MS462 vs MS500i

[CR888]

I'll tell you what drinks fuel is my ported MMWS MS660. Great solid saw, fun to run but after using 50/60cc Stratos saws the 660 seems to guzzle fuel fast, gotta big tank too. I don't mind it's just annoying having to fill it up all the time. I'm with Mike on those 462's... definately one of Stihl best offerings.

 

[CLEARCUT]

I think that the 462 certainly has its place...I come from a different standpoint than some. Production is king. Quality is very important too, but ultimately, they want both. I’m referring to loggers, cutting contractors, etc.
So, there is a balance for me on which saw will be used depending on a lot of variables. I can tell when the saw is holding me back. Whether that is lack of torque/power, or because the weight is over-fatiguing me. The 500 happens to be plenty light, while providing plenty of power for a lot of my applications. Sure, it has things I would love to change. The 462 can certainly pull a 28 here just fine, but the 500 or a 461 just does it better in many situations(not all) and helps me be a more productive faller.
But at the end of the day, that’s just what works for me. Some people feel more productive with something else. There are 60-something year old fallers who run the lightest possible setup, and others who refuse to run anything smaller than a 390 with full-weight bars, lol. I’m trying to be a valuable faller while not killing my body too much, lol. Kinda a rabbit trail post, but anyways...

 

[MustangMike]

What you say makes a lot of sense. I have the luxury of usually being able to drive my truck pretty close to what I'm cutting, so if I want to pull out a larger saw for something I do. (Often just for felling or stumping)

If I had to go out into the woods for the whole day with just one saw, I think I would err on the side of the more powerful one.

Also keep in mind that most of the logging around here is "selective", not clear cut, so even though most of our trees are hardwoods, few of them are very large.

My local tree guy rarely runs more than a 20"bar, but he can match his cut perfectly from both sides, so there is not much he can't handle with it.

He also likes to run full skip "because they hit stuff too often, and there are fewer teeth to fix".

I'm usually in "virgin" wood and like full comp because it cuts faster, but I also always have extra saws in case something get's mucked!

 

[Big_6]

Mike,
Where do you find this full skip chain?
I'd have a full complement for you !
They knew I was coming for this one! The nails were so well preserved! One chain was later saved!

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[Skeans1]

What you say makes a lot of sense. I have the luxury of usually being able to drive my truck pretty close to what I'm cutting, so if I want to pull out a larger saw for something I do. (Often just for felling or stumping)

If I had to go out into the woods for the whole day with just one saw, I think I would err on the side of the more powerful one.

Also keep in mind that most of the logging around here is "selective", not clear cut, so even though most of our trees are hardwoods, few of them are very large.

My local tree guy rarely runs more than a 20"bar, but he can match his cut perfectly from both sides, so there is not much he can't handle with it.

He also likes to run full skip "because they hit stuff too often, and there are fewer teeth to fix".

I'm usually in "virgin" wood and like full comp because it cuts faster, but I also always have extra saws in case something get's mucked!

There’s a lot of selective cutting or thinning out here as well in all sorts of age classes if it’s getting to the size it needs hand cut it’s above 32”. Sometimes it’s not the wood that can dictate the bar but the slope so you can safely buck something and not have to double cut on the face.


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[MustangMike]

There’s a lot of selective cutting or thinning out here as well in all sorts of age classes if it’s getting to the size it needs hand cut it’s above 32”. Sometimes it’s not the wood that can dictate the bar but the slope so you can safely buck something and not have to double cut on the face.


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Been there on a few occasions, one time with some really hollow leaners with no place to run (it was just a small, but rugged rocked slope) ... was kinda sketchy, but the homeowner had young kids that played near there so I got it done.

