Just joined the Stihl club by purchasing a new MS171

Hello
The storm this morning was too much for the Bradford Flowering Pear tree which is a perfectly shaped true but has weak shallow roots and weak tree limbs.
Also I needed a gas can for an easy mix for the 2 cycle. Therefore I got the smaller 2 cycle Stihl mix to make 1 gallon with a one gallon gas can and a separate easy pour spout to use instead of those kooky safety mess spouts that are easy to spill!
Therefore i have seen good reviews it I am still wondering if these less expensive Stihl saws keep the chains on. I had a cheaper light green brand Harbor Freight chain saw that after some use like cutting down a magnolia tree and trimming a few branches the chain kept jumping off and would not stay on no matter how I tightened the bolt! So I had to just throw it away!
Will this big orange brand hold up better? It is the newer MS171 improved model over the MS170

nice review video
This video has the very best description of how to start this self priming chain saw that works every time. Nice!

 

Typical Bradford Pear limb failure. The clock is ticking for when the next one falls. Hope your saw gives you years dependable service.
Welcome to the Stihl club!

 

Great choice on the Stihl. Best of luck and post lots of pics.

 

Not really fair comparing HF junk to even entry level Stihl stuff...completely different grade of tool

 

Stihl makes a pretty good saw. Much better than harbor freight. How it holds up is up to the user. I have seen cheapo depot saws last 20 years when taken care of and used properly. I have also seen stihl, husqvarna, and others get ruined in as little as 5 minutes by ham fisted or otherwise inexperienced operators.

Take care of it and use it right and it will last a very long time. I have seen more saws thrown away than a guy could ever use, and most of them were stihl, husqvarna, etc..., but the owners didn't know how to operate or care for them and they didn't last long. Most of them were fixable, but the owners didn't know that. Crazy what a throw away society does...

Enjoy your new saw and welcome to the stihl club.

 

I do believe that you will be pleasantly surprised!!

 

I have no need for one of the little home owner Stihl saws but oddly enough I kinda want one. I already have a new MS241 and MS201rear handle plus several other saws. I must have brain damage or a saw collection disease. I did reduce it by one last night though. Sold a Mcculloch Pro Mac 610 for $150 that I had $27 into for a new oil pump. Baby steps....

 

I believe they are 3/8 lp? All my saws but one run that. They do need tuned up more often than 325 or 3/8

 

Congrats on joining the orange cream-sicle club.
I have an MS170 that gets a good amount of use, not going to use it for cutting cord wood but very useful for limbing and used very often trimming logs or boards from the mill.

 

When my 170 (bought new) gave me problems i replaced it with a 201 rear handle. Azz kickin little saw.
Hows that 241 treating you? Kinda on my radar. If a nice used one came up for sale im on it. Scarce saw and seldom offered for sale...unless you wanna sell it???

 

I love them both. Kevin has them now. He just finished porting the 201 the other day. 241 next. I have 6 break-in tanks on the 201 and 10 on the 241.

The 241 is cold dead hand type deal lol.

 

They can be had from Europe. The guy from Greece can get them if he still does that. huskihl might know if you can't live without one. I've considered getting another from Greece and putting it a closet in case. In case what? Idk. Just in case.

 

In case you accidently get locked in the closet and can cut your way out! Smart thinking!

 

That XS sticker does look nice on the 201!

 

He removed a Commiefornia cancer warning sticker from that location. Without prior authorization but because he knows me, he knows I was all about the removal of said graffiti. Lol.

It rips based on the vid he sent me. Went from 12.5-13 seconds per cut to 9 in the same log.

 

Holy chit!

 

I see no reason to ever have someone else port a saw if not hacking on one myself.

 

They look the best on Stihls.

 

Gonna look for Chinese counterfeit "XS" stickers and put em on my saws!