TreeLogic
Branched out member
- Location
- Coastal SC
Thinking about rebuilding a couple of dead 200T's. Just wondering if any of you have done it and is it worth the time and $. Would be doing it myself and I have plenty of spare parts.
200T Engine Rebuild
- Thread starter TreeLogic
- Start date
Treetopflyer
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Coastal N.J
How can't it be with everything you just said T.L. I have a friend that had 200t that caught fire in the tree , so I did what any normal guy would do with flaming chainsaw , quickly unclipped and launched it out of the tree to the ground . I had another that was a ripper ,but the handle broke , so I monstered the two together and I've never been happier with another saw for removals .. 200t are like one of my favorite things in life .lol
cthompson22
New member
- Location
- NY
I believe the meteor kits are around $150 for a cylinder and piston. As long as the rest was in good shape that is a cheap enough rebuild. You can't go buy a new one for that lol. I have one running a meteor piston right now and I am plenty happy with it. What exactly is wrong with the saw? A lot of problems boil down to the carbs in them. Maybe a fresh set of rings/piston and a new carb would be all that is needed? Maybe less....
TreeLogic
Branched out member
- Location
- Coastal SC
thanks cthompson22.
the saw shop told me one of them needed a new cylinder and piston and their labor to do it was cost prohibitive. the other saw probably is carb related but i replaced one of the carbs already...just can't remember which one. it's been awhile since I messed with them.
I know a little about 2 strokes but want to learn more. is there a protocol you could suggest for finding the issue? I'll buy what I need to.
the saw shop told me one of them needed a new cylinder and piston and their labor to do it was cost prohibitive. the other saw probably is carb related but i replaced one of the carbs already...just can't remember which one. it's been awhile since I messed with them.
I know a little about 2 strokes but want to learn more. is there a protocol you could suggest for finding the issue? I'll buy what I need to.
cthompson22
New member
- Location
- NY
There are a few things to test. A basic compression test will let you know where to start on the piston/cylinder issue. I have a few saws I picked up that had low compression. I figured the cylinders were scored but a fresh piston/rings fixed them right up. A new cylinder may have made them better but for me the choice worked out just fine.
To throw a new piston and cylinder in is no big deal most any guy can do it and not mess it up. The hardest part in the whole deal will be putting rings on the new piston and getting the clips out of the old piston and in the new one. The most time consuming part is breaking the saw down. Once you do one the next will be cake.
On the 200t carb I learned the hard way those carbs just plain wear out. I did the whole rebuild thing but never had it work like new they have a part in them that as far as I remember wears on the carb body or something along those lines. When I have trouble with them I just bite the bullet and put in a new carb.
They aren't known for seal issues as far as I know but a vacuum test will tell you that. That will be a little harder without the right tools. The vacuum pump can be bought at a local auto parts but you will have to build an adapter to fit them up to the saw etc. Start with compression I have rebuilt a few of them and never had a seal issue yet usually they are low on compression or it's just a carb issue.
A few bare essential tools I would recommend are a ring compressor kit they are dirt cheap and come with a piston stop too. Also a compression gauge. After that your basic chainsaw maintenance tools are all that is really needed. A good clean work area and some coffee cans to store parts and pieces in help a lot. Pm me and I can try to go further into detail if you need and help walk you through some stuff if you need it. Hope this helps!
To throw a new piston and cylinder in is no big deal most any guy can do it and not mess it up. The hardest part in the whole deal will be putting rings on the new piston and getting the clips out of the old piston and in the new one. The most time consuming part is breaking the saw down. Once you do one the next will be cake.
On the 200t carb I learned the hard way those carbs just plain wear out. I did the whole rebuild thing but never had it work like new they have a part in them that as far as I remember wears on the carb body or something along those lines. When I have trouble with them I just bite the bullet and put in a new carb.
They aren't known for seal issues as far as I know but a vacuum test will tell you that. That will be a little harder without the right tools. The vacuum pump can be bought at a local auto parts but you will have to build an adapter to fit them up to the saw etc. Start with compression I have rebuilt a few of them and never had a seal issue yet usually they are low on compression or it's just a carb issue.
