$200 Running Stihl MS660 - Now What?

[bulletpruf]

Perusing FB MP today and saw an ad for a Stihl Chainsaw 25" so I clicked on it. Looked at the pics and damn it if it ain't an MS660, asking price of $325. It looked kind of rough and the seller didn't know anything about it, but at that price, it was worth the 30 minute drive to go check it out.

I couldn't get it to start until I pulled off the air filter cover and realized the air filter was completely clogged up. After that, it started up and ran fine. I ended up getting it and a filthy 009 for $240, so I figure I have $200 in the MS660.




I need to do a minor disassembly, compression test, major cleaning, etc. And I need to see what I have on the shelf for 1122, but I've had a few 066's and 064's so I have a few boxes of spares. Pretty sure I have a new 28" Tsumura bar on the shelf, too.

Now what? I need to quit spending a bunch of $$ on NOS parts and then selling the saws at a loss or break even. I'm thinking some new plastic, maybe an aftermarket fuel tank, a muffler mod, and that's about it.

 

[MOS3522]

Why do I never find these deals . . .

 

[bulletpruf]

Why do I never find these deals . . .

I probably spend too much time on FBMP, but it was for sale for 2 days. Can't believe no one else jumped on it before me.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Wow. You ****.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Wow. I love Stihl equipment. Didn’t realize how much they were going for these days.

 

[bulletpruf]

Wow. You ****.

Thanks!

 

[bulletpruf]

Wow. I love Stihl equipment. Didn’t realize how much they were going for these days.

Well, the MS660 is a 92cc pro saw that can handle a 36" bar. It's a lot different than a 50cc homeowner grade saw.

Anyway, it's worth every bit of $750 as-is. A new one will set you back $1,600, and a nice used one will bring $900 - $1,000.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Well, the MS660 is a 92cc pro saw that can handle a 36" bar. It's a lot different than a 50cc homeowner grade saw.

Anyway, it's worth every bit of $750 as-is. A new one will set you back $1,600, and a nice used one will bring $900 - $1,000.

Yeah I looked it up I was like wow I’d of picked that up in a heartbeat. I’m going to be buying a blower and chainsaw in the next few years but no way I’m going to spend $1,000 on one lol.

 

[Aaron_W]

Yeah I looked it up I was like wow I’d of picked that up in a heartbeat. I’m going to be buying a blower and chainsaw in the next few years but no way I’m going to spend $1,000 on one lol.

660 is a proper logging saw, total overkill for most home use unless you happen to own a small forest.

Something in the 360 size is plenty for most casual use.

$200 is a super bargain for a 660

 

[bulletpruf]

Yeah I looked it up I was like wow I’d of picked that up in a heartbeat. I’m going to be buying a blower and chainsaw in the next few years but no way I’m going to spend $1,000 on one lol.

An MS250 is a good saw; not a pro saw, but may still last you 30 years. Husky and Echo both make good saws as well.

 

[bulletpruf]

660 is a proper logging saw, total overkill for most home use unless you happen to own a small forest.

Eggzackery.

 

[SweetD]

Nice save! U def ****!

 

[Firebrick43]

Now you need a back brace to handle that thing for a couple of hours!

I rarely use my 660 just because of its size but its nice to mill smaller logs for lumber or cut big 50" logs. If I remember correctly I spent about 200 dollars on my 660 and it was in a lot nicer shape on the outside but needed a new piston/cylinder as it was seized so i probably have 500 dollars in it.

Every thing else i use my ms361 because of weight, and more recently been thinking about getting a ms 261

Even if it runs well i would put new seals in it and a new fuel pickup and filter

 

[mreisner]

An MS250 is a good saw; not a pro saw, but may still last you 30 years. Husky and Echo both make good saws as well.

I liked the one I had. I would like to find the ******* that stole it also....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd say somebody ran the piss out of that saw. I've never seen a air filter that clogged up. I wonder if it was used as a mill saw and no shits were given about it ?

 

[bulletpruf]

I'd say somebody ran the piss out of that saw. I've never seen a air filter that clogged up. I wonder if it was used as a mill saw and no shits were given about it ?

I don’t think it was used for milling. Just lousy maintenance.

Compression is 147 psi. Piston isn't roached but it is scuffed. My 1122 series saws typically have up to 180 psi when fresh, so I’ll plan to install a new OEM piston.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don’t think it was used for milling. Just lousy maintenance.

Compression is 147 psi. Piston isn't roached but it is scuffed. My 1122 series saws typically have up to 180 psi when fresh, so I’ll plan to install a new OEM piston.

Was the previous owner a tree guy ?

 

[bulletpruf]

Now you need a back brace to handle that thing for a couple of hours!

