Why I Bought a Top Handle Chainsaw

Why I Bought a Top Handle Chainsaw - Stihl MS 194T

Рет қаралды 34,001

2 жыл бұрын

I was looking for a lightweight chainsaw for limbing and it came down to the Stihl MS 170 vs the Stihl ms 194T
I ended up buying the 194t for our firewood business because I like the balance of the top handle chainsaw
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Пікірлер: 118

@cisco5400 Жыл бұрын

I love the comments when you spill the oil, "I think you supposed to do that". 😁. You have a great way to see things, things go wrong and then you move on. No point being irritated for small things.😊👍. Thank you

@peterpearson1675 8 ай бұрын

couldn't wait any longer! I've just bought the 194T and can't wait to christen it.

@zoulyboy5750 10 күн бұрын

This chainsaw is so good. The fact that you have the other hand free has no price.

@jeffnations6649 3 ай бұрын

Thanks you for your review. It helped me out to understand how my pawn saw worked. Lol

@sirvozelo1 Жыл бұрын

I use to have the Stihl top handle 192, I have it for quite few years and forgot how many chains I worn out in that saw it was very good but after I try the Stihl 161T I sale out the 192.

@williamgrissom1995 2 ай бұрын

I had the 200T and I loved that saw. It work very well and I wish I never had let it go. I can't afford to buy another one since the are so expensive due to popularity. I decided to buy a clone of it and replace any bad parts with OEM parts. I loved the design of the Stihl saws I've had.

@eugenecrabs3954 Жыл бұрын

My Echo 355T is 35cc and cuts almost as fast as my 4910 (50cc)! These little top handles, if tuned and well taken care of, can do just as much work as a 40 or 50cc saw could! I was out yesterday with the 355T cutting up to 12" Maple limbs! Thats nutz! Considering the saw is only 35cc!

@rodshepard3967 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a Stihl fan myself. I own two and they've done very well for me! Great video, Brock! 👍

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@julianalderson3938 Жыл бұрын

Some great simple mods on the 194. Really wakes em up. Rekon the 1/4 pitch chains better on em to. Thanks

@danw.1878 5 ай бұрын

I have a problem too...I too am addicted to power equipment. Just bought my 5th stihl saw and ordered my 6th lol. Love my 201t almost went with the 194 but the 201 was just calling me. Honestly the 151 is also on my radar! That sucker is crazy light at about 5.7lbs.

@danw.1878 4 ай бұрын

My bad on my 7th haha 170, 201t, 291, 261,362, 462, 661

@marvindiamonjr.9631 2 жыл бұрын

Nice review! Lots of good information. Think I'll get me one of those for my key chain! Gotta love it!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah. Tiny little saw but I was surprised how well it cut

@acceptjudaspriest9769 Жыл бұрын

Greetings from Germany.....Have also the 194T, and i love that baby 😊

@PineyGroveHomestead 2 жыл бұрын

Stihl is proud of them top handles for sure. $$$. I've got an old 1980s Stihl 009 top handle that still runs pretty good. Treated myself to a Pro model MS241C last year (before they became unavailable) to get away from my heavy MS290 Farm Boss. Had the Farm Boss for 20 years and I think I sold it for the same price that I paid for it!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

@BiffsEquipment 2 жыл бұрын

Nice purchase buddy! I use this same saw allll the time at work for liming trees and man is it a fantastic little saw! Iv even cut decent sizes trees and bucked them up with it even though its not made for that and it did great even though I had to work my way around the logs cuz of the small bar but the saw had plenty of power for its small size to get the job done and never seizes to amaze me.. The guys at work laughed when I bought it and now they all love it and its our go to liming saw!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome Thanks for the feedback

@woodruffwoods 2 жыл бұрын

You will learn to love that saw. Earlier this year I bought a Husqvarna 435T and I use it all the time. I love it for limbing a tree or as you mention, on the ATV. I really see no point in using a 70-80cc saw for limbing, sure they are more powerful and cut faster but the added weight just beats up the operator as you have to move the saw in so many different positions. Good luck with your new tool, I suspect I will see that in a lot of videos in the future.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I was really surprised how well he cut for such a small saw

@peterpearson1675 Жыл бұрын

I used 188T and now use the 192T and 193T so I was very interested in watching your 194 review.Saws don't come any better than these,especially when you are 150 feet up a tree.

@bvinduck 2 жыл бұрын

I love my 194T. I have up to 4 chainsaws: 36 inch bar down to 14 inch bar. I will reach for 194T 90% of the time. FYI- I do keep my chain sharp. 194T is great for limbing trees.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I was surprised how easily it cut for such a small saw

@sirvozelo1 Жыл бұрын

I use to have the 192 I think it was, great litle saw, then I buy the 161T and it was the beginning of the end for all my gas powerd saws. Now I only have battery powerd, Stihl 161T, 220C, MSA300 and GTA26

@madtater5948 2 жыл бұрын

hi Brock, I have that same chainsaw, the older I get the more I like that chainsaw

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Sometimes smaller is better. Thanks for sharing

@stonedhambone8203 Жыл бұрын

I have this saw and I love it.

