Stihl MS261CM with M-Tronic 3.0

MrRastos · January 31, 2022, 02:06:28 PM

I really miss my two 346xp saws. One was stolen, the other was a $150 saw that was used by a pulp cutter and was shot when I bought it. It's in a box awaiting a diagnosis. I should dig the box out and start tinkering on it.

barbender · January 31, 2022, 06:08:46 PM

I've never had my caps open up on my 261, or thrown a chain. Not doubting your troubles, just haven't had the same experience. My 261 has been a great little saw. I also have a 346xp that I love, but if were going to write off a brand because of a lemon that little thing gave me a lot of trouble.

gspren · February 01, 2022, 09:04:46 AM

The first day I used my 261 I was disappointed with the power and the flippy caps. I learned to not overfill the gas or oil which prevents the cap from seating before it's twisted to lock and after a few days the power had increased a pleasing amount to where it is now my most used saw, don't give up on it without trying to learn how to use it.

hedgerow · February 01, 2022, 10:10:46 AM

MRRastos Sorry to hear about your 261. I am not in love with the caps either. I had them on a 461 so I was familiar with them when I got my 261. Mind will be two years old in July and I have never had issues with chains coming off or the caps coming out and dumping oil and fuel. Like others have said I don't fill the oil or fuel to full and the caps seat nice. I do blow around the caps with compressed air before I fuel up. The 261 is my go to saw and my 461 and 660 spend more time in the saw trailer these days.

TimF3ller · February 01, 2022, 04:27:22 PM

Quote from: gspren on February 01, 2022, 09:04:46 AM
The first day I used my 261 I was disappointed with the power and the flippy caps. I learned to not overfill the gas or oil which prevents the cap from seating before it's twisted to lock and after a few days the power had increased a pleasing amount to where it is now my most used saw, don't give up on it without trying to learn how to use it.

This for sure. I noticed if I fill the oil to much the cap wont seat right.

My 291 at the end of last season was throwing chains alot. I didn't realize I was cutting wood that was sappy and gummed up the bar. It was so bad it blocked completely the oiling port. So it was starved for oil and that did make the chain come off. Maybe it got so hot it expanded, or not having oil wouldn't track right. I didn't realize this at the time though and thought something was wrong with the sprocket. Found the issue when I took it apart to clean. Now I know to make sure the oil is flowing well. I like that the flow is adjustable on the 261 but havent got to use it well yet to know.

trapper · February 01, 2022, 07:54:21 PM

My 261c is finely starting to start like it should after using it 3 years to cut most of my firewood and I heat full time. It wouldnt start in hot weather and wouldnt start below freezing. The 241c ran great right out of the box.

MrRastos · February 02, 2022, 07:00:04 PM

I just got my new 550xp today. I decided to weigh it and the 261 before I sell it. The husky weighs 14.8 fully assembled and the Stihl weighs 15.1. Now to be fair the Stihl was half full of oil and gas and the Husky was dry, but with both full I doubt there's a scrap of difference in weight.

trapper · February 02, 2022, 08:11:27 PM

took 10 pulls today at 13 degrees today but it started and ran good

hedgerow · February 04, 2022, 12:47:11 PM

Quote from: MrRastos on February 02, 2022, 07:00:04 PM
I just got my new 550xp today. I decided to weigh it and the 261 before I sell it. The husky weighs 14.8 fully assembled and the Stihl weighs 15.1. Now to be fair the Stihl was half full of oil and gas and the Husky was dry, but with both full I doubt there's a scrap of difference in weight.

Glad to hear you got your new saw. After you get some hours on it came back a make a new thread and review it. I am probably going to buy another 261 this year I wouldn't be against buying a 550 instead if it will run with the 261. Enjoy the new {TOY} I mean tool.

