were men and trees were scared. ;D I hated trying to start them when they came into the shop without the b&c, without being able to rest the bar on a log they would twist in my hand. A mill we did service for ran them with a 24" bar for trimming at the barker, I had to reposition the governor spring to keep them from over revving. The operators couldn't lean on them hard enough to bog down.
Met a tree guy on a sawing job today. Has an 880. He also just lost his 660 (like me) and a half dozen other saws (not like me) in a theft from his truck. Told him I was deciding between 880 and 660 where I wanted mostly to reach in with a long bar-36, 41, 50"- for trimming flare off, and quartering logs 36" and up. His advice was go for the 880, hands down. He really likes his, much better than the 084/088 which he lost.
Went for the MS880 today. Only $600 more. Maybe I can answer the OP's question in a few weeks. Thanks for your replies.
Congrats! Make sure it has the scabbard on if it's sleeping next to you tonight :D
Ha ha he said he'd order it wednesday after the storm is over.
Hopefully it's one of them new dan fangled one piece scabbards
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on January 26, 2015, 05:24:29 PM
Went for the MS880 today. Only $600 more. Maybe I can answer the OP's question in a few weeks. Thanks for your replies.
Perfect...I will be here waiting.
What bars have you got to go with the new saw?
I think You made the right decission for just the extra 600 bucks.
Ordered the MS880 with a 30" sprocket nose. Figured that would cover most of my bandsawing log flare needs.
Have a 30" large mount Stihl hard nose already but like to keep that in the shop to file and work on slabber chain.
Have a pretty new 41" Stihl sprocket nose (404).
Will consider whether to get a 50" Cannon or the 59" Stihl after I do some quartering of larger logs with the 41" in the next several months.
Inventoried my 404/063 chains which can be called into service on the new saw for flare trimming and/or quartering logs:
3-30" OR27 (semi chisel), in good shape
1-30" Stihl 46RS (chisel) coming with the new saw
2-30" OR52 filed at 90 degrees used earlier for ripping, half used. Another amount of this chain could make up 4 more loops of 30".
2-41" OR27, half used
2-41" Carlton 43RP (full comp ripping chain), looks like OR27 but 10 degrees, enough to make two loops of 41"
An amount of OR27AX (semi chisel skip), new, enough to make up a loop of 41, 50 or 59"
Looks like I got my 30" needs covered for a bit.
Wondering what to order for some more loops of 41", or maybe a 100' roll of a skip chain that would serve 41, 50, or 59"?
I looked at the 880 the other day at the dealer.. it is huge compared to the 660 magnum I was drooling over. Congrats on your purchase.
Yea that's a big powerhead to only be pulling a 30" bar.
How about a 17"-.404 b/c I put on my 090AV for giggles. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21589/SDC10087~0.JPG)
Quote from: HolmenTree on January 28, 2015, 11:31:45 AM
How about a 17"-.404 b/c I put on my 090AV for giggles. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21589/SDC10087~0.JPG)
Little pinkie! :)
Use skip chain with that?
Quote from: HolmenTree on January 28, 2015, 11:31:45 AM
How about a 17"-.404 b/c I put on my 090AV for giggles. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21589/SDC10087~0.JPG)
A "New York" saw.... at least when I lived in Colorado that's what that would have been called... Sort along the same lines of logic of a "Texas Heart Shot".
(New York Saw = Big attitude, little bar)
Of course now I live in New York..... ::)
Quote from: HolmenTree on January 28, 2015, 11:31:45 AM
How about a 17"-.404 b/c I put on my 090AV for giggles. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21589/SDC10087~0.JPG)
That saws a keeper for sure..a little nose heavy :D
I bought a 17" .404 for my 2100 just to play with in the firewood pile haven't gotten around to having a chain made for it tho
my grandfather "up until he was 80 yrs old" swung a 16" bar on a 272xp at the wood pile!"
Whew! The smallest bar I have is a 14" on a ms170, and I think it's plain goofy! Know what's goofy looking is them quarter tip carving bars. They work great for carving.
