New Stihl MS200T?

Climber429

Climber429

New member
Location
NY
Quick question for climbers:

Can the MS200T's still be found & bought new? If not, what's comparable, if not better?

Stihl? 201T? (Havent played with Stihl top handles, would love a 200T though, i just don't like how Stihl plastic stains)

Husqvarna? 540XP? (I've played with a 338T, eh.. but i like Husqys)

Echo? (I've played with a CS-271T, not that impressed but had a bit of torque, not bad)

Whats the "Top" Top Handle in use now?
 
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New 200T's can still be found occasionally on ebay but for big money usually. The 201's run well, no complaints.

Don't have any Huskies (Yet)

Echo CS330T runs well but is a little heavy compared to the Stihl.

Just like most things the EPA has choked out, all these saws run much better once they were allowed to breath and were given plenty of fuel. A timing advance will also help the Stihl's but not much is gained on the Echo's by advancing them so I have read, never tried one just exhaust and fuel mods on all mine.
 
I did a bit of porting on the CS-271T exhaust. Seemed like a very light saw with alot of torque for it's size. A friend found it on the beach of an island left behind by boaters but i never considered climbing at the time. I was also working at a shop that dealt Echo and never played with any of them. Never thought they'd have a chance against Stihl or Husq but i was wrong, i found many love them!

If possible, i'd like to get a
Stihl MS-200T
Stihl MS-201CM
Husq T435XP
& Echo CS-355T ( which i believe are all the top of their line, correct me if i'm wrong, just a quick search.. )
All new.. but one concern i have is recieving a chinese knock-off on Ebay...

A rough guess, how much would you say the 200T's range from on there?

The 201T's?

Haven't used Ebay in years...
 
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Echo and Husky don't use the same business model as Stihl, so lots of places sell them. Around here, farm stores (Orsheln's, TSC, etc.) usually carry Echo and/or Jonsered saws, and there are several Stihl dealerships... one of them also sells Echo saws.

I think the Husky T540XP (I believe that's the 37cc tophandle) is their top dog.
The new MS-201TC with M-tronic is the Stihl to buy in this class.
Echo has 3 or 4 saws in the lineup, the CS-271T (27cc) being the smallest and the much improved CS-355T (36cc) being the top dog in their tophandle lineup. The CS-303T (30cc) is in between those two.

I think these are all good saws, myself... but people are very opinionated about this stuff. You can also get the Hitachi/Tanaka tophandle saws on Amazon for around $225.00 but quite frankly, they're not quite in the same league. I've got a couple, they're a bit heavy and prone to overheating after a half hour or so of steady use, but they will certainly do the job if you're on a budget.

Every MS-200T that I've seen for sale was priced higher than a new saw would be.
 
JeffGu said:
Echo and Husky don't use the same business model as Stihl, so lots of places sell them. Around here, farm stores (Orsheln's, TSC, etc.) usually carry Echo and/or Jonsered saws, and there are several Stihl dealerships... one of them also sells Echo saws.

I think the Husky T540XP (I believe that's the 37cc tophandle) is their top dog.
The new MS-201TC with M-tronic is the Stihl to buy in this class.
Echo has 3 or 4 saws in the lineup, the CS-271T (27cc) being the smallest and the much improved CS-355T (36cc) being the top dog in their tophandle lineup. The CS-303T (30cc) is in between those two.

I think these are all good saws, myself... but people are very opinionated about this stuff. You can also get the Hitachi/Tanaka tophandle saws on Amazon for around $225.00 but quite frankly, they're not quite in the same league. I've got a couple, they're a bit heavy and prone to overheating after a half hour or so of steady use, but they will certainly do the job if you're on a budget.

