Which Chainsaw Brand Wins?
We compared 3 chainsaw options head to head. Stihl MS 661 came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Stihl MS 661
Price shown in test: $1,640
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FARMMAC F660
Price shown in test: around $350 for just the power head or around $400 with the bar and chain
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FARMMAC F660
Price shown in test: around $350 for just the power head or around $400 with the bar and chain
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Engine | Weight (36 in bar and chain) | Starting pulls (first start) | Starting effort (push pull meter) | Vibration | RPM at wide open throttle | Noise level | Test log cut times, three cuts | Large log (33 in tree) cut times, three cuts | Dyno torque test, downward force to stall, three attempts | Bar weight | Chain weight | Test log cut times, factory bar and chain, three cuts | Test log cut times, after swapping to Stihl bar and chain, three cuts | Test log cut times, after also leaning the carburetor, three cuts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Stihl MS 661$1,640 | 91.1 cc, rated just over 7 horsepower, made in Germany | just over 23 lb | 6 pulls | 19.5 kg, about 43 lb peak force | 39 to 46 mm per second squared | just over 13,400 RPM | 120.6 decibels | 6.81 seconds, 5.98 seconds, 5.88 seconds; fastest 5.88 seconds | 35.9 seconds, 35.95 seconds, 38.95 seconds; average 36.9 seconds | 70 lb, 71 lb, 77 lb; best 77 lb | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 2FARMMAC F660around $350 for just the power head or around $400 with the bar and chain | 91.1 cc engine per transcript, made in China, marketed as compatible with Stihl MS 660 parts | 24.72 lb | 9 pulls | 15.5 kg, about 34.2 lb peak force | 62 to 65 mm per second squared | around 9,850 RPM | 117 decibels | not tested | 42.3 seconds, 41.79 seconds, 47.6 seconds; average 43.7 seconds | 60 lb, 63 lb, 65 lb; best 65 lb | 2,284 g, just over 5 lb (Stihl bar was 2,302 g) | 566 g, 1.25 lb, same as the genuine Stihl chain | 15.17 seconds, 11.61 seconds, 13.77 seconds; fastest 11.61 seconds | 13.36 seconds, 9.75 seconds, 12.44 seconds | 6.24 seconds, 6.39 seconds, 8.05 seconds; fastest 6.24 seconds |
| 3Stihl MS 250 | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | 11.2 seconds, 10.42 seconds, 11.61 seconds; fastest 10.42 seconds | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
How it was tested
- chainsaw dyno test, downward force required to stall the saw (three attempts each)
- cutting speed through a test log made of nine 4x4s (three cuts each)
- cutting speed through a large diameter tree trunk, about 33 inches (three cuts each)
- starting ease, number of pulls to first start
- starting effort, push pull meter measuring peak force on the compression release
- vibration measured at the front handle
- sprocket speed (RPM) at wide open throttle
- noise level in decibels
- weight comparison of saw, bar, and chain
- tree pulling recovery test using a rope, off camera vehicle
“So, is the Farmac as good as the steel? Absolutely not.”