stihl 361

Quintrex · 5th December 2007, 02:39 AM

Ms 460!

a_lopa · 5th December 2007, 02:50 AM

The main reason i brought this saw was to replace a 026 from the ground/chipper,just feel its a bit safer in the long run,I have 2x 046mag 2x066 and huskys.

I wont be buying any saws smaller than the 361 again due to my personal saftey issues with smaller saws,and productivity issues.

It feels quite light for the power it packs.

SawTroll · 5th December 2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_lopa

.... It feels quite light for the power it packs.

It sure is, best power to weight in the 60cc class!

..the Huskys in that class is quite a bit heavier than adverticed - the 361 is not.

a_lopa · 5th December 2007, 03:23 AM

My climber uses a 365s husky,ill be testing the 361 out tommorow on a dead black wattle thats hard as wood could be.

Both running 20" and stihl semi chisel chain,ill be interested as i think the 365s is a good saw..

Therrin · 6th December 2007, 01:35 AM

Windthrown and others,

Thanks a bunch for all of the info, it's exactly what I was hoping for.

As for what I cut, lost of stuff but mostly pine, oak, and elm; all 12"-24" with some lately out to 36 and 48".

For most climbing and limbing I've used my 011 or my 200T. For bigger climbed stuff, bucking and felling I've only had my 028 with an 18" bar. Can't beleive I've gotten so far with it but it's been a good saw but I'm seein it givin out in the not so distant future. Definitely need a bigger newer better one.

You guys seem a bit divided between those two others. I'm a pretty big guy though at 6'6" so maybe the extra weight of the 441 wouldn't bother me. I've gotta check one out though, this whole "external spring" thing sounds strange. Thanks again

TrevMcRev · 6th December 2007, 02:04 AM

Therrin, if you can still get your hands on a MS440 that might be the go. Its been superseeded by the 441, but some dealers may still have 1 or 2 left, my local dealer does and im thinking bout grabbing it.

They are .5kg lighter than the 441 but much the same power. Probly my fave saw i reckon, prefer it to the 460.

Even a low use 2nd hand one would be OK.

This would fit your needs well i think.

Trev

arbdog · 6th December 2007, 03:41 AM

when tthe 361 was first released, some fencer who had a saw robbed got a replacment off the insurance company, it was a 361 it was too big for what he wanted so for a brand new 361 i swapped a crappy old 180 and ?100. bargain. Use it in the tree and on the deck its got the power and light. Whats the improvment of the replacment bar?

a_lopa · 6th December 2007, 03:44 AM

Whats the improvment of the replacment bar?

Not sure just got asked to try it out...meant to be similar quality to a stihl pro bar.

stihl #1 · 6th December 2007, 04:28 PM

Well, for some more info that may or may not be helpful...
The MS 361C uses two springs to activate the chain brake band. One is tripped by the rear handle lever and is fairly soft, just to stop the chain if the rear handle is released, as I said earlier. The other is the big one like all the chain brakes use that is tripped by the front hand guard manually or by inertia. The reason the MS 361 and the MS 441 are easier on the hands is that the UK passed a vibration standard for hand held equipment that was a good bit tighter than the rubber isomounts could provide, so STIHL decided to make all units for the world meet that standard. Usually when one country does something like that, other countries follow suit anyway. Like the EU passing emissions standards pretty much the same as what the EPA did here. I guess AU is next for emissions, right???
The MS 361 was a clean sheet of paper design, not a rework of the 360. It has four long, closed transfer ports, compared to the 360 with two short, closed ports. On the emissions test, it came out considerably lower than the 360, which means it uses the fuel better. So a little more power and efficiency. New ignition with an advance curve. Just a lot of little things that all together really makes this a nice saw. I can pull the jug and have the piston in my hand in 5 minutes, without pulling the carb or front handle. A really sweet saw to work on.
On to the MS 441. This saw has stratified scavenging on it. This uses a secondary butterfly that lets a clean puff of air through two bypass ports and a special pocket in the piston skirt lets that air into the top of the transfer ports, so when the piston comes down and opens the transfer ports, the air purges the combustion chamber and holds the fuel back for the fraction of the second it takes to close the exhaust port. What all this means is that the engine doesn't blow as much raw fuel out the exhaust, so you end up with better fuel economy and good power. And a low enough emissions rating to satisfy the regulators without using a cat in the muffler. This saw is a little tougher to work on though. It has a throttle cable and some complex linkage on the carb, and it is more trouble to get the jug off. But the MS 362 is much simpler as far as the throttle arrangement goes, so it shouldn't be as much trouble.
And all new models will use the low vibe handle arrangement and probably some sort of stratified scavenging. The MS 362 will for sure. I just hope it performs as well as the 361 has.
I added a second port on the left side of my 361 muffler, with a baffle and screen, and adjusted the carb and it responded well. I haven't tried anything on a 441 though.

treekiwi · 6th December 2007, 08:07 PM

Hey Guys,
i would say the 361 is one of the best all round saws avaliable, is really grunty, super light and revs incredibily. i think its like the power of the 46 in a 36 weighted saw. Seems like the rev band is heaps higher in the rpm, comparively like the 066 vs the 088.

kevlar · 7th December 2007, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treekiwi

Hey Guys,
i would say the 361 is one of the best all round saws avaliable, is really grunty, super light and revs incredibily. i think its like the power of the 46 in a 36 weighted saw. Seems like the rev band is heaps higher in the rpm, comparively like the 066 vs the 088.

