windthrown
361 Junkie
Good to see you are still around...
Stihl 500i
- Thread starter clayczech
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Sometimes weight works for you when you are a logger cutting really big logs for the saw mill. I used to just take a well-tuned Stihl 084 with a sharp chain and a 36" bar and then rest it on the tree for food. Then I let the big dog eat:
That's the same saw at a GTG a few years back. I'd love to run it again against a high-tech 500i. But I can no longer do that. A logger in Australia bought the saw.
That's the same saw at a GTG a few years back. I'd love to run it again against a high-tech 500i. But I can no longer do that. A logger in Australia bought the saw. 
Based on my experience with big MACs, I would expect the 084 in big wood to eat the 500i’s lunch. Not sure where the crossover would be - probably around 32” to 36” in hardwood.
Ron
Ron
windthrown
361 Junkie
Comparing apples to... wedges here? Displacement, power, weight, and vibRaTioN (left, right) all way different.
Stihl 084: 121.6cc, 8.6HP, 20.7lb, 7.5/7.8 m/s²
Stihl MS500i: 79.2cc, 6.8HP, 13.9lb, 4.2/4.0 m/s²
I do not see the point in comparing these saws. Other than saying that you can kick ass with a way larger saw? The vibration is in the red zone on the 084 and 088, nearly twice the 500i. Never mind the weight difference. I bet Gary's Termite V-8 saw saw would kick 084 ass as well. Its a lot heavier. But there is no comparing them, really.
Fabulous picture, WindThrown. I mentioned the comparison because a logger here used to run the 084 for a living, cutting mostly big cottonwood trees. Now he has three 661's that he wants to sell to help pay for a pair of 500i's. He said years ago he would never buy an MS880, even if fuel injected because of the weight.
windthrown
361 Junkie
Seems an odd way of thinking here. Are you implying added weight or subtracted weight being better in the saws? You seem to indicate that more weight is better... but:
The 084 weighs less than the 088 which weighs less than the MS880.
Can't speak to logging from experience, but I don't want to lug a heavy saw far. The weight savings is the main reason I bought my 550i. Got to say though - sitting a MAC 125 down on a straight 4' red oak to slice it into 18" lengths is fun and somewhat restful. Toting the thing around is neither.
Ron
Ron
WindThrown said, "The 084 weighs less than the 088 which weighs less than the MS880."
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I noticed that also. Several loggers also did and perhaps that is one of the reasons that the 084 is still in rather high demand, old as it is. Stihl was adding weight to their popular big saw and not adding much more power, if any. Stihl still needs a saw to cut a log that is this big:
Can the 500i do it? I'm not sure. I have not seen anyone here post a Pic of a cut this big using a 500i. The saw you see here might have been a "measly" MS660 pulling a 36" bar and chain.
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I noticed that also. Several loggers also did and perhaps that is one of the reasons that the 084 is still in rather high demand, old as it is. Stihl was adding weight to their popular big saw and not adding much more power, if any. Stihl still needs a saw to cut a log that is this big:
Can the 500i do it? I'm not sure. I have not seen anyone here post a Pic of a cut this big using a 500i. The saw you see here might have been a "measly" MS660 pulling a 36" bar and chain.
Skeans
Addicted to ArboristSite
Way back there I’m running a 36 on a 500i that one was about 5’ across the hinge.
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I wanna see if the 8 pin sprocket I had for my 066 fits on the 500. I think it would be a fun time with a 8 pin on a 20” bar. Oh did I mention my saw is mastermind ported 
I put an 8 pin on mine before I even started it. Pulls a 25” in oak with no issue.
Ron
Ron
I took that pic several years ago at the Buckley log show perfect timing
windthrown
361 Junkie
A 500i is not intended to compete with an 880. More like to replace the sweet spot like the 044 of old. You want one of these old Stihl 090 bad boys for that size tree.
I could have bought this saw some years ago in NorCal. Not for using to fall that size balsam trees with and killing myself in the process. Just for bragging rights and investment purposes.
windthrown
361 Junkie
Indeed! A nanosecond earlier or later and it would have not been the same. This one has a million and one meme and caption possibilities.
Just picked this up. I dont really need it but more just wanted it. Havent even ran a tank thru it. Got it for $1150 they quoted me $1339 for one with a 25” light bar. But when it came in with a a normal 20” rs bar he felt bad and almost knocked of $200.
AKTrailDog
ArboristSite Member
Score!! Nice work. Enjoy
Great deal!
Apparently I had a stuck decomp.... It was causing the saw not to start. In the process of troubleshooting I also pulled the plug (little guy) to check for what sounded like lean running to me (it didn't show any signs of that and it does run a bit higher 13000) and wiggled some wires. Since then the saw fires on one pull, I can let it sit for a while and it now still fires right up. I've now run about 12 tanks thru it and am pretty pleased with it. Fun with a 25 on it... feel like even more of ninja now with the awesome throttle response
Time will tell....
