Considering a Stihl MS 250 chainsaw

[TazzySpazzy]

Those are good saws, unfortunately the new Stihls are a far cry from what they used to be.

Not even close. Please elaborate. I use Stihl saws professionally and they are absolutely some of the best chainsaws on the market.--Husqvarna is great too. Through the years ALL makers of chainsaws have turned out some turds. I own and use some very old Stihl saws and some are great while others leave a lot to be desired. Power to weight ratios are great these days and although I am not a fan of computerized carburetors they do work very well and for many people are a much simpler and user friendly option than the old style carbs. I still like setting my own carbs and don't mind spending the time to do it.
In terms of new Stihl saws being a far cry from what they used to be I would say yeah, they cut faster, have better anti-vibe, and weigh a lot less while lasting just as long if not longer. So yes, new Stihl saws are a far cry from what they used to be.

And as far as an MS250 goes, well it's an OK saw but if you can afford to step up to a Pro model they tend to be much better saws. An MS261 is a great saw for 50cc and will happily pull an 18"-20" bar in hardwood. If I were limited to just one saw I would find a Pro model 60cc because a 60cc will still pull a 24" bar for those bigger trees but will scream with an 18"-20". High chainspeed tends to make for a happy sawyer so avoid using a bigger bar than necessary. I sometimes use a 16" bar on my 90cc MS661 but that is only for milling posts & beams with a special ripping chain.

 

[TazzySpazzy]

Stihl dominates the pro saw market, but husqvarna makes some nice pro saws as well. I have no experience with echo. I try to stay away from that homeowner junk across all brands. The build quality can be questionable.

However an ms250 is a fine saw, and they are easy to work on too. I’ve owned both the 025 and the 250 and they have been great. Ms290,310, and 390 are decent saws too. Heavy and underpowered but reliable.

Anyone who wants a 50cc lightweight saw I always suggest trying to find a husky 346xp, 550xp mark 2 or a Stihl ms261. Not cheap but they are lightweight and will last a lifetime with proper care.

The other advantage to buying a pro model saw is it will likely have higher resale value and especially so if it was clearly used by a homeowner and not abused. I give a big vote for the MS261 because I probably use it more than any other saw I own and I have had zero problems in 3-4 years of regular use. Good fuel with the right oil ratio and the occasional cleaning is all it takes to keep a saw happy.

 

[spasm3]

I agree with a lot of what's said here. But the op @wavinwayne stating earlier either in this thread , or another, that he will not be felling any trees. Only cutting up limbs and things already on the ground.
With that small amount of cutting, I don't think he needs a pro saw. I wonder it a good quality battery saw would meet his needs.

 

[wavinwayne]

@TazzySpazzy All good points and food for thought. I'm not going to rush into anything when the times comes to buy a new saw. I'll probably visit the Stihl and Echo dealers and let the sales people do their pitch and see what I think. Although I like new & nice things, and splurge when I want, I can get by for the foreseeable future with my old Craftsman. Wait, I sound like my wife..

 

[wavinwayne]

I agree with a lot of what's said here. But the op @wavinwayne stating earlier either in this thread , or another, that he will not be felling any trees. Only cutting up limbs and things already on the ground.
With that small amount of cutting, I don't think he needs a pro saw. I wonder it a good quality battery saw would meet his needs.

Don't and won't ever NEED a pro saw for sure. Battery stuff would probably work fine, but I love me some good ole gas powered OPE!!!

 

[jeepman3071]

Not even close. Please elaborate. I use Stihl saws professionally and they are absolutely some of the best chainsaws on the market.--Husqvarna is great too. Through the years ALL makers of chainsaws have turned out some turds. I own and use some very old Stihl saws and some are great while others leave a lot to be desired. Power to weight ratios are great these days and although I am not a fan of computerized carburetors they do work very well and for many people are a much simpler and user friendly option than the old style carbs. I still like setting my own carbs and don't mind spending the time to do it.
In terms of new Stihl saws being a far cry from what they used to be I would say yeah, they cut faster, have better anti-vibe, and weigh a lot less while lasting just as long if not longer. So yes, new Stihl saws are a far cry from what they used to be.

And as far as an MS250 goes, well it's an OK saw but if you can afford to step up to a Pro model they tend to be much better saws. An MS261 is a great saw for 50cc and will happily pull an 18"-20" bar in hardwood. If I were limited to just one saw I would find a Pro model 60cc because a 60cc will still pull a 24" bar for those bigger trees but will scream with an 18"-20". High chainspeed tends to make for a happy sawyer so avoid using a bigger bar than necessary. I sometimes use a 16" bar on my 90cc MS661 but that is only for milling posts & beams with a special ripping chain.

I'm strictly speaking about non-pro saws. It makes me chuckle a bit when people say I'm 100% wrong about Stihl, but then recommend someone buy a $1000+ saw.

I'm talking about the homeowner going and buying a homeowner grade Stihl and that the quality and service they can expect is not worth the price they pay over other options.

If you are a pro cutting every day with pro grade saws, that is a completely different story and the comparison is not even close. That's like me telling someone John Deere box store mowers are on the same level of quality as their farm equipment and $10,000 commercial mowers because they are both made by John Deere.

 

[thastinger]

I'm strictly speaking about non-pro saws. It makes me chuckle a bit when people say I'm 100% wrong about Stihl, but then recommend someone buy a $1000+ saw.

I'm talking about the homeowner going and buying a homeowner grade Stihl and that the quality and service they can expect is not worth the price they pay over other options.

