I finally got the opportunity to make this comparison that I've been wanting to see. The MS461 is a fantastic running saw. However, I've been saying for some time now, that it doesn't seem to have that same wow factor that other 70cc class saws have, once ported. To me, a ported saw should make both RPMs and torque. That's my opinion, that's what I like, that's what I expect from my work. So, I went on a mission to see if I could find those RPMs I was looking for.
The standard of comparison for this build was my personal MS440/460 hybrid. This is an very strong running saw that has a fair amount of time on it and is well broken in. This saw should be a little stronger than the hybrid that I built for Young. Young's hybrid is the saw that was almost 10% faster than his MS461 w/ 30" bar and 8-pin rim. His saw does not have a popup, this one does. That meant that I had my work cut out for me to try and catch this hybrid.
With an 8-pin rim, this MS461 that I just built is dead even with my MS440/460 hybrid
I have it tuned to 14,800 and it 4-strokes readily in the cut when I let off the load. It holds 11,500 RPMs with a moderate load and 10,500 with a heavy load. Throttle response is electric motor like, just like a 346XP. Also, it spools up to WOT instantly. It's very easy to operate, with a very broad torque band. This is what makes the MS461 so special. It's just so user friendly and easy to use.
Now for a little twist. Long ago, I gave up running 8-pin rims on anything smaller than a 90c class saw. In hard wood with a longer bar, I have found that a 7-pin rim is not only faster, but easier to operate. It's just more forgiving. Both the MS461 and MS440/460 hybrid are faster with a 7-pin rim, with this setup in this wood. With a 7-pin rim, the MS440/460 is 12% faster than the MS461. The MS440/460 makes more RPMs than the MS461. I have it tuned to 15,500 RPMs. With the 7-pin rim on a 28" bar buried in hard wood, it simiply can hold more RPMs than the MS461. BUT, swap to a 8-pin rim, and it's now dead even with the MS461. Let me try to explain what this really means. The MS440/460 drops nearly 17% in cut times when going to a 8-pin rim. The MS461 only drops 4.2%. What we're seeing is that broad powerband that everyone loves in the MS461.
What does all this really mean to me? To me, it means that the MS440/460 is the stronger faster saw in this scenario. For me to call the MS461 stronger, it would need to be wearing longer than a 28" with an 8-pin rim for it to pull ahead. I simply don't setup and use a saw of this size like that. On the other hand, evidence shows that the MS461 has an extremely broad, user friendly powerband. Which saw is the best for you? Only you can answer that. What do you like in a saw?
This has been a little difficult to try to convey, but I hope it helps us understand the differences in these two saws.
[video=youtube_share;FFtVPAm-Ytc]http://youtu.be/FFtVPAm-Ytc[/video]
The standard of comparison for this build was my personal MS440/460 hybrid. This is an very strong running saw that has a fair amount of time on it and is well broken in. This saw should be a little stronger than the hybrid that I built for Young. Young's hybrid is the saw that was almost 10% faster than his MS461 w/ 30" bar and 8-pin rim. His saw does not have a popup, this one does. That meant that I had my work cut out for me to try and catch this hybrid.
With an 8-pin rim, this MS461 that I just built is dead even with my MS440/460 hybrid
I have it tuned to 14,800 and it 4-strokes readily in the cut when I let off the load. It holds 11,500 RPMs with a moderate load and 10,500 with a heavy load. Throttle response is electric motor like, just like a 346XP. Also, it spools up to WOT instantly. It's very easy to operate, with a very broad torque band. This is what makes the MS461 so special. It's just so user friendly and easy to use.Now for a little twist. Long ago, I gave up running 8-pin rims on anything smaller than a 90c class saw. In hard wood with a longer bar, I have found that a 7-pin rim is not only faster, but easier to operate. It's just more forgiving. Both the MS461 and MS440/460 hybrid are faster with a 7-pin rim, with this setup in this wood. With a 7-pin rim, the MS440/460 is 12% faster than the MS461. The MS440/460 makes more RPMs than the MS461. I have it tuned to 15,500 RPMs. With the 7-pin rim on a 28" bar buried in hard wood, it simiply can hold more RPMs than the MS461. BUT, swap to a 8-pin rim, and it's now dead even with the MS461. Let me try to explain what this really means. The MS440/460 drops nearly 17% in cut times when going to a 8-pin rim. The MS461 only drops 4.2%. What we're seeing is that broad powerband that everyone loves in the MS461.
What does all this really mean to me? To me, it means that the MS440/460 is the stronger faster saw in this scenario. For me to call the MS461 stronger, it would need to be wearing longer than a 28" with an 8-pin rim for it to pull ahead. I simply don't setup and use a saw of this size like that. On the other hand, evidence shows that the MS461 has an extremely broad, user friendly powerband. Which saw is the best for you? Only you can answer that. What do you like in a saw?
This has been a little difficult to try to convey, but I hope it helps us understand the differences in these two saws.
[video=youtube_share;FFtVPAm-Ytc]http://youtu.be/FFtVPAm-Ytc[/video]
