You all need to recycle your carburetor based chainsaws and get the 500i

[82F100SWB]

Most guys that feel like the new saws don't perform like the older saws try to use the new saws like the old ones. Dog them in and lean on them hard bringing the RPM's down. Old saws liked that, they made their power down low.

I will never understand the need to dog in a saw and lean on it.
Grew up running 242's and 254's, without even so much as a bumper, dogs just get in the way. But my background is pulpwood, and even firewood around here is very light on bark.
Dad was on a saw for pulpwood production from 1954-1998, one of his rules was, if you have to lean on it, it isn't sharp enough. I have a feeling I wouldn't be disappointed in these new generation saws, but I can't justy the price, especially when I have enough 2 series alone to last my lifetime and I don't make my living running them.

 

[Manitou]

For maintenance I would agree. To be serviced if one won't run it's going to be an expensive day out at the dealership. Now if it came with a USB interface, readily available diagnostic software & free firmware updates that would be a whole different story!
I'd love to know what some of the key components (injector, O² sensor, fuel pressure pump, etc) are worth & what parts can be replaced without having the dealer specific tools... Maybe some of the Stihl guys can chime in

It’s still new territory for me on the 500i, but talking to thers who have them, there is a fuel solenoid valve that a couple of guys have had to replace( looks like a 40.00 item). No other issues I have heard of 1st hand.

 

[Chris1044]

1 year in on mine, I use it for just about everything aside from limbing. Don't use it for my day job, but 30-50ish tanks of gas through it, and there are two complaints...

1. Air filter sucks stock - outer wear has fully eliminated the issues I had with pleats clogging
2. Sometimes it's a ***** to start warm. And by ***** it's like 3 pulls rather than one...so I'm just being a Sally complaining about this.

It has really bridged the gap between the 200 and 600 series saws for me. Overkill when I need to limb, but light enough for me to not have an issue. It's nice to haul one saw out to the prop to fell a 30" or so oak or hickory and cut it up rather quickly, which is exactly what I bought it for.

10/10 would buy again...

 

[J D]

I'm old enough to remember TV with vacuum tubes, or automobiles with points and condensers. Those went the way of the dodo bird despite all the complaints and horror stories of "what if". Guess what happened,,,,? Same will be with the M-Tronic and the new Fuel Injected chainsaws.

Hell don't believe me, after all what do I know. Hang on to the older saws, or better yet, buy all that remain, hoard them, store them, and then you can say "I told you so" at some point down the road.

I don't disagree with you at all... Electronically controlled fuel injection is without question the most efficient & effective way to fuel an engine. It also generally has a bunch of useful diagnostic features inherently. However, the parts are considerably more expensive, & if you don't have the interface to talk to it... ...
These saws will be the way of the future, but it has more to do with the manufacturers being able to keep parts & servicing proprietary than their being better.

 

[J D]

It’s still new territory for me on the 500i, but talking to thers who have them, there is a fuel solenoid valve that a couple of guys have had to replace( looks like a 40.00 item). No other issues I have heard of 1st hand.

It's early days yet, & if nothing else you can guarantee parts will fail over time. $40 for the part may be ok, but from what I can see reading the service manual any significant part of the fuel system being replaced requires the saw to be plugged into the diagnostic tool & calibrated (as one would expect). That means you don't have much choice other than to have an agent provide the part, fit the part, & calibrate the saw... bet that'll end up costing more than $40... especially if your closest one is a few hours away

 

[StihlPotlicker]

I hear a lot of good about these saws but don't hear about the major problems like blew a top end or whatever major failures may have occurred, maybe a little feedback on that would be good from being used commercially, 500I that is- can't all be perfect - and yes I have tried one and was quite impressed

my buddy out in Cali was working after the fires, cutting, and he ran the same filter all season without cleaning it, seeing when it would blow up. mind you it was a Max air flow filter too. he said it was leaning itself out for sure, but kept on chugging.

