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

SOLD 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: 30
• 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.

 

[whitesnake]

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.

500’s are everywhere it seems. Even with the price tag tons of people are running them. From home owners to professional use. I’m sure Stihl is quite happy with that model.

 

[Hoser]

I am surprised I hardly see anyone run 462’s. $2-300 less and they struck me as a nice light saw. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

[whitesnake]

I am surprised I hardly see anyone run 462’s. $2-300 less and they struck me as a nice light saw. Maybe I’m missing something?

462’s are good saws. I personally would buy one before a 500i. But that’s just based on my needs and usage. Good saw…pretty good track record, good power, good filtration, good antivibe, etc. And you get to save a few bucks.

 

[Catfishclark89]

I like a 462 (in ported form). You can acquire a ported 462 for stock 500i money and will have a lighter saw with a touch more gitty up than the stock 500i. When cutting hillsides for several hours at a time every ounce matters.
With that being said. I have ran ported 500i and they are nasty!

 

[RCBS]

I’m dow wit dat , View attachment 456005