Stihl MS500i

[Evansaw]

Depends on what you want. 462 cuts faster with a 24” bar buried and good chain. But it’s peaky. Where the 500i doesn’t really care what bar is on it. Much flatter torque curve over a wider rpm range

Peaky. For decades people tried to modify chainsaws to become peaky. Timing advance is the most discussed thing other than oils. And now with Factory peaky saw people wanna go back to torque like the 1950's.

we are a bunch of crazy clientele there are times i wonder how the factories think about our feedback

for me i m with Peaky all day night and next morning long... I learned torque the hard way using as a youngster those 070,051 heavyweights not anymore thanks.

 

[Nutball]

Peaky teaches a person how to let the saw do the work, and how to maintain their chain, while torque will let them burn clutches and bars with dull chains easier.

 

[huskihl]

Peaky. For decades people tried to modify chainsaws to become peaky. Timing advance is the most discussed thing other than oils. And now with Factory peaky saw people wanna go back to torque like the 1950's.

we are a bunch of crazy clientele there are times i wonder how the factories think about our feedback

for me i m with Peaky all day night and next morning long... I learned torque the hard way using as a youngster those 070,051 heavyweights not anymore thanks.

I try to add more of what a saw lacks. If it seems peaky, I try to do things that flatten that out some. Unless the owner has a specific job for the saw in mind.

 

[huskihl]

Peaky. For decades people tried to modify chainsaws to become peaky. Timing advance is the most discussed thing other than oils. And now with Factory peaky saw people wanna go back to torque like the 1950's.

we are a bunch of crazy clientele there are times i wonder how the factories think about our feedback

for me i m with Peaky all day night and next morning long... I learned torque the hard way using as a youngster those 070,051 heavyweights not anymore thanks.

And I didn’t mean “peaky” in a bad way. It’s best described as having high horsepower and torque at a higher, but narrower, rpm range.

 

[Evansaw]

And I didn’t mean “peaky” in a bad way. It’s best described as having high horsepower and torque at a higher, but narrower, rpm range.

I know you mastered the art and your builds are towards great balance Kev. It was a rather general conclusion based on the Peaky mention

 

[Evansaw]

Peaky teaches a person how to let the saw do the work, and how to maintain their chain, while torque will let them burn clutches and bars with dull chains easier.

one of the reasons i m telling people that new 50cc saws like 261 and now the 550mk2 are great teaching tools

 

[ABarrick]

462 reminds me of a 372oe. It actually has a pretty wide power band and will keep pulling the chain down to a pretty low rpm, but is more intensified/pulls really hard at the upper end of the power band.

 

[Nutball]

I noticed that with a 372 I've been comparing saws to.

I definitely like torque, but would recommend peak to others unless I know they know proper saw technique. Most people I see tend to always run with a little clutch slip frequently letting the saw sit stalled for a second until they realize they need to lift.

Actually I just saw a video that reminded me of that.

 

[rogue60]

I noticed that with a 372 I've been comparing saws to.

I definitely like torque, but would recommend peak to others unless I know they know proper saw technique. Most people I see tend to always run with a little clutch slip frequently letting the saw sit stalled for a second until they realize they need to lift.

Actually I just saw a video that reminded me of that.

I think I get what you are saying like a lighter touch let the saw do the work not forcing it working the guts out of a saw for no benefit?
kind of like how you are demonstrating in this vid with proper saw technique?

 

[huskyboy]

Stock 500i with 8 pin rim and 28” bar full comp in oak. 10.52 seconds

14.25 seconds. 462 with muffler mod 20” bar. Same wood. Different b/c. This wasn’t a serious test... just for fun. Is it scientific? No. Would I like to redo the test with same b/c again? Yes!

 

[MustangMike]

I guess it depends on your definition, but I do not consider the 462 peaky at all.

Yes, it will slow if you lean on it, and yes it will cut faster if you let the saw do the work.

But, if you lean a little too hard, the chain does not easily stop like what I would describe as "peaky".

A lot of Hybrids (440/460) were very fast, but peaky.

I expect larger saws to have more low end grunt, they have more torque and more inertia, and are often a bit slower.

But, for a 70 cc saw, I think the 462 has a fairly wide power band and a gradual slow down. It is not easy to mistakenly stop the chain.

 

[rumatt]

I guess it depends on your definition, but I do not consider the 462 peaky at all.

Yes, it will slow if you lean on it, and yes it will cut faster if you let the saw do the work.

But, if you lean a little too hard, the chain does not easily stop like what I would describe as "peaky".

A lot of Hybrids (440/460) were very fast, but peaky.

I expect larger saws to have more low end grunt, they have more torque and more inertia, and are often a bit slower.

But, for a 70 cc saw, I think the 462 has a fairly wide power band and a gradual slow down. It is not easy to mistakenly stop the chain.

This!

I have limited time on my 462, but my first reaction was how it had more low end than I was expecting. With a 25" bar buried in oak it slows but never once bogged down.

I would never have thought to describe it as peaky

That said, I might still have it ported, because I have problems.

 

[huskyboy]

I will add that the 500i from what I heard has a break in program similar to what the 572 has that dumbs down the saw for a certain amount of run time. Not sure if the 462 has one or not either. I can’t confirm this for sure, just heard it from word of mouth. It did come from a reputable source. Could be affecting some of the test results were seeing. I try wait myself to compare saws till they are broken in, but that’s not always possible. Lol

 

[huskihl]

If you’ve run both saws at the same time with the same bar, chain, and sprocket, and did so objectively, you’d feel the different running characteristics.

