STIHL MS 400

[MustangMike]

Mason, what bar were you running on the 462 … they make a huge difference both in weight and balance.

The 362 is very front heavy with a 20" ES B+C (the way most of them are sold). With a 20" E bar (or lighter), not so much.

 

[huskyboy]

Mason, what bar were you running on the 462 … they make a huge difference both in weight and balance.

The 362 is very front heavy with a 20" ES B+C (the way most of them are sold). With a 20" E bar (or lighter), not so much.

Same bar I run on all my 70’s... usually a 24”. Can’t remember what bar it was, I’d have to go thru the videos. It ran, oiled and balanced it fine though.

 

[MustangMike]

Running that light powerhead with a 20" light B+C may give you a different impression.

I also like my light 20" Sugi bar on my MOFO 360. I'm sure that saw would pull a 24", but it would feel much different.

 

[sawmikaze]

I’ve used the 462 for a week last year and it is very lite for 72cc on paper, but fueled and oiled up with a bar on it... it feels really similar to a 372xp or 044. Not a bad thing at all. Good saw. But it’s not a 4 cube (60cc class) replacement like people hype it to be. It’s realistically a 044/440 replacement. Imho.

Good assessment.

 

[huskyboy]

Running that light powerhead with a 20" light B+C may give you a different impression.

I also like my light 20" Sugi bar on my MOFO 360. I'm sure that saw would pull a 24", but it would feel much different.

I usually prefer to run 20” on 60cc saws and under

 

[MustangMike]

Most of the tree guys around here are running 20" bars powered by 460s or 461s. IMO, the 462 will be a big improvement, providing the same level of performance in a lighter package.

If you are just bucking, the weight does not make much difference, but if you are limbing and bucking, or working out of a bucket, it sure as heck does.

 

[MustangMike]

Keep in mind that most tree guys are not running ported saws like we do.

 

[huskyboy]

20” on a 461?

 

[Woodpecker]

20” on a 461?

 

[MustangMike]

Very common around here, and since the stickers fall off, most of them don't know if they are running 460s or 461s. They even put 460 recoils on 461s (it will work, but only 3 of the 4 bolts fit).

 

[RI Chevy]

20” on a 461?

20 on a 660!

 

[00wyk]

I was told looks are deceiving. Transfer channels on the front not on the side. Mag piston. They should be fairly similar but still plenty different non the less.

So, basically, designed after other Stihl saws. Which makes sense, of course.

I am curious about the magnesium piston, tho. I am not exactly sure how important that really is on a work saw. It's already 67cc's on a chassis that they claim is only .2kgs more than a 59cc 362. I think that displacement on the same chassis is the important part.
The magnesium piston sounds like marketing to me.

 

[00wyk]

I’ve used the 462 for a week last year and it is very lite for 72cc on paper, but fueled and oiled up with a bar on it... it feels really similar to a 372xp or 044. Not a bad thing at all. Good saw. But it’s not a 4 cube (60cc class) replacement like people hype it to be. It’s realistically a 044/440 replacement. Imho.

Have you compared the weights fully loaded? In person, the 462 fuel tank looks smaller than that on my 044. But it's difficult to say just by looks.
I've only hefted the 362 and the 462 side by side, and there's not a big difference. I wouldn't consider a 362 based on that alone. But I haven't owned a 60cc saw in most of a decade after my experiences with my MM 262 and ported 361. So that just might be me. In fact, I think my 044 even fully loaded is within a few ounces of a 262 with a similar B&C. I will often bring my 044 when I really only need a 50cc saw. That's something that never happened with my 372. But yer a young buck So the differences might not mean anything to you. And cutting in a wood pile is a lot different than hiking the stuff up in the woods. So it's different strokes for different folks.

 

[sawmikaze]

20” on a 461?

24" for the most part here on a 461 or it's variants.

 

[taplinhill]

20 on a 660!

That's what my nephew uses as a landing saw.
But 24" bars are not common in my neck of the woods.

 

[huskyboy]

24" for the most part here on a 461 or it's variants.

That seems about right. I ran a 24” with a 8 pin on a ported one last week and it was perfect. I would imagine a stock one has more than enough powa for a 24 7 pin.

 

[MustangMike]

And cutting in a wood pile is a lot different than hiking the stuff up in the woods. So it's different strokes for different folks.

I am totally in agreement with your comments. 262s are real good saws, but at over 13 lbs they are very heavy for a 60 cc saw, and the 10mm 044 and new 462 are so light it makes choosing one of them over most 60 cc saws a no brainer.

When I'm standing on top of a pile of logs that are covered with saw dust and I have to stop the saw to move a few rounds and then re start it, I want a light, powerful saw with a decomp button, and I'm lovin my new 462 w/20" light bar for that purpose. My MOFO 360 is also a great choice for this situation as it has the power of a 70 cc saw but is under 13 lbs. and has a decomp. Doc Al does a great job on these things.

And yes, when you are in your 60s, these things are noticed a lot more than when you were in your 20s!!!

 

[huskyboy]

Have you compared the weights fully loaded? In person, the 462 fuel tank looks smaller than that on my 044. But it's difficult to say just by looks.
I've only hefted the 362 and the 462 side by side, and there's not a big difference. I wouldn't consider a 362 based on that alone. But I haven't owned a 60cc saw in most of a decade after my experiences with my MM 262 and ported 361. So that just might be me. In fact, I think my 044 even fully loaded is within a few ounces of a 262 with a similar B&C. I will often bring my 044 when I really only need a 50cc saw. That's something that never happened with my 372. But yer a young buck So the differences might not mean anything to you. And cutting in a wood pile is a lot different than hiking the stuff up in the woods. So it's different strokes for different folks.

Ain’t no scales out in the woods sir, I go by feel.

 

[MustangMike]

You are missing the point Mason. The saw will pull it, but if 90% of your wood is under 20" and you also have to do a lot of limbing (they often just use one saw all day) a 24" bar just tends to get in the way. Even in my log pile, I don't want a longer bar because it will just cut the next log too much. Sometimes I think I should just put an 18" on it, and I've had 460s come in to me with 18" bars on them.

A saw is generally a lot more nimble with a shorter bar.

 

[sawmikaze]

That seems about right. I ran a 24” with a 8 pin on a ported one last week and it was perfect. I would imagine a stock one has more than enough powa for a 24 7 pin.

muffler mod and a timing advance on our work saw. It has PLENTY of stones for a 24" bar and a 7 pin. The abuse the saw has taken in 4 years is amazing...I'm waiting for it to die, barely has any rubber left on the handle bar.