The ms500i is the only current production 80cc saw. Based on my experience, the 500i is the strongest in both the stock and ported category for new 70-80cc saws. It also comes with a pretty hefty price tag. I haven’t run them side by side, but I feel like the current 462 and 572xp are pretty close stock. I have run ported 572’s and 462’s…again, not a huge difference between the two…. Probably some builders know how to make one shine more than the other and vice versa. The Echo 7310 is a turd in stock form, but can be made to run like a ported 372 with machine & port work.
Same…current production is going to be a 500i. I’m not crazy about the stock air filtration though. And 462 and 572 have a good track record as well. The echo 7310 would be a serious contender if they were still 650 pho like when they were released. That would leave room for a port job. But I think they kicked themself in the sack pricing equal to Husky and Stihl. Now if lightly used was an option Dolmar/Makita 7900/7910 would certainly be right up there. I really really hate what Makita did with the brand. But it’s kinda understandable from a business perspective. But the 64/73/79 chassis saw is probably one of my all time favorites.
Can we round down and drop a husky 585 into the category?
But why?Can we round down and drop a husky 585 into the category?
too bad you can’t find parts for them at sane prices.
yikes, didn’t mean to hurt your feelers.
Your coworker or the saw??
Both!Your coworker or the saw??
You didn’t hurt my feelings at all, everyone keeps repeating that Makita parts are expensive, looking at the common things saws need, that statement appears false. Going the route I did, I ended up with a ported 346 with the savings over buying a 500i, but to each his own I guess.
Whole saw full of parts at a great price. Every once in awhile I’ll see one on BookFace marketplace for 4-500
Those 79xx saws run awesome with a good port job, no question. I just gave up them a couple years ago when I either couldn’t find parts, or didn’t want to pay $150+ for a clutch cover.Whole saw full of parts at a great price. Every once in awhile I’ll see one on BookFace marketplace for 4-500
I know it’s not the sexy choice compared to the fuel injected 500i, but when my xs7910 whipped a freshly ported xs500i it told me everything I needed to know about the 500. I think Kevin has updated his 500 recipe since then, but my 7910 was wearing a considerably larger bar (28” vs. 20”) than the 500. You also have to factor broken in 7910 vs. fresh 500. All this to say I think they are very close, but the cost of the 500 was a bridge too far for me. I now have 3 ported 7900/7910s and a few parts carcasses for not that much more than a ported 500i would cost me today.
West Coast saw had a pretty bad ass air filter for the 500i and it works flipping awesome.
