stihl MS200 vs Husqvarna 338xpt

[Al_]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

So really the MS200T is the saftest bet out the box and the 338 is a tiny bit less of a saw powerwise for quite a bit less dough.

Looks at the mo, just starting out pruning, the 338 would be best for me as Im pretty skint!

Just to confuse myself Im now also considering a Dolmar PS-3410 TH

Thanks again, this site rocks!! :greenchainsaw:

 

[Al_]

Any trusted members fancy helping out with this? :chainsawguy:

no.. but a trusted AS member could buy an MS 200 and ship it overseas.

 

[pgg]

Al, according to the publicity blurb, the 338's are now the same grunt as the 200's, at 1.7KW. I've only used the previous 335's at 1.6KW, but adding an extra 2 smaller muffler holes pumps the 335's up to the 200's 1.7KW range anyway. The dolmar is down on power a bit, likely a bit heavier too, 0.1 or 0.2KW doesn't sound much on paper but you can instantly tell the difference on these small saws

 

[2000ssm6]

Any trusted members fancy helping out with this? :chainsawguy:

If you have a good Husky(338) or Dolmar(3410) dealer that would be your best bet. Neither are close to a 200T but you will have a warrenty if needed.

The Echo 330T would not be a bad choice either....

 

[pgg]

The husky's every bit as good as the stihl but don't piss around with the echos, they're pretty much gutless junk by comparison

 

[bcorradi]

I have a 335 box saw that I'd sell cheap to any interested party.

 

[peter399]

According to spec they should be equal. Both 3,5kg and 2,3 hp.
But I've never run any of them so I don't have a clue what differs.
Suppose you can't go wrong with either one ?

 

[Dibbs]

Have both.

Husqvarna 338XPT
Pros :-
1. Turbo Air Filtration, that's it!

Cons :-
1. Nose heavy with a 14" Bar
2. Not a nice one handed grip. (Personal prefference)
3. Awkwardly placed Mix & Oil Caps for filling & removing.
4. Sparkplug cover "Falls" off to easily (on some dependent upon year)
5. Must split Saw comletely just to change oil pump. (Cylinder & Crank Shaft)

Stihl MS200T
Pros:-
1. Perfectly ballanced with 14" Bar.
2. Conveniently placed Mix & Oil Caps for filling and are tooless removal.
3. Easily worked at by comparison to Husky.

Cons:-
1. Not Turbo Air Filtration so requires more air filter cleaning, that's it!

MS200T wins my a Country Mile in my opinion.
Just requires Turbo Air Cleaning in its next Evolution.

 

[pgg]

OK, here's the complete opposite view

335xpt:
Pros: 1. Perfectly balanced with 12" bar. (no point in using 14" bars on these tiny saws)

2. Far more comfortable one handed grip!!

3. Feels lighter and more 'flickable' than a 200t

4. Less vibration than the 200t

5. Plenty of power

6. Bulletproof engine

Cons: 1. A few niggly design faults - spark cover etc..

2. Turbo air filtration causes the filter to clog quickly!!

3. Comes with a less than satisfactory bar for commercial work.


200T:
Pros: 1. Reliable and grunty

2. A decent quality bar

3. Non air injection keeps the filter clean longer!!

Cons: 1. Feels like an uncomfortable brick with handles!

2. Vibrates more than the husky.

3. Over priced to hell!

Both saws are better with 1/4 pitch chain and sprockets because their 3/8 chains eventually always SNAP! The 200t is probably a better bet for the 'average ' user because they seem to need less maintenance than the husky and you don't really need to change anything on them. The huskys are better with a few simple alterations. Either way, they're both good quality.

 

[xxl]

Go for the MS 200T yes i know it is alot of money but it is the best saw out there

 

[rbtree]

Have both.

Husqvarna 338XPT
Pros :-
1. Turbo Air Filtration, that's it!

That's a misnomer! The front mounted 335/8 filter clogs up sometimes after one tank of fuel. Nothing at all like other Huskys. Plus its front mounted, not a good place. I've heard Husky is working on a rear carb climb saw...hope it isn't strato charged and heavy....

Regardless, most of mine run well these days, and muffler modded, cut like a dream.

Oh, and pgg, I only run 16 inch bars on my climb saws, 14 on the 192T.....they have the power, and I need the bar length for our big trees.