FloridaMike · February 09, 2022, 09:04:02 PM

I couldn't be happier with my year old MS261CM, it does everything it should!

stan064 · March 26, 2022, 01:47:15 PM

just picked up a 261 C the other day,what a killer saw! i have a 260 pro but i think 1 performs way better,what kind of muffler mod are we doing on these, slits on the side?? thanks

oldbuzzard · March 27, 2022, 10:26:21 AM

I own/run Husky/Stihl/Echos and the Stihl 261Cm is my favorite all around saw for what I do.
BUT - Stihl flippy caps are the most MISERABLE device that have ever been inflicted on the chain saw community. I always have to keep spares. And I see plenty of other people having trouble with them too. Just last week we had a brand new Stihl pole saw that it took fifteen minutes to get the oil cap back on. I told them to take it back to the dealer and get the cap replaced and buy two spares.
I can't believe Stihl hasn't corrected them.

beenthere · March 27, 2022, 01:52:54 PM

Quote from: oldbuzzard on March 27, 2022, 10:26:21 AM
I own/run Husky/Stihl/Echos and the Stihl 261Cm is my favorite all around saw for what I do.
BUT - Stihl flippy caps are the most MISERABLE device that have ever been inflicted on the chain saw community. I always have to keep spares. And I see plenty of other people having trouble with them too. Just last week we had a brand new Stihl pole saw that it took fifteen minutes to get the oil cap back on. I told them to take it back to the dealer and get the cap replaced and buy two spares.
I can't believe Stihl hasn't corrected them.

Have yet to experience even one problem with the flippy caps.. don't know what is up with yours. I'm old too. ;)

Have them on my 362 and 261cm,

lxskllr · March 27, 2022, 01:59:14 PM

I'm a fan of flippy caps also. No issues, and no tools needed to operate.

barbender · March 27, 2022, 08:12:26 PM

I like the floppy caps too. Although after the last time someone complained about them and I boasted I'd never had a problem with them, I went out to use my ms261. Filled it with gas and oil, and promptly decorated the leg of my bibs with bar oil as I had the floppy cap fall out😂 Before you condemn the floppy cap take note that I have performed the same stunt several times with regular caps too😁

Caloren · March 28, 2022, 02:11:15 PM

I also like the flippy caps, had a little trouble at first but took a good look at the cap and the hole it fits in; figured out if I dropped the cap in like so it fit fine. The only time I have "oiled my leg" was with my 028 with screw on caps, and my son had done it one month before with the same 028. Only thing I could figure out was the threads may have had some dirt in them so the vibration of the saw worked it loose. We always clean the threads, but we may have missed a little some how, this is the only time this happened, and this was several years ago.

TimF3ller · March 30, 2022, 02:39:09 PM

My first saw the flippy caps worked flawless and I didn't understand the hate. My second saw the oil one randomly opens at times. I'm not doing anything differently so I don't understand. Not filling it completely helps.

doc henderson · March 30, 2022, 03:10:08 PM

the flippy caps are a plague. if someone understands how they work and the common reasons they fail, that would be a good video to watch. I assume when the do not work, that I did something wrong. the problem is they tend to allow you to do something wrong. I find the small leg of the three and line it up with the small gap on the saw. occasionally, the cam mechanism will already be turned so it does not go in and turn, and then cam lock. good to be humble i guess, but it is no fun.

KWood255 · April 02, 2022, 12:20:54 PM

I have a 261CM saw that I bought new nearly 3 years ago to compliment my 291 and 357XP.

The 291 is my least favourite. It's never been a great running saw. The 357XP has been flawless. Hundreds of tanks of fuel, a few bars and chains later and it still runs as good as the day I bought it.

My 261CM is my go-to saw. Nice and light, starts easy and after a muffler modification it outperforms the 357XP.I noticed huge gains in power after the modification, with no regrets aside from the added noise. Hearing protection is something I always use, so it's not an issue for me.

Sure, the caps can be a pain if the gas/oil is filled right to the top. I have however, recently had an issue with the chain coming off. This seemed to be isolated to a single chain, for reasons unknown. I would buy another one anytime.

MrRastos · November 11, 2023, 12:39:42 PM

Quote from: hedgerow on February 04, 2022, 12:47:11 PM
Quote from: MrRastos on February 02, 2022, 07:00:04 PMGlad to hear you got your new saw. After you get some hours on it came back a make a new thread and review it. I am probably going to buy another 261 this year I wouldn't be against buying a 550 instead if it will run with the 261. Enjoy the new {TOY} I mean tool.

550xp review: Awesome saw. Right up until the moment the plastic crank bearing cage flew apart. I had the saw two years, but maybe the equivalent of two months worth of full time use on it. I'm concluding that most if not all modern saws are not worth buying anymore, and I'm looking at collecting a bunch of old 254xp saws to run. I value durability over miniscule differences in weight and power.