New MSxx1 series Stihl saws

windthrown · April 21, 2007, 10:32:37 PM

I have been cruising the globe looking for different model Stihl saws after seeing some odd numbered models on Ebay, and then looking on the Stihl international sites. From what I can gleen from the different language sites, etc., it looks like the new Stihl models are:

341 (CDN site shows the same specs as the 361, anyone know the difference?)
361 (have one, love it)
381 (ZA lists w/380 size, 380 said to be a good saw but not available in USA)
441 (the replacement for the 440 which is finally going away this year)

Any others out there? Supposedly there are about a dozen prototype Stihl model saws out there as well. 8)

sawguy21 · April 21, 2007, 11:41:23 PM

The MS341 is available here but no call for it, the MS361 is also 59cc but has more power. We also have the MS441 which looks like an improvement over the 440 but time will tell. It certainly has a better air filtration system. No word yet on a MS381, is this a successor to the MS460?

windthrown · April 22, 2007, 07:20:45 PM

So what is the difference between the 341 and the 361? I see that they come in the same box. The online specs look the same, but there must be some differences.

The 381 is based on the 380 model. The 381 is available in South Africa. The 380 was an elusive saw made overseas from what I can tell. Still available in some places in South America, along with some other non-EPA approved saws. I see a few on Ebay now and then. Said to be a great saw. Never seen or used one though.

As for the 441, the old time sawyers here still want the 440. But the 440 is being end of lifed this summer. The guys at higher elevations seem to be complaining about the 441 loss of power at altitude (above 6,000 ft). I can only presume that they are working on a 461 model, and probably some upgrades to the 290/310/390 line.

sawguy21 · April 22, 2007, 08:43:43 PM

The MS361 is rated at 0.5 hp more than the 341 yet has the same displacement. These are the latest 034 and 036. I doubt there will be upgrades to the 290/310/390 line, these are consumer ~~dinosaurs~~ saws that likely won't meet emission regulations. The 270/280 are probably going to be the farm/ranch saw.

jokers · April 22, 2007, 08:57:12 PM

The 270/280 are head and shoulders better saws than the 290/310/390 IMO but also pricier.

The 440 has not been available this year in my area. The 441 offers not enough positives for me to buy one yet. Maybe when the 460 is NLA and it`s replacement has an engine similar to what the 441 has will I buy another "stratocharged" saw.

windthrown · April 23, 2007, 01:58:31 AM

Quote from: sawguy21 on April 22, 2007, 08:43:43 PM
The MS361 is rated at 0.5 hp more than the 341 yet has the same displacement. These are the latest 034 and 036. I doubt there will be upgrades to the 290/310/390 line, these are consumer ~~dinosaurs~~ saws that likely won't meet emission regulations. The 270/280 are probably going to be the farm/ranch saw.

The MS290 is the most popular selling Stihl saw that there is. You think they are gonnna dump the cash cow?

Ed · April 23, 2007, 08:24:11 AM

The 381 and 380 are basically the old 038 saws.
A little heavy for their size, but tried and true workhorses. They are still a very popular saw in my area.

Ed

sawguy21 · April 23, 2007, 08:44:37 AM

The MS290 is popular here with the weekend warriors because it is cheap at the moment.

jokers · April 23, 2007, 09:27:52 AM

Quote from: sawguy21 on April 23, 2007, 08:44:37 AM
The MS290 is popular here with the weekend warriors because it is cheap at the moment.

That`s it in a nutshell sawguy, same with the ms170/180. A guy can have a "gen u ine Still" for beer money.

SawTroll · April 24, 2007, 08:40:51 AM

Quote from: windthrown on April 22, 2007, 07:20:45 PM
So what is the difference between the 341 and the 361? I see that they come in the same box. The online specs look the same, but there must be some differences.
. ....

If so, there is a mistake on the website you have been looking at.

The power specs for the 341 vs 361 is 3.1kW vs 3.4kw outside the US.
In the US, the 361 is 3.3kW and the 341 N/A.

