Stihl MS 201 T C-M

Name: Stihl MS 201 T C-M
Brand: Stihl
Price: 970 USD
Availability: InStock

30cc class

35.2cc

Engine

1.8 kW rated

16 in

Bar

cuts to about 14 in

8.2 lb

Weight

powerhead only, without fuel

~$970

approx., with 16" bar and chain

See it at Stihl

Price and availability on Stihl's site may differ.

For two decades the 201 T has been the saw most production climbers reach for, and the C-M version is why: 35.2cc making 1.8 kW in an 8.2 lb powerhead, with M-Tronic so the mixture re-trims itself as you climb from ground level into cold air at the top of a removal. It takes 14- and 16-inch bars, which is more saw than a pruning tool — it will take down limbs most people would ground a bigger saw for. The complaints are specific rather than general: owners report chain creeping at idle as the saw ages, M-Tronic needing a dealer when it sulks, and the advertised fuel savings being mostly theoretical. It is noisy and smelly next to a battery top-handle, which is the real competition now. $970, and as an MS-T it carries no consumer warranty — three months, professional use only.

Best for: Production climbers who want the most capable gas top-handle Stihl builds and will run 14- or 16-inch bars in the canopy.

Specifications

Engine class: 30cc class (by displacement)
Engine: 35.2 cc
Rated power: 1.8 kW
Bar length: 16 in
Bar range: 14-16 in
Single-pass cut: about 14 in (bar minus 2)
Chain: 3/8" Picco pitch / .050" gauge (PS3)
Weight: 8.2 lb, powerhead only, without fuel
Power type: Gas
Use case: Arborist
Warranty: 3-month professional use only — Stihl grants no consumer warranty on MS-T top-handle saws
Model: MS 201 T C-M

Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means

1.8 kW at 8.2 lb
M-Tronic re-trims as you climb
The climbers' default

What owners like

1.8 kW from 35.2cc at 8.2 lb — the best power-to-weight of any Stihl top-handle
M-Tronic re-trims for altitude, temperature and filter loading between ground and canopy
Runs 14" and 16" bars, so it handles real limb removal rather than only pruning
Top-handle balance that climbers consistently rate above rear-handle saws in-tree
Twenty years of dealer parts support behind the 201 platform

Common complaints

$970, and as an MS-T it gets no consumer warranty — 3 months, professional use only
Owners report the chain creeping at idle as the saw accumulates hours
M-Tronic faults are a dealer diagnostic job, which is awkward mid-job
Reviewers note it is noisy and the exhaust is noticeable — battery top-handles have taken this market
The claimed fuel savings over the older 200 T are, by owner accounts, mostly on paper