My impressions of the MS 201T

My first original worked fine until it fell off truck. If i was happy with that i cant imagine not being happy with an upgraded model.
 
David, the first two runs seemed so full of lemons...by peoples accounts, taking that they actually know about and understand saws ( should be a given but not always )...I give them the benefit of the doubt...I know you know...but I do think all the kinks are fixed now...upgraded ignition, new flywheel, and new carb...might be time to give a late model...after oct maybe 2014 a try....I know I am willing to...this saw will soon be released I am told 201TC to replace 201T...New 201t TC 1.webp New 201t TC 2.webp New 201t TC.webp
 
Get a t540, I am on my second one and its a dream. I was running my first 540 since late nov of 2013 till about 3 weeks ago when it got smashed into the trunk as i got sent for a hell of a ride when blowing out a silver maple top cause of the rope man not paying enough attention, after that i was stuck running my 201 stihl until i got my 540 back, and while i am not a nay-sayer complaining that the 201 is useless, i am a firm believer that the 540 is a faster and more effecient cutting tool in the top handle class of saws.

-Steven
 
I bought two new saws in October of 2014... MS-201T and an MS-261C-MQ both for use in the tree...

201T-261CMQ.webp

I've had a chance to use both saws, as I convinced another climber friend to help me take out one of three trees that I need to remove on a property I own in a nearby town. I'm going to have the house burned down by the local fire department (they do it for practice, so it's only $125 for the burn permit). The trees are two elms with DED and an ash tree that's got fungus issues and is hollowed out by carpenter ants. We thought we'd take out the ash while we had a few days of nice weather. All three need to go before they burn the house, so I'll get the other two down in the spring.

We took these two saws, my older MS-200T and an Echo CS-590 and played around with all. The Echo has a bigger engine than the 261 and you could feel that. The Stihl feels better in the hand and doesn't feel as bulky, so that's the one I'll use in the trees when I get down to the spar. They both cut beautifully. The Stihl feels and looks better made, to me... but they're both nice saws.

The differences between the two top handle saws was minor. The 200 is louder, throatier sounding, tad bit quicker throttle response and maybe a little more torque at lower speeds. None of that made squat difference to me, because we both thought that the 201 seemed to have good power throughout the mid to upper RPM range and didn't require as much throttle management. So, the common rants about the 201 being a P.O.S. strike me as teenybopper posturing... "my Chevy is badass, your Ford sucks" kind of nonsense.

Both the 261 and 201 get mostly very positive reviews, with a few negative ones sprinkled in there. I didn't find the negative reviews convincing. Seeing how some folks treat their saws, it doesn't really surprise me. One reviewer dropped his 201 out of a 60' tree and called it a piece of crap because it needed repairs. Really? If he'd fallen out of the tree with the saw, I'm betting he would need repairs, too. He must be a piece of crap, right?

I'll come back to the thread at the end of the summer, and update my feelings about the two saws. So far, they're exactly what I expected from Stihl. High quality, high price tag and good fuel economy. I'm not brand loyal to any great extent, but I paid $1400 for the two saws (and some extra chains) because I am reasonably certain they'll hold up better than the lower priced options, and will give good performance.
 
Again....my fully modded 201t eats wood and screams....it cuts faster than a 200t and has more torque....I am off to UK....so the saw is sold...I will miss it...
 
Been using the same ms200t for fifteen years, two carburators (shitty california gas) later. Flawless tool! Humboldt saw shop tells me, proper shop adjustment is necessary due to special equipment needed. Looking forward to another awesome stihl product. Use 192 for small tasks, good saw. Use 261 for 20" bar, good saw. Hopped up ms440, love it. Really hopped up madsen built 066 mag, really love it. Pole saw runs excellent. Blower is cold blooded. Only complaint.
Husky 3120 great tool. 372 xp, heavy runs great. 346 xp, awesome! Just lucky, life in humboldt county!
 
JeffGu said:
I bought two new saws in October of 2014... MS-201T and an MS-261C-MQ both for use in the tree...

