Author Topic: New STIHL Features (Read 2137 times)

Bendavid · « **on:** December 01, 2005, 09:50:43 pm »

I plan on purchasing a new saw (light duty) and I see that Stihl has a couple of new models (MS 180C and MS 250C) with a dual spring starter called Easy2Start and a quick chain tensioning feature, no tool required.
Has anyone experience with these options and will they stand the test of time as I keep a saw until it wears out?

Modat22 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2005, 10:00:41 pm »

the quick chain tensioner is awsome and very well made. I don't think I'd want it on a larger saw due to the horse powers involved but from a 310 down its nice !

No idea about the easy start thing.

beenthere · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2005, 10:16:45 pm »

I've seen the 'easy start' demonstrated, and it makes starting look real easy. No more jerking on the starter rope, or having it snap back out of your fingers if pulling it too slow. Seems just a nice easy pull that builds up energy (in a spring) and when it builds up to a point, it spins the crank and 'starts'.
I was at my Stihl dealer today and asked about it, as he then went about saying he had sold several, but they were for 'women'. I asked, "how about us old men"?

sawguy21 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2005, 07:56:59 am »

The Easy2Start is o.k to use once used to it but I don't like having to pull the cord so far. Guess I'm from the old school but I still like pulling up to compression then giving it a short rip. That has worked rather well for the last 35 years although the new starter might have been nice on the old Stihl 051 and 075 laydowns.

The Quick Chain Adjust does prevent the chain from being overtightened and the scrench will not get lost as often.

rebocardo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2005, 08:47:08 am »

I have a MS-180C and it is an excellent trimming saw. I tested and shopped the various smaller saws of different brands and went with this one even though it was more money.

Though I would not want to cut a lot of firewood with that small chain and kerf. It does well on things 4-6 inches. Very light and nicely balanced. The tensioner is nice, though I have to keep a squench around anyways to lift up the tab because if can not be lifted with gloved hands ...

jgoodhart · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2005, 09:23:19 pm »

My dad was having troubles starting the other saws we have and he purchased a MS180C and he likes it alot and I will amit it is a breeze to start up, you just pull on the rope till the spring tension overcomes the engine compression and yer off and running. I ran a tank full of gas through it thining out brush and small trees around my deer stand and it was nice and lite and dads doing a fine job cutting up my slab pow

twostroke_blood · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2005, 09:30:59 pm »

Wow marketing easy-start only to women might cut his sales in half

jokers · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2005, 09:24:28 am »

Somewhat surprisingly to some of you guys I`m sure, I`ll also throw in a good word for the ms180 if you keep it`s limitations in mind. I`ve always felt the 250 is a very good saw for it`s intended market.

The easy2start has been said to be a high maintenance item by atleast on saw tech(Lakeside53). That`s all I "know" about it.

The Quick Chain Adjuster is handy but I believe it discourages the standard practice of flipping your bar on a routine basis because it is screwed to the bar and must beremoved for the flip. It is to me, more gimmick than anything. Any time saved in the field is eaten up at the bench.

Russ

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2005, 10:15:41 am »

I have a MS210, the chain tensioner is ok keeps you from having to carry a scrench. I did not like it at first but I am the kind that resists change. I didn't like chain brakes either, but I now respect them!

I don't like the new gas/oil caps, I have had more than one occasion that they did not close correctly but looked closed, then suddenly you have oiled your boot. This usually occurs when you overfil the oil tank. Again probably just a getting used to it kinda thing. I use this little saw a lot as it is just right to cut slabs down into firewood, and I am getting more used to it but I still prefer using a scrench!

Jon

macpower · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2005, 12:59:44 pm »

Weekend...
Thats the new auto boot waterproofing system they just came out with.

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2005, 01:14:51 pm »

SawTroll · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:30:19 am »

Quote from: jokers on December 04, 2005, 09:24:28 am

The Quick Chain Adjuster is handy but I believe it discourages the standard practice of flipping your bar on a routine basis because it is screwed to the bar and must beremoved for the flip. It is to me, more gimmick than anything. Any time saved in the field is eaten up at the bench.
.......
Russ

I have a couple of friends with MS250c's, and what you wrote is exactly how I feel about it.
It is a PITA - no more, no less.

