Stihl 194T New Saw

[rsoots]

I bought a new Stihl model 194T chainsaw on May 23rd this year and zive managed to only get two tankfuls of gas ran thru it this summer and today is August 11th and it's still at the dealer store I bought it at because Stihl doesn't really stand behind their 90 day warranty. They expect the retail store to do it for them. I've bought now 3 Stihl chainsaws in my 75 year old life but zi won't by another one for sure. In the two thankful of gas I ran thru the saw it didn't even use one thankful of the Stihl recommended bar and chain oil. And the chain and bar were bone dry of oil. Stihl is so scared of the EPA and it's clamp down on chainsaw manufacters that they put these little automatic oilers in their saws with no manual oilers for a backup. And my other problem the clutch started squealing at crackup. So my saw is still at the store that I bought it at which is a retail outlet store and when I called about if it was ready...I got the response ...we have alot of saws in here to fix and we will call you when it's fixed. After they promised it back in a week to me. Now if that's the kind of saw you want or the kind of customer service you want for your saw just buy a Stihl these days. That's all I can say. I paid 460 dollars cash for these miseries

 

[Woodwackr]

welcome to reality.

B

Thread 'The sad decline of real Stihl dealers.'

Aug 4, 2024

Over in the "Day Care" thread a conversation sprung up yesterday regarding the sad decline I have seen first hand of real dealers especially Stihl. It began when I replied to a comment by @stihl livin. Member @Loony661 replied and we discussed it. I would rather not muddy up the Logan's day care thread and I feel this is a subject that warrants a lot of discussion from a lot of perspectives. I would love to hear folks opinions and experiences from around the globe.

• Bill G
• Replies: 74
• Forum: Chainsaws

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• 

 

[rsoots]

welcome to reality.

B

Thread 'The sad decline of real Stihl dealers.'

Aug 4, 2024

Over in the "Day Care" thread a conversation sprung up yesterday regarding the sad decline I have seen first hand of real dealers especially Stihl. It began when I replied to a comment by @stihl livin. Member @Loony661 replied and we discussed it. I would rather not muddy up the Logan's day care thread and I feel this is a subject that warrants a lot of discussion from a lot of perspectives. I would love to hear folks opinions and experiences from around the globe.

• Bill G
• Replies: 74
• Forum: Chainsaws

• 
• 

well Stihl has been donating free saws thru the Alaska reality programs up here in Alaska just like Dewalt tools has for the free advertising thing for sometime now. You can't watch a Alaska show like the Last Alaskan's or the 1st Alaskans or any other type of program about people coming ro Alaska and trying to carve out a future on a piece of Alaskan territory in the bush without seeing a brand new Stihl chainsaw in their hands. And a toolbox full of new Dewalt tools. Plus they get paid between 4500-5000 dollars per episode for their little portrayal of Alaskan living by these Canadian Discovery and History channel shows. The real Alaskans didn't get anything when they came up. They either made it or they didn't. Stihl has settled into the idea that they can use offshore customer service because it's cheaper and and then they will give you a case number and tell you a technician from Stihl will call you within 5 working days. Won't happen. I have two case numbers over my 194T and never ever received that phone call. That's ok it will come to bite them in the ass for service like this.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I think you would be very happy with an Echo top handle. I have a CS-303T and love it. The basic design dates to the 80's and has an adjustable oiler. You should be able to get a really nice one on Fleabay for under 2 bills. It has been sold under many different model numbers: CS-300/302/3000/3400 and so on but they're all nearly the same.

CS-303T Top Handle Chainsaw | ECHO

Rise and shine. Learn more about the CS-303T and other chainsaws today at ECHO.

www.echo-usa.com

 

[bogieboy]

On the 194, we had one come in brand new with the same issues, chain was too tight, causing the sqeal (bearing on the clutch needed a bit of lube too, but was not primary cause) and the oiler intake hose was installed incorrectly, with a kink where it came out of the tank and went into the pump...

Food for thought

 

[Wood Doctor]

I think you would be very happy with an Echo top handle. I have a CS-303T and love it. The basic design dates to the 80's and has an adjustable oiler. You should be able to get a really nice one on Fleabay for under 2 bills. It has been sold under many different model numbers: CS-300/302/3000/3400 and so on but they're all nearly the same.

CS-303T Top Handle Chainsaw | ECHO

Rise and shine. Learn more about the CS-303T and other chainsaws today at ECHO.

www.echo-usa.com

Here's a CS-330T that I restored. a few years back for a tree service company:

It's in use today. The operator loves it.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I wouldn't mind having one of those too!

 

[Ketchup]

On the 194, we had one come in brand new with the same issues, chain was too tight, causing the sqeal (bearing on the clutch needed a bit of lube too, but was not primary cause) and the oiler intake hose was installed incorrectly, with a kink where it came out of the tank and went into the pump...

Food for thought

That’s almost definitely the problem.

There are several echo top handles that are every bit as good as a 194t and a lot cheaper. Stihl makes some fine saws, but they make plenty of turds as well.

 

[bogieboy]

That’s almost definitely the problem.

There are several echo top handles that are every bit as good as a 194t and a lot cheaper. Stihl makes some fine saws, but they make plenty of turds as well.

I am sure they do, i'm not gonna argue over what saws are good or bad...LOL no point in that... every brand has good saws, and every brand has duds... if a saw works for you, great! I like my muffler modded ms194...LOL gets done what i need done with that size saw... i happen to own mostly stihl, partly because i work at a stihl dealer, and when a customer declines repair, and gives the saw to us as mechanics, sometimes they become parts saws, sometimes they get rebuilt for ourselves... hehe

 

[Ketchup]

I am sure they do, i'm not gonna argue over what saws are good or bad...LOL no point in that... every brand has good saws, and every brand has duds... if a saw works for you, great! I like my muffler modded ms194...LOL gets done what i need done with that size saw... i happen to own mostly stihl, partly because i work at a stihl dealer, and when a customer declines repair, and gives the saw to us as mechanics, sometimes they become parts saws, sometimes they get rebuilt for ourselves... hehe

Not saying 194 is a turd, just that the Stihl brand does not guarantee performance. 194 is pretty capable and an improvement over the 193. If buying retail I’d get a cs355t, but 194 gets it done and is a little lighter.

 

[bogieboy]

Not saying 194 is a turd, just that the Stihl brand does not guarantee performance. 194 is pretty capable and an improvement over the 193. If buying retail I’d get a cs355t, but 194 gets it done and is a little lighter.

If you do a timing advance and muffler mod the 194, it pretty well catches up to the ms201t.... hehe... that suprised my local arborist(i do some side work for him, he also happens to be one of the comentators for the stihl timbersports series, Kevin Holtz hehe ) when ipulled out the 194, he said thats cute... thwn showed him how it cut... with a full chisel 050 chain... which stihl says you shouldnt run...

 

[Ketchup]

When he gets the saw back, the OP should definitely do a muff mod and timing advance. It really wakes up a 194.