STIHL If You Could Pick A 46........

[huskyboy]

Shoulda called the 462c the 442c and the 500i the 462i. Since the 462 replaces the 440/441 and the 500i replaces the 460/461. Doesn’t really matter in the big picture I guess, but less confusing numbering anyway.

 

[MustangMike]

Yea, and the 427 Ford is really a 425, the later 396s were 402s, and a 38 s/b called a 35, and a 44 Mag a 43 ...

Names are often just picked to try to increase sales.

 

[MustangMike]

I'm sure that the 462 having the same power (instead of size) of a 460 or 461 had something to do with it.

Also, naming it as a successor to the 441 may not have been a wise move!

 

[Michpatriot]

Well I've only had one 461R and its been one of the best saws I've run for the size, it didn't stay stock for long because if there's more to be had I always go find it. I deleted the base gasket and followed Randy's thread as far as I dared with drilling the carb main jet, a 460 coil, and advancing the timing, then taking the sharp lip off the bottom of the intake port.. it runs great now with 32" bar...but to hear Randy say there's so much more torque to be had compared to the 462 makes me glad I went with a 461 when I just ordered my second 461, this one from Randy.

Follow up on the 461 from Randy..sweet saw for sure..I've run it felling and bucking with a 25" lightweight and a full comp chain..8 tooth rim no problem in hardwood..this 461 is a nice saw! My old 461R is on shelf duty now.

 

[CR888]

The 461 certainly earnt it's great reputation as a mid-sized felling/bucking/firewood saw.

 

[MustangMike]

IMO, ported 460/461 s make great mid size saws. Very reliable and durable saws.

In stock form (w/o muff mod or limiters removed) I believe that 461s run dangerously hot.

 

[Orangeinthebarn]

My first pick would be a ported 044/440 hybrid with early 046 cylinder. Out of those listed I would take 461 first 462 046 460 in that order.

 

[Woodslasher]

If I could pick a 46 it'd be a 461, no contest. One of those would be my 1-saw plan. They can run anything from a 20" bar to a 36" bar, they're dead-nuts simple, and they're new enough you can still get any part you need for them.

 

[Stump Shot]

Had a 460 here that I planned on doing something with someday and as I figured, it needed two of everything to make into a viable saw again, so I took my own advice and bought a new 461, sold the 460 for parts and had @tree monkey port it for me. Not that I couldn't myself, I have been wanting a saw by Scott for my collection for some time and this was the best shot I had with a brand new Stihl that he likes to do. Now I'm glad I took my own advice and have an all brand new saw I can use when I need it and not a mostly rebuilt one with some old parts remaining yet. This saw will do most everything I'll ever run into and with plenty of service life ahead of it will be with me for quite some time to come.

Disclaimer, it was hard not pulling the trigger on a 462 I had my hands on and honestly a 572 crossed my mind several times. Lots of good stuff out there now days, too bad the 461 has had its day and I figured I best get while the gettin' was good.

 

[BlackGreyhound]

I really like the MS461 that Randy did for me years ago. It's my felling/bucking saw for larger trees. I added a high-output oiler and it easily runs 32" full comp or 36" skip in hardwood. TBH, I've never really spent quality time with 046, 460 or 462.

 

[Orangeinthebarn]

In another year or 2 everyone will wish they had a 461 for the reliability and power they make. It will be like the 361 is to the 60cc class that everyone wants for a bulletproof reliable saw

 

[MustangMike]

The 361 was light for it's size, the 461 is not.

In line with what "in the barn" said I have 2 hybrids with 046 D jugs and two 462. They are my go to saws in the mid size range.

I really like my 460, but why choose it (or a 461) when the lighter Hybrid will run just as strong?

The ported 462s are lighter yet and cut very fast in hardwood up to 20".

 

[Woodslasher]

The 361 was light for it's size, the 461 is not.

In line with what "in the barn" said I have 2 hybrids with 046 D jugs and two 462. They are my go to saws in the mid size range.

I really like my 460, but why choose it (or a 461) when the lighter Hybrid will run just as strong?

The ported 462s are lighter yet and cut very fast in hardwood up to 20".

