Ms 500i (are you put off?)

[sb47]

Remember the old days when cars had corroborators and ignition points and no computers. It was very common to see cars broke down on the side of the road with the hood up and smoke bellowing out. New cars are all fuel injected with electronic ignitions and computers and you don't see cars broken down near as much. Also remember when a car had 100K it was worn out, now it's common to get 300/400 and even 500K on a car.
My 1994 chevy truck has a throttle body and over 200K and I have not touched it at all since the day it was bought.
I'm sure like everything else, there will be some bugs to work out, but they will eventually be better then the old saws sooner or later.

 

[blsnelling]

Remember the old days when cars had corroborators and ignition points and no computers. It was very common to see cars broke down on the side of the road with the hood up and smoke bellowing out. New cars are all fuel injected with electronic ignitions and computers and you don't see cars broken down near as much. Also remember when a car had 100K it was worn out, now it's common to get 300/400 and even 500K on a car.
My 1994 chevy truck has a throttle body and over 200K and I have not touched it at all since the day it was bought.
I'm sure like everything else, there will be some bugs to work out, but they will eventually be better then the old saws sooner or later.

Excellent post.

 

[Bwildered]

It was really annoying me tbh. There is a metal collar that surrounds the recoil cord hole and it looks like it should be impossible to do anything except run smoothly, but something was causing a problem that slowly got better; each time a new cord was fitted it took longer and longer to fray...on two brand new saws the problem was exactly the same, a colleague with a similar age saw had a similar problem. The cords were replaced by the dealer the first few times on both saws and then I just got told that I obviously didn’t know how to start a saw and that from then on it would be down to me...which was fine because I was getting frustrated with the down time anyway. That and the relatively poor oiling was the start of my disillusionment with Stihl. I won’t even go into depth wrt the Stihl techs reason for the low oiling on the saws, suffice to say he told me I didn’t keep my bar groove and oil feed hole clean enough...fook off!

Commonsense will tell you if you pull the starter cord at 90' to the natural run if it , like pull starting in line with the back handle its going to fray, if you start it as shown in the manual they last indefinitely.

 

[KarlD]

Commonsense will tell you if you pull the starter cord at 90' to the natural run if it , like pull starting in line with the back handle its going to fray, if you start it as shown in the manual they last indefinitely.

Wrong

 

[Jared31]

I have a brand never used or fueled up 461 with 25” bar that I’m going to sell to get the 500i.

 

[nch209]

I think the 500i will be a winner, but I do not need, and probably will not buy. I went a different direction, ms462 with a carb... simple, and a dope like me can tune it. I would not be scarred of a 500i or M tronic, but at this point my 462 is all I really need, and in fact is probably a bit overkill.

 

[TheDarkLordChinChin]

Commonsense will tell you if you pull the starter cord at 90' to the natural run if it , like pull starting in line with the back handle its going to fray, if you start it as shown in the manual they last indefinitely.

You could start old saws "logger style" and the cords wouldnt flay.

 

[windthrown]

I think the 500i will be a winner, but I do not need, and probably will not buy. I went a different direction, ms462 with a carb... simple, and a dope like me can tune it. I would not be scarred of a 500i or M tronic, but at this point my 462 is all I really need, and in fact is probably a bit overkill.

Uh... the 462 is auotune/M-tronic. The 461 has the tuneable carb. 462 has the new light weight flywheel, like the 500i. Different beast altogether. The 461/462 are pretty damn good saws though. Smooth as well. Far smoother than the 460 ever was.

As for the would, could, should replies here from the chorus of 500i doubters? Surely the 661 was a fiasco, and now Stihl will forever be mired in that bad original design with several flaws. Similar with Husky and some of their saws. But the 500i has been out for about a year now in Europe. Several portotypes were tested to death for over a year before that. There are videos online from Europe where guys abused the 500i saws like they are a throw-away chicom POS saws. They were told to do so on purpose. And they keep on cutting, completely clogged up air filters and all. As for the 'slight ' few ounce difference in 500i weight? Sorry, that is way off base. The 661 is a heavyweight at 16.3 lb. The 550 is 13.7 lb. That is 2.6 pounds, or whopping 42 ounce difference. The 500i is lighter than the 462. As for vibration? Again, there is no comparison. The tested vibration levels are: 661 is 6.9/5.6 m/s*s left/right, and the 500i is 4.2/4.0 m/s*s left/right. That is a completely different world of weight and smooth. Even smoother than the 462, which is 4.8/3.6.