All are 59cc, but the porting is different, as far as I know.

SawTroll · April 24, 2007, 08:47:34 AM

Quote from: Special Ed on April 23, 2007, 08:24:11 AM
The 381 and 380 are basically the old 038 saws.
A little heavy for their size, but tried and true workhorses. They are still a very popular saw in my area.

Ed

038 Mag II, that is, and they are squezing out a bit more power in the newer versions.

The 381 is made in Brazil, and I believe the 380 also is.

joe_indi · April 25, 2007, 06:06:10 AM

MS341 and 361 are identical.
Displacement: 59cc
Bore: 47mm
Stroke: 34mm
But the 341 puts out 4.1bhp and the 361 4.6bhp, both at 9500rpm.
The 341 has a maximum rpm of 13500 while as the 361 has 14000.

I don't know how this difference happens because all the engine parts are same.

OneWithWood · April 25, 2007, 09:50:24 AM

Could it be a ported muffler? Better intake? Or both?

joe_indi · April 28, 2007, 11:25:10 PM

Cannot be a ported muffler because the part numer for the cylinder is the same

windthrown · April 29, 2007, 01:43:34 AM

So we stihl have not figured out what the differnece is between the 341 and the 361???

Not that they are available here in the USA, but the 341 seems like an odd saw. Detuned 361? Smaller carb? Um... I am stumped.

SawTroll · May 02, 2007, 06:22:59 AM

Quote from: windthrown on April 29, 2007, 01:43:34 AM
So we stihl have not figured out what the differnece is between the 341 and the 361???

Not that they are available here in the USA, but the 341 seems like an odd saw. Detuned 361? Smaller carb? Um... I am stumped.

The 341 pretty obviously is a detuned 361, the remaining question is how they detuned it......

windthrown · May 02, 2007, 07:37:40 PM

Well, my 361 Stihl booklet it has the engine specs for the 341 in it, but they are all the same as the 361:

Displacement: 3.6 CI (59 CC)
Bore: 1.85 inches (47 mm)
Stroke: 1.34 inches (34 mm)
Idle speed: 2800 RPM

There is a weight difference though (w/o bar and chain):
MS341: 12.1 lb (5.5 kg)
MS361: 12.3 lb (5.6 kg)

Seems odd, as the 341 is not available in the US, though the booklet is printed for the English/USA. Maybe the partslist or the repair manual has the differences listed? I do not hvae these thiough... anyone out there have one?

joe_indi · May 02, 2007, 09:52:04 PM

I have the parts list.There is no difference in the parts list for the 341 and 361, except maybe the model plates.
I originally thought that it was available as 341 in some countries and as 361 in others.
But what contradicts this theory is the difference in bhp,rpm and weight.
So I am stumped for the time being.

SawTroll · May 03, 2007, 09:56:25 AM

Quote from: joe_indi on May 02, 2007, 09:52:04 PM
I have the parts list.There is no difference in the parts list for the 341 and 361, except maybe the model plates.
I originally thought that it was available as 341 in some countries and as 361 in others.
But what contradicts this theory is the difference in bhp,rpm and weight.
So I am stumped for the time being.

The difference in weight should come from somewhere too, my guess would be more plastic parts (like maybe starter housing) on the 341.

Be aware that the IPLs are spare part lists, so they may not reflect all differenses in the saw models they cover, as the saws come from the factory.
It is a known practice to skip the spesial parts for the cheaper models from the spares inventory, if the parts from the more costly one will fit.........

joe_indi · May 05, 2007, 09:58:11 AM

dancan's posting on his 361 prompted me to check the ignition modules of the 341 and the 361.
And, they are different!
So that is one significant difference because one (361?) might have a more advanced ignition timing to get the extra power.
But that still does not explain the 100gms weight difference between the two.

SawTroll · May 07, 2007, 11:54:04 AM

Just for the record; Both the 361 and 341 has been tested by the German KWF/DLG, and both the weight and power differenses were confirmed in the tests....