Hit 1000 hours on my Stihl MS 261 and it's still going strong

I just checked the service log and was shocked to see that number. It's been through three seasons of storm cleanup work in Ohio and only needed one carb rebuild. Anyone else have a saw that just refuses to quit?

3 comments

3 Comments

caleb_ross122mo ago

Used to think you had to baby pro saws to get that kind of life. Seeing a 261 hit a thousand hours on storm cleanup is honestly wild. That's a serious workhorse right there, especially only needing the carb done. Makes me rethink how tough those mid-range saws actually are.

jamesm482mo agoMost Upvoted

A thousand hours on storm cleanup is the real shocker here. That's not just cutting clean wood in a yard, that's constant dirt, mud, and who knows what else jammed in the wood. The fact it only needed a carb rebuild after all that grit is what blows my mind. You'd expect the piston or cylinder to be totally fried. Makes you realize how good basic care really is. Those saws are built way tougher than people give them credit for.

abby6752mo ago

Yeah, it's crazy how much abuse a good saw can take if you just keep up with basic stuff... clean air filters, sharp chains, decent fuel. That 261 probably ate a lot of dirt and grit during storm work too. Makes you wonder how many saws get retired early just from simple neglect.