Stihl 201 Tcm Manual

							MS 201 TC-M
English
9 The condition of the anti-vibration 
elements influences vibration behaviour 
– inspect anti-vibration elements 
periodically.
Inspect chain catcher – replace if 
damaged.
Switch off the engine
–To check the chain tension
–To retension the chain
–To replace the chain
–For remedying malfunctions
Observe sharpening instructions – for 
safe and proper handling, always keep 
the chain and guide bar in flawless 
condition. Keep the chain properly 
sharpened, tensioned and well 
lubricated.
Change chain, guide bar and chain 
sprocket in due time.
Regularly check that the clutch drum is 
in perfect working condition.
Always store fuel and chain lubricant 
only in the specified type of containers 
and ensure they are correctly labelled. 
Store in a dry, cool and secure place 
protected against light and sunlight.
In the event of a chain brake 
malfunction, switch off the machine 
immediately – risk of injury! Consult a 
servicing dealer – do not use the 
machine until the malfunction has been 
remedied, see "Chain brake".The most common reactive forces that 
occur during cutting are: kickback, 
pushback and pull-in.
Dangers of kickback
Kickback occurs when the saw is 
suddenly thrown up and back in an 
uncontrolled arc towards the operator.
Kickback occurs, e.g.
–when the upper quadrant of the bar 
nose unintentionally contacts wood 
or another solid object, e.g. when 
another limb is touched accidentally 
during limbing.
–when the chain at the nose of the 
guide bar is pinched in the cut.
QuickStop chain brake:
This device reduces the risk of injury in 
certain situations – it cannot prevent 
kickback. If activated, the brake stops 
the saw chain within a fraction of a 
second –
for a description of this device refer to 
chapter on "Chain Brake" in this manual.
To reduce the risk of kickback
–Work cautiously and avoid 
situations which could cause 
kickback.
–Hold the saw firmly with both hands 
and maintain a secure grip.
–Always cut at full throttle.
–Be aware of the location of the guide 
bar nose at all times.
Reactive Forces
Kickback can result in 
serious or fatal injury.
0012BA022 KN
HL
001BA257 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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10 –Do not cut with the bar nose.
–Take special care with small, tough 
limbs, they may catch the chain.
–Never cut several limbs at once.
–Do not overreach.
–Never cut above shoulder height.
–Use extreme caution when re-
entering a previous cut.
–Do not attempt plunge cuts if you 
are not experienced in this cutting 
technique.
–Be alert for shifting of the log or 
other forces that may cause the cut 
to close and pinch the chain.
–Always cut with a correctly 
sharpened, properly tensioned 
chain – the depth gauge setting 
must not be too large.
–Use a low kickback chain and a 
narrow radius guide bar.
Pull-in (A)
Pull-in occurs when the chain on the 
bottom of the bar is suddenly pinched, 
caught or encounters a foreign object in 
the wood. The reaction of the chain pulls 
the saw forward – to reduce this risk, 
always engage the spiked bumper 
securely in the tree or limb.
Pushback (B)
Pushback occurs when the chain on the 
top of the bar is suddenly pinched, 
caught or encounters a foreign object in 
the wood. The reaction of the chain 
drives the saw straight back toward the 
operator – to avoid this risk:
–Be alert to situations that may cause 
the top of the guide bar to be 
pinched
–Do not twist the guide bar in the cut.
Cutting
Do not operate your saw in the starting 
throttle position. Engine speed cannot 
be controlled with the throttle trigger in 
this position.
Work calmly and carefully – in daylight 
conditions and only when visibility is 
good. Ensure you do not endanger 
others – stay alert at all times.
Use the shortest possible guide bar: The 
chain, guide bar and chain sprocket 
must match each other and your saw.
Position the saw so that your body is 
clear of the cutting attachment.
001BA037 KNA
001BA038 KNB
:RUNLQJ7HFKQLTXHV
9923BA034 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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11 If conditions allow, work from a lift 
bucket.
Never work on a ladder or on any other 
insecure support, do not work above 
shoulder height.
Cordon off the work area in order to 
reduce the risk of injuries and damage to 
property from falling branches (e.g. 
motor vehicles).
