STIHL The Official Stihl Chainsaws Thread

[Sloughfoot]

Stihl offer a 500i with the Arctic 3/4 wrap?

There's one with it at my local shop.

 

[Woodslasher]

There's one with it at my local shop.

Heated 3/4 wrap in Cali? That's kinda unusual.

 

[stihl livin]

Heated 3/4 wrap in Cali? That's kinda unusual.

Not really. @davidwyby has a heated ported 2186 in Southern California

 

[Sloughfoot]

Heated 3/4 wrap in Cali? That's kinda unusual.

Missed the Arctic part in that query. Probably not. Never know though. Other day a neighbor kid was wearing a fleece baclava and it was 55 degrees.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Not really. @davidwyby has a heated ported 2186 in Southern California

Cold is relative. Anything under 80 degrees is sweater weather for @davidwyby

 

[Bill G]

Stihl does not allow US dealers to sell any arctic models. In Canada they offer the 261 arctic in 1/2 wrap only. They offer the 362, 462, and 661 arctic in 1/2 wrap and 3/4 wrap but no 500I arctic saws (currently). They do offer the 500i in an arctic version in Europe but I cannot speak to if they offer it in a 3/4 wrap version.

 

[K Mueller]

Stihl does not allow US dealers to sell any arctic models. In Canada they offer the 261 arctic in 1/2 wrap only. They offer the 362, 462, and 661 arctic in 1/2 wrap and 3/4 wrap but no 500I arctic saws (currently). They do offer the 500i in an arctic version in Europe but I cannot speak to if they offer it in a 3/4 wrap version.

Well that’s lame. Thanks for the info

 

[davidwyby]

Not really. @davidwyby has a heated ported 2186 in Southern California

Imported from Canadia, eh

I’m gonna power a personal AC with the juice…

 

[jacob j.]

Well that’s lame. Thanks for the info

I think @jmester ended up building his own: https://opeforum.com/threads/stihl-ms-500i-w.27354/

 

[jmester]

Stihl only makes the 500i(w) which has rear handle element and half wrap heated. No carb/intake heating. Looks like your only options for a heated 3/4 would be a 462 or 661. In bigger saws.I am not sure how close those handles are to a 500i handle, if they could be modified slightly to fit.

I did make my own. Heated handle 500i and 660. 500i stuff was sourced from the UK. 660 stuff was gotten in the states. The Generator came from overseas. Seems they sell the parts, just not the complete saw on the 660.

 

[MtnHaul]

I have the opportunity to buy a barely used 461 with full wrap but I'm unfamiliar with that particular saw. I've put a lot of hours on 044 and a 462 but nothing in between. Without considering cost are there any good reasons to avoid a 461?
The saw is stock except for a bark box and I've purchased another saw from the seller before so I'm familiar with how he maintains his equipment--retired guy clearing out his old saws.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I have the opportunity to buy a barely used 461 with full wrap but I'm unfamiliar with that particular saw. I've put a lot of hours on 044 and a 462 but nothing in between. Without considering cost are there any good reasons to avoid a 461?
The saw is stock except for a bark box and I've purchased another saw from the seller before so I'm familiar with how he maintains his equipment--retired guy clearing out his old saws.

Great saw, better ported. Was my main saw before getting a 500i

 

[bogieboy]

I have the opportunity to buy a barely used 461 with full wrap but I'm unfamiliar with that particular saw. I've put a lot of hours on 044 and a 462 but nothing in between. Without considering cost are there any good reasons to avoid a 461?
The saw is stock except for a bark box and I've purchased another saw from the seller before so I'm familiar with how he maintains his equipment--retired guy clearing out his old saws.

Depends on what you want.... 461 is gonna be more of a tractor that pulls long bars, like a bigger 044, vs the 462 that "can be" a bit more peaky and more ported towards high rpm less torque style of cutting...

