gillettadam
ArboristSite Lurker
Hi all, Looking at an MS201 back handle as a light duty saw for doing odds and ends with. Will be buying second hand. I have seen there was an update to the piston cylinder arrangement in 2019. I've had a look and Stihls figures don't show an on paper power difference before and after the update. I wondered if anyone has used both and if there is a noticeable difference or not, as even with the same peak power where that power is made can make a huge difference. I haven't been able to find much about it other than there was an update, they went to a pop up style piston which 'should' improve power. No-one then seems to have said much about the saws being any better or worse so I'm guessing there is no major noticeable difference and it may have been done purely for emissions in which case I'm not too worried. I just don't want to buy a pre 2019 saw and find that the post 2019 are much better, or buy a post 2019 and find that I should have bought a pre 2019 if the changes have made the saw less usable!
