Stihl MS170 torture test. Is a $200 chainsaw worth buying?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

To find tools, shop equipment, mower parts and more, you can find them at my store. Click this link: www.amazon.com/shop/mechanicalmind I'll get a commission on the sale at no extra cost to you. It's a great way to help the channel and get the items you need.

[@dope7kids]

When I bought my 170 the salesman said don't loan your saw, and I never did, it's 15 years old this coming fall, I must have cut 30 cords of wood with it and it works the same now as it did the day I bought it, highly recommended Stihl.

[@Seakaye2s]

Working for a tree service as an entry level ground guy, I bought a 180 and it’s really nice to have a light ground saw. If you have the money for something bigger and don’t mind the weight, go for it. But I’m super happy with it, keeping that chain sharp helps too.

[@stevenbrown7042]

I run my 170 all year long and runs great. I’ve have it about three years now. It gets heavy use once a year when I top the mulberry tree. For the price it’s a fairly sturdy saw. If I were an arborist I would be running a bigger power head but for home use it has plenty of power for my tasks. It is a gas hog but I’ve never known a saw that wasn’t.

[@mikeburke8656]

I have two MS017s - one day I was cleaning out the honeysuckle brushs and hopped on the JD1025R and backed over the saw body with the rear tire. I readjusted the cover and it started right up. Still a good saw.

[@shawnpalmer2121]

Stihl a good saw lol

[@paulwharton1850]

Thank you so very much for clearly demonstrating the correct starting procedure from cold - I learnt a lot. Many thanks.....all the way from london !

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks Paul. Soon Im going to make a video scoping the piston and cylinder. I just put that 170 through hell and back. Im surprised it is still running. I didnt film most of the abuse. Its a tough little saw for the $

[@guidorrmc7618]

That is not correct. You shouldn’t start revving the engine like that without first letting it warm up at low idle

[@BeckVMH]

I don’t think I’d let anyone “borrow” my mechanical tools, especially my chainsaw. If they don’t own one, they probably know just enough to screw it up. Also, people don’t seem to care about their own stuff, let alone someone else’s.

[@prodigyxl]

If the person has more then 25 of experience with the tool and know how to repair a broken one, I will let them borrow… ;)

[@dwhallon21]

Dad has a 170 I have a couple 180 ... Among bigger stuff. I love the 180. Light weight, mobile, powerful enough for limbs and small trees. Love it for small stuff

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Im surpirsed how much I like this saw. Plus if I break it I will not cost much to replace it. I was missing my 351 when cutting that stump but other than that I like how it easy it is to handle the 170

[@loganhalderman7186]

I had the exact same hot restart issue. I increased the idle speed and it was fixed for me

[@squirlnutsbigsack4864]

Good video except you don't need to hold the trigger when starting and if you don't it'll hold a nice high idle for you and go to regular idle after you hit the trigger and release. Same procedure same order just dont hold the trigger down after you lock it for choke

[@housevollmer9106]

Pro tip, do a quick Pressure wash of the stump before you run your saw through it...

[@brywong93]

I know the recommended range is 12-16" but would I be able to run an 18" Stihl Rollomatic-E Bar on this chainsaw?

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I use mine as a climb saw and it does a good job.

[@jerrymullins4962]

I have an ms 180 and it runs and cranks good when it gets hot. But it is hard to crank when it’s cold. It needs a primer bulb

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Im having the oppsite issue. It cranks up okay when hot but its hard to get the rpms up and keep it running. When its cold it cranks and revs up great. I may have got it too hot during the stump cutting.

[@Vipex134.]

Agreed. They need primer bulbs :/

[@Vipex134.]

I would love to shoot a video of a similar type with my old ms180 as a proper goodbye and buy an ms211 or the c-be version, but it still has some life left in it

[@austinhanson9786]

I have owned a few different chainsaw brands and mostly stihl I have owned the ms171 ms 250 ms271 but I bought a black max chainsaw that ran and did up to husqvarna performance at times. I've owned the 435 and 440 in husqvarna

[@danstevens2204]

Drop started one as I do my bigger saws. Snapped the starter rope second time. Doesn’t fill me with confidence

[@karlrovey]

These usually have easy start systems. If you drop start with one of those, you'll break it.