Every MS-200T that I've seen for sale was priced higher than a new saw would be.
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Ive definitely noticed the high prices on new 200T's, if all OEM parts were available i wouldn't mind building my own (or 2... 1 for a shelf queen), i'll have to look into it. I like the T540 Husq alot also so i'll prob get the 201T M-Tronic & T540. Sorry bout the Echo, wrong top model although i did have the 271T and wasn't bad in my opinion so i could imagine the higher up models would be much better. I heard the best way was to send the 201T to Brad Snelling for a timing advance and muff mod. I think he was offering them for sale already customized. Gonna go to my local Stihl dealer and play with the 5 top handles they say they have on the shelf. Of course i'd want all 5 i'm sure! When it comes to gear or saws, i'm like a woman with shoes. I need 5 different models or colors for dveryday of the week!!

I was surprised to see the listings around $600+/- for both top o'the line Stihl & Husqvarna, Are those decent prices?

Local HomeDepot i dont think carries the 540 but will order, and Stihl i'd rather buy from the dealer than Ebay. How can they tell warranty wise if homeowner or commercial? Do you just say so? I wouldnt be climbing for production so def not commercial unless i take a job offer from a pretty reputable tree service up here, but i think they provide the saws, they were happy as shit when i said i had my own climbing gear. I thought i'd have to start out as a groundie but they want me right in the air. They know they'd be dealing with a very very new climber, should i be nervous/cautious about that in your opinion?
 
Climber429 said:
...send the 201T to Brad Snelling for a timing advance and muff mod...
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The 201T definitely needs mods to perform up to its potential... it's not the complete dog some people make it out to be, but it gets lots better with the mods.

Climber429 said:
...should i be nervous/cautious about that in your opinion?
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Sometimes you just gotta jump in with both feet... there's always a balance between self confidence and getting in over your head, but you never know until you try.
I think you'll do fine... enthusiasm gets you going, attention to detail and caution keep you alive, and a little dose of that "in over your head" feeling isn't always a bad thing. It can force you to learn quickly, learn it good, and keep your perspective. You don't seem like an egotistical daredevil, to me, so I don't think you'll take foolish risks just to prove you can do some funky shit.

I truly hope you do well. You've got good attitude and great enthusiasm for something most people can't imagine doing for a living.
 
I hope so, i just really want them to understand that i'm new new & that i told myself i wouldn't leave the ground with any saw (machine or hand) until i felt plenty comfortable climbing. Which is funny cause my first couple climbs recently, i was definitely slow but i never once felt uncomfortable or worried. 10 years ago i shit my pants about heights working in a warehouse operating Crown and other lifts that go up about 50ft picking 600lb office desks 2 at a time. Those lifts would lean back with the weight and be pretty scary back then but for some reason heights no longer bother me in the least bit. Didn't think i'd make it far off the ground during my first climb but i went as high as i could and loved it which was very surprising. I'd love to production climb but i have zero rigging experience except for rigging custom concrete structures, pipes & bridge assemblies with cranes. I'd hate to be the guy who was hired to climb and look like someone who knows less than a groundie. I plan on talking to them this week and being completely honest about experience, i'd love to take any training they offer though. Worth a shot!
 
I wouldn't buy chainsaws from Home Depot. I'd recommend going to a reputable dealer that works on the saws and get to know them. Buy there, get your warrantee, become friends with them dudes. If you don't own a business, buy the saw under home owner and you'll get a much longer warrantee (I think like 21 months longer or something like that, for Husky anyways).

Also, climber429, you never responded in another thread to me, but I think we live quite close. Maybe we'll get out for a climb one day if you'd like : )
 
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I doubt i'd buy HomeDepot unless i had to, i was just pricing by looking up HD online. I service and repair saws for years so i can do anything needed if i had to but i would rather warranty with a good dealer. HD couldn't even get my order right when i bought all new chains for my saws lol

Can i ask which thread you posted to? The Rec climb thread? I don't remember talkin to ya, you live close to the Albany area? That'd be sweet to find someone else around here that climbs.
I was living in Hudson till last spring, now i'm closer to Albany but i want to move back. My son lives in Catskill (actually Leeds by the H/D) so i was closer to him in Hud..
 