I have a ported 044 and a big bore mildly ported 460, and since i got the big bore 460 put together i dont see a need to keep the ported 044 sad part is, gotta run it a bit more but i may not even have a reason to keep the ported 661 that i have.... the 460 is that good... it pulls down low thru the rpm band, and loves an 8 pin sproket, vs the 661 which also has an 8 pin, but needs more rpms to keep the chain going...

All that said, there really isnt a direct comparison, as the 044/460 platform is a traditional port, and the 461 is the start of the strato long runner ports that feed from the front of the cylinder instead of just up thru the case...similar port design to a 462 but makes more down low for some reason LOL

 

[MtnHaul]

Great saw, better ported. Was my main saw before getting a 500i

I've watched a few side by side videos comparing the cut times of 461 & 462. I was little surprised the 462 outcut the 461 by a couple seconds in stock vs. stock, but a couple seconds doesn't matter in my work context. And yeah, the ported 461 would be ideal.

 

[MtnHaul]

461 is gonna be more of a tractor that pulls long bars,

That right there. I've always worked more like that myself. I never claim to be the fastest guy out there, but I've never had a problem pushing the work day beyond the typical hours.

 

[heimannm]

TS 350 that I just went through. It is hard to tell from these photos but the transformation was pretty dramatic.







It is back together and runs, but has an unusual miss at higher speeds. Sounds to me like an ignition issue but I've been over the points and wiring, points are set at .015" and the wiring all looks good. I did run it with the stop wire disconnected and no change. I replaced the spark plug but that didn't change anything either. Almost acts as though there was some points floating but the spring seems to be very strong yet. Any idea how one would actually change out the condenser on one of these? It looks like the condenser is pressed into the stator plate.

Mark

 

[jacob j.]

TS 350 that I just went through. It is hard to tell from these photos but the transformation was pretty dramatic.

View attachment 477873

View attachment 477874

View attachment 477875

It is back together and runs, but has an unusual miss at higher speeds. Sounds to me like an ignition issue but I've been over the points and wiring, points are set at .015" and the wiring all looks good. I did run it with the stop wire disconnected and no change. I replaced the spark plug but that didn't change anything either. Almost acts as though there was some points floating but the spring seems to be very strong yet. Any idea how one would actually change out the condenser on one of these? It looks like the condenser is pressed into the stator plate.

Mark

Mark -

I can't say on the TS-350 but a lot of other early Stihl machines had the condensers soldered in. Maybe @ray benson has a service manual?

 

[heimannm]

Thanks JJ, I just needed a little push in the right direction...


The text gives a value of 0.17-0.19 µf, I will have to pull the flywheel again and see what I come up with.

Mark

 

[Hoser]

I have the opportunity to buy a barely used 461 with full wrap but I'm unfamiliar with that particular saw. I've put a lot of hours on 044 and a 462 but nothing in between. Without considering cost are there any good reasons to avoid a 461?
The saw is stock except for a bark box and I've purchased another saw from the seller before so I'm familiar with how he maintains his equipment--retired guy clearing out his old saws.

I’ve ran 461’s and a 460 the last 4 years cutting 75ish cords of hardwood a year 24” bar 8pin usually, 28 7pin sometimes
Vibes aren’t bad, good torque, you’ll be used to banging out the air filter with an 044.
Stock they always felt lazy to me, ported they’re great for what I do.
I do maintenance religiously, had to throw a couple chain tensioner kits in them for repairs and that’s it so far.
I don’t think any saw is the best, I just kept being in the right place at the right time for a good deal.

 

[MtnHaul]

I’ve ran 461’s and a 460 the last 4 years cutting 75ish cords of hardwood a year 24” bar 8pin usually, 28 7pin sometimes
Vibes aren’t bad, good torque, you’ll be used to banging out the air filter with an 044.
Stock they always felt lazy to me, ported they’re great for what I do.
I do maintenance religiously, had to throw a couple chain tensioner kits in them for repairs and that’s it so far.
I don’t think any saw is the best, I just kept being in the right place at the right time for a good deal.

Nice to hear you were able to run an 8 pin on a 24" in hardwood. Hopefully I won't be tapping out the filter much since I have a couple of Egan's Uni-Filter kits on the way.