Chainsaw n00b with MS 361

Wayne64SS · January 20, 2012, 10:23:10 AM

I picked up my MS 361 over summer off local craigslist. This thing is / was immaculate and I'd been looking for a good saw for awhile and I've always heard good things about Stihls so I bought it. Came with owners manual, a case of 50 gas, and 3 new chains plus the one on it. It's got an 18" bar. I paid $500, and was happy to do so.

I've since used it to cut down 8 or 9 pine trees on my property and then cut them into firewood. Overall I like the saw, but feels like it should have more power, it does tend to bog. I don't have any idea if the chains that came with it were good, but they were Stihl chains.

How often should a chain last before sharpening? They seem to stretch quickly and dull quickly. Could definitely be me though.

I always keep it full of lube, and ran through all that 50 gas. Haven't touched it in awhile as it's now winter. Any tips or tricks would be awesome. I keep reading about a muffler mod but have yet to find a good writeup for my saw. Anyone have a picture walkthrough?!

Thanks,
Wayne

Wayne64SS · January 20, 2012, 11:08:19 AM

oh wow. I just read the thread below about chain sharpening and I am totally screwing that up. That video was super helpful.

Al_Smith · January 20, 2012, 11:13:42 AM

You'll find as time goes on that a sharp chain will work better than all the mods you could do to a saw . ;)

T Welsh · January 20, 2012, 06:51:35 PM

I second what Al said,Tim

John Mc · January 20, 2012, 08:48:43 PM

Too all the chain sharpening advice and videos you can find here, and in other places, I'll add one gem told to me by an old-timer:

You don't sharpen a chain because it got dull, you sharpen it to keep it from getting dull.

beenthere · January 20, 2012, 08:58:57 PM

Amen to that!!!

Cut4fun · January 20, 2012, 09:22:13 PM

Sharp chain and then wake the animal inside the 361 with a simple muffler mod and carb re-tune.

sawguy21 · January 20, 2012, 10:37:53 PM

All it might need is setting the carb to run at proper rpm.

Wayne64SS · January 23, 2012, 09:02:46 AM

Quote from: Cut4fun on January 20, 2012, 09:22:13 PM
Sharp chain and then wake the animal inside the 361 with a simple muffler mod and carb re-tune.

That's what I'm talking about!!! Any tutorials on the muffler mod? I assume tuning is like any 2 stroke? you want light smoke at full rpm / throttle?

John Mc · January 23, 2012, 09:54:21 AM

Madsen's has a great link on tuning a chainsaw. Includes an audio file for learning to tune by ear (once you develop the ear for it, it's probably more reliable than tuning by exhaust appearance).

Try this: Madsen's Chainsaw Maint & Repair and then click on the "saw tuning" link.