Light chainsaw recommendation? Not budget related.

Ok, I am considering purchasing a light/fairly small chain saw to use for tight spaces, and awkward positions, sort of. I want a good chainsaw that will last. This is not about money, so when I say small, I don't mean cheap or necessarily trying to save money.

I mentioned before that I already have a Jonsered 2255 which has been doing good, and I might complement it with a Stihl Pro saw later. But this is about a small saw, similar to the MS170. In other words more of a 8 or 9 lb saw with a 16" bar or maybe even a little shorter. If you guys think the MS 170 is fine, then ok, say so, but if you have other suggestions I am all ears. It still might get pretty used hard. I just don't want to waste money and time, messing with something that is going to give me trouble and aggravation. I would rather spend a little more money for a better saw in this size range if I needed to, to end up with a better saw.

Thanks in advance for you expertise.

 

Stihl ms201tc comes in a top handle and rear handle design. Small and packs a punch. I use the top handle version m-f. I use it on everything up to 16”.

 

I was looking for a small top handle saw a few months ago too. I ended up with a makita 18v top handle with a 10" bar. Its turned into a pretty handy little saw. Does tend to overheat a little quicker than i thought it ought too. Id take a look at the echo 2511t. Put my hands on one this week, felt pretty good. Just my opinion.

 

MS 201T is known as the premier limb/climbing saw. Big $$$ too. Next time I buy a top handle/light saw it'll be the Echo. Very good saws & 1/2 to 2/3 the money.

 

The one i saw was 360.

 

I don't recall who, but I remember reading on here that more than one person here uses their MS170 pretty hard, and they've held up...

 

Several years ago I really wanted to buy a ms200 rear handle. The dealer near me said they could only be sold to professional arborists. I had to laugh, I could see “maybe” a top handle, but not a rear handle. I explained I’ve been cutting trees all my life and routinely run saws up to 92cc. He pretty much said it didn’t matter. I pretty much told him to go **** himself. Anyways, the 200 was 7.7 lbs, the 201 is 8.16 lbs. If you really want a lightweight limber, check out the Echo 2511. It only weighs about 5 lbs. Last I checked it was about $350, and it gives good power for 25cc.

 

I got my hunny the MS180, liked it better than MS170. I run it more than she does. A top handle would be nice, but it is light enough. Cut a lot of our smaller logs on the forks of the tractor and limb wood on the jig.

 

Wow! Are you bucking 16" all the time or is it mostly in tree? Been looking for a better rear handle to upgrade my 170. Passed on a lightly used rear handle 201 months back and kick myself for doing so.

 

Yep. Those 201t are not cheap, buy apparently really nice. For the money, those echos are nice.

 

Stihl had the 170 on sale in April so bought one. $170 out the door. I was skeptical as its a "homeowner" grade saw. Wanted a small saw for the same reason when cutting up an entire tree. Fast forward to August. TS Isaias hit. Few days later tornado hit as well. I PU some work from them (i sell wood and do some chain saw work). 170 put to work. Performed great. I love it for smalls and will buck up to 6" logs with it. Find myself using it more and more for the light weight factor. All this honey locust was bucked with it last week.
I used it on most of the rest and bucked up to 8" I have all the limb wood home and will use it on them when the time comes.
If money is not a problem id get a 201 rear handle with 16" bar. Keep in mind you will pay over $700 for it. Most of my other saws are pro models and wish id got the 201 instead. Looking for a decent used one. It was a saw i hadnt planned on using that often as most of my wood is scrounged as logs and not in "full tree" form. I own a Stihl 194 top handle which is handy as well.
Heres a link to another option.


PILTZ Conversion Stihl MS180 HOT SAW 20 inch CANNON bar and Stihl CHAINSAW
Brand New
5.0 out of 5 stars.
7 product ratings- PILTZ Conversion Stihl MS180 HOT SAW 20 inch CANNON bar and Stihl CHAINSAW
$464.44
Buy It Now
+$67.63 shipping
36 sold

 

I use it mostly in the tree for stripping out the canopy, but will also fell small trees with it. I’ll use it for delimbing trees downed by storms, defects, or gravity, especially if it’s dark. I use it as much as I can, before I have to move up to a 261,441. Smaller, lighter saw=more control and less fatigue. I would totally use a rear handle 201 for delimbing and bucking. The $600 price tag is the only reason I don’t have a rear handle at the house.

The short answer is yes it will buck the chite out of anything up to 16”. I keep the drags filed for softwood too, because it’s got the juice.

 

I did see that the 170 is about $179.00 right now, but maybe I need to look at the 180, then. I said money really wasn't a problem and it really isn't but I don't know if I want to give $700 for a small saw. $350 maybe $500, I could see. I did go to the dealer the other day, and was pretty much flabbergasted at all of the different options that Stihl has in the small to medium saw range. I mean, there was 10 or more different saws in the 35 to 50 cc range. I went away confused as to what I needed or wanted. And they had the MS 250 for $299.00 thru November, but several others right around the same size for $30 to maybe $200 more money then the MS 250.

I was out felling and bucking a little wood, yesterday with my Jonsered 2255, and it ran flawlessly, and started on the first crank every time, after the first cold start that only took 3 pulls. It cut great, of course I had just sharpened the chain. So, now I am second guessing myself, as to if I even need anything, but some of the wood I cut could be cut easily with a smaller lighter saw, but I don't know if it even matters, except the Jonsered is a little heavy for it's power range, but probably only by a pound or so at most. A little 170 or 180 does seem attractive though. But then on the other side of the coin, so does a 261 or even a 362 with a longer bar.

The dealer did tell me he would not buy the 171 because he always found them to be harder to start, but recommended the 251 over the 250, although the 250 was a good saw.

Does the 180 run the narrower chain like the 170 or does it jump up at the point?

 

Sounds like you’re not sure what you are looking for. Big difference from a 8-9 lb saw and a 362 which is around 13 lbs. What are you looking to do with the saw?

 

I've not used the 170, but my dad bought an MS 211C-BE and in really impressed with it. I don't like the quick chain adjuster, but other than that it's very impressive.

 

I have owned a MS 170 and was impressed by its performance used it for limbing, small wood, and length marking.

The other two saws I run are both Husky's and the off/on switches are opposite to the Stihl which on a couple occasions I got crossed up and ended up flooding the saw so I got a third Husky.

 

Did the problematic 439 replace the 170 Alan?

 

Yes. The 439 being sick, it did not have the performance of the 170.

 

Just bought a Husqvarna 141 from a member here. I got a chance to run it today. Limited time with it but seems ok for what I got it for, small limbing saw, and for the granddaughter to learn on.
40cc