Stihl MS400 CM VW Arctic

[gillettadam]

Hi all,

Long time lurker, but thought I'd contribute this. As many of you will know the MS400 is a very nice saw but it is not available as an arctic / heated handle / vw version. In the UK historically we had the MS362 heated handle although thia has been discontinued. I wanted to see if an MS400 could be converted to vw spec using MS362 parts. There are a few issues mostly to do with the crankcase castings, but an MS400 can be converted. I will post a list of parts required although it is probably more cost effective to buy an ms362 arctic, gut it for bits and sell on as a standard saw. Hope this is of some use to someone! I will add more details later, but a couple of pics for you now.

 

[gillettadam]

 

[gillettadam]

Build process:
I started by gutting the 362 arctic. I also tried the 362 flywheel on the 400 to make sure it would run okay without swapping the coil/mtronic controller. This worked fine. The crank case of the 400 has not been made to allow the generator to fit under the flywheel. The mounting lugs are there but need modification to allow the magnet to clear, and to drop the generator enough for the flywheel to fit on properly. With the generator mounts modified the generator can be fitted and the flywheel from the 362 fitted to the 400.

 

[gillettadam]

The front handle is a bit of a fiddle to fit. The AV mounts are integral to the plastic handle on the 400 so I used the 362 AV mounts to moint the handle. Make sure not to mount the handle as the hole where the cables go through under the carb to above the fuel tank exists in the air box but the crank case has not been drilled. This is easily solved and as the airbox is hard mounted to the crank case there is no worry about flex in the av mount stretching the cable. There is also angrommet here which protects the cables. Once the cables have been fed through the handle can be mounted up

 

[gillettadam]

The rear handle is probably the easiest part. This is a straight swap from the 362 and plugs directly into the front handle harness. Just make sure the cables are correctly routed and cliped in so the throttle does not rub.

 

[gillettadam]

I would be tempted if buying new parts to skip the carburettor heating unless really needed as this adds to the cost substantially. The carb has to be removed and the carb mounting bracket as well. This is a good time to route the power wire from the handle harness through the air box. It is also the best time to clean the paint off the chassis and fit the heat switch and connect to the handle loom. Once this is done fit the 362 carb bracket, the thermostatic switch, and connect the switch to the handle loom. Refit the carb and then fit the heating element. The heating element connects to a cable from the switch on a mounting from the carb mounting bracket. The intake deflector and the airfilter can be reinstalled.

 

[gillettadam]

Finally, remove the coil, and route the generator wire behind it and connect to the handle harness. Remount coil and side cover. Fit shroud from 362 and test.

 

[lohan808]

This thread is going to need some photos of the process.

 

[gillettadam]

Yes, I plan on doing that. I didn't take photos during the build process but I need to take the saw apart again and get some pictures. I will also add a BOM for all the parts needed to convert.

 

[lohan808]

Magnificent thread by the way. Looking forward to seeing the work. It's a shame that Stihl couldn't do this, as the 400 will be the evolution of the 362 going forward. I am interested in doing this to my modified 362c.

 

[gillettadam]

Apologies for not adding photos yet, I am waiting for some bits to arrive, and will take the photos then. I have not forgotten! In the mean time I have a parts list, I've broken it into sections.

Behind recoil cover:
1140 404 3500 generator qty 1
9022 313 0658 screw qty 2
1140 400 1206 flywheel qty 1
1121 442 0402 insulating hose qty 1

Handles
1140 790 1700 front handle qty 1
1140 430 6004 rear handle heater qty 1
1138 430 0502 switch qty 1
0000 958 1511 washer qty 1
1128 432 2200 nut qty 1
1110 432 9200 grommet qty 1
1140 440 3007 harness qty 1
1125 162 2901 grommet qty 1
0000 937 4062 hose qty 1
0000 937 4063 hose qty 1
1121 442 0402 insulator qty 2
1138 442 0404 insulator qty 1
1140 791 1900 Front av mount qty 1
9074 478 4705 screw qty 4
1140 791 7500 cover qty 1
9074 478 4475 screw qty 1

Carburettor
1140 430 0601 switch qty 1
9074 478 2440 screw qty 1
1140 434 5101 heater qty 1
1140 120 0902 bracket qty 1

Top cover
1140 080 1617 top cover qty 1

For the full conversion all parts are required. The parts in the Carburettor section can be ignored if only handle heating is desired. If desired there is an arctic cover 1140 007 1002 which prevents snow being sucked into the flywheel and overheating the saw due to lack of airflow. This should be removed in higher temperatures though. There is a full wrap handle this is part 1140 790 3701. Additional parts for the full wrap if converting a saw that is not already a wrap handle are 1140 791 5500, 9307 021 0120, 9022 371 1020
I have checked, but if anyone notices any typos on the part numbers let me know and I will edit the post to correct. Note if buying a 362 with the heated handles to strip you need to make sure it is an mtronic version otherwise a lot of the parts will not be compatible with the 400.

 

[HP Ultra]

...It's a shame that Stihl couldn't do this, as the 400 will be the evolution of the 362 going forward...

At AGRITECHNICA (The world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery) we were told , that STIHL will release the MS 400 with heated handles in the nearby future.