 

[andyshine77]

I think that the 462 certainly has its place...I come from a different standpoint than some. Production is king. Quality is very important too, but ultimately, they want both. I’m referring to loggers, cutting contractors, etc.
So, there is a balance for me on which saw will be used depending on a lot of variables. I can tell when the saw is holding me back. Whether that is lack of torque/power, or because the weight is over-fatiguing me. The 500 happens to be plenty light, while providing plenty of power for a lot of my applications. Sure, it has things I would love to change. The 462 can certainly pull a 28 here just fine, but the 500 or a 461 just does it better in many situations(not all) and helps me be a more productive faller.
But at the end of the day, that’s just what works for me. Some people feel more productive with something else. There are 60-something year old fallers who run the lightest possible setup, and others who refuse to run anything smaller than a 390 with full-weight bars, lol. I’m trying to be a valuable faller while not killing my body too much, lol. Kinda a rabbit trail post, but anyways...

A lot of good points, from a pragmatic standpoint.

 

[foeke]

What's the reasoning there? Those nails must have been there for a while.
But why so many in one area?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G955F met Tapatalk

 

[CLEARCUT]

What's the reasoning there? Those nails must have been there for a while.
But why so many in one area?

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G955F met Tapatalk

A kid got a hammer and a box of nails.

 

[ddiesel2006]

Is anyone actually finding 500i's in stock at local dealers? Or any dealers online who will ship?

 

[huskihl]

Is anyone actually finding 500i's in stock at local dealers? Or any dealers online who will ship?

There are a few that pop up here and there. I’m in a small rural area and my dealer has sold five of them in the past couple months. But can’t get any more until May

 

[thinair]

Not much help for you, But our Local Dealers here in BC Literally have piles of them in stock right now and they are selling fast. The poor 462's and 661's sit on the shelves and the 500's are flying out the door.

 

[RI Chevy]

Can't be. It was voted most underated saw of the year...

 

[huskyboy]

Can't be. It was voted most underated saw of the year...

Suspension kit and bark box must have been helpful improvements?

 

[RI Chevy]

SO... It has moved down from the #1 spot???

 

[andyshine77]

They should be available most places now, the dealers that actually move products have priority, the low volume dealers may have a harder time getting them.

 

[MS500i R]

They should be available most places now, the dealers that actually move products have priority, the low volume dealers may have a harder time getting them.

High volume dealers are struggling to get inventory across the board from Stihl. Parts are generally available. But Kombis, weed whackers/brushcutters, chainsaws are all pretty hard to come by.

 

[Hinerman]

High volume dealers are struggling to get inventory across the board from Stihl. Parts are generally available. But Kombis, weed whackers/brushcutters, chainsaws are all pretty hard to come by.

Same here. I went into the Stihl dealer a couple weeks ago and commented how it was time to order more saws and stuff; his reply, "Can't get anything..."

 

[Chainsaw Addict]

I think that the 462 certainly has its place...I come from a different standpoint than some. Production is king. Quality is very important too, but ultimately, they want both. I’m referring to loggers, cutting contractors, etc.
So, there is a balance for me on which saw will be used depending on a lot of variables. I can tell when the saw is holding me back. Whether that is lack of torque/power, or because the weight is over-fatiguing me. The 500 happens to be plenty light, while providing plenty of power for a lot of my applications. Sure, it has things I would love to change. The 462 can certainly pull a 28 here just fine, but the 500 or a 461 just does it better in many situations(not all) and helps me be a more productive faller.
But at the end of the day, that’s just what works for me. Some people feel more productive with something else. There are 60-something year old fallers who run the lightest possible setup, and others who refuse to run anything smaller than a 390 with full-weight bars, lol. I’m trying to be a valuable faller while not killing my body too much, lol. Kinda a rabbit trail post, but anyways...

Having used the 500i more than most ever would, how is the stock filter? Seems to look similar to 661. Redbull video on 661 filter scared me enough to put MaxFlow on mine.

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[CLEARCUT]

Having used the 500i more than most ever would, how is the stock filter? Seems to look similar to 661. Redbull video on 661 filter scared me enough to put MaxFlow on mine.

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Exact same filter as the 661, but I’d say it stays a little bit cleaner, but not a whole lot different. I run a pre-filter on it, and that helps quite a bit. If a proper Max-flo kit becomes available, I’ll definitely give it a go. Under everyday commercial use, the stock system with the pre-filter is working just fine IMO.