 

[user 122190]

I think the 500i will be a winner, but I do not need

Need? What has that got to do with it, or anything? WANT is American, USA, Patriotic, Nuke'm All, Just DoIT, etc.

 

[TheDarkLordChinChin]

Ah, i see you too run an 084 with 16 inch bar full skip square grind with no rakers, no chain break, no muffler, no air filter and no handle bar while only wearing a loincloth and screaming biblical verses.

 

[user 122190]

Ah, i see you too run an 084 with 16 inch bar full skip square grind with no rakers, no chain break, no muffler, no air filter and no handle bar while only wearing a loincloth and screaming biblical verses.

An old canvas thong, as the loincloth is staked to the bottom of the creek getting washed.

This is what it is all about -->

 

[huskihl]

Uh... the 462 is auotune/M-tronic. The 461 has the tuneable carb. 462 has the new light weight flywheel, like the 500i. Different beast altogether. The 461/462 are pretty damn good saws though. Smooth as well. Far smoother than the 460 ever was.

As for the would, could, should replies here from the chorus of 500i doubters? Surely the 661 was a fiasco, and now Stihl will forever be mired in that bad original design with several flaws. Similar with Husky and some of their saws. But the 500i has been out for about a year now in Europe. Several portotypes were tested to death for over a year before that. There are videos online from Europe where guys abused the 500i saws like they are a throw-away chicom POS saws. They were told to do so on purpose. And they keep on cutting, completely clogged up air filters and all. As for the 'slight ' few ounce difference in 500i weight? Sorry, that is way off base. The 661 is a heavyweight at 16.3 lb. The 550 is 13.7 lb. That is 2.6 pounds, or whopping 42 ounce difference. The 500i is lighter than the 462. As for vibration? Again, there is no comparison. The tested vibration levels are: 661 is 6.9/5.6 m/s*s left/right, and the 500i is 4.2/4.0 m/s*s left/right. That is a completely different world of weight and smooth. Even smoother than the 462, which is 4.8/3.6.

I’m thinking he bought the standard carbed 462 from Europe They’re available in both configurations there
I don't have the specs in front of me, but I'm relatively certain the 500i is heavier than a 462

 

[windthrown]

I’m thinking he bought the standard carbed 462 from Europe They’re available in both configurations there
I don't have the specs in front of me, but I'm relatively certain the 500i is heavier than a 462

Twas not aware that the 462 was available in the tuneable carb version in Europe. I do not see any non CM versions of the 462 listed in the UK, Oz, Germany, France, Italy or Denmark. ??? Nor do they have them in Brazil. In Brazil you can still buy a 361, a 260, a 382, and a 651, as well as a 362-CM, and a 661 non-CM.

Technically the 500i is lighter and heavier than the 462. Depends on the 462 model. But it is a pound lighter than the 461. These are the specs I found online:

MS550i: 13.6 - 13.7 lb
MS462: 13.2 lb. - 13.9 lb
MS461: 14.7 lb

Interesting the list prices of these two saws in Oz, the 500i is only $100 AUD more than the 462. For all of $68 USD more, I will take a 500i. More weight or not. The 500i is also $100 AUD cheaper than the 661 there. So my guess is that the 500i will be listed at about $1200, or make that $1,199.95 in a typical Stihl advertising price.

 

[windthrown]

Ah ha! I found a 462 non-CM model in Poland. So they are available in east Europe. Actually in Poland you can buy most of the Stihl pro saws in CM and non CM versions. Except the 500i, and the 880. And the 661 only comes in the CM version.

 

[Tinman204]

I'm not put off by fuel injection or auto tune.

I'm put off by Stihls crazy high prices on saws and parts.

For instance I can buy a new 572xp for like $400-$500 cheaper then a 462.

A 3120xp will cost me $500 less then an 880.

A 261 stihl is the same price as a 562xp around here.

I could go on and on..

Its the price of stihls thats turns me off not the products.

500i looks awesome, too spendy though for this guy..

