Help me decide on Stihl saw

18 years ago

Looking for a new chainsaw that is somewhat olighter than my present say A Husky 272XP I am looking for a lighter saw mainly because of my left arm and elbow is in bad shape. I read and have been told that the MS280 is quite a bit lighter than the 270 and 290, even though the webisite lists them, as the same in weight. The 280 also has a mag case and runs at a higher rpm too. What has me is the so called automatic adjusting carb that is electronically controlled etc etc. Is it pretty well bullet proof or is Stihl using the MS280 as a test bed tothe generalpublic as its the only saw I have looked at that has this carb on it, and I am not looking to buyt a pig in a poke experiment that will probbaly go by the wayside and never be utilized.......and then be a bear to find parts for.

I cut mainly oak and other hardwoods (hickory, ash) and some elm and willow as well as Pines. I use it mainaly to cut up trees that get blown over with winds etc as well as felling trees to cut up for firewood. I have also looked at the MS260. I may not use a saw as hard as a pulpwooder or arborist does but when I use em I use em hard and long and not looking for a poulan piece of junk. Open to any and all suggestions. Thne Husky brand is what I used to lean to but now however its pretty well orange colored Poulans and customer support and service in real places that sell and service saws etc seemto have dropped Husky around here. There is three places that sell Husky now counting Lowes (2 stores and also 1 small engine place as compare dot 8 that sell Stihl.

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Comments (8)

ladylake
18 years ago
361 Stihl should wieght 17.5 to 18# full of fuel and oil, your 272 should be pushing 20# full. MS260 somewhere arounf 15#. Husky 346xp NE 16#. Steve
masiman
18 years ago
+1 on ladylakes Stihl recommendations. If a 16" bar would do fine for you, then the 260. If you would like to run a 20" bar, then the 361.

The Dolmar 5100s is great saw also with a 16" bar.
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kirap
Original Author
18 years ago
Got a MS270 with 16" bar. For the price it was hard to beat and it is much lighter than any of the mentioned saws, except the 260, which when I played with one had a lot of vibes I oculd feel in my bum left arm compared tot he other saws. My 272XP is right at 21 pounds iwth 20" bar. Even though the 270 is listed at close to 12 pounds (powerhead only) it still feels much lighter than it actually is with bar and full load of fuel and oil.
johnnytugs1
18 years ago
is it the weight or the balance that is getting you.i have a 361 w/ 25"bar and it is much heavier/awkward then my makita DCS510 w/16" bar. the 510 is lighter and better balanced imo. the makita is made by dolmar.
john
jackrabbit
18 years ago
Your 272 is one good saw But Stihl MS280 (028) is the one i like to use I have 015 -026 -028 -Ms361 -Ms390 -038. Ms280 will run a 20" bar in hard wood no problem. The Ms260 (026) out sales the Ms280 (028) Buy from a dealer cost a little more. He will service it.
barbedwire
18 years ago
The ms280 is not the same saw as the 028 but neither will run a 20" bar in hardwood with any authority. Neither are either of these saws in the same category as the 272.

Most of you guys don`t seem to have any experience with any of the saws you pontificate about.
masiman
18 years ago
lol bw. I think he meant to say 270 rather than 272. I assume the 272 is a Husky. I don't know anything about that saw. I think there is bar length envy going on ;).
barbedwire
18 years ago
The 272 is a Husky, it was the predecessor to the 371xp. 5+ horsepower and used by many loggers who wanted a lighter saw. There is no comparison between it and any of the Stihl saws mentioned in this thread, even the 361 which I consider to be heck of a good, and nice saw.