201T Stiff chain brake, reasons?

[Danavan]

Mine dose too. But it happens now & then. (as with alot of other things with it)

Clean out didn't make much difference even though it is only a few months old

[jnoon]

Mine dose too. But it happens now & then. (as with alot of other things with it)

Clean out didn't make much difference even though it is only a few months old

 

i find a blast of wd40 helps mate, you tried that??

[arbogrunt]

I've found the 201t generally, needs a bit more cleaning than its predecessor. It doesn't put up with quite as much neglect !. I have to keep mine cleaner to keep it oiling properly for a start. The only exception to this is the air-filter, which is open to wonderful amounts of abuse

[JackArb]

2021 Stihl 201T stiff chain brake 

 

Constant spruce cutting as stiffed the chain brake up. 

 

helped the issue by using WD40 in engine side and clutch cover side freed up massive like new.

[swinny]

I don't know what it is but my older 201t 2012 and 2011 no issues .... I have a 2016 or 18 201tcm and that sod is always stiff and bunging up on the chain brake internals. Crap saw the newer one.... I went back to the 2012 model couple of years back, newer one is a backup and paperweight

[spudulike]

Just clean it as part of a regular maintenance regime after all, it is a safety device!

[spudulike]

To back up my earlier statement, all top handle saws that I had in had the internal cover taken off the clutch cover, the components inspected, the shyte blown out and reassembled. I then tested the brake by snapping it on at near full throttle.

You can tell if a brake is clogged as the actuation note is dull if the mechanism is bunged up and it has a much crisper note if it is clean.

The other test I did specifically on the MS201 was to actuate the chain brake on each end of the brake guard. I had a few that were difficult to actuate on the end nearest the recoil cover down to wear and tear. 

 

The top handle saw is THE one bit of kit that if it malfunctions, you are very unlikely to have support that can get to you easily being up a tree. A bad cut in the wrong place and a few minutes will see you bleeding out and dead. And THAT is why I always ensured the top handled saws always had a chain catcher and the side cover/brake mechanism was checked, cleaned and serviced.