[@danstevens2204]

@@karlrovey seemed like a normal recoil start when I replaced the rope.

[@stephens3845]

That purple color on the bar means the chain is overheating. Cutting wood with sand dulls the chain fast, that might be the cause of the heat. But it’s a small saw, maybe it was just too much tree for the 170. Hope it worked out for you.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Yeah I knew I was going to burn up that chain amd bar cutting the roots buried in the sand. After that tree job, all I did was replace the chain and bar and its doing great. For $200 Im surprised its so good. Thanks for watching! 🍻

[@sun9912]

My ms 180 runs wfo good saw use it twice a week

[@howarddeheer8295]

Never had a problem with my 170 i used in hot cold weather cutting firewood

[@dwhallon21]

P.s. thanks for video

[@38116030]

Hi , how long of saw 16 or 18 ??

[@Mechanical_Mind]

16”

[@guidorrmc7618]

Why are you revving the saw like that on cold start? Let the thing warm up before getting the rpm’s up

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Did you not read the title of the video? Haha. When it's already 100 degrees outside these little two strokes don't need to warm up. Now if it was 60 degrees or lower, yeah I'd let it warm up for a minute.

[@jonnysnipes3123]

mix your gas ratio to 32:1 and take off the spark arrestor and it should run cooler

[@donvoll2580]

Good dy I have 170 which we might use once or twice ayr. I forget what mixture we use I think maybe 40-1 I guess 32 would be better to keep cool Thanks

[@DirectoutdoorsTV]

When is chain was loose it was making me so angry looking at it

[@Mechanical_Mind]

The title said "torture test" what did you expect? 😆 It still doing great. New bar and chain

[@roelalfarero9054]

How long is your chainsaw guidebar

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Its the 16" Rollmatic E

[@roelalfarero9054]

@@Mechanical_Mind thank you sir

[@yuppers7038]

I bought a 170 13 years ago and that thing has been used and abused. I never ran ethanal free gas in it and it is still going strong. I love these little saws. Only thing that I did to it was replace the bar because it split

[@dennislabrador3554]

great video.. where u from?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

I’m from TN but now live in FL. My wife is from New Orleans so I know I have developed strange accent. People tell me that all the time

[@cjnowhere6798]

you forgot to add the chain sharpening link...

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks for reminding me! Just added it. Here it is. My chain cut like new after using his tips. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZKQYYyaa9p0gcU

[@jswift4163]

Stihl produces manufactured fuel for its products. Works a treat. Try that.

[@dennismoyer8463]

Bidenomics at work. This ms 170 was 150.00 2 years ago now it's 200.00

[@OOOOOO12345]

FJB

[@TeamWagy]

I worked at a Stihl dealer and they were 179.00 in 2020

[@jeremyc9229]

For me, the way I start Stihl saws is safer.

[@bryanmontgomery4050]

Clean out the screen in the muffler, use good gas and check the tank vent…

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Good advice! We have one guy at my work that only works on the Stihl equipment and he is constantly having to clean muffer screens.

[@jonnysnipes3123]

clean off the screen? most people take them off and throw em out. you dont wanna get stuck with having a clogged up screen 20 years from now and your bolts being impossible to remove

[@ChuckConnor-yh6bh]

The way you started your chainsaw with your knee onto it and a chain brake not locked gives people the wrong idea walking around with a chainsaw in your hand running at different RPMs I told you the wrong way once again no chain brake locked I'm no professional buy a long way when I cut wood at least 3 days a week to me it's a dangerous video I don't mean to offend you I like safety

[@ChuckConnor-yh6bh]

I did not mean to offend you

[@markransom9270]

I got one a.pice of junk dont get one it has no power a waste of money

[@shane3878]

I've used my ms170 with a carbide chain as a root/stump saw for years. It has held up great considering the abuse it's seen. Might be finally giving up the ghost as the chain is coming loose now rather quickly. Even with new chain, bar, sprocket and tensioner. I only paid 100 bucks for it so no complaints.