Stihl MS170 Reviews

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Stihl MS170
★★★☆☆
2.7
46.0% of users recommend this
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Latest Reviews

“Had this Stihl chainsaw for 19 years & used it 4...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by WestonGill on 15/09/2020

Had this Stihl chainsaw for 19 years & used it 4 times---WHY only 4 times , because this piece of junk wouldn't start !! Spark plug, carburetor, & all internal parts were replaced AT MY COST by a Stihl chain saw authorized dealer & it still would not start !!! WHY ??? Because the parts were ALL from Stihl -----PURE JUNK !!! DO NOT BUY ,a STIHL Chain saw. I paid $1,000. PLUS $250.00 for the parts & labor and it was the biggest waste of money I ever spent. They would not replace the saw---THERE WARRATY SUCKS because they will not do anything to correct the problem OR refund your money.

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Salmonbob's Comment

Written on: 29/11/2021

you PAID $1000 for a MS170, you deserved to get a boat anchor ⚓

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Was this review helpful? 2 6

“do not buy this saw”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Daphnec396 on 15/06/2020

I bought this Stihl MS 170 about 6 months ago bought oil at same time. First time I used it took about 15 pulls to get it running and maybe 6 or 7 minutes to warm up enough to use. Then It ran good. Used again maybe a couple months later, same thing with pulls and warm up time, I thought normal. It set maybe 2 more months and I needed to use it and same thing with pulls and warm up, ran maybe 8-12 minutes started losing power then died out like it was out of fuel, had over half tank took back where I bought it they say bad fuel I use same fuel in my weed eater as this saw, it runs good, you decide if you want to buy a Stihl MS 170 if so call me I have a good one to sell cheap, I will go buy another Poland. Anyway that is my experince with Stihl MS 170. I know this is a smaller saw but it still should run when I need it, of course that is just my opinion.

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Loandter's Comment

Written on: 10/11/2020

Mine was a piece of junk also. Sold it for scrap metal.

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Was this review helpful? 1 0

“Didn't start after the 1st time”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Bill62 on 04/12/2019

Would not recommend this POS to my worst enemy. It started the 1st time I tried, but had to take it to repair shop to get it started 2nd time. Ended up selling it and buying a Poulan. The Poulan has started every time I've tried it

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Was this review helpful? 3 0

“Terrible Starting Up!”

★☆☆☆☆

written by FelixWalker on 16/09/2019

I purchased this saw for small trim jobs and a from day one had difficulty staring it. Even when following storage directions as per manual it gave me a hard time starting up. After many attempts and my arm falling off my shoulder I just placed it on a garage shelf. Plus the chain comes loose rather quickly. Stay away from this product unless you’re handy repairing it. Sucks!

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Was this review helpful? 2 0

“Don't waste your money !”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Kaila48 on 02/05/2018

Stihl has a great marketing department and a catchy little ad tune, but I've owned two Stihl saws now and have had issues starting both. Maybe they're great for pros who use them every day or who own bigger saws, but both of mine filled me with dread each time I went out to use them. Same with my Stihl blower - always had starting issues. I use Hitachi products now, chainsaw and blower. Both always start right away

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Loandtee's Comment

Written on: 10/11/2020

Saw is terrible and so is the customer service

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Was this review helpful? 3 11

“The ms 170 chain saw”

★★★★★

written by on 21/03/2018

This saw Is A Great saw I cut 24 1/2 in cherry With no trouble

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Loandtee's Comment

Written on: 10/11/2020

You the lucky one.

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Was this review helpful? 1 0

“Weak strength and rapid dull blade”

★★☆☆☆

written by JamalPadilla346 on 16/11/2017

I purchased the MS 170 to use once in a while to trim fallen branches and perhaps a tree. I purchased it to replace my husqvarna chainsaw which I was disappointed in and returned it to the store where I bought it. The ms170 did not work out well either. The power was far short the the power and cutting ability that the manufacturer represented. After several cuts , the chain needed sharpening and I only cut a few branches. Several times I could hear the motor struggling as it was about half way through the cut. I let the saw do the cutting and did not use my strength and stamina to force cut. A chainsaw should be doing all the work, not the operator. I will not buy another one. I am very disappointed and now ordered several chaons as spares....

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Was this review helpful? 1 8

“Stihl ms170”

★☆☆☆☆

written by loandtee on 09/09/2016

Piece of junk and customer service is worse. Will never even consider a Stihl again. Would never recommend to my worst enemy.