The CFB hybrid I had seemed to be pretty fast, but with a 32" bar it liked to stall fairly easily in softwoods. I've run two 461's and while they are a bit heavier than a hybrid they have more grunt and don't stall as easily. Full disclaimer: All three saws had Maxflow filters, all 3 saws had the factory exhaust outlet opened up, and the CFB had a 2nd deflector while the 461's just had the dp covers.

I think of the 461 as being in the 80cc class (I know it's not) while hybrids are in the 044/372 class. A/v aside I'd take a hybrid over a 372 any day of the week but I feel like a 461 should be compared with a 385 for what I'd use it for. I wouldn't run a 36" on an 044 or a 71cc 372, but I'd put a 36" on either of the 461's I ran without a 2nd thought. When I think "461" this is what comes to mind: (Not my pic, not my mug)

 

[Orangeinthebarn]

The CFB hybrid I had seemed to be pretty fast, but with a 32" bar it liked to stall fairly easily in softwoods. I've run two 461's and while they are a bit heavier than a hybrid they have more grunt and don't stall as easily. Full disclaimer: All three saws had Maxflow filters, all 3 saws had the factory exhaust outlet opened up, and the CFB had a 2nd deflector while the 461's just had the dp covers.

I think of the 461 as being in the 80cc class (I know it's not) while hybrids are in the 044/372 class. A/v aside I'd take a hybrid over a 372 any day of the week but I feel like a 461 should be compared with a 385 for what I'd use it for. I wouldn't run a 36" on an 044 or a 71cc 372, but I'd put a 36" on either of the 461's I ran without a 2nd thought. When I think "461" this is what comes to mind: (Not my pic, not my mug)

I agree with you. My 461 is stock with just an Eagan exhaust mods and retuned and it will pull a 32 with no problem when needed. I’ve had several 044 one of those was ported and with the longer bars it would do it but wasn’t as happy as the 461. The ported 044 did shine with 25 inch bar. I have a 462 and really wouldn’t want to go more than 25 on it. I do enjoy running the 462 better than all others for an all around saw, it’s just not a big wood saw and the 46/461 will probably outlast two of them

 

[MustangMike]

I've only got 2 issues with the 461s:

1) In stock form they just run too hot. The ONLY purpose for that internal saddle is to try to cool the saw down. If you modded your muffler I'm sure you pulled your limiters on the carb, and you should be just fine.

2) I've had 3 or 4 461s come into me with stripped spark plug threads. I've seen far more 460s than 461s, and 660s and 440s and have never had one with stripped spark plug threads. I believe I replaced one of them with new OEM P+C and it came back again with the same problem.

Other than that, the long quad port transfers seem to help with making good torque, the addl weight makes them feel a little smoother and they otherwise seem to be quite durable. Since I have a strong running ported 460 I just never felt the need for one.

 

[Dennis Coon]

A

To me the 462 is a short bar saw & it sounds like that is your primary use for one: I’m glad you like it.




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Agreed, that's how I've come to think of my 462. 72dl of well filed 3/8 in medium sized Australian timber, especially green, and it's a real good 70cc saw . Gotta keep the revs up though.

 

[MustangMike]

I have 2 ported 462s (love em), one with 20" one with 24", then my Hybrids have 28" bars.

The 462s are fast and smooth and good for most stuff I cut (hardwood +/- 20").

 

[old saw fixer]

My 462 Motronic is stock, but plenty stout for what I do. It came with a 25" bar, I have a 25" Stihl Lightweight and 16",18" and 20" bars to share with my 036 Pro. For fun I swap in an 8 pin rim and the 18" bar...

 

[sledneck22]

My 462 Motronic is stock, but plenty stout for what I do. It came with a 25" bar, I have a 25" Stihl Lightweight and 16",18" and 20" bars to share with my 036 Pro. For fun I swap in an 8 pin rim and the 18" bar...

My 462 and 044 are equiped with a 20" light bar and 8pin rim %95 of the time now. Basically wood laser beams.
I make the 2095 and 661 run the long bars now.

I don't have too many people around me that have pro-saws that I get to try out on a regular basis so I don't have much experience running a O46 460 or 461. I wish I did though. with that said, my 462 is the first saw I grab and what I use to fell.

 

[huskihl]

The newer updated 462’s are much more level-headed than the earlier model. Not nearly as spicy, either, but that’s to be expected