@kingcon6950 9 ай бұрын

Great Video. thank you for sharing.

@sherwinsalvatori6997 Жыл бұрын

Yep I know the feeling. I gotta a feel for a new gas of course chain saw. Maybe a 151 or 194

@contemporaryprimitiveman3469 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 201C top handle and use the heck out of it. Handy and light. You’re gonna like it a lot. Good power to weight ratio in a small pro saw.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@OveBakken 2 жыл бұрын

I have that same addiction. It's fun!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Yes sir

@patrickcorbett8361 2 жыл бұрын

I thought I would always pick the gas option over battery untill Christmas '20 ...the wife surprised me with a Stihl battery saw , I was skeptical at first but this is my second season with it and I absolutely love that saw ! My 4th Stihl saw is a battery saw ( I can't believe how often I grab that saw 1st ) " Try it you'll like it " pc

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing I’m sure that I will end up with one. As a matter of fact a company emailed me the other day and offered to send me a battery powered saw to test on the channel I have tons of cordless tools that I use every day my one thing on a chainsaw is longevity because a lot of people use the same chainsaw for 20 years and I really don’t see that happening with a battery powered I expect about two years out of my cordless drills that we use every day. And then every few years they change the battery technology Thanks for watching

@larsvegas1505 Жыл бұрын

U should also try the electric powered stihl saws... i own a mse140 (have for over 10 years.. have sawed over 200 cords with it... it has new carbon brushes now but still does the job... The advantage u have with a electric is that it is lighter/powerfull and just keeps going... like a battery saw is fun for some limbing.. but when ur at home cutting up firewood u dont want ur battery to run out a fter 20 minutes.. then electric is the deal...

@khtractors 2 жыл бұрын

Clayton has been wanting one of those top handle saws! They are nice!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah seem to maybe be over priced but it cut really well for how small it is

@petep7227 2 жыл бұрын

Put your bar oil in a Gatorade squirt bottle. You’ll never go back.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip

@peterkober6758 2 жыл бұрын

Brock good morning cool here 52 thanks for the demo God Bless All PaK

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Temperature is finally dropping here as well. High in the low 70s Thanks for watching

@magreeable 2 жыл бұрын

I love my little 170. I bought a 194t yesterday to try

@zoulyboy5750 10 күн бұрын

I got both too good choice man

@threepointservices-tractor4832 2 жыл бұрын

You commented that this saw is just as dangerous as any other chain saw, when it is actually a considerable amount more dangerous than other chain saws. The handle location, on top of the saw, creates a short distance between your hands, and reduces the operator’s ability to withstand the backward forces, during a kickback, and increases the chances of blade to operator contact. Other saws have a greater distance between the operators hands, increasing the ability to control the kickback.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@diogenes9809 2 жыл бұрын

At the end of the day it feels like you're quoting straight from a safety manual without having used a chainsaw. Kickback on a short bar is not nearly as violent as safety people would have you believe. I use a 194t daily for limbing on the ground and usually use it one handed while holding the limbs to throw them, never had bad kickback. If you want to feel how aggressive kickback is, take any chainsaw and poke a log with the nose of the bar, it bounces up but doesnt send itself flying. Kickback is something to be aware of for sure, but the safety obsession with it seems to stem from the days before rakers were invented.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@threepointservices-tractor4832 2 жыл бұрын

@@diogenes9809 John, My comment is based on physics. Maybe you don’t understand what a “moment” is in relation to rotation, and how the distance away from the point of rotation, multiplies the resulting force. Just think of how a lever and fulcrum multiply your ability to lift a heavy object.

@diogenes9809 2 жыл бұрын

@@threepointservices-tractor4832 I will agree with you that having your hands closer together will make it harder to resist kickback. I would just like to add though that small saws by nature also tend to have the least force when they do kick. A shorter bar means less leverage acting on the operator, and less power means less force at the bar nose. I work with chainsaws every day, and kickback on a small top handle saw is basically a non issue, as long as you don't cut with the nose of the bar while it's right in front of your face, it will not hit you. There will always be horror stories about kickback, but the injuries that actually do happen to people who use chainsaws are either cutting their foot or leg, or dropping limbs, trees, and logs on themselves. In forestry, the tree is much more likely to hurt you than the saw. All said, this is mostly a pet peeve from personal experience where top handle saws are often put in a special category and reserved for "in tree use' when by everyone's real world experience, they are the best layout by far for limbing and small work on the ground as well. They also tend to be the only pro quality saws available under 40cc. So if you want something really rugged and high quality as a second saw (a big one for falling and bucking and a little one for limbing) top handles rule.