Why would everyone say the 462 makes for a great short bar saw if it had a wide power curve? If that were the case, we’d hear about it being a great with a 32”.

It’s not like I’m hating on one or the other. They both appear to be awesome saws, built for completely different purposes.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Maybe I’ll need to get my buddies 500 for a weekend again see how it is, it’s been run pretty much every day during the week since he picked it up. But has also had muffler opened up. Last tree was a large silver maple pulling a 36” bar full comp chain.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

If you’ve run both saws at the same time with the same bar, chain, and sprocket, and did so objectively, you’d feel the different running characteristics.

Why would everyone say the 462 makes for a great short bar saw if it had a wide power curve? If that were the case, we’d hear about it being a great with a 32”.

It’s not like I’m hating on one or the other. They both appear to be awesome saws, built for completely different purposes.

I like both but they are so close in weight and short bar performance that my pick is the 500i for the better abilities with longer bars.

 

[StephK87]

here's another one

I have to say, after all my testing with the 500i and comparisons against the 462, with 24" bar, same chain, 7 to 8 pin, fully buried, timed by video fps.... The 500i never was the faster saw. Maybe it has bit more low end torque (and fits better with bars above 28") but not "speed". So it depends on the purpose.

In my personal opinion, all in all, the 462 is the better all around saw. Way better filter, even lighter, almost same cutting performance (especially here in europe, 24" counts as long bar here) and my biggest point if you have to pay the fuel prices as a professional in germany, we have to use pricy alcylate gasoline by law for commercial work, the 500i is not your friend. It sucks more fuel per working hour than a 661!

For example, a half year ago i ported a 500i for a friend and professinal logger, he used the 500i as his all day worksaw because of the low weight (almost as light as a 562xp), he thought it would be the perfect "one saw plan" but the saw is so thirsty, the fuel consumption in comparison to his former 562xp was sky rocketing! 2.5 gallons were no rarity for a normal day in the woods!

Sure, the 500i is not a bad saw and maybe the future, but it comes with some deficits. The technology behind it works flawless, the 500i of my friend has over 400h on the clock (m tronic says). The injection gives you incredible throttle response and acceleration and helps with low end torque but it lacks some fuel efficiency (but im sure later version will change that someday).





here are some charts with detailed consumption stats in liter, measured by the german kwf institute









As you can see, at max torque the 500i sucks more fuel than a 661 and a whooping liter (or 0.26 gallon) more fuel than the 572xp! The low fuel consumption of the 572 seems like miracle here.

So, the 500i is a powerful light weight saw, the injection works flawless but it is also tremendously hyped at the moment, that just overshadows some flaws in my opinion.

 

[RI Chevy]

Any info on the saw being electronically detuned for first 10 hours or so? Then electronically released providing more power?

 

[huskihl]

here's another one

I have to say, after all my testing with the 500i and comparisons against the 462, with 24" bar, same chain, 7 to 8 pin, fully buried, timed by video fps.... The 500i never was the faster saw. Maybe it has bit more low end torque (and fits better with bars above 28") but not "speed". So it depends on the purpose.

In my personal opinion, all in all, the 462 is the better all around saw. Way better filter, even lighter, almost same cutting performance (especially here in europe, 24" counts as long bar here) and my biggest point if you have to pay the fuel prices as a professional in germany, we have to use pricy alcylate gasoline by law for commercial work, the 500i is not your friend. It sucks more fuel per working hour than a 661!

For example, a half year ago i ported a 500i for a friend and professinal logger, he used the 500i as his all day worksaw because of the low weight (almost as light as a 562xp), he thought it would be the perfect "one saw plan" but the saw is so thirsty, the fuel consumption in comparison to his former 562xp was sky rocketing! 2.5 gallons were no rarity for a normal day in the woods!

Sure, the 500i is not a bad saw and maybe the future, but it comes with some deficits. The technology behind it works flawless, the 500i of my friend has over 400h on the clock (m tronic says). The injection gives you incredible throttle response and acceleration and helps with low end torque but it lacks some fuel efficiency (but im sure later version will change that someday).





here are some charts with detailed consumption stats in liter, measured by the german kwf institute

View attachment 206584

View attachment 206586

View attachment 206583

View attachment 206585

As you can see, at max torque the 500i sucks more fuel than a 661 and a whooping liter (or 0.26 gallon) more fuel than the 572xp! The low fuel consumption of the 572 seems like miracle here.

So, the 500i is a powerful light weight saw, the injection works flawless but it is also tremendously hyped at the moment, that just overshadows some flaws in my opinion.

The vid you posted was the same one I was referring to. It took place at my gtg. We’ve both come to similar conclusions

 

[Nutball]

I think I get what you are saying like a lighter touch let the saw do the work not forcing it working the guts out of a saw for no benefit?
kind of like how you are demonstrating in this vid with proper saw technique?

First cuts, I was learning its power curve while aiming for the slowest chain speed without slipping the clutch. That's how I get the fastest times in that wood. Looks like I did what I wanted to, but it is a very fine balance getting a slow chain speed without stalling it.