I rarely use my 660 just because of its size but its nice to mill smaller logs for lumber or cut big 50" logs. If I remember correctly I spent about 200 dollars on my 660 and it was in a lot nicer shape on the outside but needed a new piston/cylinder as it was seized so i probably have 500 dollars in it.

Every thing else i use my ms361 because of weight, and more recently been thinking about getting a ms 261

Even if it runs well i would put new seals in it and a new fuel pickup and filter

I really like my 036 Pro and my 026 Pro. Both have base gasket delete and muffler mod and run great.

 

[bulletpruf]

Was the previous owner a tree guy ?

Sounds like he was a do it all kind of guy but I bought the saw from his sister.

 

[PCustoms]

Sounds like he was a do it all kind of guy but I bought the saw from his sister.

Hope she was supposed to sell it...

How much meth can you get for $200?

 

[tarmy]

I like having nice tools and saws. I hate people that can’t be bothered with using them and not giving a **** about them. That is a beefy saw…hope you get it back into shape OP.

oh, you ****.

 

[bulletpruf]

I like having nice tools and saws. I hate people that can’t be bothered with using them and not giving a **** about them. That is a beefy saw…hope you get it back into shape OP.

oh, you ****.

Thanks. After I rebuilt and sold my minty 064, I’ve been needing to fill that gap in my lineup.

 

[bulletpruf]

Ordered an NOS/OEM air filter cover and a top cover for it.

I'd like to get the large clutch cover as well. Outbushman in Oz has tanks for about $200.

 

[finn]

Now you need a back brace to handle that thing for a couple of hours!

I rarely use my 660 just because of its size but its nice to mill smaller logs for lumber or cut big 50" logs. If I remember correctly I spent about 200 dollars on my 660 and it was in a lot nicer shape on the outside but needed a new piston/cylinder as it was seized so i probably have 500 dollars in it.

Every thing else i use my ms361 because of weight, and more recently been thinking about getting a ms 261

Even if it runs well i would put new seals in it and a new fuel pickup and filter

My 460 came in a lot of six or seven saws at an auction. I sold a few for $5.00 each and gave the rest away before I left the sales site.

I ended up paying $6.00 after all was said and done.

The cylinder was scored, so I had the thing rebuilt at the dealer with new Stihl parts, for, I think $400. So, for $406 I ended up with a rebuilt saw. Should have done it myself, but I’m smart enough to know I would never get to it.

 

[bulletpruf]

My 460 came in a lot of six or seven saws at an auction. I sold a few for $5.00 each and gave the rest away before I left the sales site.

I ended up paying $6.00 after all was said and done.

The cylinder was scored, so I had the thing rebuilt at the dealer with new Stihl parts, for, I think $400. So, for $406 I ended up with a rebuilt saw. Should have done it myself, but I’m smart enough to know I would never get to it.

460 is a great saw. I wouldn't mind having one myself, but I do have a very nice 044 that I rebuilt and lightly modified.

 

[Rinspeed]

You ****.

 

[Wamsutta]

Apparently it belonged to Barbra at some point in time.

 

[bulletpruf]

I ended up shooting a video featuring this saw. It's not really a video for most of y'all; more geared towards folks who don't know too much about saws.

 

[tarmy]

I just now stumbled on the 009 dirty saw thread…

welp, after these two saws….i wanna see his truck….please

 

[jhendric]

Ha, around here a 10 year old Stihl Chainsaw that's been around the block costs about $5 less than a brand new one. Same can be said for equipment trailers, wood lathes and all the other stuff I'm looking for a deal on...; ) Good find.

 

[Farmall450]

Yeah I looked it up I was like wow I’d of picked that up in a heartbeat. I’m going to be buying a blower and chainsaw in the next few years but no way I’m going to spend $1,000 on one lol.

Can't go wrong with an Echo Timberwolf (CS-590) if you're looking to do heavy cutting on a budget.

There's a reason they'll give you a 5 year warranty on it (vs the 1 year from Stihl). Of course, if you want something similar in Stihl, the MS 311 does exist. Both of these are still big heavy saws - I would think most people can get by with an Echo CS-4910/20 or Stihl MS250/1. If you can still find a used or NOS CS-490/4910 they're a super well built saw (better than a comparable 50cc Stihl - magnesium case, not clamshell design, decomp release) and awesome for the money.

 

[bulletpruf]

Can't go wrong with an Echo Timberwolf (CS-590) if you're looking to do heavy cutting on a budget.

There's a reason they'll give you a 5 year warranty on it (vs the 1 year from Stihl). Of course, if you want something similar in Stihl, the MS 311 does exist. Both of these are still big heavy saws - I would think most people can get by with an Echo CS-4910/20 or Stihl MS250/1. If you can still find a used or NOS CS-490/4910 they're a super well built saw (better than a comparable 50cc Stihl - magnesium case, not clamshell design, decomp release) and awesome for the money.

