Stihl MSA 200 - Use 3/8 P?

[XxDeadlyxX]

I just recently bought a Stihl MSA 200 (in Australia), the website says you can use a 3/8 P chain on it instead of the default 1/4", as per the description in the link here:

MSA 200 C-BQ - Cordless Chain Saw

But I cannot find anything in the manual that talks about it or how to do it. Does anyone know how this can be done? I tried fitting a bar and chain from my MS170 on the saw but it doesn't work.

 

[hobitopia]

You're also going to need the 3/8p drive sprocket on the power head so it matches the pitch of the chain. I have no idea if the one off your 170 will fit your 200,but I'm sure someone here more knowledgeable than myself can answer that.

 

[XxDeadlyxX]

The sprocket on the 170 definitely won't fit on this, the 170 has a much larger diamater sprocket... the MSA 200 is very small, about half the diamater. Do they even make 3/8 P sprocket so small?

 

[imagineero]

You're probably thinking the saw will be more powerful with the 3/8" lo pro than with 1/4". The reverse is true. You will lose power, speed and battery life by changing to 3/8" lp, with the only advantage being that the chain is a bit easier to come by and slightly cheaper.

Stick with the 1/4".

 

[XxDeadlyxX]

You're probably thinking the saw will be more powerful with the 3/8" lo pro than with 1/4". The reverse is true. You will lose power, speed and battery life by changing to 3/8" lp, with the only advantage being that the chain is a bit easier to come by and slightly cheaper.

Stick with the 1/4".

To be honest I was not sure if it would be better or worse, since I have not tried it yet....

The main reason I want to change is that those 1/4" chains seem so damn expensive, and hard to come by... I can get my local Stihl shop to order them in (I only have 1 chain so-far), but I think they are like $50 each, that's what the Stihl website says.

 

[imagineero]

See if you can order a 25' roll of 1/4". You might even order it from the states since it's not a common chain size here in aus. Stihl chain prices are ridiculously expensive here, many dealers are selling chain for $0.80c~$1.00 per drive link as pre made loops which is insane. A 25' roll would probably give you 8-10 chains for about $150, $15/chain. I don't know how often you go through chains, but that might last you several years. Most dealers will break and spin the roll for you at a very modest price, $10 or so. The chain will last forever so long as you store it properly. You can get other manufacturers chain for less but it's worth paying extra for stihl. It's a superior quality chain. If you have any trouble getting it I might be able to help out, or maybe try AS member MCW (matt) who is in south australia.

 

[MCW]

1/4" chain is more expensive than 3/8"LP but as far as Stihl chain just let me know. I can sort something out on Stihl 1/4" chain for you. If grabbing some elsewhere make sure you specify standard 1/4" chain and not the carving type chain. Carving chain is an absolute shocker pricewise. I have 3 loops of Stihl Carver in my shed and it was not cheap. Also when you look at the carving chain it really isn't designed for pruning or limbing. Very few dealers will stock 1/4" chain as very few saws run it anymore and even fewer people use it.

maybe try AS member MCW (matt) who is in south australia.

Hey thanks Shaun and you're right mate, these saws are much better suited to 1/4" chain. These things do have the torque to pull 3/8"LP but battery life will probably be halved over running 1/4" and I don't think they last that long anyway.

 

[XxDeadlyxX]

Thanks for the input - after a lot of searching I have eventually found the part number for the 3/8" P sprocket for the saw.... I will order that in and see what's its like first... and if it's no good then I will switch back to 1/4" and go from there - ie buy a roll of the stuff, since there is no way I am paying $50 per chain at the shop! I have a lot of 3/8" P chains sitting around too, due to the fact I don't like using my MS170's anymore since changing to this MSA 200.

Length of battery time is not an issue either since I have two AP 180 batteries than I can alternate (ie, one can be charging while the other being used).

EDIT: The part number is 1251 640 2000

 

[zogger]

Thanks for the input - after a lot of searching I have eventually found the part number for the 3/8" P sprocket for the saw.... I will order that in and see what's its like first... and if it's no good then I will switch back to 1/4" and go from there - ie buy a roll of the stuff, since there is no way I am paying $50 per chain at the shop! I have a lot of 3/8" P chains sitting around too, due to the fact I don't like using my MS170's anymore since changing to this MSA 200.

Length of battery time is not an issue either since I have two AP 180 batteries than I can alternate (ie, one can be charging while the other being used).

Pics, man! We don't get enough different battery saw threads here. We have had reviews on the oregon saw and the husky tophandle, need a good one from the stihl camp, how it is, day to day use.

 

[XxDeadlyxX]

My thoughts on the saw:

- Saw is very quiet. You don't need to even wear hearing protection... unless perhaps if you were using it all day. Much quieter than my MS170's.
- No start procedure! Just pick up and use. A huge time saver.
- Weight is 5kg with battery, which sounds heavy but in use it feels very good! Not once have I noticed the weight or been bothered by it when limbing on the ground.
- Battery time is decent, is lasts close to as long as a MS170 fuel tank.
- Automatic Quickstop upon trigger release is very handy - chain stops spinning almost instantly which means you can move limbs etc without waiting for it to spin down.
- Quick chain tensioner - this is the first saw I have used which has this and I am not a huge fan of it, it makes cleaning out the sawdust around the sprocket region a pain.
- Saw cuts very well - I would say it almost matches a MS170 which is great considering it uses zero petrol!!!!

Pics:

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[Bazer]

I just recently bought a Stihl MSA 200 (in Australia), the website says you can use a 3/8 P chain on it instead of the default 1/4", as per the description in the link here:

MSA 200 C-BQ - Cordless Chain Saw

But I cannot find anything in the manual that talks about it or how to do it. Does anyone know how this can be done? I tried fitting a bar and chain from my MS170 on the saw but it doesn't work.

I was wondering the same thing with my MSA 200 14" But what I've done is replace the Stihl 1/4" chain with a Rotatech 1/4" chain of the same spec (part no. EOP072 ). Only difference is it's half chisel rather than full chisel so cuts very slightly slower but requires far less sharpening and about half the price... hope that helps.

 

[jellyroll]

you can get 1/4 pitch chain on ebay.