View attachment 30038

I've had a chance to use both saws, as I convinced another climber friend to help me take out one of three trees that I need to remove on a property I own in a nearby town. I'm going to have the house burned down by the local fire department (they do it for practice, so it's only $125 for the burn permit). The trees are two elms with DED and an ash tree that's got fungus issues and is hollowed out by carpenter ants. We thought we'd take out the ash while we had a few days of nice weather. All three need to go before they burn the house, so I'll get the other two down in the spring.

We took these two saws, my older MS-200T and an Echo CS-590 and played around with all. The Echo has a bigger engine than the 261 and you could feel that. The Stihl feels better in the hand and doesn't feel as bulky, so that's the one I'll use in the trees when I get down to the spar. They both cut beautifully. The Stihl feels and looks better made, to me... but they're both nice saws.

The differences between the two top handle saws was minor. The 200 is louder, throatier sounding, tad bit quicker throttle response and maybe a little more torque at lower speeds. None of that made squat difference to me, because we both thought that the 201 seemed to have good power throughout the mid to upper RPM range and didn't require as much throttle management. So, the common rants about the 201 being a P.O.S. strike me as teenybopper posturing... "my Chevy is badass, your Ford sucks" kind of nonsense.

Both the 261 and 201 get mostly very positive reviews, with a few negative ones sprinkled in there. I didn't find the negative reviews convincing. Seeing how some folks treat their saws, it doesn't really surprise me. One reviewer dropped his 201 out of a 60' tree and called it a piece of crap because it needed repairs. Really? If he'd fallen out of the tree with the saw, I'm betting he would need repairs, too. He must be a piece of crap, right?

I'll come back to the thread at the end of the summer, and update my feelings about the two saws. So far, they're exactly what I expected from Stihl. High quality, high price tag and good fuel economy. I'm not brand loyal to any great extent, but I paid $1400 for the two saws (and some extra chains) because I am reasonably certain they'll hold up better than the lower priced options, and will give good performance.
Click to expand...
Hey Jeff, is summer over yet lol.
How are they doing.
Brett
 
chipper1 said:
...is summer over yet?
Click to expand...

It is indeed, over. Snowed yesterday. I'm pretty sure that was the secret signal that I ran out of time on oh, so very many projects that I was sure I could get done before winter came... just like every year before...

MS-150T (x2), MS-201T (x1) and MS-261C-MQ (x2) is the current Stihl lineup, with an eye toward an MS-462C-M (hopefully they'll do a Q model) whenever they get here to the states. Still have some Echo saws, too. Sold/traded some saws. Still lovin' the Stihl ones in the tree, and the Echo ones on the ground.

These days, the 150 and 261 saws get almost all of the in-tree work... I only take up the 201 when the wood gets a little big for the 150 but not big enough to warrant a 261. It's a good lineup for me. The doubled up saws is largely so I'm never without a backup, and I switch them off every other job so I don't end up with a worn out one and a like new one. I'm happy with the arrangement.
 
Sounds great, this was a couple summers ago lol.
Snowed yesterday here also, big huge flakes. Tomorrow they are calling for upper 50 to low 60s.
Thanks for the reply.
I like the 2 saw plan myself, 2 of every saw that is. I have a couple 540's as well as a couple 241's, couple...
I'm considering a 150, doesn't get lighter here stateside, I have a 192 also, but lighter would be great.
Thanks again.
 
TimBr said:
@chipper1; This might possibly be the new low weight champion top handle chainsaw. I thought the European version accepted 8,10 & 12 in bars, though. If I'm reading things right, they're saying this saw only accepts 12" and 14" bars?

https://www.echo-usa.com/Products/Chain-Saws/CS-2511T

Tim
Click to expand...
Hey Tim.
It does look very light, and I had forgot about the little echo as it was not here when I was looking at the lightweights a while ago.
I would say you can outfit a saw with pretty much whatever the market allows for bar/chain as long as the saw can pull it and oil it.
The echos have made quite the showing since stihl dropped the ball on the early 201's. Many of the guys have switched and have no desire to get back to stihl. It also helped the market for the 540xp as guys were very burnt out dealing with stihls attempts at customer service.
I'd like to give that echo and the little 150 a try, they are both on my list of saws to get.
Here's a video of a couple guys having a good time with them both. I'm sure with comparable chain they would be closer, would have liked to see them switch sides too for a comparison in the same wood. Fun stuff non the less.
 
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