Whoa there buddy!!Try not to get to carried away!I like the 361 as well but my 460 will slaughter it head to head,and I don't think anything about the 361 should be compared to a 660 let alone the 880

windthrown · 9th December 2007, 12:05 PM

Yah, um... the MS361 is no MS460. Had a MS460... not as smooth as a MS361, but man, the power will have you grinning like a mad man in the first cut.

I am playing with my new GB Pro Top bars on my MS361 today. Got a 24 inch and a 16 inch from some guy over on AS on a one time sweet deal that everyone over there bashed him for (well, all the sponsors and suck-ups there anyway). The 16 is a tad small, but I bought it for my MS290. I already have an 18 inch Stihl ES and and a 20 inch Stihl E for them. All 3/8 chains.

Ekka · 9th December 2007, 01:59 PM

There's always some type of bashin going on over there ... if not I start one.

And it's me they bash! LOL

windthrown · 9th December 2007, 10:24 PM

Oh, I get my fair share of bashing over there too. I was told that I wear a diaper on my head and hang out at Home Depot (looking for work, or tips on chainsaws, I have not figured out which yet).

I will post the 24 inch bar test on a new thread.

Its a screamer.

a_lopa · 9th December 2007, 10:48 PM

Gave the 361 a good workout today,runs the 20" real well barely bogging down.

Ill be buying another shortly and e baying my 026

Ekka · 10th December 2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windthrown

I was told that I wear a diaper on my head and hang out at Home Depot (looking for work, or tips on chainsaws, I have not figured out which yet).

That's funny.

SawTroll · 11th December 2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

There's always some type of bashin going on over there ... if not I start one.

And it's me they bash! LOL

Lots of bashing there - some is just for fun

- some is not....

5th December 2007, 02:39 AM	#26 (permalink)
Quintrex Mature tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 480	Re: stihl 361 Ms 460!

5th December 2007, 02:50 AM	#27 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 903	Re: stihl 361 The main reason i brought this saw was to replace a 026 from the ground/chipper,just feel its a bit safer in the long run,I have 2x 046mag 2x066 and huskys. I wont be buying any saws smaller than the 361 again due to my personal saftey issues with smaller saws,and productivity issues. It feels quite light for the power it packs. __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory

5th December 2007, 03:23 AM	#29 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 903	Re: stihl 361 My climber uses a 365s husky,ill be testing the 361 out tommorow on a dead black wattle thats hard as wood could be. Both running 20" and stihl semi chisel chain,ill be interested as i think the 365s is a good saw.. __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory

6th December 2007, 01:35 AM	#30 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,282	Re: stihl 361 Windthrown and others, Thanks a bunch for all of the info, it's exactly what I was hoping for. As for what I cut, lost of stuff but mostly pine, oak, and elm; all 12"-24" with some lately out to 36 and 48". For most climbing and limbing I've used my 011 or my 200T. For bigger climbed stuff, bucking and felling I've only had my 028 with an 18" bar. Can't beleive I've gotten so far with it but it's been a good saw but I'm seein it givin out in the not so distant future. Definitely need a bigger newer better one. You guys seem a bit divided between those two others. I'm a pretty big guy though at 6'6" so maybe the extra weight of the 441 wouldn't bother me. I've gotta check one out though, this whole "external spring" thing sounds strange. Thanks again __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

6th December 2007, 02:04 AM	#31 (permalink)
TrevMcRev Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 754	Re: stihl 361 Therrin, if you can still get your hands on a MS440 that might be the go. Its been superseeded by the 441, but some dealers may still have 1 or 2 left, my local dealer does and im thinking bout grabbing it. They are .5kg lighter than the 441 but much the same power. Probly my fave saw i reckon, prefer it to the 460. Even a low use 2nd hand one would be OK. This would fit your needs well i think. Trev __________________ Melbourne Arborist, Total Tree Care, Pruning, Tree and Stump Removal

6th December 2007, 03:41 AM	#32 (permalink)
arbdog Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: england Posts: 104	Re: stihl 361 when tthe 361 was first released, some fencer who had a saw robbed got a replacment off the insurance company, it was a 361 it was too big for what he wanted so for a brand new 361 i swapped a crappy old 180 and ?100. bargain. Use it in the tree and on the deck its got the power and light. Whats the improvment of the replacment bar?

