Chainsaw Stihl MS 170 - private and farm model

Household chainsaw equipment is included in the home tool kit of many private and farm households. In terms of technical and operational capabilities, the Stihl MS 170 branded chainsaw adequately represents its household category.

This model has the high performance, efficiency, and long service life, typical of its branded range. In terms of popularity and sales volumes, Shtil brand chainsaws occupy leading positions in official and consumer ratings.

Photo: Stihl MS 170 chainsaw

Performance properties

In the development of this model, valuable experience in operating proprietary and similar designs of other brands was used.

The capabilities of the tool allow for partial or complete mechanization of work:

• to clear areas of small trees and tall bushes;
• wood fuel procurement;
• formation of crowns of trees growing on the site;
• construction of wooden buildings for residential and special purposes.

Lightweight, convenient and safe to use, the Shtil 170 saw has proven itself in all respects in a wide range of works of varying complexity to create exclusive elements of landscape and architectural design.

Reviews from real owners from the online store website

Let's look at a few real reviews from owners of Shtil MS 180 and MS 170 chainsaws. Let's start with the MS 180:

A comment:

I’ve been using a chainsaw for several years now, all this time it only acted up a couple of times and that’s it. I solved the problem by cleaning the air filter and spark plug. I work as a saw in construction and saw a little old junk at home. She cuts boards and posts flawlessly. Compared to an electric saw, the Shtil 180 is noticeably more powerful, especially when sawing round timber. If you take into account that you can cut with an electric saw in no more than a minute, calmness is completely beyond competition.

I recently found out that the saw comes with two guide options, I was told this when I was buying a replacement chain and it didn't fit. Before this calm, I had several instruments bought from gypsies on the cheap. Type Calm and type Husqvarna. The fakes, having spent almost no time at sawing, were ordered to live a long time. As a result, I just wasted my money and still had to go and buy a Shtil 180 from an official dealer, which I don’t regret to this day.

Now the calm is a little more expensive than I bought it, but it’s still not worth buying tools from “gray” traders. You will definitely not win anything, but only lose money. I am completely satisfied with my tool and recommend it to all my friends; its price and power are perfectly balanced.

September 24, 2016, Tomsk

There are more than fifty such reviews in Yandex.Market alone, and now let’s turn our attention to the reviews for MS 170. There are no more than a dozen of them and their quality leaves much to be desired.

Advantages:

It starts quickly, cuts averagely, oil does not spill out like on the previous saw when the saw is not working, there is no vibration, when I sawed for the first time, I figured it out quickly (good instructions). The tool is assembled with high quality.

Flaws:

It quickly gets dirty, very often tightening the chain (it probably hasn’t broken in yet). There really isn't enough power when working with thick lumps.

A comment:

I use the saw for gardening, cutting and felling bad trees. I saw them for firewood, I also sawed old boards for lighting the barbecue, I sawed out small bushes, for these needs it is quite enough, but you can’t cut anything serious with it. In principle, I am satisfied with the saw, but I would like a better one, I should have taken a more powerful one. Gasoline consumption seems high, but this is probably due to the low power, you have to constantly gas it, or perhaps it’s just running in.

May 18, 2014, Izhevsk

Design features

The popularity and stability of consumer demand is facilitated by the affordable price, the combination of a classic layout with the latest know-how of industrial design, the high quality of the materials used and factory assembly.

Working comfort is increased due to an effective vibration damper system, low background noise, ergonomic body shape and smooth running of the cutting set chain.

Despite the dense arrangement of internal equipment and consumable containers, there is convenient access to the necks of the fuel and oil tanks, adjustment and tuning units.

The Stihl 170 saw is characterized by a simple and repairable design, allowing owners to perform service or routine repairs of the tool on their own.

The technical and operational characteristics of this model comply in all respects with the recommendations of current standards and regulations.

Differences between stihl ms 180 and stihl ms 170

In the vast majority of cases, the buyer of a chainsaw needs the tool only for occasional use. Cut firewood for the bathhouse, fuel for the barbecue, trim branches from the trees. Some people are building something, so the saw must be reliable, but at the same time

as light and comfortable as possible. Number 1 in the world of household chainsaws is the Stihl MS 180 chainsaw. Recently, several modifications of it have appeared (180 C-BE) and 181, stuffed with various assistants. But the Stihl 170 saw always stood separately. Maybe it would be better to choose it? Let's count.

