200T v 540xp

[RegC]

Both used but still have good compression. Spark screen removed on 200, 540 is ported. 16 in bars. Semi chisel chains. 56 DL on the 540, 55 on the 200T.... the Stihl bar and chain is noticeably thinner. You decide.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hvWdbdR9SU0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Mick!]

Nothing between them as you say.
I would be interested to know if your "careful" modification increased the Husky's speed.
Maybe pit it against your new one.
I didn't know about the thickness of the bars.

 

[cory]

Cool vid! Dr Reg at work with some diy mods.

Reg you say you find tree work boring, well fortunately you like making tree vids

They were mighty close, with the nod going to the 540. Maybe abuse the 200 with the drill too and it will catch up...

 

[cory]

Reg, btw, can you tell me which Stein saw pants those are, thanks.

 

[pete mctree]

The stihl full chisel chain is a real step up for any climbing saw. I am nearly positive it is available for the husky

Nice comparison, that 540 has survived a lot better than most I have seen. I will stick with my 200t as It's feel & handling are a lot better for me personally.

 

[pete mctree]

The stihl full chisel chain is a real step up for any climbing saw. I am nearly positive it is available for the husky

Nice comparison, that 540 has survived a lot better than most I have seen. I will stick with my 200t as It's feel & handling are a lot better for me personally.

 

[Grendel]

Interesting.

 

[Peter]

The stihl full chisel chain is a real step up for any climbing saw. I am nearly positive it is available for the husky

Nice comparison, that 540 has survived a lot better than most I have seen. I will stick with my 200t as It's feel & handling are a lot better for me personally.

I've got a T540 wearing PS3.

 

[RegC]

I should've taken a vid before I drilled the 540. Fell a way short of the 200, regardless of chains etc. Throttle response on the 200 still better, but not much in the cutting speed post drill. And porting the 540 had no noticeable adverse effect on the 540. Just made it better.

Cory I never said tree work boring on the whole....just some times same as any job. I think they're Stein Krieger pants, can't remember exactly. I'll make a vid if I think it has some worth. Thanks

I agree Pete, would rather have a 200, but just to show that to can still make some in expensive power gains in these newer generation saws, if that's what a person wants. I'm quite pleased about having 2 fast cutting saws now actually.

 

[chris_girard]

There is no comparison between the 540XP and the new Stihl 201TC (2nd gen, not the 1st). The 201TC is a much better saw. I have both. The 540 runs like a piece of shit (one from a bad batch, according to the dealer). You can't beat the Low-Profile full chisel chain either on the new Stihls.

Lots of bad things were said a few years ago about the 201T when they first came out compared to the 200T and they were true, bit IMO Stihl has reclaimed the title of best top-handled saw in the world with the new 201TC.

Nice vid Reg (as usual), thanks for taking the time.

 

[cory]

Hey Reg, that would be awesome if you were to cobble together a vid re saw pants. I'm about to make the jump from chaps to pants so I would learn a lot. Your vids, they are always compelling no matter the subject.

 

[RegC]

There is no comparison between the 540XP and the new Stihl 201TC (2nd gen, not the 1st). The 201TC is a much better saw. I have both. The 540 runs like a piece of shit (one from a bad batch, according to the dealer). You can't beat the Low-Profile full chisel chain either on the new Stihls.

Lots of bad things were said a few years ago about the 201T when they first came out compared to the 200T and they were true, bit IMO Stihl has reclaimed the title of best top-handled saw in the world with the new 201TC.

Nice vid Reg (as usual), thanks for taking the time.

Its hard for me to make comparisons too Chris, but for different reasons.... because as you can see my 2 year old 540 still works just fine. Couple broken av springs that's it. I did get to use a run-in 201 tc on and off for a couple weeks last month....but that saw was months old, not 2 years. I liked it lots of things about it, but didn't feel like it had quite the power of my 540. The guy who leant me the 201 has no love for the 540, as he's on 3 and 3 failures.....and still waiting for answers. But he also told me up front that he felt the 201 was lacking in power, comparatively. Hes only had one fail out of the three 201s he purchased.

 

[RegC]

Hey Reg, that would be awesome if you were to cobble together a vid re saw pants. I'm about to make the jump from chaps to pants so I would learn a lot. Your vids, they are always compelling no matter the subject.

Cory, I'm hardly a saw pant expert. I think there's lots of good brands out there right now.

 

[cory]

What ones do you like besides Stein?

 

[HolmenTree]

Reg, that's the quickest muffler mod I've ever seen Seriously you may have got steel fragments from the drilling drawn into the cylinder, not good as you may have scored the cylinder. The exhaust port in the cylinder not only expels it also makes a vacuum .
You need to weld a deflector cover on that outlet that you drilled (or 2 Lol ) or else your gonna melt the shit out the plastic shroud. Also melt expensive pants, climbing lines.....

The 200 is running a .043 chain (61PMN ) what a MS192 or a polesaw runs. That's why it was plugging up the bar and seizing the chain, cuts like a bugger but with the power of the 200 links quickly kink up and the chain breaks. Plus the PITA of the chain always seizing in the cut from poor chip clearance and flow.
The 540 is running a .050 chain not a fair comparison in cutting cookies to see which cuts faster.
To reset the 540 AutoTune you need more then a half dozen cuts. At least 3-5 minutes of steady cutting cookies.

 

[RegC]

I think the cylinders fine, Willard. The fragments were stringy, not fine. I made about 7 or 8 flat out cuts right after, not on the vid. Used it all day, the next day on a removal, which was mostly bigger cuts. Really pleased with how it faired to be honest was planning on a replacement, but maybe not anymore.

Cory the only other saw pants I've used in the last few years, apart for cheap ones were pfanner. They were great too, but always seemed to have zip issues at the time. I like the Steins better. But then I like pfanner boots better than stein also.

Edit: good info on the chains Willard, thanks

 

[cory]

Thanks, Reg

 

[MasterBlaster]

 

[HolmenTree]

Reg, you're in Canada so you'll have no problem getting the 63PS Picco chisel chain from your Stihl dealer. The PS3 (extra safety ramps) is crap.
Run the 63PS chain on all your top handles........ you'll thank me.

 

[RegC]

I don't doubt you Willard. But since Walker Power shut down all you have left here is mainly lawnmower shops that that also deal in saws. I usually just take whatever they have in store when I need it. Ordering stuff in this town is 'hopeful' at best.

 

[HolmenTree]

Next time you're in Vancouver.

 

[RegC]

These are the go-to saw people on the island. Sales, servicing, modifying for a couple generations now. Family run. Couple hours drive for me though.

 

[HolmenTree]

I dealed with Walkers Saw Shop in Nanimo when the parents Bob and Holly owned it. But at that time they were strictly Husqvarna.
Did you say they're now shut down?

 

[RegC]

No theyre doing well. But one of the sons, started up a branch here in Victoria for a while. Completely transformed 3 of my saws, but otherwise couldn't generate enough business to pay the overheads.

 

[RegC]

I actually ran into him yesterday. He's going to modify my 3 year old 372 over a weekend in a month or so when I don't need it. Be happy to show the result here.