@turbo_veryfast4388 2 жыл бұрын

I have Stihl MS192T top handle chrainsaw. I have it 7 years. I would have to said it is one of my favorite tools use. It light and handy. And also called it pee wee.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing It was more powerful than I expected for how small it was

@ThatcherKSA 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 194t and like it as well, nice and light for limbs and smaller cuts. Also didn't cost too bad at all for a saw.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Nice little Saw Thanks for watching

@briangabriel4165 2 жыл бұрын

Just saw one of these on FB and thought it would be good for my side by side and from your review it looks like it will do nicely.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

It’s not a powerful saw for cutting big stuff but really convenient for the little stuff. So light weight and easy to handle. It’s Balance. Starts every time

@GettingItDoneNorthOf7 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like a handy saw. Thanks

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@gjjm123 2 жыл бұрын

I have gas powered chainsaws but I've owned the battery powered Milwaukee saw for a couple of years now and love it. I get about 30 minutes of continuous cutting with a 12 amp hour battery. No messy or smelly gas fumes. I own 100 acres in Michigan. Lots of trees to maintain.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@nicod1886 2 жыл бұрын

How is the Milwaukee battery saw holding up, and have you tried or compared any other electric saws? I’m in the market and the Milwaukee is definitely a candidate. I’m also from Michigan so perhaps we’d be dealing with similar trees. What part of the mitten is your property and which are the most common trees you encounter?

@gjjm123 2 жыл бұрын

@@nicod1886 all kinds of trees. Ruby Creek Michigan. That's just south of Custer on Rt 10. Or about 40 miles southeast of Ludington. I have a gas powered Husqvarna but prefer the Milwaukee. Had saw about 2 years and working great. Right now for about $450. From Home Depot you also get a free blower.

@scottiver 2 жыл бұрын

I LOVE the smell of chainsaw fumes in the morning... LOL

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

The battery powered saws are definitely getting better but I don’t think they’re at a point where I would use one all the time

@TheHardwickHomestead 2 жыл бұрын

I just bought this saw, didn't even really know what it was other than I want a light weight saw to trim branches when I fell trees. I have a Husky 460, that thing is a beast. It will chew through the thickest trees like butter, but it's terrible for cutting the small branches. I have a couple cheap chainsaws that I bought new for about $150 and I was tired of trying to get them to start, wanted something more reliable. I recently found out this this is for 'pros only', not for the average consumer, in fact it says that right on the saw. And apparently it's more dangerous not having the back handle. Can't wait to use it tomorrow!

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a pro saw but that really just means it’s a higher quality build. It’s designed for climbers to clip onto their belts but there’s no reason a homeowner can’t use one. I’ve read a couple arguments about the safety aspect of the Kikback and there is some truth to it from what I can tell but not something I would be all that worried about because it doesn’t have all that much power and you’re not cutting anything big with it just doing limbing If you’re 30 feet off the ground in a tree and balanced in an awkward position and cutting above your head I think that’s where it would be more dangerous. All of that is just my opinion as I am no expert. I have developed an addiction to buying chainsaws the last year though Thanks for watching

@ryelor123 3 ай бұрын

@@RockhillfarmYTI think the issue isn't kickback. The issue is that your left hand isn't holding the weight of the saw. So when a branches snaps right at you, you'll stick your left hand near the saw blade to catch it. Its an instinctual behavior that's very hard to overcome. The reason why they say its for professionals is that they're designed to be used 1 handed under the assumption that your left hand is busy holding onto a tree. Make sure to have some sort of a kevlar left glove.

@andrewanderson1436 2 жыл бұрын

Nice

@PurpleCollarLife 2 жыл бұрын

That’s a great little handy saw. Nice addition to the toolbox. You’re going to need another storage building just for chainsaws! :) -Chad #purplecollarlife

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it’s an addiction

@hphillips7425 2 жыл бұрын

You will enjoy that saw. I have a CS330Tand if I ever replace it I will get a CS2511T

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@lindengauthier4407 3 ай бұрын

Do you know if this one ever comes on sale? Im looking to get one

@TheXJthatCould Жыл бұрын

What’s the reason your cutting bottom of limb first , won’t it pinch the bar?

@jonnysnipes3123 Ай бұрын

i got ten saws man you arent alone. its like these chainsaws have airbourne nicotine in them i could own a hardware store by now with the amount of saws i have. echo stihl and husqvarna lol i probably will buy another one if i even walk by one

@davidpavshak330 8 ай бұрын

Did you still get the 170 for limbing or do you solely rely on the 194 for limbing? How’s it holding up?