Advantages of Stihl MS 170

• As a rule, it is cheaper. The younger sister of the Stihl MS 180 chainsaw costs, as a rule, 2,000 or more rubles less. At the same time, it is in no way inferior in terms of manufacturing quality. They even have the same box. No Chinese chainsaw can compare with them in terms of reliability.
• It has a narrower tire. The width of the tire is 1.1 millimeters instead of the standard 1.3 millimeters, which gives, firstly, a thinner cut, secondly, less energy is required to cut something, and thirdly, for construction work this circumstance can be one of the decisive ones .
• Stihl MS 170 is approximately 300 grams lighter than its older sister. If this is not critical for cutting firewood (although for those who have problems with their backs, this circumstance may be more than important), then for those who work in construction and are forced to cut at height, often holding the saw with one hand, this may be more than important.
• Its fuel consumption is slightly less.

Now a few words about the shortcomings

Disadvantages of Stihl MS 170

• The narrow bar (1.1 millimeters instead of the standard 1.3 millimeters) means that the choice of chains for this saw is many times smaller than for the Stihl MS 180. However, you can always buy them in branded stores.
• The motor power of the MS 170 is 200 watts less than that of the MS 180. 1300 watts versus 1500 watts. However, the power is offset by lower loads on the chain when sawing due to a thinner bar.

Conclusions and comparisons

Otherwise, these are two excellent saws that can be used equally in the home. In terms of actual performance and sawing speed, they are approximately the same, the lifespan of both is also similar (except that the chain life of the Stihl MS 170 is slightly lower, which can be solved by more frequent replacement. However, for domestic use this is not very critical). According to reviews from owners and based on actual experience of use, both can easily cut up to 500 cubic meters of firewood before the need for any serious repairs arises.

Separately, we should consider the issue of comparing chainsaws in terms of their further liquidity. It's generally easier to sell the Stihl MS 180 as an older, more popular, and more powerful household chainsaw. However, even a younger model in good condition with proven technical ability to serve for a long time will definitely find its buyer. Such saws, as a rule, are bought by those who use them very occasionally, therefore, provided they use good gasoline and oil and proper care, they last a very, very long time. You can choose any saw; each of the Stihl saws will please its owner.

Versions and information support

Based on the popular basic model, several electric versions have been developed: Stihl MSE 170C, MSE 170C-Q.

The operating instructions included with the kit contain detailed information about the features of preparing the tool for startup, the scope and time of routine maintenance and routine maintenance, methods for troubleshooting and troubleshooting.

Consumer reviews give reason to consider the Shtil MS 170 chainsaw one of the most popular household-class models produced in recent years.

User manual

Now we invite you to read the operating instructions for the chainsaw in more detail. This will help avoid many breakdowns and save your own time and effort.

Preparing the Stihl MS-170 chain saw for work

Immediately after assembling the chain saw, the chain is tensioned and the fuel and oil tanks are filled with working fluids. The fuel mixture is prepared in advance at the rate of 5 liters of gasoline (92) and 100 ml. Stihl oils for two-stroke engines. The operator once again checks the tension of the fasteners and starts the chainsaw according to the instructions. Immediately after the first start, the idle speed and the degree of oil supply to the chain are checked.

Running in a chainsaw

The main points are as follows:

1. The fuel mixture for 4-8 tank fills is prepared by increasing the amount of engine oil.
2. The chainsaw is used in a gentle mode - at 50% of the power of the power plant, no more.

Maintenance

Maintenance work is carried out in several stages:

1. Daily maintenance before and after use. The actions are aimed at checking the performance of the Shtil chainsaw before operation and cleaning work upon completion of sawing work.
2. If problems or malfunctions occur, or when sharpening the saw chain, scheduled maintenance is carried out.

Serious operational problems require the intervention of professionals from service centers.

Chainsaw problems

Let us briefly list possible malfunctions in the operation of the Shtil 170 petrol chain saw.

The engine does not start, stalls:

• no fuel;
• the ignition system fails;
• the fuel supply system does not work;
• the carburetor is not adjusted or dirty;
• the air filter is clogged.

Doesn't develop speed:

• fuel or air filters are clogged;
• carburetor malfunction.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the full version of the instructions for the Shtil MS-170 chainsaw.

