Thread: Shindaiwa 488

Originally Posted by SawTroll

I Agree about the chain, except that it shoud be 23RS, for that bar....

By Joe your 100% correct. Guess that tells ya what brand I deal in all the time huh,

Originally Posted by rahtreelimbs

One thing to watch...........

If you decide to mod the muffler be careful how big you make the second port. I've modded over 50 mufflers and the 488 is really sensitive...........go too big and the saw falls flat on its face!!!

I also would like to do a muffler mod on my 488 but I need spring for the non-EPA carb first!

I'm currently running Bailey's RC 20 on my two 488's. Certainly an improvement over the safety chain that they came with. I've only used 18" bars and don't really think there would be any gain in going longer. If it gets be too much for the 488 then I bring out the 757. I put a HD filter kit on one of them but in all honesty I haven't seen any problem with the regular filter.
Mostly cut here in the winter time and with clean wood, dust is at a minimum here in the dank and dark Northwest.

Josh:

Thanks for the info on the sprocket. When I changed it out, it was exactly the same as was on it.

Originally Posted by Four Paws

Another wise choice...Hahahahaha! Welcome to the team.

Yeah, Shindaiwa saws are a touch outdated, probably why I like them so much. Stout design, good power, good balanced feel in my hands. The silk mesh filter that you speak of is for winter sawing. Get a factory flocked filter, or the pro-filter kit. Flocked filters show up on eBay from time to time...lots cheaper than buying from your dealer. I think the pro-filter kit is around $70 give or take.

A great compliment to your 488 is a 757 - a heavy-hitting firewood combo. Give it a while, you'll be HOOKED.

Can I join the team too, even if I only got one Shindaiwa?

If the 488 compares to like size saws like my 757 does then it should be a rock solid performer in it's class. Everyone who has run the 757 is flat out impressed. A 488 will be in my stable by next falls cutting season.

Originally Posted by Butch(OH)

Can I join the team too, even if I only got one Shindaiwa?

You sure can! The 757 is a great saw - I recommend the double spike kit...you can get 3 sizes - smaller, medium and large. The spikes on my 757 are the large size.

Originally Posted by Butch(OH)

A 488 will be in my stable by next falls cutting season.

Have you ever considered a 577 or 575? They are a nice sized saw, and have gobs of torque! They aren't available in the US anymore, but they can be had. This saw wears a set of medium spikes, a pro filter kit, and a 20" bar.

Originally Posted by alderman

Josh:

Thanks for the info on the sprocket. When I changed it out, it was exactly the same as was on it.

No problem! Glad you got your saw fixed up! I finished building another 695 today! I ported this one and opened the exhaust up - an absolute monster. I can't make the saw bog, no matter how hard I pull. I think it could use a bigger carb - 1-3/4 turns out on my H screw, 1-1/2 on my L. By far my favorite Shindaiwa saw produced. My 416 is a close second!

Originally Posted by Four Paws

You sure can! The 757 is a great saw - I recommend the double spike kit...you can get 3 sizes - smaller, medium and large. The spikes on my 757 are the large size.



Have you ever considered a 577 or 575? They are a nice sized saw, and have gobs of torque! They aren't available in the US anymore, but they can be had. This saw wears a set of medium spikes, a pro filter kit, and a 20" bar.





No problem! Glad you got your saw fixed up! I finished building another 695 today! I ported this one and opened the exhaust up - an absolute monster. I can't make the saw bog, no matter how hard I pull. I think it could use a bigger carb - 1-3/4 turns out on my H screw, 1-1/2 on my L. By far my favorite Shindaiwa saw produced. My 416 is a close second!

Yeah it's way too bad the 575/77 isn't available here anymore. It was a great saw, and it leaves a big gap between the 488 & 757. Shindaiwa is supposed to be coming out with a replacement soon

I know lots of people that are more than satisified with the 488. Almost everyone that gets one loves it!

I have two Shindaiwa's and have had no problems with them. I have a 377 and a 500. I did a muffler mode on both of them and it did make a good improvement. My question is where are all the parts ?. It seems there are no parts available for the 500, don't know about the 377. I had a chance to snag a few on Evil Bay but when when I did a search for parts to repair them there were no parts.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with Oregon's 95VP with this saw? I've got a hankering for a 488 and I'm wondering if it would cut faster on a 16" bar in Oak.