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Was this review helpful? 5 9

“change the bar to a smaller one for more accurate cuts ”

★★★☆☆

written by TamaraRoberts on 28/07/2015

I'm a professional fencer and I take pride in making every stay fit nice neat and tidy and the cuts have to be accurate this saw has the power but the bar has to much flex my suggestion is that if you need an accurate cut down size the bar to a 10 inch bar you'll get a better cut and takes less power to drive the chain Also clean air filter regularly as it doesn't quite fit right and a lot of fine dust gets through between the carburetor and air filter other than that great saw

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Was this review helpful? 6 3

“Nice for small work”

★★★★★

written by jdwoodshop on 23/04/2015

This saw replaced an old Echo. It is lighter then the Echo and has a little less power, but it is a good saw for what it is designed for. I have had no problems with this saw. I cut six cords of wood, and I used this saw for everything under 12" round. I use square professional chains and I change the chain as soon as I have to push the saw through a cut. If you use regular gasoline in this saw, or any other equipment, you are going to be buying a lot of carburetors. I only use alcohol free gas and I use Stihl mixing oil. For a light duty saw, I like the ms170 very much. It is nice to take a break for the heavier saws.

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Was this review helpful? 2 0

“Clean the muffler!”

★★★★☆

written by Junglejake on 12/04/2015

Bought the Stil MS 170 saw and ran great... lots of power. First thing ... take the little wire screen off the front of the muffler becuse it only clogs up. "Burp" the saw then put the choke to normal and it will start next 2 pulls. When the idling speeds up shut it off and refuel. Dont continue to run it till it dies from lack of fuel or it will be hard to start. Next year the saw was sluggish. Couldnt even cut through a log if i put any weight at all on the saw. So much so i thought obout buying a bigger saw. So i took it apart to clean it to sell it and to check the choke butterfly and the plug. What i found was the vent on the front of the muffler was clogged with carbon! Then i remembered i ran a couple of improperly mixed tanks of gas...too much oil...too much carbon. i soaked the muffler in some barbeque grill cleaner and got all the carbon off. Wow! What a difference! Runs like a dream now. Tons of power and i dont need to buy a new saw! Use the proper mixing oil and keep your muffler clean and you'll have a great little saw for years to come.

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Was this review helpful? 5 2

“most of you don't know what you have!”

★★★★★

written by twobrotherstreeservicellc on 15/01/2015

This saw is used by me and my tree service on a regular basis. If your having a hard time starting, you shouldn't be using a saw. Full choke till it pops. Up one click w brake off to warm, pull trigger and let go to release throttle. I know I can grab this saw right now, start it, and cut wood twice the length of the bar (just roll over your log) with out a problem. If your chain goes dull, stop using it as a shovel! Keep it out of the dirt. Don't forget to take down your rakers and remove metal evenly when sharpening. Port the muffler for added power for starters and o by the way the carbs are NOT adjustable so there is NOTHING to adjust there! Great limbing saw and even a standby climbing saw.

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Loandtee's Response to twobrotherstreeservicellc's Review

Written on: 29/10/2016

Your comment is sluggish at best

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Was this review helpful? 17 0

“It is a saw for the $. And for small jobs even some of...”

★★★★★

written by HaileeMiller235 on 06/01/2015

It is a saw for the $. And for small jobs even some of the big jobs it works hard and has given me no problems. The ms 170 is a little cold blooded but most sthil saws are. Proper 50:1 mix and magnents are crueshol. Every stihl I've own has run 10 15 years. The guys at my sthil shop have been good to me when it comes to service and parts

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Was this review helpful? 3 1

“It's used a bookend”

★☆☆☆☆

written by JasonEtter on 12/12/2014

I purchased a new stihl chainsaw and after the second use I had to replace the bar and chain,at my cost. After using it a few more times and only on small shrubs and trees the top popped off and broke completely. This is now after 7 weeks in the shop I got it back. Worked awful and returned it again to again have them fix it and state they have never had these issues before. At this point I've owned it less than a year and used very rarely. I again got it back and let a friend who is experienced try it. He said its junk. I am so fed up and they don't believe me when I bring it in and don't always warranty it. I've been in contact with stihl and they won't do anything. Don't even respond. Poor quality and poor service. Very disappointed. It's now a $500 paperweight. I purchased an old husquvarna that I paid $50 bucks for and works great compared to the stihl. Thanks for nothing stihl!

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Bruceaub's Response to JasonEtter's Review

Written on: 13/01/2015

If you paid $500 for an Ms170 your to stupid to own power tools!

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Loandtee's reply to Bruceaub's Comment

Written on: 05/05/2017

You're kinda stupid yourself

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Was this review helpful? 1 5

“get the 171”

★★☆☆☆

written by jumpingjason on 15/11/2014

From what i saw online the max rpm's are around 9000 the 171 was 13500. I went ahead and got the 171 for a little extra. This thing rips and has a decent tunable carb. Would recommend the ms171.