That 090 with 17" bar is great! I could only imagine what some of the west coast fallers would say if they seen that come into their woods as a goof.
That 17" bar originally came with a Stihl 08 that a friend of mine owned. Just couldn't help sticking it on the 090. :D
Stihl probably made more money selling that 08 then any other saw. First introduced in 1963 and still sold today driving augers, water pumps , brush cutters etc. Tough little saw.
Did you try cutting anything with the 17 on it?
Quote from: Maine logger88 on January 28, 2015, 10:02:07 PM
Did you try cutting anything with the 17 on it?
Yes I actually did Maine, back in the day I used it on the 090 for speed cutting in a chainsaw competiton cutting 10"x10". I had a 3/8 sprocket nose on it at the time though.
Good news! My new 880 is in with the 36"-42 and the 61" bar. Stihl ripping chains for the big bars and a cross-cut chain for the 36"bar.
I'm making the trip to pick it up tomorrow am.
They sweetened up the deal for me, so it was only a extra $500 for the 880 freight train.
I got the 880, with the 3 bars...what a beast! 8)
Even with the 36" bar on there now it looks big.
Now I need to build some kind of mill for her.
I will get some pictures ;D
sounds like you got a real good deal. 8)
Here's some pics, I did a bit of trimming just to check it out, and wow this thing has got major power...and it's heavy.
It would be ok to lug to a tree...fell it and take it back to the truck. trim work forget it.
It starts good, but you can feel the compression.
first start up took 2 pulls...and Wow, when Holmen called the 880 a freight train he meant it! smiley_bounce.
I now have the skip tooth on the 36" bar, the 40, and the 60" have 10 degree chains made for them.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37653/IMG_0302.JPG)
Over at some cold logs shaking like a leaf :o
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37653/IMG_0313.JPG)
Where saws are saws and trees are scared. :D You will wear off any extra weight packing that around.
Very nice Dan !
Looking good.
Good looking saw Dan,good luck and be careful
Nice. Still waiting for mine, Tuesday will be 2 weeks since I placed the order, not sure what's up. Fortunately or not I can't use it with all the snow.
TreeDan, the question has finally been answered, no don't pay the extra $700! :D :D :D
Flippy caps on the 880!!! What!!!
Congrats on the saw. Be careful with them caps now ya hear?
I have flippy caps on my 362, never once had a problem. Got a 461r when it came out, and every so often the flippy caps give me problems. I have since figured it out, don't twist all the way counter-clockwise to re-set them. If you have problems, try to catch it in the act, look for the little nub in the ring and make sure its in the slot. Make yerself a study, play with it for a spell, you'll finger it out. Remember, not all flippy caps were created equal.
Only time I had a problem with that style of cap was when I filled the oil tank level to the top and tried to lock the cap down. You have to leave a little clearance for the cap
Otherwise their a great invention.
That's right if you overfill the oil you have to dump some out to close the cap. No more hot rodding on it.
what is the cc and hp of that thing ;D
121.6 cc, 8.6 hp
http://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms880r/
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on February 07, 2015, 08:04:07 PM
TreeDan, the question has finally been answered, no don't pay the extra $700! :D :D :D
I ordered mine on Wed late afternoon...they call Friday, said its all here...3 bars all the chain and the saw.
Those flipen caps, I know you just need to pay attention when fueling up.
I make sure I have all my safety gear on when I start this saw, with that extra weight it handles different than say a 361.
Anyway It runs and idles like a charm, its a whole lot of saw and that's what I want.
Got mine today. Too bad it doesn't have a snow blower attachment, not much to do with it for at least another week or so.
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on February 10, 2015, 06:17:08 PM
Got mine today. Too bad it doesn't have a snow blower attachment, not much to do with it for at least another week or so.
Bet your happy it came in.
No skid steer?
My logs are covered with snow but I grab them with the excavator or the forks on the skid steer.
Had to clean up snow again around here, plus another clipper comming tomorrow.
Im glad I got the woodmizer inside the Dome, but its cramed in there with all the farm gear and hay.
I need to build a mill for the 880 now.