I've been hearing really good things about the Echo saws for a while, but I've never owned one.

 

[bulletpruf]

Well, it looks like this saw is going to get a full rebuild with all OEM parts.

I have a fuel tank on the way from Australia (none available elsewhere) for $225. New air filter cover and top cover from Bryce in Washington State. The larger West Coast clutch cover from a guy on opeforum.com. Gaskets/crank seal kit and handle/throttle parts from eBay. Also have an Elastostart cord coming from Amazon.

Once I get it apart, I'll see if it needs a new jug (I suspect it will not) or just a new piston.

I'll do my usual performance modifications, too - I'll gut the muffler baffle and add a port to it, and I'll check squish and do a base gasket delete or a thinner base gasket to boost compression a bit. I may advance ignition timing a bit as well, and may do a bit if minor porting, too.

 

[Firebrick43]

Can't go wrong with an Echo Timberwolf (CS-590) if you're looking to do heavy cutting on a budget.

They are not a bad saw. Certainly comparable to an MS291/311 in performance

=There's a reason they'll give you a 5 year warranty on it (vs the 1 year from Stihl).

Lack of market share, so they make offers to try and boost it. No different than Kia and it’s 100,000 mile warranty, it didn't make them better car than a toyota or honda when they , and it doesn’t imply they are better saws than stihl or husquvarna.

Stihl hasn't maintained its position at the top market share for over 50 years by selling unreliable yet higher priced saws vs echo

. Both of these are still big heavy saws - I would think most people can get by with an Echo CS-4910/20 or Stihl MS250/1. If you can still find a used or NOS CS-490/4910 they're a super well built saw (better than a comparable 50cc Stihl - magnesium case, not clamshell design, decomp release) and awesome for the money.

What saw are you comparing it to? A 45cc homeowner grade stihl ms250? Not really comparable except in price. An MS260/261 has all those features, more power and lighter weight than the echo. Of course it cost more as well.

 

[bulletpruf]

Got it somewhat apart before work this morning. Not sure if the jug will clean up; I'll hit it with some muriatic acid and then maybe one of the scotchbrite buffing wheels. Really don't want to shell out $400 for a new jug and piston if I can help it.

 

[Firebrick43]

Got it somewhat apart before work this morning. Not sure if the jug will clean up; I'll hit it with some muriatic acid and then maybe one of the scotchbrite buffing wheels. Really don't want to shell out $400 for a new jug and piston if I can help it.

On nikasil jugs I use a roloc driver on a 6” shank in a drill. I then cut and put a light grey 7448 scotchbrite pad folded over the end. Sometime you need another layer to fill the bore correctly or a few squares of T-shirt material between the roloc driver and scotchbrite. What ever it takes to make a good but fit but not so tight you have troubles holding on to the drill/jug.

I then stroke the drill as I would a hone.

A friend does the same but uses a 7447 scotchbrite which is a little too coarse for my liking but it seems to work for him.

 

[bulletpruf]

On nikasil jugs I use a roloc driver on a 6” shank in a drill. I then cut and put a light grey 7448 scotchbrite pad folded over the end. Sometime you need another layer to fill the bore correctly or a few squares of T-shirt material between the roloc driver and scotchbrite. What ever it takes to make a good but fit but not so tight you have troubles holding on to the drill/jug.

I then stroke the drill as I would a hone.

A friend does the same but uses a 7447 scotchbrite which is a little too coarse for my liking but it seems to work for him.

I've got the dark red scotchbrite - should be 7447 - on a mandrel. Not sure I want to get that aggressive with it.

 

[Farmall450]

What saw are you comparing it to? A 45cc homeowner grade stihl ms250? Not really comparable except in price. An MS260/261 has all those features, more power and lighter weight than the echo. Of course it cost more as well.

The CS-490/4910 was actually less money than a MS250, but with the above mentioned pro features, hence why I brought up it might be worth seeking out

A CS-500/501P would be the analog to a MS260/261.

 

[1Snowcat]

I would NOT use the M. acid to clean the cylinder, just use the scotch bright hone theory.... much less chance of damage to aluminum/seeping under a chrome defect.. if it's been scuffed/by a squeaked piston, the scotch bright drill will remove it without hurting the plating whatsoever...

 

[Firebrick43]

I would NOT use the M. acid to clean the cylinder, just use the scotch bright hone theory.... much less chance of damage to aluminum/seeping under a chrome defect.. if it's been scuffed/by a squeaked piston, the scotch bright drill will remove it without hurting the plating whatsoever...

Newer mahle made Stihl cylinders don't have chrome. They are nikisil. I know its been since the 026/036/066/088 came out in 1988. Possibly earlier?. Muriatic acid cant creep under it, and if its chipped it already screwed. Still dont want just dump acid in however, just touch the spot with aluminum with a q tip soaked in it.