Rich Fife
Sally slap my ass
- Local time
- 2:30 PM
- User ID
- 26245
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2023
- Messages
- 989
- Reaction score
- 2,198
- Location
- Central New York

Take a new Stihl 462c, locally they run $1400... ported = $1750I'd have to disagree about being dollars ahead unless a builder saw can't be found reasonable.
I have $300 into this MS460 and that included purchase of the saw.
View attachment 367736
The brake handle, air filter base and flywheel bearing (Koyo) are the only non oem parts.
I'll agree... you can find used saws all over, but, their prices are climbing... it's getting harder and harder to find a good used saw around these parts... people abuse them and then toss them into a pile or try to sell them for what they paid for them 4, 5, 6 years ago... thats around these parts anyway.
Feel free to buy the clone stuff if you like...heck, I have built a couple for some friends, but I wouldn't waste any breath trying to convince others that it is a good idea. I built & ported a 372 for fun and gave it to a local who runs a tree service. He loved the saw until the crank broke..he figured he didn't even get 10 gallons through the saw before it failed.Take a new Stihl 462c, locally they run $1400... ported = $1750
Take a new Clone Stihl 440, $300... ported $650...
Difference $1100.
Say the Stihl lasts 4 years using it 5 days a week 5hrs a day...
Say the Clone lasts 2 years... with the same amount of time on it... 2 clone ported saws is $1300... then on the 4th year you purchased another now you have $1950 in 3 clones which will last 6yrs...
On the 4th year you purchase another 462c and have it ported... = $3500 in two ported 462s...
$3500-$1950 = $1550 difference. The price gap between OEM and AM is a major factor. I know guys who have been running the clone saws for 4yrs and they're starting to get tired.... they use the 77 and below saws for the grunt work and use their high dollar saws for the big work... they all say they have saved thousands of dollars doing it.
Obviously the clone saws are a subpar piece of equipment when compared to OEM... the rate of failure is greater on these clones as well... but, we all know this.. are there exceptions? Absolutely. I've built clones that are still going strong out in the woods... have I had them fail, Absolutely... have I had Husky cranks spread and rub the case? more than my fair share... lol. Have I had a stihl crank spread? Nope. Have I have a clone crank fail? Nope. My clone 660 with a 2 piece head, I've spun that up to 17,640rpms ahahaha "Hulzilla"... that saw is still running to this day.Feel free to buy the clone stuff if you like...heck, I have built a couple for some friends, but I wouldn't waste any breath trying to convince others that it is a good idea. I built & ported a 372 for fun and gave it to a local who runs a tree service. He loved the saw until the crank broke..he figured he didn't even get 10 gallons through the saw before it failed.
Providing our Country becomes a manufacturing and production nation again...My kids will probably still be using my 500i long after I'm dead.
I don't trust too many people or businesses to work on my stuff. The only way I let others work on my stuff, is if I can't.Most shops won’t touch them so you’re on your own.
I'd have to disagree about being dollars ahead unless a builder saw can't be found reasonable.
I have $300 into this MS460 and that included purchase of the saw.
View attachment 367736
The brake handle, air filter base and flywheel bearing (Koyo) are the only non oem parts.
You forgot to factor in the 17 half-days lost repairing the clone in those 2 years at $6800. Not to mention the cost of parts at…$46Take a new Stihl 462c, locally they run $1400... ported = $1750
Take a new Clone Stihl 440, $300... ported $650...
Difference $1100.
Say the Stihl lasts 4 years using it 5 days a week 5hrs a day...
Say the Clone lasts 2 years... with the same amount of time on it... 2 clone ported saws is $1300... then on the 4th year you purchased another now you have $1950 in 3 clones which will last 6yrs...
On the 4th year you purchase another 462c and have it ported... = $3500 in two ported 462s...
$3500-$1950 = $1550 difference. The price gap between OEM and AM is a major factor. I know guys who have been running the clone saws for 4yrs and they're starting to get tired.... they use the 77 and below saws for the grunt work and use their high dollar saws for the big work... they all say they have saved thousands of dollars doing it.
Thats why you buy 2... always have a back up! And fix the one in the garage after hours.You forgot to factor in the 17 half-days lost repairing the clone in those 2 years at $6800. Not to mention the cost of parts at…$46
These guy's will *s-word on you for having clone sawsI promise I'll stop flooding the site... I'm bored. Sorry.![]()