What is the strongest 70-80cc saw currently stock or ported

[2000ssm6]

West Coast saw had a pretty bad ass air filter for the 500i and it works flipping awesome.

This brings up another cost factor. The 500i needs a better air filter and suspension(depending on bar length) right out of the box.

 

[Woodpecker]

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.

Yeah 100% agree with paying for the parts which is why I bought parts saws. I can be surprisingly cheap/stubborn sometimes if I don’t feel like something is fairly priced or a good value. Which isn’t to say that I buy cheap saws. I have a shelf full of quality ported saws from Stihl, Husky, etc…

Because I use saws, in part, to make a living I could justify paying the price for ported 500s. I just can’t justify the cost vs. benefit on that particular model. I don’t mind paying a similar price for a 592/661 since the weight difference is negligible but performance is greater.

 

[Bill G]

I just picked up a 572 to work on at the request of a friend. I personally wish I could get 372s again as my ported 372s beat all the new stock saws up to 90cc's.
I really want to like the 500i but it's just feels a bit lacking.
Hopefully I can wring the same power from the 572.
But getting back to the op question 500i is probably tops all stock but just a good muff mod on the 572 will get it pretty close for a fair bit less money

I was not aware you could not get new 372's

 

[Jake Dykstra]

I was not aware you could not get new 372's

372 OE. Don't care for the xtorq though it can be converted

 

[Squareground3691]

Whole saw full of parts at a great price. Every once in awhile I’ll see one on BookFace marketplace for 4-500

D

SELLING Thread 'Makita 7901'

Mar 30, 2025

Selling my Makita 7901 saw. I got the saw from honesdsle spreading a supply in honesdsle pa. The saw has a 7301 fuel tank but does have the 7901 top end. Saw also has the hd air filter set up the clutch cover is broke where the dog mounts to but I have a Dolmar clutch cover that isn’t broke that I will include with the sale. The recoil sticker is 1/2 peeled off as well. Looking to get $675.00 or reasonable offer plus shipping from 62223. I will get pictures soon thanks

• dolmarkid
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Whole Chainsaws for Sale/Trade

• 

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.

I’m dow wit dat ,

 

[mrxlh]

372 OE. Don't care for the xtorq though it can be converted

372 OE’s are still available across the pond new in box.

 

[Jake Dykstra]

372 OE’s are still available across the pond new in box.

Yeah. Would be cool if we order a pallet of them for a reasonable price

 

[Bill G]

Yeah. Would be cool if we order a pallet of them for a reasonable price

How many would you like?

 

[mrxlh]

Yeah. Would be cool if we order a pallet of them for a reasonable price

They are reasonably priced, all you need to do is inquire with an individual on this forum who sells a wide variety of saws still being produced but no longer available here stateside.

 

[bwalker]

Ported 7900 (yes you can still find them nib on shelves) is right with a 500i. $900 plus $400 porting fee, still has you $300 under what you would pay for a 500i.

While that may be true.l, parts won't be available for too much longer. And Dolmar never did have a parts network in the same league as the others.

 

[Bill G]

While that may be true.l, parts won't be available for too much longer. And Dolmar never did have a parts network in the same league as the others.

I cannot and will not speak to Dolmar parts availability but I will say if anyone thinks just cause it is a Husky or Stihl parts will be easy to locate down the road they are nuts.

 

[whitesnake]

I cannot and will not speak to Dolmar parts availability but I will say if anyone thinks just cause it is a Husky or Stihl parts will be easy to locate down the road they are nuts.

I agree. I’ve actually come across quite a few parts Stihl and Husky that are “out of stock” or nla lately. Annoying. And their parts aren’t cheap either. So pretty much goes for all makes.

 

[rocco490]

Big fan of the 572xp in stock form and the dolmar/makita 7910's ported mmws. Heard the new stihl 500's are good runners but they are so expensive I am not at all interested in acquiring one at any time. Very happy with my current 70-80cc class saws being a stock 572xp and a mmws makita 7910. If I need more I am grabbing the mmws 395. Sounds unanimous though the new stihl 500i is king of the class. Thanks for the info guys as always.

 

[hacskaroly]

Sounds unanimous though the new stihl 500i is king of the class

I have heard lots of good things about the 500i, heard its even better after it has been ported. I have only started a few when selling them, so I don't have any experience with them in wood. I will say it is weird without the choke lever...

 

[Hoser]

500i’s are absolutely king of the woods here. I would say 70% of the guys I talk to run them, the rest it’s pretty even between 592’s, 661’s and the old breed who still run 460/461. These are loggers, arborists and other commercial firewood guys.
I do have a strong hankering for trying out a dolmar though.