Husqvarna 555 vs Stihl MS 261 C-M
Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.
What owners like and complain about
Husqvarna 555
- 59.8cc and 3.1 kW for roughly $190 less than the 562 XP Mark II
- 3/8 pitch chain steps up from the .325 the 50cc saws use — better in big wood
- Rated to a 24-inch bar, a genuine step past anything in the Rancher range
- X-Torq engine keeps fuel use and emissions down for the displacement
- Simple carbureted fuel system that any small-engine shop can service
- No AutoTune — altitude and seasonal fuel changes mean adjusting the carb by hand
- 0.4 kW and four inches of maximum bar behind the 562 XP Mark II
- 13.01 lb powerhead is over a pound heavier than the 50cc saws, and it is felt when limbing
Stihl MS 261 C-M
- 3.0 kW from 50.2cc at 10.9 lb — the best power-to-weight in Stihl's 50cc class and 1.4 lb lighter than the MS 271
- Magnesium crankcase and pro chassis: designed for rebuilds, with full parts support
- M-Tronic removes carburetor screws and re-trims itself for altitude, fuel and filter condition
- Runs 16" through 20" bars on .325"/.063" without the oiler falling behind
- Owners who run several M-Tronic Stihls report no resets at all on non-ethanol fuel
- M-Tronic faults are a dealer-laptop job — owners report brand-new saws that would not idle
- $760 is roughly $230 over an MS 271 Farm Boss of the same displacement
- Reported engine failures inside four years with roughly $400 parts plus $100 labour to put right
- 2026 warranty is 1 year consumer and only 3 months if you earn money with it — short for the price
- Dealer-only sales, so there is no discounting it