MS 361 OR New MS 362

Stubs 0072

Good morning to everyone. I was wondering if any one has had a chance to use the new MS 362. currently I own a 020, 029 super, MS 260 pro and MS 460. I have the money to get another saw. i was going to buy the MS 361 because i have nothing but good things. now I see that Sthil has the MS 362 out, so should I get the new 362 or stay with the proven 361?

windthrown

The 362 has some advantages over the 361, like a smoother AV and (some say) a better power curve. They have a better air filter systyem. They also burn cleaner and they are more fuel efficient, but there are some issues as to what saw they (Stihl) compare it to when they say it runs cleaner and more fuel efficient. Stihl's "earlier models" that they are comparing could be the 361, but more likely they are comparing it to the 360.

However, the 362 is heavier (by almost a pound) and bulkier than the 361, and it is a lot more expensive (by over $100 here). The 362 also has the weird clip and bolt air cleaner that is harder to get to. In my book, the 361 is one of the best saws that Stihl ever made. I would rate it better than the 026/260, and on par with the 044/440. I have all of these saws myself, and I am somewhat biased against the 362 and the 441, as they are starto air-injected engines, and they are harder to modify. They are also more complex engine designs, and they have yet to be proven over the long haul. Some people swear by them, and some people hate them.

Comparing these two saws, I do not see where the 362 is justified when spending the $730 that they want for one here. But opinions vary, and mine is just one, and I am biased toward the 361. I liked the 360 as well, but the AV is not as good, and it does not quite stack up to the 361 in my book. Some people love the 360 around here, and they still command a premium in price. I love running my 026s, and I love runnign my 361s. With a 361, you will not want to run your 029 any more. I had a 290 for a long time. I like those saws, but runnig a 361 is a lot better.

Stubs 0072

Thanks windthrown. you would be the first person that has had any good info about the 362 for me. I would agree with you and i will stick to the proven MS361. Thank you once agian.

SawTroll

Extra weight and bulk in not what a 60cc saw needs - stay with the MS361 if you can find one!

Cut4fun

I'm actually with sawtroll on this one. 13lb PHO weight of a MS362 for the same price and little more weight 13.6lbs PHO you can be in a 372xp 70.7cc or 74.66cc.

windthrown

But after this month, they are not making any more current model 372s. The new 372 smogged model is due out sometime in 2010.

windthrown

The MS361 is now gone from my dealers shelves. The MS362 is here now...

By by lovely 361s! I stihl have my stash of them though.

Stubs 0072

Well Guys I will have my very own Brand new MS 361 on Monday the 28th. I had my dealer order it in with a 18in bar and .325 chain. we think that should be about right for some good cutting speed, and lots of power. thank you to everyone for their input it helped out a lot. have a Merry Christmas.

SawTroll

You will need a 9-pin rim to run .325 on a stock 361 - I don't really think that is a good idea for allround use with an 18" bar.....

windthrown

The rare times that I run less than a 20 inch bar on my 361s I run them with an 8 pin rim. O/w I run with a 7 pin. I reserve the only .325 18 inch bar that I have for one of my several 026s, but I will probably sell it on one of them soon. Then I will have all 3/8 standard large format Stihl bars for all of my saws.

I forget the outer diameter of a 9 pin .325, but I would guess that it is similar to an 8 pin 3/8 rim. They result in higher chain speed which is good, becasue otherwise the torque is wasted at lower speed.

SawTroll

The effective diameters of a .325x9 and a 3/8x8 are even closer than with one pin less in both pitches.

Also, the effective diameter is the diameter that the centre of the rivets runs at, not the outside diameter of the rim.

j&dtractor

I would go with the 361 or if you want to venture away from stihl get a 365 special you could get one for $575 I have ran both and they are both good saws

windthrown

Good point. The lever arm, as it were, is not the outer edge of the rim. I tend to think of the drive rim like a tire on a car, but the drive links engage the rim and the torque is delivered through the chain, and not by friction at the outer edge of the rim (as in the case of a tire).

Iustinian

It always seems like when I run the high-pin rims, that I can't use the felling dogs/teeth near as much -- that's not a problem when I'm bucking logs, but it's harder to start a felling notch or a finish cut that way.

SawTroll

Right, no surprices there!

The reason that you can't use a smaller .325 rim is that those only can be made for the small and mini spline clutches, and the 361 has a standard (some say large) spline clutch.

Rudolf73

I went with the 361 for the weight difference and the design is a bit simpler for porting etc later on, but the 362 has received great reviews also...

SawTroll

Good job!