 

[Hermio]

My dealer had their 4th since they came out on the shelf last time I was in. $1660 before taxes. Yah, nope, I don't care how great it is.

I paid $1180 for mine.

 

[Hermio]

I've read that cold starts with the 500i are a breeze.

My 500i actually is hard to start. It tends to die out after 2 seconds for the first or 2nd attempt. No problem once it runs more thana 2 seconds.

 

[Hermio]

that 500i is a gas guzzler, but maybe it seems like that because it has a smaller tank?

That is true. It does have a smaller tank. I can cut as much wood with it in 35 minutes as I was able to with my previous saw, an MS441C, in 45 minutes, which means more cutting for the fuel used. Those times are my typical run times per tank.

 

[82F100SWB]

I paid $1180 for mine.

Welcome to Canuckistan, that $1660 turns into $1875 after taxes... That's about $1463 US.

 

[SS396driver]

It's the price point that kills it for me . Not saying I couldnt just go buy one I could very easily but no thank you. My saws do everything I need them to do and dead on reliable. Would I buy a new car with a carb no because I have all the diagnostic tools to fix any new vehicle.

Arians is marketing a fuel injected snowthrower

 

[user 122190]

It's the price point that kills it for me . Not saying I couldnt just go buy one I could very easily but no thank you. My saws do everything I need them to do and dead on reliable. Would I buy a new car with a carb no because I have all the diagnostic tools to fix any new vehicle.

Arians is marketing a fuel injected snowthrower

I was shocked also by the price. My 10yo ms290 was still going strong when I sold it for close to what I paid. My ms461 was 5yo when I sold it (at exactly what i paid) and it was still very strong. Both those saw completely paid for themselves in keep me warm during the long winters. I came to realize a well maintained saw, not abused is cheap over the years of service it accomplishes.

 

[3000 FPS]

For what that 500i cost I bought 5 of my carb powered saws.

 

[user 122190]

It's early days yet, & if nothing else you can guarantee parts will fail over time. $40 for the part may be ok, but from what I can see reading the service manual any significant part of the fuel system being replaced requires the saw to be plugged into the diagnostic tool & calibrated (as one would expect). That means you don't have much choice other than to have an agent provide the part, fit the part, & calibrate the saw... bet that'll end up costing more than $40... especially if your closest one is a few hours away

Tell us then. The 500i has been out in Europe for some time. You must have plenty of data by now. How often are these $40 fuel solenoid valves failing, and what is the actual cost of installing them and getting the saw to run to factory spec?

 

[user 122190]

For what that 500i cost I bought 5 of my carb powered saws.

Since you are making a comparison, are we to assume they are pro saws, and perform equal to the 500i? What saws are those, and how did you manage to acquire them at around $300 each? Or are they garage sale wrecks, which would sound right at $300, but who cares?

 

[Canyon Angler]

I’m talking non factory tunes. I figure it’s inevitable that the aftermarket catches up and offers them.

I can't wait to roll coal with my 500i!

 

[SS396driver]

I can't wait to roll coal with my 500i!

Guys an *******

 

[EchoRomeoCharlie]

Since you are making a comparison, are we to assume they are pro saws, and perform equal to the 500i? What saws are those, and how did you manage to acquire them at around $300 each? Or are they garage sale wrecks, which would sound right at $300, but who cares?

Wonder if he buys 40 horses instead of a new truck too lol

 

[Husky77]

my buddy out in Cali was working after the fires, cutting, and he ran the same filter all season without cleaning it, seeing when it would blow up. mind you it was a Max air flow filter too. he said it was leaning itself out for sure, but kept on chugging.

No way to treat a saw, that's just ignorance and lazy. Not brought up to respect tools!

 

[EchoRomeoCharlie]

No way to treat a saw, that's just ignorance and lazy. Not brought up to respect tools!

lol calm down...it's a tool and it was his tool, so who cares how he treated it? Doesn't concern you at all.