When working with a lifeline there is a 
risk of cutting through the rope – to 
reduce the risk of fall injuries, always 
use double lifelines.
Take special care when cutting through 
a limb. Hold the machine firmly to control 
and counteract the feed force. Note 
when reaching the end of a cut that the 
saw is no longer supported in the kerf. 
You have to take the full weight of the 
saw – increased risk of accidents.Make sure your saw does not touch any 
foreign materials: Stones, nails, etc. may 
be flung off and damage the saw chain. 
The saw may kick back unexpectedly – 
risk of accidents.
If the rotating chain makes contact with 
a rock or other solid object there is a risk 
of sparking which may cause easily 
combustible material to catch fire under 
certain circumstances. Dry plants and 
scrub are also easily combustible, 
especially in hot and dry weather 
conditions. If there is a risk of fire, do not 
use your chainsaw near combustible 
materials, dry plants or scrub. Always 
contact your local forest authority for 
information on a possible fire risk.
Do not underbuck freely hanging limbs 
because the chain may get pinched and 
cause kickback and loss of control.
Take care when cutting scrub and young 
trees. The saw chain may catch and 
throw thin shoots in your direction.
To reduce the risk of injury, take special 
care when cutting shattered wood 
because of the risk of injury from slivers 
being caught and thrown in your 
direction.
After finishing a cut, activate the chain 
brake to lock the chain or shut off the 
engine before moving the saw to 
another position in the tree.Cutting techniques:
Always start the cut with the engine at 
full throttle.
Always pull the saw out of the cut with 
the chain running.
–Cut straight through thin limbs
–In case of thick limbs, first perform 
relieving cut from below (approx. 1/5 
of diameter), then buck from above
–Support and secure heavy 
branches with ropes.
If the saw gets pinched in the cut:
–Shut off the engine and secure the 
saw to the tree – in direction of 
trunk.
–Carefully free the saw from the cut, 
using another saw if necessary.
Limbs under tension:
N
Always start relieving cut (1) at the 
compression side (A).
NMake relieving cut (1) and then 
perform bucking cut (2) at the 
tension side (B) – the saw will 
otherwise pinch or kick back.
If not otherwise possible, make the 
bucking cut from the bottom upwards 
(underbuck) – be wary of pushback.
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							MS 201 TC-M
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12 A cutting attachment consists of the saw 
chain, guide bar and chain sprocket.
The cutting attachment that comes 
standard is designed to exactly match 
the chain saw.
–The pitch (t) of the saw chain (1), 
chain sprocket and the nose 
sprocket of the Rollomatic guide bar 
must match.
–The drive link gauge (2) of the saw 
chain (1) must match the groove 
width of the guide bar (3).
If non-matching components are used, 
the cutting attachment may be damaged 
beyond repair after a short period of 
operation.
Disengaging the Chain Brake
NPull the hand guard towards the 
front handle until there is an audible 
click – the chain brake is 
disengaged.
Removing the Chain Sprocket Cover
NRotate the captive nut (1) 
counterclockwise until it hangs 
loosely in the sprocket cover.
NRemove the sprocket cover (2) with 
captive nut.
Mounting the Guide Bar
NTurn the screw (1) 
counterclockwise until the tensioner 
slide (2) butts against the left end of 
the housing slot.
NFit the guide bar over the stud (3) 
and engage the peg of the tensioner 
slide in the hole (4).
Fitting the Chain
WARNING
Wear work gloves to protect your hands 
from the sharp cutters.
Cutting Attachment
001BA248 KN
1
2
3a
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0012BA033 KN
1
0011BA002 KN
2
161BA027 KN
1
2
3
4
161BA028 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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13 NFit chain around the sprocket (1) 
and over the guide bar – the cutting 
edges on top of the bar must point to 
the bar nose.
NTurn the screw (2) clockwise until 
there is very little chain sag on the 
underside of the bar – and the drive 
link tangs are engaged in the bar 
groove.NRefit the chain sprocket cover – 
the pivot pin on the hand guard must 
engage the sleeve – and then screw 
the nut onto the stud finger-tight.
NGo to chapter on "Tensioning the 
Saw Chain"Retensioning during cutting work:
NSwitch off the engine.
NLoosen the nut.