For most people the easy2start is a solution to a non-existant problem, and it adds some weight and complexity to the saw. I have never used it, but I have read statements that it is easy to flood the saw when using it.
For people that are disabled, or otherwise unable to start the saw in the normal way, it is probably a nice feature though. I think it is bad practice if dealers are marketing it towards the average user.

A similar feature is available from Husqvarna on the 137, 142 and 345e.

GlennG · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2005, 03:03:39 am »

I was a die-hard Stihl fan forever but not anymore. To much money for a product that has become gimicky....gas/oil caps...tool-less chain tensioner. Stihl seems to be trying to reinvent the wheel with all their silly bells and whistles. I subsubscribe to the keep it simple rule. If your looking for a quality medium duty saw try a Dolmar/Makita ps-540 or ps-341. Its a way better saw for the same money maybe less.

Glenn

GlennG · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2005, 03:32:35 am »

Quote from: macpower on December 06, 2005, 12:59:44 pm

Weekend...
Thats the new auto boot waterproofing system they just came out with.

I worked for a large tree service before I started my own business. Well one day they purchased a brand new Hi-Ranger bucket truck, which replaced a 15 year old bucket truck. This new truck was the pride of the company. It was a beautiful truck with a 90 foot boom. When the truck was less than a week old I was operating it , doing a pruning demonstration at a charity event for a local park that was hosting the ISA tree climbing championships. While all eyes (including my boss) were upon me, my Stihl MS200t dumped its entire contents of bar lube onto the windshield of that brand new bucket from 40 feet. I could have sworn that the cap was tight. I looked like an idiot with hundreds of my peers watching. I have hated, with a passion, the new style Stihl oil/gas caps ever since. I will never buy a Stihl product again unless they go back to normal screw in caps.

Glenn

beenthere · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2005, 04:40:20 am »

Quote

...dumped its entire contents of bar lube onto the windshield....

bad part is your peers laughing probably didn't blame the saw.

But I'd guess you (GlennG ) like your Dolmar''s better, and I hope they don't cause you any embarrassment. Bells and whistles attract some customers, as well as the long-term success of the Stihl company. I don't much care for the side filling of oil and gas, but when seeing a chainsaw in a milling rigging, I realized they'd be hard to re-fill if they were not on the side. So I'd guess they engineer for the customers as well, and not all are most happy. I'm thinking the new caps are easier and less fussy to open and close than the screw-on/off ones, now that I have been running both my new Stihl MS361 and the old 041.
Happy sawing. I am.

GlennG · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2005, 11:20:39 am »

Quote from: beenthere on December 07, 2005, 04:40:20 am

bad part is your peers laughing probably didn't blame the saw.

But I'd guess you (GlennG ) like your Dolmar''s better, and I hope they don't cause you any embarrassment.

I`m sure my peers didn`t blame the saw either....unless they had the same experience before.

The Dolmars are to new to judge. They seem to be real smooth running and powerful. If the saws are still running in 5 years then I`ll be really happy and brand loyal. I have a 7 year old 066 and 026 that are still running on a weekly basis. Stihl knows how to build a saw thats for sure but the finicky oil caps are something I don`t care for. While I do welcome new technology, I think the oil/gas cap and tooless chain tensioner were ideas driven by Stihl marketing instead of Stihl engineering. If the gas caps were re-engineered to be "idiot-proof"

I would be all for them. Till then I`ll keep the scrench handy.

Safe cutting
Glenn

Gilman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2005, 02:26:40 pm »

My uncle got one and he loves it. "Different to start," he said but he also hasn't used his older, bigger stihl since. I got one for my dad whose lost a lot of grip strength and he's back to sawing again.

