201T or 540XP.

[atsah]

I destroyed my 200T today, my favorite saw. I was working with a guy in his wood yard and he ran it over with his crawler. Not much you can do.

So does anyone have a 201T or a 540XP? What do you think of it, I have read some on both, seems the 201 T has a little more torque but the 540XP makes up for it in speed. I have switched over to Husqvarna XP's from Stihl, I prefer the Husqvarna but if the 201T is the better choice I will make the further trip and look at Stihl again.

 

[4570Man]

Why use a top handle saw for on the ground work?

 

[atsah]

Why use a top handle saw for on the ground work?

I have two hands and no use of my legs, (confined to a wheelchair) I cut tree length with one hand and have done so for years, the PRO arborist saws work for me.

 

[xyz123]

IMO I aint brand baised. But I sold 2 338's to buy a 540 when they came out. After running one I changed my mind. I have ran 338's 200T solo 637, older echo TH, oler poulans TH.

If I was going to buy a top handle saw today new it would be the Echo 355T ECHO CS-355T 35.8cc Top Handle Chain Saw

Newer 201T would be 2nd choice. But can get 2 echos for their cost. Plus regular carb like a 200 on the 355. :2cents:

 

[atsah]

Never looked at the echo. I have a Husky dealer and a Stihl dealer not to far off that's why I stick with either one.

Sounds like you have some experience with a few top handle saws. What do you like about the echo more than the Stihl and Husky top handle saws?

Years ago I had a 338, I liked it but it lacked power compared to my 200T, I have been spoiled. It's gonna be hard to replace and I will no doubt have to drop a level as far as power goes.

The 200T cut five cords of tree length firewood every year like nobody's business, I always wind up with some pretty big wood on the bottom which I can cut bending over with my 372XP.

 

[s219]

I have saws from Stihl, Echo, and Husky in my collection. Based on a recommendation from a climber I know, my top handle saw is an Echo and it's been really good. I don't use it often but it's always been great.

 

[ruffdog]

Oh man....those pictures sure are giving me Spring fever! T-shirt weather and a nice sunny day....very nice. We are froze up and getting freezing rain. It's going to get cold for at least 2 more weeks. After reading up on these top handle saws, it seems a lot comes down to personal preference like balance and how it feels in your hand. Back in the day, multi-brand saw shops would let a customer try out saws on a log out back.................and we sold fishing bait.

 

[atsah]

Oh man....those pictures sure are giving me Spring fever! T-shirt weather and a nice sunny day....very nice. We are froze up and getting freezing rain. It's going to get cold for at least 2 more weeks. After reading up on these top handle saws, it seems a lot comes down to personal preference like balance and how it feels in your hand. Back in the day, multi-brand saw shops would let a customer try out saws on a log out back.................and we sold fishing bait.

I wish those pictures were from yesterday.. LOL Looks like this right now..

I agree, I will need to handle them all, it will be a whole event for me to check them all out. The 540 XP "2" has different grip sizes that come with the saw. They had a few problems with the 540XP a few years ago and have since fixed them with the version "2" saw that they sell now..

 

[ruffdog]

For your use, I would say how it feels in the hand (grip size, balance, trigger feel, nice idle, etc) would be the deal maker/breaker.

 

[4570Man]

The brief reading I did on the subject and apparently the 201t is a real dog stock but a few mods wakes it up to equal or better than the 200t. Your enthusiasm is amazing. I delivered firewood to a guy that was probably 30 on disability for unknown reasons. He obviously wasn’t very disabled because he stacked the load of wood.