Specifications

The use of durable and wear-resistant plastic parts of the tool made it possible to reduce its weight to 3.9 kg.

• The saw is equipped with a compact, easy-to-maintain and durable two-stroke internal combustion engine that uses a gasoline-oil mixture as fuel.
• The power unit with a displacement of only 30.1 cm3 in operating modes develops power up to 1.8 hp. The advantages of the engine include economical fuel consumption, torque reserve, and time-consuming maintenance.
• A carburetor adjusted at the factory needs additional adjustment only when the tool is switched to seasonal operating mode, the octane rating of gasoline changes, or the traction properties of the engine deteriorate under the influence of external temperature and load factors.

Fuel enters the carburetor float chamber from an internal 250 ml gas tank.

Fake and original

The more popular the technology is on the international market, the more often you can find Chinese fakes that have a similar appearance and a more affordable price. The original Stihl MS-170 chain saw should have a price within 10 thousand rubles, anything much lower is a fake.

Experienced equipment owners have learned to recognize a fake even visually:

• body casting is rough, porous, low quality;
• the color is duller than the original chainsaw;
• in the original, the air filter screw is located at the end of the instrument, in Chinese fakes - in the upper part, etc.

We offer detailed information on how to identify a counterfeit chain saw “Shtil” MS-170 in this video:

Work headset

This unit consists of proprietary parts. This is a 14 inch guide bar and cutting chain with tensioner. The universal connecting unit allows the saw to be used with kits from other brands. Lubrication and cooling of the chain are carried out by supplying oil to the working area from a 150 ml reservoir built into the body.

In an unusual or traumatic situation, an emergency stop of the chain is carried out by turning on the emergency brake. Locking is done by moving the shield in the direction of the tire. Maintaining the headset includes periodic cleaning, checking the serviceability of the oil pump, and checking the chain tension.

Video: MS 170 saw in action

Advantages

The advantages of this model:

• excellent design and balance of the body, ergonomic shape of the handles, comfortable grip, comfortable level of vibration;
• high maintainability of the model, which is complemented by a wide selection of exclusive and standardized spare parts, as well as consumables;
• the quality of materials and the perfection of their processing technologies have a positive effect on the reliability and durability of the product as a whole, and the low-cost generation of overhaul and operational resources;
• this model has no restrictions on external conditions, so it can operate in a wide temperature range.

Disadvantages and malfunctions

This section most often refers to the constant performance of the oil pump, which inevitably leads to excessive consumption of chain oil.

There is a problem with cold starting and a reduction in the resource of the manual starter due to the lack of a fuel booster pump.

The sharp increase in the cost of branded spare parts is causing concern, which is forcing owners to use more affordable Chinese analogues to restore the functionality of their tools.

Instructions Shtil 170

The instructions for the Shtil MS 170 chainsaw are written in as much detail as possible (as are the instructions for the Shtil 180). And it begins, as is customary among the Germans, with safety precautions when working with a saw.

The next thing you can learn by reading the instructions is the saw technique. The material contained in this section will be useful not only to those who are going to use a chainsaw for the first time, but also to those who have already used it more than once. For example, this section describes in as much detail as possible how to properly fell a tree, cut a wedge, safely trim pinched branches, and a lot of other useful information that cannot be found anywhere else.

The instructions for the Shtil 170 chainsaw were written by professionals, so you should not ignore reading them.

Of great interest, in the instructions for the chainsaw, is the clause about felling trees with a large trunk diameter using various sawing techniques.

Further in the manual for the unit, you can find out everything about the technical characteristics of the chain. What is a pitch, cutting edges, links, everything is written about in the simplest and most intelligible language possible.

For those who have never started such equipment, the user manual contains a detailed algorithm on how to do this (read how to start a Shtil chainsaw). Moreover, the important point is in what position to do this as safely as possible. If you scroll further, you can find out how to sharpen a chainsaw chain, properly clean it after work and store it for long-term storage.

The last thing that is useful to read in the instructions is the fault table. It contains as succinctly as possible useful information about malfunctions, their symptoms and solutions.