I happen to like the new caps even though I too have dumped the oil and the gas before. I haven't done it for a long time though.

wiam · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2005, 05:44:32 pm »

I had problems with the caps on the MS260. Since using the saw more I must have learned to use them, as I have not spilled in a long time. I do HATE oil running down my leg though.

Will

rebocardo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2005, 12:06:13 pm »

Yea, I have lost the oil and gas more then once with the MS-180c until I started using the wrench to tighten them like the decal shows ....

Then again, I lost oil twice on the Husky 365 too until I started tightening the cap with a small crescent wrench I now keep in my back pocket. I think with the Husky the problem is the saw gets so hot from use, combined with the kind of work I do, that it comes off easily once heated with vibration.

I know I tighten them (caps on both saws) tight with gloves hands, does not seem like enough for either saw.

beenthere · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2005, 12:14:23 pm »

rebo
The 'caps' for gas and oil on my MS361 don't require a wrench, as they are more of a plug and have a bail on them, that flips up, and with a quarter turn are out. To 'close', just give a quarter turn, and the bail flips down, and set to go. Don't think they can fall out.

Must be different on the MS 180. For this fool, they are foolproof, near as I can tell. My old 041 has threaded plugs for oil and gas, and the plug has a ridge to tighten and loosen. Have never had a problem with them either (and I think they allow less sawdust around the hole when removed than the new style plug).

Goose79 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 08, 2005, 01:15:49 pm »

I use a 360 for most of my work, I wish they would go back to the screw caps for gas and lube. I have lost two gas caps on the ground. They felt tight, but while walking around with the saw and bouncing on the back of the four wheeler they must of came off.

I now keep an extra in the tool box.

SawTroll · « **Reply #21 on:** December 09, 2005, 05:36:16 am »

I have lost the gas out of my 361 one time, and that was because I forgot to put the cap back in the hole altogether......

Otherwise no issues with them, I have in fact started liking them

Weekend_Sawyer · « **Reply #22 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:50:29 am »

My "New to Me" ms440 has the new type of gas/oil caps. I guess I am getting better, havn't dumped oil or gas out yet.

You have to make sure not to overfill the tanks, if you do it kinda seems like the cap goes on.
That's when it becomes a boot oiler

Jon

StihlDoc · « **Reply #23 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:53:49 pm »

Once you understand how the tool-less tank caps work they should not bring problems. There is a proper way to insert them. They are indexed and need to line up with their mating "thread" or insertion opening in the tank then twist the bail 1/4 turn. If you don't get the cap properly positioned in the tank opening before twisting the bail, the cap will appear seated and the cap will "index" as you twist the bail however the lock mechanism won't be engaged in the tank opening and the cap will fall off. Look at the cap position before you pull it out of the hole then put it back into the opening in the same position and all is okay. Some people have a tendency to turn the cap as they put into the tank from old habits of screw in caps and then it won't be positioned properly. Instead just stick it in the hole in its proper position and give the bail a twist.

The Easy2Start feature is designed for "occaisional use" products for around the home (trimmers, hand held blowers, small chain saws) for those that don't wish to exert (or have) a strong arm to pull the starter rope. You can, but don't have to pull the rope to its full length. Instead you can give it a few short pulls to wind the "starting" spring until the engine turns over.

The QCA (Quick Chain Adjuster) was designed for "non-seasoned" chain saw users who may not necessarily always adjust the chain properly as it gets loose. The QCA helps simplify the task for those that may be mechanically challenged or just want an easier way to do things.

Minnesota_boy · « **Reply #24 on:** December 10, 2005, 02:24:55 pm »

I have a MS180 with the QCA. I've been runining saws for over 30 years and this adjuster makes the most sense of any. I never run with a loose chain anymore because it takes just seconds to adjust. The older saw always seems to have a chain that's just a bit loose because the scrench that is needed to adjust the chain is in the truck or on the tractor, so the chain stays loose until I get back to the rig that has the scrench that is necessary to adjust it. I'm not about to slog through the brush and limbs just to adjust the chain a little.

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Author Topic: New STIHL Features (Read 2137 times)