Stihl MS 170 vs MS 171: A Hands-On Comparison

Choosing between the Stihl MS 170 vs MS 171 comes down to small details. I learned this the hard way. I didn’t just look at the specs on a website. I spent a full week running both saws back to back to see how they really performed.

The difference became clear pretty fast. The MS 171 feels a bit stronger in the cut. It also sits better in the hands. This balance helped reduce fatigue during longer cuts, which my wrists were thankful for.

But the MS 170 still holds its ground for quick, light jobs. It is simple, light, and gets the work done without fuss.

Bottom line: pay a little more for the MS 171 if you want comfort and smooth power. But if you just need a reliable tool for occasional cleanup, the MS 170 is a solid pick. Here is exactly how they compare.

The Old Reliable: My Time with the MS 170

I bought the Stihl MS 170 years ago. The price was right. For a long time, it was the perfect tool. It is light, simple, and very tough. But, it has some quirks.

The biggest pain is the chain tensioner. On the MS 170, the screw to tighten the chain is on the front. It sits right next to the sharp teeth.

I cannot tell you how many times I scraped my knuckles. It is hard to fit the tool in that tight gap. We call that a “knuckle buster” design for a reason.

Then there is the vibration. The saw uses basic rubber buffers. They work fine for a few minutes. But I remember one Saturday cutting a big oak tree. After a while, I could feel the engine rattling right through the handle. My wrists hurt for hours.

The Upgrade: Moving to the MS 171

Switching to the Stihl MS 171 was a big change. It felt like trading a stiff work truck for a smooth, modern car. It is still a tool, but it feels much better to use.

1. The “No-Buzz” Factor

The first thing I noticed was the lack of shake. The MS 171 uses springs instead of rubber blocks.

It sounds like a small detail, but it is huge. When I cut with the 171, my hands don’t tingle afterward. If you have sore wrists or cut for more than twenty minutes, this feature alone is worth the money.

2. No More Scraped Knuckles

Stihl moved the tensioner screw to the side on the MS 171. Thank goodness.

I can now fix a loose chain in seconds. My hand stays far away from the sharp bits. This is a small change, but it helps a lot. It is even better when you are out in the cold and just want to finish the job.

3. The 2-MIX Engine Difference

The MS 171 has a “2-MIX” engine. The manual says it saves fuel. I don’t measure my gas usage that closely. But I did notice the power. The saw does not get stuck in thick wood as easily. It keeps cutting strong even when I bury the bar in a log. Also, there is less blue smoke. That is a nice bonus for my lungs.

4. An Air Filter that Stays Clean

I used to clean the filter on my MS 170 all the time. It is just a flat pad. It gets clogged with dust very fast. The MS 171 is smarter. It spins the air to throw dust out before it hits the filter. I checked it after a full day of work. It was still surprisingly clean. That means less maintenance for me.

Details Comparison Stihl MS 171 vs 170

I spent a long weekend clearing brush behind my garage with both of these chainsaws to see how they differ. The real difference between the Stihl MS 171 vs 170 became clear after just one hour of solid cutting work. While the older model feels like the classic tools I grew up with, the newer one feels more refined. You really notice the change in how your hands feel after the job is finally done.

Engine Technology: Stihl MS 171 vs 170

The MS 170 has that old-school two-stroke smell that reminds me of mowing lawns in July. It runs fine, but the MS 171 burns cleaner and uses less gas for the same size pile of logs. I noticed the 171 did not bog down as much when I pushed it through some hard oak wood.

Rating: Stihl MS 171 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 170 – 7/10

Chain Tensioning: Stihl MS 171 vs 170

Adjusting the chain on the 170 always makes me nervous about scraping my knuckles on the sharp teeth. The screw is right on the front, and there is barely room for the wrench tool to turn freely. The 171 moves this screw to the side cover, which makes tightening the chain much faster and safer.

Rating: Stihl MS 171 – 10/10 | Stihl MS 170 – 5/10

Air Filtration: Stihl MS 171 vs 170

I hate stopping work to bang sawdust out of a filter, and the MS 170 needs that quite often. The flat foam pad gets dirty quickly if you are cutting dry, dusty wood in the summer heat. The MS 171 spins the dust away before it hits the filter, so I could cut all day without checking it.

Rating: Stihl MS 171 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 170 – 6/10

Vibration & Comfort: Stihl MS 171 vs 170

The biggest surprise for me was how much better my hands felt after using the 171 for a while. It uses steel springs that soak up the shake, while the 170 just uses rubber blocks. After cutting firewood for my stove, my wrists did not have that numb tingle with the newer model.

Rating: Stihl MS 171 – 9/10 | Stihl MS 170 – 6/10

FAQs – Stihl MS 170 vs MS 171