Top Handles-The Best of the Rest?

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rmihalek

Where's the wood at?
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After reading posts on top handle saws, it seems the concensus is that the $600 Stihl MS200T is the best top handle (arborist) chainsaw made.

What do people think is the next best top handle saw, for those not willing to spend the dollars for the 200T?
 
338 Husky is a decent saw. Very ergonmic and well balanced. I will stick with my 200T and 192T though. If you don't want to spend the money I would get a 192T, mine is awesome. Same boat I was in at first and I got the 192T and I still don't regret it even after having the 200T.

Before that we had a couple Echo's we used occasionally. Before that it was 670 J-reds, 2071 J-reds, 2171 J-reds, 372 Husky, 357 Husky, and 346 Husky.
 
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Top Handles-The Beat of the Rest?

Huskey top handles, that what we like.


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I for one really don't like the 338 and would never call it well balanced. Seems front heavy to me. Granted, I've never had to use one but I've picked 'em up from time to time at dealers and couldn't believe that THAT saw was trying to compete with the MS. Maybe I'm too biased. Maybe I'm spoiled, but when it comes to one handing, there's no substitute for the 200T.
 
If you can find one that some homeowner bought maybe. Seems like the tree services get rid of them when it no longer makes economic sense to fix them.

True. I might have one for sale this winter if anybody's interested.
 
Try the dolmar 3410th as a sub for the 200t. Not quite the power of the 200t but it will get the job done and take almost 1/2 off the price of the king.
 
I've never used a 192T, but it looks like it is ergonomically very similar to the 200. Since you're talking about a little less power, a little less weight, and about the same handles, I think it might be a possibility.

All of the Huskys have the same problem for me. The wrap handle is just too narrow and I can't fit my left hand on it comfortably without rubbing my thumb on the primer bulb. I hate primer bulbs to begin with, but I have a buddy who actually likes them. He also thinks that the Huskys feel better when running, something about the way the piston/cylinder are oriented reducing vibration. He has a 335 and an older 338. It wasn't until the past couple months that we got him to acknowledge that the 200T simply outmuscles them. He now uses the 200T almost all the time. If you're a sick puppy like him, a 338 XPT new edition might be the answer.

I saw the Solo 637 in the Bailey's catalog and am kind of interested. If it truly has 5 more ccs of displacement and almost half a horsepower more than the 200T at about the same weight, it seems like it could be a contender. Especially for only $350. I haven't tried one yet though and the reviews on the Bailey's site seem a little mixed. There is a Solo dealer not too far away and next time I'm there I'm going to see if she'll let me try one out.

Good luck!
 
After reading posts on top handle saws, it seems the concensus is that the $600 Stihl MS200T is the best top handle (arborist) chainsaw made.

What do people think is the next best top handle saw, for those not willing to spend the dollars for the 200T?

Dolmar 3410T or Echo 330T
 
not meaning to hi-jack thread but how good were the 011's?Picked one up at an auction a couple of weeks ago.Seems to run real good (stihl:biggrinbounce).When I get a chain for it I'll see how it cuts. Russ
 
I was in the same boat last year.

Couldn't justify the MS200T so I got the little brother MS192T. It's been a great little saw, no regrets what-so-ever. Power is very good in 6 inch and smaller stuff. Very light and easy to use. They just feel right.

My neighbor has an Echo, don't recall the model. It's been 100% reliable for the 5 or six years he's had it. Always runs well but it does seem heavy and out of balance.

If I ever run into a decent used MS200T, I'll grab it. As previously mentioned, when I was looking most of the used MS200Ts were tree service trades and pretty beat.

Take Care
 

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