NHold the bar nose up.
NUse a screwdriver to turn the 
tensioning screw (1) clockwise until 
the chain fits snugly against the 
underside of the bar.
NWhile still holding the bar nose up, 
tighten down the nut firmly.
NGo to "Checking Chain Tension".
A new chain has to be retensioned more 
often than one that has been in use for 
some time.
NCheck chain tension frequently – 
see chapter on "Operating 
Instructions".
1
161BA029 KN
2
161BA030 KN
0012BA034 KN
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142BA063 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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14 NShut off the engine.
NWear work gloves to protect your 
hands.
NThe chain must fit snugly against 
the underside of the bar and it must 
still be possible to pull the chain 
along the bar by hand when the 
chain brake is released.
NIf necessary, retension the chain.
A new chain has to be retensioned more 
often than one that has been in use for 
some time.
NCheck chain tension frequently – 
see chapter on "Operating 
Instructions".Your engine requires a mixture of 
gasoline and engine oil.
WARNING
For health reasons, avoid direct skin 
contact with gasoline and avoid inhaling 
gasoline vapor.
STIHL MotoMix
STIHL recommends the use of STIHL 
MotoMix. This ready-to-use fuel mix 
contains no benzol or lead, has a high 
octane rating and ensures that you 
always use the right mix ratio.
STIHL MotoMix uses STIHL HP Ultra 
two-stroke engine oil for an extra long 
engine life. 
MotoMix is not available in all markets.
Mixing Fuel
NOTICE
Unsuitable fuels or lubricants or mix 
ratios other than those specified may 
result in serious damage to the engine. 
Poor quality gasoline or engine oil may 
damage the engine, sealing rings, hoses 
and the fuel tank.
Gasoline
Use only high-quality brand-name 
gasoline with a minimum octane rating 
of 90 – leaded or unleaded.If your machine is equipped with a 
catalytic converter, you must use 
unleaded gasoline.
NOTICE
A few tankfuls of leaded gasoline will 
greatly reduce the efficiency of the 
catalytic converter.
Gasoline with an ethanol content of 
more than 10% can cause running 
problems in engines with a manually 
adjustable carburetor and should not be 
used in such engines.
Engines equipped with M-Tronic deliver 
full power when run on gasoline with an 
ethanol content of up to 25% (E25).
Engine oil
Use only high-quality two-stroke engine 
oil – preferably STIHL HP, HP Super or 
HP Ultra, which are specially formulated 
for use in STIHL engines. HP Ultra 
guarantees high performance and a 
long engine life.
These engine oils are not available in all 
markets.
Use only STIHL 50:1 two-stroke engine 
oil for the fuel mix in models with a 
catalytic converter.
Mix Ratio
STIHL 50:1 two-stroke engine oil: 50 
parts gasoline to 1 part oil
Checking Chain Tension
142BA064 KN
)XHO 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
English
15 Examples
NUse a canister approved for storing 
fuel. Pour oil into canister first, then 
add gasoline and mix thoroughly.
Storing Fuel
Store fuel only in approved safety-type 
fuel canisters in a dry, cool and safe 
location protected from light and the sun.
Fuel mix ages – only mix sufficient fuel 
for a few weeks work. Do not store fuel 
mix for longer than 30 days. Exposure to 
light, the sun, low or high temperatures 
can quickly make the fuel mix unusable.
STIHL MotoMix may be stored for up to 
2 years without any problems.
NThoroughly shake the mixture in the 
canister before fueling your 
machine.
WARNING
Pressure may build up in the canister – 
open it carefully.
NClean the fuel tank and canister 
from time to time.Dispose of remaining fuel and cleaning 
fluid properly in accordance with local 
regulations and environmental 
requirements.
Preparing the machine
NBefore fueling, clean the filler cap 
and the area around it so that dirt 
cannot fall into the fuel tank
NAlways position the machine so that 
the filler cap is facing upwards
Opening
NRaise the grip until it is upright. Gasoline STIHL engine oil 50:1 
Liters Liters (ml)
10.02(20)
5 0.10 (100)
10 0.20 (200)
15 0.30 (300)
20 0.40 (400)
25 0.50 (500)
Fueling
0012BA004 KN
001BA236 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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16 NTurn the cap counterclockwise 
(about a quarter turn).
