Brand new MS200T vs. brand new MS201T...

Hi guys.
As many of you would know I recently purchased both a brand new 200T and 201T. My fear was that the 201T wouldn't end up being as good as the 200T and I would forever regret not grabbing one of the last new examples I could lay my grubby little mitts on.
The plan was to run both side by side then I'll keep the best one and onsell the less likeable saw to a mate of mine. He really doesn't care which one he gets.
I won't get too detailed to start with but I will say this...

1) Unlike some of the 201T test mules doing the rounds the released version does not have a primer bulb - YAY!

2) Balance is EXACTLY the same, in fact the difference in weight dry and brand new out the box was only 60 grams (just over 2oz). Even my fiancee said the same thing and she doesn't have any saw knowledge

3) Performance out the box was basically the same. Throttle response between the two saws was near identical and in the cut with the exact same chains and bars the 201T "may" have had a slight edge in torque in small wood 6" pine and less - in larger hardwood (I had them buried) the 201T definately had the edge in torque over the out of the box 200T.

4) The 201T has a limited coil - not sure of the exact specs but I couldn't see more than 13,300rpm on my FastTach without it going nuts.

5) Stihl do not want you playing around with the tune on this saw. The H jet is of course limited but unlike my 261 the H jet can't be pulled. It has a small steel pin pressed into the alloy housing that means that jet cannot be pulled as it is (I had to grind the pin out). You can also remove the spark arresting screen (like the 200T) however they have designed the clutch cover so that if left out while running exhaust gases vent straight into the plastic housing. I thought I might be able to increase the 201T's power by removing this screen. It was instantly apparent that Stihl don't want you pulling it out!

The angles the photos were taken on makes the weight readings a bit hard to read - the difference was right on 60 grams or just over 2 ounces (yes they are my fiancee's kitchen scales and yes I did get in trouble)...








200T...



201T...

201T...



200T...






The 201T was very tight behind the sprocket making it difficult to remove and fit chains. The gap was extremely small and to remove it the chain had to be jiggled and lined up till it slid around the groove to be removed from the bottom. Fitting the chain seemed a lot easier. The 200T has no problem in this regard with plenty of space...

201T...




200T...

who has the edge in air filter department? 201 i would think.

200T with spark arrestor removed (easy job - one screw 10 seconds)...



201T with spark arrestor removed (note stainless muffler)...



And the two spark arrestors. The 201T (on the right) seems to have less restriction than the one in the 200T...



After running them stock I decided to do two things that I knew would increase performance and would tend to be an easy and common mod for most guys using these saws (especially AS guys!)...

On the 201T I pulled the H limiter and richened the saw up. I also richened up the L jet. This tuning made a reasonable amount of difference to perceived power but definately improved throttle response.
All I did on the 200T was pull the spark arrestor out - a well known, easy, and effective mod (although illegal in some situations - especially in high fire risk situations). This simple mod was when it all went pear shaped for the 201T...

I've got a video done up but as always Youtube spat the dummy on it's overnight upload and I didn't have time to reupload today. I had to leave at 5:15am for an interstate work trip and all looked good then. I'll try uploading again tonight.

young said:

who has the edge in air filter department? 201 i would think.

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Hi mate. I haven't actually got photos of the filters sorry but they are exactly the same material. I doubt there will be any difference in the filtration on either saw. I've never had an issue with the 200T's filtration - it's very good and these saws aren't really used out here for cutting our dry dead hardwoods so probably don't get tested too hard as a rule.

so MCW, whos the winner? or keeper?

You'll see the difference when I finally get the video uploaded but the 200T with spark arrestor removed and NO other changes absolutely spanked the 201T as I feared it would (and many others feared too I gather). The throttle response of the 200T with this simple mod is unbelievable and the new saw performed exactly the same as my older 200T. In the videos I used my older 200T as a comparo. Even torque is a touchy one and as ppg mentioned in another thread any real torque advantage of the strato 201T is null and void in the smaller wood these saws are designed to be used in - throttle response is why the 200T has been such a popular saw amongst near everybody that's used one. Regardless the retuned 201T didn't out torque the 200T even with a 14" bar buried - very close though.

As mentioned I had to grind a pin out that stopped the H limiter tab being pulled. The job I did may draw some criticism as she's a bit of a butcher job

The pin can be seen on the right (circled in red)...



The 201T's carby...





WASSAT??? CHINA yet MADE IN GERMANY??? :msp_sneaky:



No big deal. My 7900's are running Chinese made ZAMA carbies as well. It is disappointing though. Just how much foreign content can go into a saw nowadays (or any goods) before they have to say "Made In Germany from foreign and imported parts"...

young said:

so MCW, whos the winner? or keeper?

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I'm keeping the 200T. It stomps the 201T with such a simple 10 second spark arresting screen removal mod. The extra fuel economy on offer with the 201T doesn't really count for me as you can get a LOT of work done with a 200T. In a tree it may make a difference to some people but I don't climb trees
As mentioned out of the box I'd probably take the 201T. It also has a captive bar nut and the bar nut size is now the same as Husky and Dolmar etc.

