Stihl Chainsaw MS200T > Reviews > A cut above the rest

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Very easy
Durability	Everlasting
Maintenance	Easy
Safety	OK

Advantages:	Compact, powerful, maneuverable, top - handle
Disadvantages:	need a certificate of competence to buy

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

For some years, I have been the proud owner of a Stihl 039 'Farmboss' chainsaw, and am mightily impressed with its capacity for hard work. However: it's not the friendliest beast to wield when 40 feet up a tree, as it has a 20" bar fitted, it weighs in at over 6 kg, and it needs two hands to operate.

Enter the Stihl MS 200 T

All the letters and numbers mean something, but the most important one here is the 'T' for top-handled. This means that all the controls can be operated with just your right hand if needed, and when you couple that to the low weight of around 4 kg, including a 12" bar, you end up with a supremely versatile tool for all your elevated tree work.

Although compact, so it is less likely to get snagged, it packs a 35 cc engine which produces 2.3 HP - plenty to drive the chain at a very high speed, which results in super clean cuts, leaving no tears for infection to get in to the tree. [It's so good that I've been known to use it for a quick bit of hedge trimming when the hedgecutter is still in the car].

I've found it utterly reliable for starting- normally by the 5th or 6th pull, even after a long period of inaction, and once warmed up for a minute, it has sat at idle whenever asked without cutting out or racing; responding immediately when asked to get back to work. It also re-starts with no trouble when aloft after stopping the saw to change position to a different vantage place.

I attach it to my climbing harness with an elasticated breakaway strop to the fold-flat d-ring on the rear of the saw- it's nicely positioned to let the saw hang vertically, again avoiding snags.

Routine day to day servicing of the saw is easy- both the oil and petrol tanks have quick release filler caps that don't need tools to undo, and it only needs the combined spanner/screwdriver that comes with the machine to adjust the chain tension in a minute. The automatic oil flow to the chain is also easy to adjust with a small screwdriver that is supplied. Removing the chain takes scarcely any longer when it's the end of the day and time to clean the saw- after clearing out all the chips etc., and cleaning the bar, it does not take long to re-assemble the bar [the other way up to even wear, and prolong its life], chain and cover. I then sharpen the chain on the saw, using a clamp on file guide, before slipping on the scabbard and storing ready for the next pre-usage checks.

The saw has a low kickback chain, and an auto chain brake that works three ways- when the front hand guard is actuated, when the saw 'kicks back' or when the master trigger is released, any of which will stop the chain in a fraction of a second. Ensuring this works is one of the most important safety checks before starting work.

The saw is not cheap, though deals are around if you look, but you definitely get what you pay for- a tool that does exactly what it promises, without fuss or bother, and will continue to do so for years to come.

If buying it new in the uk, you must hold the relevant chainsaw operator license/certificate because of the inherent danger of being able to use it one handed: it is all too easy to not consider the inertial and reactive forces contained in such a powerful unit with tragic results. Besides training, good quality protective gear is also a must- not only for eyes and ears, but also boots and chainsaw specific clothing with blocking material built in.

Treated with respect, it's a fantastic buy- I now also use it for clearing brash into chipper-ready pieces [before bucking the main limbs and trunk with the trusty old Farmboss], as well as all the aerial work I have to do. In a whimsical moment or two, I have been known to indulge in a little carving of poor, fallen trees. In suburban scenarios, I find that the 12" bar is plenty big enough for most of the jobs that need doing- any bigger would be more difficult to work in restricted areas with the precision needed.