May as well update since I've gotten enough time behind my tanaka tcs-33edtp (top-handled version of OP's rear-handle unit)
Solid saw, mine was "damaged beyond repair" I took it in-lieu of a $25 payment from a guy I'd climbed for that day (well we considered it $25-towards-payment, A-hole never did fully pay me for that job and w/o me the job would never have been done certainly not on his deadline!) Anyway I rebuilt so much on mine (including a smashed-up ignition module from broken flywheel fins, custom-fab'd a front-chain-tensioner since the side-tensioner's guts were missing) and have been using it w/ a 16" Oregon setup and I like it for a lot of reasons although it is a pig of a saw. Specifics:
Pro's:
- Once "properly" setup (opened-up muffler & air-intake-expansion, followed by carb re-tune, mine's not setup "a bit fat for longevity" instead I aim for optimal (and figure if/when I score-up the pist./cylinder that I'll be ready to get my replacement (echo 355t), it isn't going to blow your mind but if you're coming from world-class saws but it is a strong unit I go through thick, hard stuff w/o ever feeling it's "lacking", in fact when I got it I thought it funny how it was "1/3rd bigger" than my other climbing-saw(25cc/12"), the displacement/stated-horsepower, weight, bar-length etc so I was thinking "it'd better cut 1/3rd better!" and so far as I can tell it has!!
- Great price, unit not 'locked-out' or otherwise preventing tinkering, sharp aesthetics (IMO)
- Side-tensioner
Con's:
- heavier than necessary (and bulkier in a lotta spots), if I'm to cut-up something real quick on the ground I'll grab my Tanaka if my rear-handle isn't warm, but when going-up I hate the Tanaka, I'm only 140lbs and while strong for my size the Tanaka wears me out noticeably-faster than my 25cc/12", when aloft I
*only* use the Tanaka when I need >12" cutting area (and then go back to my lil 25cc)
- on *my* model (ie this could be past-abuse), the AV setup is so squishy that I'm going to cut some hard-rubber wedges and just jam the handle in-place / kill all anti-vibe features
- OEM hand-guard for chain-brake is large and w/o "see-through slots/holes/etc" (I used a grinder and made big ole windows like I did on my 25cc, drives me nuts if I can't see my bar well enough!)
- 1 bar-nut (this is so damn common on climbing-saws and so annoying, thankfully the echo 355t uses 2 mounting bolts
)
Overall I'm happy I got it but, at over $200 new, it's hard to think of a good reason not to just poney-up for the $350 echo 355t as it's superior in all ways including lighter weight *and* more power. But, if you've got one you can fix up in several hours, go for it, it's a bit of a 'pig' for a top-handle but most certainly does its job, but if looking for lower-powered top-handles the Scheppach csp2540 has made me happy for >8mo now w/o a single issue (only adjusted its carb once, right after opening up the air-flow ie intake&exhaust), for $135 shipped it's plenty for 'low end' climb-saw and, when needing more, gotta say that while I like my Tanaka I simply wouldn't pay $230 when an extra 120 gets an echo355t...Tanaka should push to get it under a $200 price point IMO (if anybody knows whether the Hitachi 33edtp is identical, I'd love to know...can't tell if it's just same body panels, or same entire saw)