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Was this review helpful? 1 1

“Shoddy and unreliable”

★★☆☆☆

written by JoeyCooper493 on 08/10/2014

Bought a 170 as they had no 160s in stock to replace my old one. Poor starter and has to be nurtured when cold. The blamed adjuster has pulled right out twice, 1st time after 2 days! Has always leaked chain oil. Now has seized. This saw had hardly had any use, 18 months old. Cuts well when it goes, like any Stihl.

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Bruceaub's Comment

Written on: 13/01/2015

Try putting new gas in it!

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Was this review helpful? 1 2

“Made in China Junk”

★☆☆☆☆

written by TBendoraitis on 12/09/2014

I bought a 170 Stihl chainsaw because it was on sale at a Home Hardware store at a good price..My 036 saw, my 260 saw, my cutoff saw worked amazing. This 170 is an embarrassment to the Stihl name. I'll bet I didn't put 5 five hours on it before it started to malfunction, (after warranty). I took it to the most well known small motors mechanic out here and as soon as he saw it, he said,"ah ah Put it back in your truck, they're pieces of sh#t"...Wouldn't even touch it. Another mechanic installed a new carb kit, plug and wore out a screw driver trying to get to run right. I knew I had a lemon when I read that Stihl had moved it's manufacturing facility to China. Never buy a Stihl 170, they were such a piece of garbage you might as well buy a hand saw! What would I have like to know before my purchase? That they are now made in China!

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Bruceaub's Response to TBendoraitis's Review

Written on: 13/01/2015

I think your mechanic is an idiot. I

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Loandtee's Response to TBendoraitis's Review

Written on: 05/05/2017

I bought one of these and it has been a major disappointment. Had to put a new chain on with very little usage. Had an oil leak I fixed myself. Almost impossible to keep running. I finally took it apart cleaned it real good and made sure things are tight. I got it running pretty good and can saw with it. Still shaky when cold but I believe the air gas mixture is just off somewhat. Like I said I got it running but would not buy another one.

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Was this review helpful? 3 2

“Won't start after I refuel”

★★★★☆

written by ChainsawChip on 25/03/2014

This a great chainsaw as Stihl has a reputation for but, after I use it for a while and it runs out of fuel it don't want to start. Like it gets too hot or something. I had a Poulan(Sears Craftsman) that was fantastic, any issues were easy to adjust for or take care of and I was back to sawing right away. Oh, I bought my first chainsaw back in 1993 to learn how to carve bears. I beat the guts out of my first saw, a Sears Craftsman made by Poulon, and it still ran without a problem. The last one was the same saw because my sister stole the first one and pawned it for dope. The last one ran great until I let somebody borrow it and it burned up on me. The repair shop said that most saws that have burned up like mine were victims of letting someone borrow it. Anyway, my new MS170 won't fire up after it gets warmed up. No suggestions other than some distinct advice are all I need to get going....

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“Does a lot for a small saw - do I really need more?”

★★★★☆

written by on 31/12/2013

This review is from Canada. I have been cutting cedar logs over the last year for docks at a marina. Actually not that mnay logs. I have been using my friends 170. So far, no problems. The cedar is a light wood. The trees are probably 10" to 14" at the base. It does not go through real quickly but it gets there. The thing I like is it's weight. I can swing this saw for a 1/2 hour or so before I need to rest - my arms get tired. It is nice for limbing, once you get the tree down. I have been thinking of going to something in the 200 range of a stihl saw. This is what a friend of mind recommended. He has a wood furnace and cuts probably 10 to 20 bush cords a year - a bush cord is 8'x4'x4'. I went to a Stihl dealer. The dealer said a 170 was only good for cutting 4" limbs. Kinda does in his credibility. The larger saws, apparently have bigger teeth, a bigger engine and therefore cut faster. I don't think my friend has had any repairs on his 170 and he has used it for a year now cutting firewood. He went on a saw safety course and nearly everyone had stihl saws. The instructor recommended them. They appear to have less problems. However, I see several reviews for Stihl saws where there are major repairs, problems with starting, bad carbs. You have to keep in mind that you cannot make a saw for $250 and expect it to be wonderful. But a $500 saw in the 200 range of model should be good. The old Pioneer saws we had maybe 30 years ago were made to last and to repair. Now a repair of $150 and you are looking for a new saw. At the end of the day, I am still wondering is the extra money for a larger saw worth it and will there be more repairs.

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“Good saw for it size”

★★★★☆

written by on 10/11/2013

This saw does well for a camp saw or small jobs , I have cut down 16 inch trees with no troubles any trees bigger the saw worked , the only problem is starting from cold there is no primer on this unit so you need to choke to start and than half choke then unit will running a good saw for the price

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