@magreeable 10 күн бұрын

I have both the 170, and 194t. I like the 170 much better.

@adelarsen9776 2 жыл бұрын

Question : Where did you get your 3/4 wrap handles on your other saws ?

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

It came that way stock

@julianalderson3938 Жыл бұрын

Dont need the throttle lock. Just use the one on the side.

@bigsway4414 2 жыл бұрын

I love Stihl chainsaws but every time I buy one they start it at the store and run it wide open. It says right there in the owners manual do not run it wide open without a load until it’s broke in...

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

I saw that in the manual. I’ve had some dealerships do that but the John Deere dealer where I’ve been getting my stuff doesn’t do anything with them

@Aintright890 11 ай бұрын

Im watching because i have the 201 Im 65 elbow both and shoulder are giving me problems. Elbow ledt one snaps loud ....i was at the husky dealer in my area,. Was not planning on buying a lighter saw planning to just tough out the pain and agony of being old ...i try as much as possible to let the young guys do most of the work but sometimes i have to just get in there and show off my skills and mix it up .....i picked up and handled but dint buy a husky t525 ......$439.00 6.1 lbs .......stihl 194 > $450.00

@mitchellsams3732 7 ай бұрын

Stihl has this one listed at 7lbs even and the MS 170/180s are listed at 8.6lbs. So 1.6lbs not just a half pound.

@greenwoodsbushhogging6704 2 жыл бұрын

Tim over on T.T.W.T apparently loves the battery saws, I'm still skeptical about them honestly. The way those type, climbing saws, was explained to me is everything is dumbed down on them. That way you're not fumbling around in a canopy trying to crank it and choke it and everything. You really only need 2 hands to pull the cord, and the rest is ment to be one hand operation.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, everybody seems to love the battery power. I was wondering which one is still going to be running in 10 years. There’s a lot of people that tell me they’ve been running the same stihl chainsaw for that long. Some people have been running the same one for 30 years

@greenwoodsbushhogging6704 2 жыл бұрын

@@RockhillfarmYT I believe that my "newest" saw is around 5 years old and she still screams like new after being used by a large tree company. I'm a husqvarna man myself, they're lighter and a tad more powerful in comparison. I'd assume in a personal use life the battery saws would probably last as long as you could replace the batteries, but like the drills and impacts they'll be phased out in just a few years for a newer model with different batteries. I'd probably pick up a cheap used one just because, but I'll stick with gas tools for now. Especially seeing I clear undergrowth and backyard jungles with my equipment.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

We have a about a dozen DeWalt cordless drills that we use in our shop. Granted we use them all day every day but they usually last about two years before burning up

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

We have a about a dozen DeWalt cordless drills that we use in our shop. Granted we use them all day every day but they usually last about two years before burning up

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

We have a about a dozen DeWalt cordless drills that we use in our shop. Granted we use them all day every day but they usually last about two years before burning up

@idea999 2 жыл бұрын

The fuel bulb isn’t a primer, it gets the air bubbles out of the fuel line so you can push it 100x and never flood the engine.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@mulrooneyryan Жыл бұрын

Don’t see you reaching for this saw lately, Brock. How are you liking it after a year or so??

@RockhillfarmYT Жыл бұрын

I thought I would want different size saws for different jobs, but I tend to use the 500i for everything. If I’m doing limbing or cutting up branches for the wood chipper, I really like this little top handle saw

@michaelthompson7570 2 жыл бұрын

Echo 2511 !

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Is that a top handle saw? I thought about testing an echo or Husqvarna chainsaw but I’m a creature of habit and have all stihl

@nicholashoitsma1484 2 жыл бұрын

Omg dude. Thats not a throttle lock. Its a secondary choke function. So that you can do full choke w/ both & half choke using only one! It does have a half choke .... lol... not a throttle lock. Hope that helps.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@turboeverything8408 2 жыл бұрын

The half choke on stihl products doesn't actually choke the engine it's just a throttle lock.

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@kingofthetrack Жыл бұрын

the ms201t is m-tronic no choke a plenty of power.

@RockhillfarmYT Жыл бұрын

I have heard it is a lot better. I have been happy with the 194 but I’m not a professional out there abusing it every day

@2xl830 2 жыл бұрын

Not one damn video comparing the 151 TC Vs the 201 TC ???? Not one on youtube

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

Can’t help you there. This is the only top handle saw I have ran. A lot of people have told me I should’ve got a 201 instead of the 194.

@supersportimpalass Жыл бұрын

Says recommended prime of 10 pumps is excessive. Proceeds to pump primer 15 times……. 😂

@dustinsams4344 2 жыл бұрын

You should bought a echo

@RockhillfarmYT 2 жыл бұрын

I have heard good things about the echo top handle saws but I’ve got four stihl chainsaws and tons of other stihl equipment and never had a problem with any of it