Marks on tank cap and fuel tank must 
line up.
NRemove the cap.
Filling up with fuel
Take care not to spill fuel while fueling 
and do not overfill the tank.
STIHL recommends you use the STIHL 
filler nozzle for fuel (special accessory).
NFill up with fuel.
Closing
Grip must be vertical:
NFit the cap – marks on tank cap and 
fuel tank must line up.
NPress the cap down as far as stop.
NWhile holding the cap depressed, 
turn it clockwise until it engages in 
position.
The marks on the tank cap and fuel tank 
are then in alignment.NFold the grip down so that it is flush 
with the top of the cap.
Tank cap is locked.
If the tank cap cannot be locked in the 
fuel tank opening
Bottom of cap is twisted in relation to 
top.
NRemove the cap from the fuel tank 
and check it from above.
001BA232 KN
001BA234 KN
001BA237 KN
001BA234 KN
001BA233 KN
001BA231 KN
001BA235 KN
001BA241 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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17 NPlace the cap on the opening and 
rotate it counterclockwise until it 
engages the filler neck.
NContinue rotating the cap 
counterclockwise (about a quarter 
turn) – this causes the bottom of the 
cap to be turned to the correct 
position.
NTurn the cap clockwise and lock it in 
position – see section on "Closing".For automatic and reliable lubrication of 
the chain and guide bar – use only an 
environmentally compatible quality 
chain and bar lubricant. Rapidly 
biodegradable STIHL BioPlus is 
recommended.
NOTICE
Biological chain oil must be resistant to 
aging (e.g. STIHL BioPlus),  since it will 
otherwise quickly turn to resin. This 
results in hard deposits that are difficult 
to remove, especially in the area of the 
chain drive and chain. It may even cause 
the oil pump to seize.
The service life of the chain and guide 
bar depends on the quality of the 
lubricant. It is therefore essential to use 
only a specially formulated chain 
lubricant.
WARNING
Do not use waste oil. Renewed contact 
with waste oil can cause skin cancer. 
Moreover, waste oil is environmentally 
harmful.
NOTICE
Waste oil does not have the necessary 
lubricating properties and is unsuitable 
for chain lubrication.
Preparing the machine
NThoroughly clean the filler cap and 
the area around it to ensure that no 
dirt falls into the tank
NAlways position the machine so that 
the filler cap is facing upwards
NOpen the filler cap
Filling chain oil tank
NRefill the chain oil tank every time 
you refuel
Take care not to spill chain oil during 
refilling and do not overfill the tank.
STIHL recommends use of the STIHL 
filling system for chain oil (special 
accessory).
NClose the filler cap
There must still be a small amount of 
chain oil in the oil tank when the fuel tank 
is empty. Left: Bottom of cap is twisted – 
inner mark (1) in line with 
outer mark.
Right: Bottom of cap in correct posi-
tion – inner mark is under the 
grip. It is not in line with the 
outer mark.
1
001BA238 KN
001BA239 KN
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0012BA005 KN 
						

							MS 201 TC-M
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18 If the oil tank is still partly full, the reason 
may be a problem in the oil supply 
system: Check chain lubrication, clean 
the oil passages, contact your servicing 
dealer for assistance if necessary. 
STIHL recommends that maintenance 
and repair work be carried out only by 
authorized STIHL dealers.
The saw chain must always throw off a 
small amount of oil.
NOTICE
Never operate your saw without chain 
lubrication. If the chain runs dry, the 
whole cutting attachment will be 
irretrievably damaged within a very short 
time. Always check chain lubrication and 
the oil level in the tank before starting 
work.
Every new chain has to be broken in for 
about 2 to 3 minutes.
After breaking in the chain, check chain 
tension and adjust if necessary – see 
"Checking Chain Tension".
Locking the Chain
–in an emergency
–when starting
–at idling speed
The chain brake is activated by pushing 
the hand guard toward the bar nose with 
your left hand – or by inertia in certain 
kickback situations: The chain is 
stopped and locked.
Checking Chain Lubrication
142BA069 KN
&KDLQ%UDNH
0012BA035 KN