Thinking about a light weight chainsaw

[Frank625]

I have the Stihl MS180C with the easy start option. It has a 16" bar and you can put a standard bar and chain on it if you like. I kinda like the .043 chain, this thing starts great now that i know how to start it. I use the Stihl synthetic 2cycle oil and bar oil as well. it's a good saw and I wouldn't let it go for another at this time.

 

[TreePointer]

That sounds like a great pair of saws. I would like to have the exact same setup once the 461 C-M is available. Can you interchange the 16" and 18" bars between the two?

Stihl models 260/261 through 660/661 (in numerical order) all share the same "3003" bar mount. The bars will be compatible if your saws and chains match your bar's pitch and gauge.

 

[MJFlores]

I think I'll stop at the Stihl dealer tomorrow and put my hands on a 180 and see how it feels. That just might become my new saw! It's a little bit cheaper than the Jonsered I was thinking about and seems very similar in power and weight. As I said I've always been a Stihl guy. This board seems to lean toward Stihl too.

 

[MJFlores]

Yesterday I stopped at my local Stihl dealer and decided to purchase a 180 C-BE. I cant believe how light this saw it! It's actually funny compared to my 460 magnum. I haven't cut anything with it, but as soon as I got it home I played with starting it. Wow. So easy...I know I was smiling. It has the EasyStart , so all you do it slowly pull the the cord and then the saw kicks over and starts itself. What a relief on my shoulder!! The quick tension adjustment is really cool too. This seems to be just the ticket and I'm glad I went with Stihl. As I noted earlier I was looking for a much lighter saw to split the load to give my back and shoulders a break. Gone are the days of my youth when I could hit the woods and cut all day...so now I'll use my 460 for felling and bucking the tree up to the canopy, then I'll switch over to the light weight 180 and deal with the limbs and canopy. I cant wait to get this little saw out to the woods!

 

[bigbarf48]

Awesome! You're gonna be very pleased with that little saw. My little 170 has become my go-to "carpentry" saw for when Im building wood racks,etc

 

[ddklahr]

The bars are slightly different so unfortunately I can't interchange them.

 

[MJFlores]

I took the new saw out today for it's first run and so I could see how it cuts, and how it feels to me. WOW! Me Like! To those who haven't followed this thread, I'm getting older and was getting beat up by my much larger and heavier saw so I wanted a light weight saw to offset the workload with the big saw. I bought a Stihl 180 with easy start, and a 16 inch bar. This thing is a dream. Starts really easily, and it's very light to work with. I tackled the canopy of a large tree I dropped a few weeks back and got the hole canopy limbed, and the branches cut to 16" lengths for burning. I then worked down the trunk to where I left off with the big saw. All in all I am very impressed...it's light, and with that 1/4 inch chain...it sliced through frozen hardwood very easily. This is going to make my life easier, and will give these shoulders a break. Maybe this summer I wont be walking around like a caveman with shoulder and back pain HAHA. I'm totally pleased with my purchase!

 

[Fins59]

I have the Stihl MS250C with the EZ start. Love it. I cut oak slab wood with it. Stack about 5-6 pieces in my rack and saw cuts through them with no problem. I also have an older O29 .....that was getting heavy and too hard to start.

One little problem I have with the new type chain tightening system on the MS250 is that little screw that holds the chain tensioning gear to the bar. It has come loose (actually out) two times. Luckily I haven't lost it yet. I plan on getting some light strength loc-tite and put on threads. Maybe pick up a few extra screws too. That screw just seems a little bit too tiny to do the job.

 

[_CY_]

ultimate lightweight saw is MS200 which is rear handle version of MS200T

(broken image removed)

 

[Brick (ware)House]

ultimate lightweight saw is MS200 which is rear handle version of MS200T

I noticed this same picture in a post on another site. Are you the guy who owns these and might be looking to sell one?

 

[Applesister]

How does that relate to the 201T?
The MS200?

 

[_CY_]

sorry no .. got a 200T and have been wanting a MS200 too...
have not climbed for awhile ... so MS200 would get used more
Stihl 026 is for small jobs