If you are a pro cutting every day with pro grade saws, that is a completely different story and the comparison is not even close. That's like me telling someone John Deere box store mowers are on the same level of quality as their farm equipment and $10,000 commercial mowers because they are both made by John Deere.

what family does the "Farm Boss" 271 saw fall under? I'm not a pro but have done some heavy work with one of those for many years and it has been flawless thus far.

On the other hand, my FIL is 77 and there is no way he could ever start that 271 so I recommended he get a battery powered Stihl, he did and he loves it.

 

[jeepman3071]

what family does the "Farm Boss" 271 saw fall under? I'm not a pro but have done some heavy work with one of those for many years and it has been flawless thus far.

On the other hand, my FIL is 77 and there is no way he could ever start that 271 so I recommended he get a battery powered Stihl, he did and he loves it.

If you have been using it for "many years" it is likely a good older saw. The Farm Boss line is more "pro-sumer" anyway.

The new (within the last 5 years) saws in the homeowner range are what I'd steer clear from, as well as anything with the 4-mix engines.

 

[thastinger]

If you have been using it for "many years" it is likely a good older saw. The Farm Boss line is more "pro-sumer" anyway.

The new (within the last 5 years) saws in the homeowner range are what I'd steer clear from, as well as anything with the 4-mix engines.

Gotcha. When you say "4 mix engine" do you mean the 2 stoke engines with valves?...like the BR600 backpack blowers have?

 

[Nukeman7]

Gotcha. When you say "4 mix engine" do you mean the 2 stoke engines with valves?...like the BR600 backpack blowers have?

According to the Stihl website, it is a 4-stroke engine that runs on 2 cycle gas/oil mix. It does not have an oil sump as the lubrication is provided by the fuel mixture like a true 2-stroke engine. And yes, the BR600 backpack blower is a 4-Mix engine.

Stihl 4-Mix Engine Technology

 

[jeepman3071]

Gotcha. When you say "4 mix engine" do you mean the 2 stoke engines with valves?...like the BR600 backpack blowers have?

Yes, the 2-stroke engines with the valves. If you have one of these I do recommend running the Stihl oil specific for the 4-mix engines. They are very expensive to fix, so if you have an issue with the engine (the camshaft is plastic) it's basically the same cost to fix as buying a new machine unfortunately.

 

[thastinger]

According to the Stihl website, it is a 4-stroke engine that runs on 2 cycle gas/oil mix. It does not have an oil sump as the lubrication is provided by the fuel mixture like a true 2-stroke engine. And yes, the BR600 backpack blower is a 4-Mix engine.

Stihl 4-Mix Engine Technology

I have one. Have a BR600 backpack blower. Is a fantastic machine.

 

[thastinger]

Yes, the 2-stroke engines with the valves. If you have one of these I do recommend running the Stihl oil specific for the 4-mix engines. They are very expensive to fix, so if you have an issue with the engine (the camshaft is plastic) it's basically the same cost to fix as buying a new machine unfortunately.

Seems that if they were problematic I wouldn't see them hanging off the sides of every landscape trailer I see on the road.

I have a used BR600 that I bought from a landscape company for cheap because it wouldn't get up to speed...I adjusted the valves and it has ran great for me for 7 or 8 years now, but I just run it in a homeowner capacity.

 

[jeepman3071]

Seems that if they were problematic I wouldn't see them hanging off the sides of every landscape trailer I see on the road.

I have a used BR600 that I bought from a landscape company for cheap because it wouldn't get up to speed...I adjusted the valves and it has ran great for me for 7 or 8 years now, but I just run it in a homeowner capacity.

Glad it's working for you, hopefully it keeps going.

 

[#18FAN]

My personal big saw and little saw a guy can make a case you gotta have one of each. All and all hand me that husky such a beautiful saw 70cc with a 20 inch bar it's a killer i also pull a 28 inch with it.

 

[Ranger83]

Bought an MS271 Farm Boss, which is a pretty good saw. 18” bar.

But for milling and bigger trees, bought an MS461 (76cc) used with 25” bar. The Pro saws have replacement parts down to the component level.

We use those at our place in NH. But our Boston neighborhood has some huge old trees and branches come down in the road occasionally. So bought an MS171, an inexpensive, lightweight saw using their Picco chain. It was $200 when I bought it.

Used it twice, bailed out a neighbor once and cut up a 12” branch in the street.

 

[TazzySpazzy]

@TazzySpazzy All good points and food for thought. I'm not going to rush into anything when the times comes to buy a new saw. I'll probably visit the Stihl and Echo dealers and let the sales people do their pitch and see what I think. Although I like new & nice things, and splurge when I want, I can get by for the foreseeable future with my old Craftsman. Wait, I sound like my wife..

Ahhh the wife--a chainsaw's only natural enemy.

 

[rainman49]

Bought an MS-170 several years ago, and I end up using it way more than anything else. Bought a Shindaiwa 591 after Hurricane Sally when chainsaws were scarce, especially Stihls, and the 591 is a cutting machine but a little heavy. Hurricane blew down a giant oak in our yard and cut it up for firewood with the 591 and a splitter I borrowed from a neighbor.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Hey @wavinwayne have you made a decision?

 

[wavinwayne]

Hey @wavinwayne have you made a decision?

Yes, I decided to wait until I NEED a new saw. That day may or may not ever come. What will most likely happen is my little Craftsman will do the job until a real NEED arises, at which time most homeowner saws will have moved from gas to battery powered. Although I love my 2-cycle stuff, a battery powered saw, especially with a spare battery, will almost certainly do whatever little jobs I need to do. Or I may buy another gas saw.... I can be wishy-washy like that.