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Nice. You production climb also or just Rec? I plan on climbing more next spring & summer. Out on medical at the moment so i'm left without a drivers license (which i should be getting back soon), the only other climber i've spoken with is a guy that said he lived out by Cairo but i never kept in touch. Do you setup Rec climbs or just go out on your own? I'm just starting to climb after slowly buying kit over the past couple years so i'm slooow at the moment until i add some ascenders.
 
Plus i'm 255lbs w/o gear so that doesn't help either.. Should drop quick after a bunch of climbing & the gym.

Come next spring i'd love to get out & climb with ya for sure!
 
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Hey I'm more in the Utica area but if you guys wanna setup a rec climb I might be able to make the trip I've been getting more In to climbing started doing removals last year but never climbed with anyone would love to see what works for everyone else.

Jesse
 
Climber429 said:
i told myself i wouldn't leave the ground with any saw until i felt plenty comfortable climbing
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:tanguero:That there is a smart dude!

I'm a Stihl guy thru & thru, love my 200T, but am currently climbing for a company that uses Husky and have run their T540 extensively. Gotta say, I really like it! Much improved over the 338. Don't tell my Stihl dealer, but if I were in the market, I'd strongly consider the Husky.
 
I
TreeWorks13 said:
Hey I'm more in the Utica area but if you guys wanna setup a rec climb I might be able to make the trip I've been getting more In to climbing started doing removals last year but never climbed with anyone would love to see what works for everyone else.

Jesse
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I will start keeping my eyes open on hikes for any good trees to climb out in the trails.
 
Jeff said:
:tanguero:That there is a smart dude!

I'm a Stihl guy thru & thru, love my 200T, but am currently climbing for a company that uses Husky and have run their T540 extensively. Gotta say, I really like it! Much improved over the 338. Don't tell my Stihl dealer, but if I were in the market, I'd strongly consider the Husky.
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I almost pulled the trigger this fall on a 540 ..... I need to upgrade from my 192..... And have a backup saw ..... I read that you have to almost disassemble the whole saw to get the muffler out ..... I'm all for doing my own maintenance but that sounds like a headache to me Im now thinking ide rather go the 201 with mods route .... I'm still open to a 200 if I can find a decent one to rebuild but I don't see myself paying top coin for a older saw from what I read ill probibally go the 201 with mods this spring when the work starts rolling in

Jesse
 
TreeWorks13 said:
I almost pulled the trigger this fall on a 540 ..... I need to upgrade from my 192..... And have a backup saw ..... I read that you have to almost disassemble the whole saw to get the muffler out ..... I'm all for doing my own maintenance but that sounds like a headache to me Im now thinking ide rather go the 201 with mods route .... I'm still open to a 200 if I can find a decent one to rebuild but I don't see myself paying top coin for a older saw from what I read ill probibally go the 201 with mods this spring when the work starts rolling in

Jesse
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Maybe I just haven't used a 540 modded, but I would guess it isn't needed. That bad boy is pretty beastly and spits out wood like nothing. The 193 on the other hand.....I could see why you want to mod it. Just my 3 cents
 
MikePowers321 said:
Maybe I just haven't used a 540 modded, but I would guess it isn't needed. That bad boy is pretty beastly and spits out wood like nothing. The 193 on the other hand.....I could see why you want to mod it. Just my 3 cents
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I wasent planning on modding the 540 as I hear it's a good runner out of the box ..... What i dident I like was what ppl are saying about working on ... them major disassembly for minor repairs I also hear the anti vibe parts are weak good anti vibe but weak components and someone said gas tanks are breaking out ????? This is all internet mind you and i know grain of salt and what not ....The 201 I hear needs mods to run as good as it should and there easy enough to do and no complaints yet about wrenching on them that I've found ..... I would love to hear what ppl have to say about the 540 modded or not vs a 201 modded .....

Jesse
 
Anyone have feedback on how the 540 is and feels as far as its balance without using the techlite bar?
I'm also in the market for a top handle. Every time I think about that echo I ask someone their opinion and they are not too impressed
 
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