 

[pgg]

Hi rbt, yeah the huskys' front mounted filter will still probably clog quickly with or without air injection anyway, easy enough to tape over the air injection passage to the filter but I haven't bothered but might try it and see what the difference is. It's no big deal, I just flick out the dust every 2 or 3 tanks, only takes 15 seconds. The front carb & filter design is what makes the husky a better balanced and more comfortable saw to use in my opinion (howls of outrage from the 200t brigade!! )

When used strictly as a specialist pruning saw, the saw is mostly above shoulder height where that design comes into it's own. Mod them by adding a wrap type handle as found on the old 019t's and they can't be beat. (more howls of outrage!) As a pruning saw rather than a limbing saw, 12" bars are all that's needed on this job. Am often swinging on these pruning saws(stihls & huskys) 7 hours a day for months on end, and I way prefer the husky over the stihl but again, just personal preference.

 

[Al_]

What does everyone think about gettin a second hand 020T this is a compromise that will work real well for my pocket!

Its got the drawback of no warranty but if I give it a service and replace whatever parts it needs should be a good buy? Plus I could prob order parts from the USA more easily than a whole saw right?

 

[oldsaw]

What does everyone think about gettin a second hand 020T this is a compromise that will work real well for my pocket!

Its got the drawback of no warranty but if I give it a service and replace whatever parts it needs should be a good buy? Plus I could prob order parts from the USA more easily than a whole saw right?

Al, I've never bought a new saw, and with the prices over there, it would probably pay to do so even if you had to order parts to rebuild it off of ebay. Food for thought.

Mark

 

[Dibbs]

Al, I've never bought a new saw, and with the prices over there, it would probably pay to do so even if you had to order parts to rebuild it off of ebay. Food for thought.

Mark

As I live in the land of high saw prices, I couldn't agree more!
Problem is that the 020T and MS200T prices are still very high on eBay regardless of being second hand or "Spares or Repairs".
My advice is to keep an eye out in other sections when looking for a saw.
Sometimes sellers will post their Chainsaws in some "Homeware" or "Hand Saws" Section by accident and you will only have to compete with a few potential buyers/bidders savvy enough to search all of eBay rather than just the "Chainsaws" Section.

 

[walkerized don]

ms 200t

Any thoughts on these saws? which do you think is the best buy given the 338 is cheaper, is the ms200 worth the extra money?
Cheers Al

Hey hows it going Iam a huge husky nut and canadas largest seller. from my experiance the only topping saw to buy is a 200t. I have had some problems with carbs. but if you drop one or wear it out keep old carb might be better on new one. I have to say though the last few 338s that i have sold worked pretty dam good I just modded one and what a saw but for out of the box take the muffler screen out of 200t and richen up the high speed and it rocks. must remove limiter cap and turn high speed open

 

[pgg]

For extra kick definitely rip out the screen and drill out the strangled husky muffler too

 

[Log hog]

2500+

After 3+ years, 1 chain brake handle, some rubber bushings, and this year a new $45 dollar muffler and shes still and animal. Oh and I should not forget shes got well over 2500 hours on her and no rebuild. Currious what wonder of a saw this maybe??? The 200T.

 

[pgg]

The husky can match and even overtake the wonder saw!! 335XPT, it's 'bugs' found, fixed and ironed out, 5 or so years of goddam awful thrashing, many many clutches and sprockets, a fair few bars!(admittedly replacement 200T bars modded to fit ) dozens and dozens of chains! The occasional carb kit just to keep the carb happy. God knows how many thousands of hours! NEVER had to replace the suspension springs. Religiously run on TT full synthetic only! Was still keeping its 200T opposition honest on its original piston, ring and cylinder when some creepy scum-sucking mofo stole it from the parked truck:angry2: Replaced it immediately with another 335! 4 or 5 years later and heaps more sprockets, clutches, chains, filters etc.. still going strong today! Yes the 200T's have THE reputation, but the husky's the dark horse of the two..

 

[gdn]

my advice to you would probably be buy an echo and earn enough money to buy the best saw on the market for your needs, most likely ms200t or husky.
12 inch bars for pruning kick ::edit- by this i mean are good (as in kick arse), not a literal description
for me, there's one stupid thing about the husky and unless u mod it is worth spending an extra 200 or whatever to do withuot and that's the frigging exhaust jets up supposedly over you're shoulder unless you have the saw on a slight sideways angle and it jets direct to your lungs, stupid stupid stupid. easy to fix if u mod muffler though, and i think there's some oem deflector u can buy.
As for speed/power, i timed cuts and both saws came out same on small wood and stihl slightly quicker in big wood but i think my 338 is running a littlle sick or something.