A few bare essential tools I would recommend are a ring compressor kit they are dirt cheap and come with a piston stop too. Also a compression gauge. After that your basic chainsaw maintenance tools are all that is really needed. A good clean work area and some coffee cans to store parts and pieces in help a lot. Pm me and I can try to go further into detail if you need and help walk you through some stuff if you need it. Hope this helps!
cthompson22
New member
- Location
- NY
By the way I have picked up 3 200ts that were dropped out of trees/buckets. All that was good on them when I got them was cases and the gas tanks. They burned down and were thrown rather than dropped I guess. Bought them for $50 and shopped around and bought piston and cylinder kits on sale, top handle assembly, air filter, and carb and still have less than $350-400 in them. The paint is scuffed but other than that they run like new. You can't buy one in that kind of shape for less than $600 most of the time so I would say well worth it if you really like 200ts.
TreeLogic
Branched out member
- Location
- Coastal SC
Really great info and exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'll definitely PM you when I get everything set up and ready to go. And if you have any links to compression or vacuum test setups, or anything else you think I should go ahead and grab, then fire away. I'm sure there's a few items I'll need regardless of the diagnosis.
I've had a couple of them get either a pressure 'build up' in the fuel tank, or the fuel got hot, to the point that I'd open the gas cap and fuel sprays out with force. I even started a thread on that awhile back. Is that what you mean by, "they burned down"? Did they catch fire and get tossed?
Thanks again for your time and advice!
I've had a couple of them get either a pressure 'build up' in the fuel tank, or the fuel got hot, to the point that I'd open the gas cap and fuel sprays out with force. I even started a thread on that awhile back. Is that what you mean by, "they burned down"? Did they catch fire and get tossed?
Thanks again for your time and advice!
TreeLogic
Branched out member
- Location
- Coastal SC
And yes, the 200T can't be beat for a climbing saw IMO. And they don't make 'em anymore. So for me, I'd like to resuscitate as many as I can find.
treevet
Branched out member
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
I just had a new carb put on one of my shelf 200's and it runs like new. Like said above...why do another one when it will just sit on the shelf and you forget which one you had done when it will be a long time til you need it likely. I am thinking maybe they put in inferior carbs with bad seals, with the arrival of the disaster 201's leaving us no other choice but to buy them and do the best we can with them.
cthompson22
New member
- Location
- NY
Every time I find one that had some kind of useable parts for the right money I buy it. I know some day I will be glad to have them. What I meant by burned down is they ran them too lean and smoked the piston/cylinder. Common problem it seems, most of the time a guy learns about taking the screen out of the muffler and never adjusts the carb. You would probably get away with it just cutting small limbs but when blocking down firewood sized chunks on a larger stem it's hard on them. That and a lot of guys use really cheap oil in them, a saw that revs that high deserves good oil IMO.
The compression and vacuum testers can be had at most local auto parts, I believe I got mine at advance. I had to build an adapter for my compression tester to shim it up some from hitting the piston. It works but I don't love it. Once you get the kit all you need to do is build a plate to bolt up to the cylinder where the carb would normally go. I good heavy piece of aluminum will work. I will go into detail on that one later.
First thing you really need to know is how to tune a saw to run and know what one that doesn't run right is like. After that checking compression/vacuum is a good starting point. There is a ton of things I could tell you but it's easiest to take it one step at a time. When working on 200ts I like to have a good working carb handy so I can swap them to see what that does for it since they are a known issue. I could keep rambling on here for hours but I will let you ask questions as you go. That will make it a lot easier to help you out lol. I'm no pro saw mechanic but I have worked on and modded a pile of them so I know a few things about them
The compression and vacuum testers can be had at most local auto parts, I believe I got mine at advance. I had to build an adapter for my compression tester to shim it up some from hitting the piston. It works but I don't love it. Once you get the kit all you need to do is build a plate to bolt up to the cylinder where the carb would normally go. I good heavy piece of aluminum will work. I will go into detail on that one later.
First thing you really need to know is how to tune a saw to run and know what one that doesn't run right is like. After that checking compression/vacuum is a good starting point. There is a ton of things I could tell you but it's easiest to take it one step at a time. When working on 200ts I like to have a good working carb handy so I can swap them to see what that does for it since they are a known issue. I could keep rambling on here for hours but I will let you ask questions as you go. That will make it a lot easier to help you out lol. I'm no pro saw mechanic but I have worked on and modded a pile of them so I know a few things about them