 

[mogulmasher]

In the motocross world most all manufactures have gone to fuel injection and electronic ignitions with very little issues at all. In fact most like them beacuse you can map the computer to run the way you like it. Right now Honda is the only one left that still runs naturally aspirated motors anymore and they are about to make the switch.

Right snowmobiles have gone mostly fuel injected as well. So much more reliable and spot on in all conditions. I still love playing with vintage carbed sleds, but efi is so much more carefree.

 

[Tinman204]

Right snowmobiles have gone mostly fuel injected as well. So much more reliable and spot on in all conditions. I still love playing with vintage carbed sleds, but efi is so much more carefree.

Nothing better then a sled that starts in 2 pulls on the coldest of days.

 

[nch209]

Uh... the 462 is auotune/M-tronic. The 461 has the tuneable carb. 462 has the new light weight flywheel, like the 500i. Different beast altogether. The 461/462 are pretty damn good saws though. Smooth as well. Far smoother than the 460 ever was.

As for the would, could, should replies here from the chorus of 500i doubters? Surely the 661 was a fiasco, and now Stihl will forever be mired in that bad original design with several flaws. Similar with Husky and some of their saws. But the 500i has been out for about a year now in Europe. Several portotypes were tested to death for over a year before that. There are videos online from Europe where guys abused the 500i saws like they are a throw-away chicom POS saws. They were told to do so on purpose. And they keep on cutting, completely clogged up air filters and all. As for the 'slight ' few ounce difference in 500i weight? Sorry, that is way off base. The 661 is a heavyweight at 16.3 lb. The 550 is 13.7 lb. That is 2.6 pounds, or whopping 42 ounce difference. The 500i is lighter than the 462. As for vibration? Again, there is no comparison. The tested vibration levels are: 661 is 6.9/5.6 m/s*s left/right, and the 500i is 4.2/4.0 m/s*s left/right. That is a completely different world of weight and smooth. Even smoother than the 462, which is 4.8/3.6.

I’m thinking he bought the standard carbed 462 from Europe They’re available in both configurations there
I don't have the specs in front of me, but I'm relatively certain the 500i is heavier than a 462

Twas not aware that the 462 was available in the tuneable carb version in Europe. I do not see any non CM versions of the 462 listed in the UK, Oz, Germany, France, Italy or Denmark. ??? Nor do they have them in Brazil. In Brazil you can still buy a 361, a 260, a 382, and a 651, as well as a 362-CM, and a 661 non-CM.

Technically the 500i is lighter and heavier than the 462. Depends on the 462 model. But it is a pound lighter than the 461. These are the specs I found online:

MS550i: 13.6 - 13.7 lb
MS462: 13.2 lb. - 13.9 lb
MS461: 14.7 lb

Interesting the list prices of these two saws in Oz, the 500i is only $100 AUD more than the 462. For all of $68 USD more, I will take a 500i. More weight or not. The 500i is also $100 AUD cheaper than the 661 there. So my guess is that the 500i will be listed at about $1200, or make that $1,199.95 in a typical Stihl advertising price.

Ah ha! I found a 462 non-CM model in Poland. So they are available in east Europe. Actually in Poland you can buy most of the Stihl pro saws in CM and non CM versions. Except the 500i, and the 880. And the 661 only comes in the CM version.

uhhhhh.... lol............My 462 does indeed have a tuneable carb and no m-tronic system. I have no issue with mtronic or fuel injection, but for me, I could not pass up the deal that was posted on this forum from our friend in Athens. I bought the brand new power head on the cheap, and he had a bar and chains on my doorstep faster and cheaper than the local dealer did. I have no issue turning some screws on occasion, nor would I be bothered not to have to do it on an auto tune saw.... but the price does scare me away some. Who knows, if/when he posts up a cheap 500i in the future, perhaps I will get one, but as it stands now, my 462 does just fine. And as a 500i aside, for some reason the primer bulb kinda irritates me! LOL! Not sure why, but it just does! Guess it seems cheap to me. Assume I will be blasted for that comment, haha. All that said, the 500i looks like a badarse saw!

 

[mogulmasher]

Weird the primer bulb annoys me too! Especially once ethy fuel hits it and turns it into a rock hard bulb.

 

[Jared31]

Here’s my 461 I want to sell so I can get the 500i