Hi Guys, Been looking an researching for a new top handle saw, after using my buddys 020t I gotta have one. Last year I was fortunate enough to buy a new ms261 to replace my worn out 350 husky and I can say that was money well spent, great firewood saw. Well I sold some of this and that managed to come up with enough to purchase another pro series and I was thinking the 201T or the T540xp. I know alot of the differences in them (auto tune for the 540 being one of the biggest I think) If you read all the reviews on them in the end you will still be undecided like myself (lots of pros & cons on both) I am not really brand bias I just try to get the best for the long haul for my $. It will be used for fire wood mostly and other general use (small stuff) I personally will not be up a tree with it so climbing features don't matter much, about the same price, so any thoughts or personal use will be helpful. I will add that I like the idea of being able to adjust the carb myself, or is the auto tune a winner. Thanks, Todd
AT is a nice feature, but I am a Stihlhead at heart!! I say Stihl!! (I don't run a lot of top handles and only owned one 435T Husq and wasn't a big fan. So my opinion is a very good one)
Echo CS271 ! Super light. Nice power. Pull carb limiter caps... Do a Muffler mod... No better saw. My go to saw 9 times out of 10 !
I just bought a Echo CS271 after talking with the Fuzz. I've only used it a bit, but really like the weight. As soon as I get a chance I'll be modding it like what he did. It'll do all my small work that I need.
I'm also a fan of the Echo from a showroom floor standpoint. I use my 192T at work a lot pruning limbs to big for the silky and am really fond of it. My Homelite & McCulloch are shelf queens now with my newest addition to the herd.
Never gave the Echo a thought in saws, always been around Husky and Stihls. I do have a echo weedwacker that I have put through the mill the past three years, still starts/runs like new. Doing some quick research before I quoted you Fuzz, the reviews look really good on the cs355t, a tad more weight, little more power and I'm not in a tree with it and a 150+ $ less than the two I have been looking at. Whats your guys thoughts ??? Don't mean to start no saw wars here, lol Just a fan of owners reviews. Thanks again for all the comments, Todd One more question guys, can any mod be done to saws that don't effect the new warranty….. My 261 for example, or should one wait ?
I think Echo saws are gr8. Good price and super reliable ! As for the more weight more power.... My opinion is why would you need either for a saw being used for the intended uses of a top handle saw ? Everyone scowls... But everyone knows the main advantage to a th saw is one handed usage. The lighter the better i say . More weight and power isnt always good i feel. These saws are suppose to be light... So why not get the lightest . Sorry for the rant ! That said... Some of the bigger Echo th saws are cheaper than the cs271... But are heavier .
The rant is fine, Thats how one learns, you are correct about the weight issue, more power tends to overtake ones thinking lol The 271 is on my list, I really like the price ! Thankyou kindly Sir, Todd
No problem HD. What I liked was I can run the saw one handed throwing the limbs & smaller stuff out of the way that end up tripping me up.
From your intial post, there is something you should know about the 201T. It won't run near as strong as a 020T or MS200T without some minor modifications. Muff mod, ignition timing advance and re-tune. The T540 will be a better/stronger saw out of the box and offer autotune but the 201 is supposed to be a real azz kicker once modded. But I see something fundamentally wrong here. You want this saw to be a lightweight, one-handed limbing tool, but you are considering the heavyweights in the top-handle category. Power is not really going to be a big consideration compared to weight. Not like you will be taking apart 12" limbs with the thing, especially with that 261 you already have. So, have you looked at the MS150T? Handle one and you won't believe how light the thing is. Makes a 192T feel like a tank. And at about $450, a good bit less money than either the MS201T/T540XP and still a real pro-saw. 23.6cc's/1.34hp 5.7lbs http://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/in-tree-saws/ms150tce/
Ive been told by a builder and several climbers to stay away from the 540xp. Either get the 201t and do the mod or save some coin and get the Echo cs355. KenJax tree speaks very highly of the 355. He said the 540xp handles like a box. Brad blsnelling also posted a thread on AS strictly about Top Handles. It is full of videos and a very educational read. There is also a thread on AS right now about troubles with a 540xp.
In a nutshell, what's up with the T540? I've only run a couple and they were good runners. Just a little awkward feeling for me.
Haven't run a 540t but have both a Husqvarna 338xpt & the Jonsered equivalent, CS-2139T. Love them both, 39cc, 7.7#. My brother has a Stihl 201T which doesn't have the same power & feel in the cut, but it is only 35cc & slightly heavier at 8.16# I realize the 201T's performance can be improved with modifications, Brad does them fairly reasonable, but if you want to stay stock & keep your warranty, ... However, If as mentioned, you are wanting a saw to use mainly 1 handed for smaller limbs, the Stihl 150T (23.5cc, 5.7#) or an Echo 271T (26.9cc, 6.6#) using a 12" bar are not a bad options.