Analogs

Chainsaws of the same power type are presented on the domestic market with a fairly wide selection. The main competitors are the branded models Oleo-Mac 937-16, Hyundai X 360, ECHO CS-3700ES-15 and Husqvarna 140 X-TORQ. It should be noted that with the same performance characteristics and purpose, branded chainsaw products from other manufacturers are significantly more expensive.

Owner reviews

For its money, the 170th Shtil is clearly understaffed. Even cheaper cars costing 6-7 thousand are equipped with automatic lubrication systems and more advanced carburetors. There is nothing bad to say about the assembly, everything is solid and reliable, the only thing that confuses me is the plastic engine crankcase. Cold starting, especially at sub-zero temperatures, is problematic, as the starter will not last long. It looks like the model is clearly in need of major improvement. Farid

My experience as an owner of the Shtil 170 chainsaw is less than two months. During this time, I dumped all the dead wood in the garden and cut firewood for the whole winter. The engine starts confidently, the traction is normal, but the average fuel consumption is approximately 30% higher. This is probably due to its small cubic capacity and the need to operate at maximum speed. The chain bought in reserve turned out to be a low-quality fake, it stretched out over just a few refills, so you’ll have to look for the original. Sasha

I went to the city to buy a Husqvarna chainsaw, but due to lack of goods, I brought home a brand new Shtil chainsaw. As a completely non-technical person, I was pleased with the informative and detailed operating instructions; thanks to its informative recommendations, the first launch was successful. To date, the tool’s track record includes several tens of cubic meters of sawn firewood. During the one-year operation there were no failures or malfunctions. The high cost of motor and chain oils is a little annoying, but this is already a cost of technology. Sergey Nikolaevich

Malfunctions and repairs Shtil 170

The main malfunctions of the Stihl MS 170 chainsaw are not original and correspond to malfunctions typical of any two-stroke saws. For example this:

• The engine does not start;
• No spark;
• No fuel supply;
• The engine starts, but does not develop maximum power;
• The saw does not idle.

Now let’s try to understand in more detail why these malfunctions occur and how to eliminate them.

Important: repairs on the Stihl 170 are considered one of the most expensive in its class, because the saw is not widely used and for this reason, spare parts for its engine are more expensive than, for example, on the Shtil 180. Repairing the piston on the Stihl MS 170 will cost a pretty penny.

The engine will not start

As a rule, if the engine does not start, the first thing you need to do is check for fuel in the tool tank. Next, you need to unscrew the spark plug and check the spark; if there is a spark, but the engine does not start, then the problem is in the fuel system and it can be solved by a complete diagnosis of the fuel system.

No spark

If there is no spark on the chainsaw and for this reason it does not start, you need to start diagnosing by checking the spark plug itself; for this you need to install a new one that is in good working order.

If a spark does not appear, you need to look at the gap between the flywheel and the ignition coil; if this does not help, then only replacing the ignition module will help.

No fuel supply

A fuel supply problem is very difficult to diagnose, and it is for this reason that diagnosis is best carried out at a service center. If it is not possible to contact specialists, then you should start diagnosing by checking the fuel filter, which is located in the saw tank.

Next, you need to check the fuel line for cleanliness; to do this, you need to disconnect the fuel supply hose from the carburetor and blow into it.

Use special equipment when purging, as gasoline vapors are hazardous to health.

If the line is clear, the problem may be a leaky fuel pump or a lack of air pulse. To check, you need to remove the carburetor and check the tightness of the mounting screws. Next, using a thin wire, clean the impulse channel in the rubber pipe of the carburetor. If these steps do not help, the saw must be sent to a service center for diagnostics.

The engine does not develop speed

If the chainsaw starts, but when you press the gas it does not develop speed, while it idles and does not stall, the first thing you need to start with is to check the air filter for contamination. If it is heavily soiled, it can be washed in water and dried, and then installed on the chainsaw.

If these steps do not help, the fuel filter may be clogged. It must be removed from the tank and checked for blockages. Replace a dirty filter; if after this the situation has not changed, the saw should be sent to a service center, where specialists will determine and eliminate the cause.

The saw stalls at idle

As a rule, if the unit stalls and does not idle, the problem is air leaking into the engine crankcase, carburetor, or under the gasket, between the carburetor and the rubber cylinder pipe. You can find where air leaks occur using a special device called a vacuum gauge. Such a device is available from the official representative for the repair of Shtil chainsaws.