Originally Posted by drogueman

My question is where are all the parts ?. It seems there are no parts available for the 500

What do you need? I have a bunch of parts for the old horizontal cylinder saws. If one of the site spnsors can't help you first, maybe I can?!

Four Paws thanks for the reply, both saws are running good at the moment but maybe you can recommend a good cutting chain for my 377, the chain is just about had it. I was looking for a good full chisel chain but can't seem to find one, any ideas ?

The 377 should take .325 pitch, .050 gauge chain. It will be 66 drive links as long as it is running a 16" bar. Stihl rs or oregon lp are the most aggressive. Oregon 95vp or 33lg would be good cutters too without taking quite as big of a bite (might be better on that size saw). The 377 is still a current model and all parts should be available. I dont think the 500 has been made in 15-20 years or more (not exactly sure, though). I have tried 95vp on the 488 and it is a little faster in small wood but rs or lp are both faster in bigger wood (chip clearance?). The 488 has great torque for its size (I had a husky 353 and it would not pull the bigger chisel chains in bigger wood as well as the 488). I wouldn't put a lot of stock in those dlg-kwf (whatever) tests. How is the carb tuned? How much is the saw ran to ensure it is broke in? My 488 was not that impressive on the first tank. It was after 20. I was just re-reading that thread where the 488 shin, husky 346, 260 stihl, and 5100 dolmar saws were being tested at dolmar factory (I dont believe this was an unbiased test). The 488 supposedly produced less hp on the dyno than the 346 husky but it still produced a faster cut time!

I might just pick up the powerhead cause I currently have 16" bar & .325 std chain.
{I was just re-reading that thread where the 488 shin, husky 346, 260 stihl, and 5100 dolmar saws were being tested at dolmar factory (I dont believe this was an unbiased test). The 488 supposedly produced less hp on the dyno than the 346 husky but it still produced a faster cut time!}
Where did you find this comparison thread? I'd like to read it myself.

Originally Posted by outdoortype

I might just pick up the powerhead cause I currently have 16" bar & .325 std chain.
{I was just re-reading that thread where the 488 shin, husky 346, 260 stihl, and 5100 dolmar saws were being tested at dolmar factory (I dont believe this was an unbiased test). The 488 supposedly produced less hp on the dyno than the 346 husky but it still produced a faster cut time!}
Where did you find this comparison thread? I'd like to read it myself.

I have a 246 husky and a a 488 shindaiwa. The 246 cuts faster. The 488 may have a bit more bottom end grunt. I would think a 346 would be faster yet. I ran the 488 next to a friend with his 5100. The 5100 spanked it. That being said, the 488 is still a great saw that cuts pretty fast for it's size and wieght. I wieghed both saws with 18" bars the husky was 13 lb 8 oz and the 488 14 lbs.

Bailey's (a site sponsor and linked at the top of the page) has a nice 13" bar for the small Shindaiwa saws. I run one on my 416 with .325 full chisel woodsman pro chain. Limbs are generally clean and the chain stays sharp a LONG time. This saw stays fueled up and is my go-to machine for the odds and ends that always pop up.

Originally Posted by MOE

I have a 246 husky and a a 488 shindaiwa. The 246 cuts faster. The 488 may have a bit more bottom end grunt. I would think a 346 would be faster yet. I ran the 488 next to a friend with his 5100. The 5100 spanked it. That being said, the 488 is still a great saw that cuts pretty fast for it's size and wieght. I wieghed both saws with 18" bars the husky was 13 lb 8 oz and the 488 14 lbs.

IMO, an 18" bar isn't ideal on a 488, or 346 for that matter, especially in hardwoods. For optimum performance, I would probably run a 14" bar in your neck of the woods. Hard to find anything shorter than a 16" bar in 3/8" pitch, so you will be stuck with .325"

I run an 18" bar and 3/8" chain on my 5100S with no problems in the softwoods around here. I think I will switch to a 16" bar though - I use it on tops and don't need the longer bar - besides, it will be less chain to sharpen!