6th December 2007, 03:44 AM	#33 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 903	Re: stihl 361 Whats the improvment of the replacment bar? Not sure just got asked to try it out...meant to be similar quality to a stihl pro bar. __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory

6th December 2007, 04:28 PM	#34 (permalink)
stihl #1 Sappling Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: chesapeake, virginia Posts: 12	Re: stihl 361 Well, for some more info that may or may not be helpful... The MS 361C uses two springs to activate the chain brake band. One is tripped by the rear handle lever and is fairly soft, just to stop the chain if the rear handle is released, as I said earlier. The other is the big one like all the chain brakes use that is tripped by the front hand guard manually or by inertia. The reason the MS 361 and the MS 441 are easier on the hands is that the UK passed a vibration standard for hand held equipment that was a good bit tighter than the rubber isomounts could provide, so STIHL decided to make all units for the world meet that standard. Usually when one country does something like that, other countries follow suit anyway. Like the EU passing emissions standards pretty much the same as what the EPA did here. I guess AU is next for emissions, right??? The MS 361 was a clean sheet of paper design, not a rework of the 360. It has four long, closed transfer ports, compared to the 360 with two short, closed ports. On the emissions test, it came out considerably lower than the 360, which means it uses the fuel better. So a little more power and efficiency. New ignition with an advance curve. Just a lot of little things that all together really makes this a nice saw. I can pull the jug and have the piston in my hand in 5 minutes, without pulling the carb or front handle. A really sweet saw to work on. On to the MS 441. This saw has stratified scavenging on it. This uses a secondary butterfly that lets a clean puff of air through two bypass ports and a special pocket in the piston skirt lets that air into the top of the transfer ports, so when the piston comes down and opens the transfer ports, the air purges the combustion chamber and holds the fuel back for the fraction of the second it takes to close the exhaust port. What all this means is that the engine doesn't blow as much raw fuel out the exhaust, so you end up with better fuel economy and good power. And a low enough emissions rating to satisfy the regulators without using a cat in the muffler. This saw is a little tougher to work on though. It has a throttle cable and some complex linkage on the carb, and it is more trouble to get the jug off. But the MS 362 is much simpler as far as the throttle arrangement goes, so it shouldn't be as much trouble. And all new models will use the low vibe handle arrangement and probably some sort of stratified scavenging. The MS 362 will for sure. I just hope it performs as well as the 361 has. I added a second port on the left side of my 361 muffler, with a baffle and screen, and adjusted the carb and it responded well. I haven't tried anything on a 441 though.

6th December 2007, 08:07 PM	#35 (permalink)
treekiwi Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 103	Re: stihl 361 Hey Guys, i would say the 361 is one of the best all round saws avaliable, is really grunty, super light and revs incredibily. i think its like the power of the 46 in a 36 weighted saw. Seems like the rev band is heaps higher in the rpm, comparively like the 066 vs the 088.

9th December 2007, 12:05 PM	#37 (permalink)
windthrown Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 127	Re: stihl 361 Yah, um... the MS361 is no MS460. Had a MS460... not as smooth as a MS361, but man, the power will have you grinning like a mad man in the first cut. I am playing with my new GB Pro Top bars on my MS361 today. Got a 24 inch and a 16 inch from some guy over on AS on a one time sweet deal that everyone over there bashed him for (well, all the sponsors and suck-ups there anyway). The 16 is a tad small, but I bought it for my MS290. I already have an 18 inch Stihl ES and and a 20 inch Stihl E for them. All 3/8 chains. __________________ So few saws, so many trees... Stihls: 210/250-/025/290/361/FS85 Echo: CS-3000, Olympyk & Mac doorstops

9th December 2007, 01:59 PM	#38 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,405	Re: stihl 361 There's always some type of bashin going on over there ... if not I start one. And it's me they bash! LOL __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

9th December 2007, 10:24 PM	#39 (permalink)
windthrown Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 127	Re: stihl 361 Oh, I get my fair share of bashing over there too. I was told that I wear a diaper on my head and hang out at Home Depot (looking for work, or tips on chainsaws, I have not figured out which yet). I will post the 24 inch bar test on a new thread. Its a screamer. __________________ So few saws, so many trees... Stihls: 210/250-/025/290/361/FS85 Echo: CS-3000, Olympyk & Mac doorstops

9th December 2007, 10:48 PM	#40 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 903	Re: stihl 361 Gave the 361 a good workout today,runs the 20" real well barely bogging down. Ill be buying another shortly and e baying my 026 __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory

12th December 2007, 10:52 PM	#43 (permalink)