Stihl MS 500i W

[kurtz]

Great to hear that this is still a go.

 

[jmester]

@Woodpecker can we move this from the classifieds to the chainsaw section. Seems it will be more fitting as once the parts show up there will be pictures and continuation of thread.
@David Young @SOS Ridgerider

 

[jmester]

Pictures and build to come once parts arrive.

 

[jmester]

Parts arrived. Still waiting on the cover for the on off switch. Hopefully here next month some time. 3 days from the uk to me i was impressed.

 

[jmester]

Just got off the phone with my dealer they say we need the saw to pull the data from the original control unit with it installed on the saw. Thought I could just take both control units and swap data not the case. Something about a more complete file if installed on saw. Dealer called stihl tech to confirm. They say they can save the files on computer then transfer to new control unit . Hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

Once done with that, get saw back and install heated parts and a few other things.

 

[jmester]

Finally got to the dealer to hook up to the mdg1. Turned out not so good. Software would not communicate with the control unit. Said it needed to be updated. I was there and watched them update the software. Thinking its going to require a call to Stihl tech.

 

[Funky sawman]

Finally got to the dealer to hook up to the mdg1. Turned out not so good. Software would not communicate with the control unit. Said it needed to be updated. I was there and watched them update the software. Thinking its going to require a call to Stihl tech.

I reckon I will stick with converting 044, 064, 066 and such to Arctic

 

[jmester]

I don't know, maybe. Parts availabilty will become the problem in the future. Always going to be problems the first time. I will get it figured out.

 

[jmester]

Well finally got to the bottom of the problem with the software at my dealers. They updated to diagnostic software 2.0 but were having a Bluetooth driver error. They have to order the new Bluetooth driver from Stihl. Probably a tech bulletin on it some where. Guess when stihl went from mdg1 part number 5910 840 0207 to the current mdg1 part number 5910 840 0210 they changed a few things mainly the Bluetooth driver. Hopefully will have it squared away next week.

Have the heated stuff installed minus the control unit and on/off switch.

 

[kurtz]

Thanks for the update and being persistent with the conversion. Your info will help others do the same thing.

 

[jmester]

Got the control unit installed and calibrated. There was no place in the diagnostic software to click replace control unit as it says in the service manual. So we installed the control unit and ran it through calibration. Guess they are not blank and have data set in them.

 

[jmester]

Removed the black cover to expose the mounting hole in the tank handle for the on/off Switch.

 

[jmester]

Showing the wiring for the on/off switch. The round ground terminal comes from the saws on/off switch (orange button) the round brass terminal comes from the wiring on the half wrap.


Switch installed. Have the proper switch cover on order. Just modify the existing cover to help keep the dirt out. Also the switch is backwards from my 660 off is up and down is on. Not sure why. Could probably just flip switch.

 

[jmester]

Replacing the main saw on/off switch. Has 4 wires instead of 2. Connecter goes for 2 pins to 4 pins.

 

[jmester]

Moving farther along with the wiring. There are 2 long black wires that run to the rear heating element. One comes from the wrap handle wiring and one from the main saw on/off connect at the control unit.

 

[jmester]

Installed the rear heating element. Definitely better then the stick on ones 460/660's have. Wiring has better routing and tabs to hold them in place.

 

[jmester]

To help with the rear heating element wiring

 

[jmester]

New control unit installed.

 

[kurtz]

Curious if you got to running and testing this saw yet?

 

[jmester]

I ran it the other week for a day. Handles heat well. Didn't use them much as it warmed up quite a bit. Need to put some more time on it. It feels that the handles warm better on the the lower rpm range than say a 660. That is probably subjective though.