New saw 462 vs 500i

[Dustin4185]

I've ran both the 462 and 500i, im curious which one revs up to max rpm quicker. It would be interesting to stop watch the two saws. They are both lightning fast, I can't tell them apart, but I've heard that the 462 is quicker

Same bar and chain, I would say it would depend on the size. I have both and they both are pretty zippy. I bet if I put a long bar on the 462 and a long bar on the 500, the 462 wouldn’t be “as zippy”. Both are fun saws to run and need to be taken to Randy sometime soon!

 

[Normzilla]

I have an MS290, but have been needing a more powerful saw for years. It is for storm clean up and maintenance on 40 acres of mainly hunting land. Debating between ms462 (c if I can get it or cm) and 500i. Will put a 28 or 32 bar on it use it for larger tasks and leave the 290 for limbing and other small tasks. Any problems with those saws that should steer me one way or the other?


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500I

 

[Funky sawman]

Thing is, with a 500i and a ms290 combo, you will find yourself using the 500i alot more, the weight is almost the same but the creature comforts are far greater with the 500i. A two saw plan would be a 261 with a 20 inch then a 500i running 28 but that's me.

 

[MustangMike]

My 2 saw plan is a ported 261 and 2 ported 462s, then 2 ported hybrids, a ported 460 and a bunch of 90 cc saws if I need more!

Wait ... I left out my ported 360, my 044 ... and ...

 

[redneckhillbilly]

3rd page and nobody has said you should buy both of them yet. slackers

 

[HumBurner]

I ran a 30 inch bar on a 372xp falling timber....worked just fine.
The west coast cutters I've known, use 32"s on their 046/460's and 42"s on 390xp or 660's all the time.

In my opinion guys are way too conservative about bar length.
I'd run a 32" bar on an ms462 no problem.

If you're not competing in a cookie cutting contest don't worry about bar length too much.

I usually have a 32" on the 390xp, but have several times run a 42" on it in both madrone and live oak (obviously old-growth and dense), falling and bucking 14" length rounds, fully-buried. Rarely did it bog or struggle, but I also wasn't leaning in on it or the dogs.

Had to run the 32" on my 572 in old-growth live oak one time when the 390 refused to start (and of course started fine a couple hours later.) It DID NOT like having that much bar/chain in that type of wood. Even harder cause the cut was at full reach over my head, backbarring. Oiler didn't seem like it was making it to the sprocket-nose, also.

Just anecdotal and for reference.

 

[pwheel]

I'd get the 462 with a light 25" bar and keep the 290 as a backup. The 500i is a logging saw and drinks a lot of fuel at light loads.

 

[Seachaser]

3rd page and nobody has said you should buy both of them yet. slackers

If I was going to buy two, I’d buy the 400 and 500. But that’s just me. That was my plan, but I got a good deal on a 572.

 

[PA Plumber]

I can tell you a 441 Regular ole carb version will pull a 32" bar with full comp chain just fine. Did it for years and years mostly in Oak. The 441 is also a fuel sipper.
A ported 500i guzzles fuel and is LOUD. Has plenty of get up and go. I do like it for a felling saw.
Can't help you with the 462.
My current two saw Stihl plan...ported 261 and ported 500i.
I wouldn't mind trying a stock 500i sometime. I'm guessing it would be more than satisfactory for what I do now (which isn't much!).

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I can tell you a 441 Regular ole carb version will pull a 32" bar with full comp chain just fine. Did it for years and years mostly in Oak. The 441 is also a fuel sipper.
A ported 500i guzzles fuel and is LOUD. Has plenty of get up and go. I do like it for a felling saw.
Can't help you with the 462.
My current two saw Stihl plan...ported 261 and ported 500i.
I wouldn't mind trying a stock 500i sometime. I'm guessing it would be more than satisfactory for what I do now (which isn't much!).

I’ve always thought a stock 441 was a turd but they cut well when ported.

 

[PA Plumber]

I’ve always thought a stock 441 was a turd but they cut well when ported.

I must have gotten a good one. It's the saw in my avatar sporting a 32" bar.
I have since sold it to a friend. He's been enjoying it the last few years.

 

[MustangMike]

I had a adjustable carb version 441 and I thought it ran just fine. Did a good deal of milling Ash with it, and I was used to running my 10 mm 044 which was being repaired. Tell you the truth, I always thought they ran about equal even after both saws were running again.