However there is just something about the 200T with the screen removal that makes it fully Formula 1 spec In comparison the 201T is a slug but a very good saw and a worthy replacement as far as I'm concerned. To find the balance was identical was a welcome relief.

The 201T is reasonably compact for a strato saw... I thought it might be a bit porkier than the 200T but they look quite similar in size.

strato......blah

everyone hurry and go out and buy up all the remaining 200T's:msp_razz:

Some other photos...

The H tab removed...



The pin that tried to stop the whole tuning show...



My butcher job (I'm gonna get flamed for this one . I did clean this up a bit more after this photo. There is also a chance that the pin can get pushed the whole way through but I think it will hit the tab before dropping out of it's hole...



The H jet thingy



The intake...



As mentioned once I get the video up you'll see exactly what I mean in regard to throttle response and performance. I used to think my 200T (bought 2nd hand from Brad) may have been modded as Brad mods everything, even his blowers! Brad assured me he hadn't touched it before I bought it from him and the performance of the new 200T with spark arrestor removed confirmed to me that these saws are indeed a hotrod out the box. I have never used a more impressive stock saw - ever. Not even close. If you class the spark arrestor removal as stock

Oh and the other thing I noticed was that the flippy caps on this saw are EXTREMELY positive and the best feeling flippys I've used. Not sure what Stihl have changed here.

Rudolf73 said:

The 201T is reasonably compact for a strato saw... I thought it might be a bit porkier than the 200T but they look quite similar in size.

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Myself or my fiancee could not notice any difference in balance or weight. For Stihl to have made the 201T more bulky and less nimble than the 200T would have been a grave mistake. By the way I really wanted to keep the 201T and offload the 200T but the difference was too great and confirmed just how good the 200T really is.

One part of the video shows me trimming/pruning a dead hardwood tree with the stock 201T and my older 200T - it gives you a good idea of how these saws run doing the sort of work they're designed to do.

Oh and the supplied Stihl safety chain is absolute garbage. I swapped to Carlton.

i say it still should have been ported. imagine how much more fun....err....work you could get done.:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

young said:

i say it still should have been ported. imagine how much more fun....err....work you could get done.:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:

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Yeah I'd like to see a 201T with some work done to it. By most/all accounts very little can be gained by modding a 200T as they are a pretty hot little thing straight out the box.

Sounds pretty much like expected, .....
:msp_smile:



.....except the nasty tricks with the H and the spark arrestor! :frown:

And the video(s). As you can tell I wore my Sunday best...


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I7DzCql3AVA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Much thanks for all the comparisons and the video to back it up..!!

I was thinking of trading my 200T in for a 201T if it showed marked improvement.

That thought is "out the door" now...I'm keeping what I got..!!!!

(and that muffler screen non-removal flow deal really sucks..!!)

J2F

MCW said:

Oh and the other thing I noticed was that the flippy caps on this saw are EXTREMELY positive and the best feeling flippys I've used. Not sure what Stihl have changed here.

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You mean the flippy caps on the 201T or the 200T? Excellent, detailed review by the way. Pictures for comparison and all. Top notch!

Thank you once again for a detailed and unbiased review, an excellent thread,Rep sent. I don't have to worry about upgrading, in our business my son's 200T will last us forever as we don't use it much. After using one he just had to own one, he was tired of our old 009. Wish every saw made had the performance to weight ratio of the 200T.

jus2fat said:

Much thanks for all the comparisons and the video to back it up..!!

I was thinking of trading my 200T in for a 201T if it showed marked improvement.

That thought is "out the door" now...I'm keeping what I got..!!!!

(and that muffler screen non-removal flow deal really sucks..!!)

J2F

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Yeah the muffler screen idea is stupid but obviously a well thought out plan from Stihl. About all you could do is actually cut the screen part off and screw on the remainder to stop gas leaking out the hole and melting the clutch cover. Not sure what gains could be made here though as I didn't want to chop it up.

tallguys said:

You mean the flippy caps on the 201T or the 200T? Excellent, detailed review by the way. Pictures for comparison and all. Top notch!

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I meant the flippy caps on the 201T. They line up and lock in really well. Thanks for the support - apart from "maybe" the larger logging saws the small top handles would be the next most important saw sold. In fact I'll even go out on a limb here and say that the 200T IS the most important saw model sold. Or was...

indiansprings said:

Thank you once again for a detailed and unbiased review, an excellent thread,Rep sent. I don't have to worry about upgrading, in our business my son's 200T will last us forever as we don't use it much. After using one he just had to own one, he was tired of our old 009. Wish every saw made had the performance to weight ratio of the 200T.

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Thanks for the rep mate. The 201T is still a great saw for sure but if you've got a 200T that is running well there is absolutely no reason to run out and upgrade. In fact if your 200T has the spark arrestor removed I sense disappointment if you expected the same performance from the 201T
I know the stratos take a bit of running in by all accounts but regardless it won't catch my 200T no matter how well it's run in.