MS500i

[Kurt Helgerson]

As long as I have experts here on this thread, I am at the fish or cut bait moment on purchasing a saw for a chainsaw mill. I want to be able to power a 48” mill rarely and a 36” mill more often, but a total of 100 feet or so of cutting a year. If I can narrow a log enough for my bandsaw mill (HM126) I don’t need to do everything with a chainsaw. Mostly I see the fun of getting through large stuff here and there. Not as any business, just hobby. That said, Stihl has a $1610 price on the 500i and a $1560 price on the 661. Would you pick one over the other or neither? Thanks in advance.

 

[OM617YOTA]

As long as I have experts here on this thread, I am at the fish or cut bait moment on purchasing a saw for a chainsaw mill. I want to be able to power a 48” mill rarely and a 36” mill more often, but a total of 100 feet or so of cutting a year. If I can narrow a log enough for my bandsaw mill (HM126) I don’t need to do everything with a chainsaw. Mostly I see the fun of getting through large stuff here and there. Not as any business, just hobby. That said, Stihl has a $1610 price on the 500i and a $1560 price on the 661. Would you pick one over the other or neither? Thanks in advance.

You'll get a better response posting your own thread in the chainsaw or the milling forum, rather than tacking on to an existing thread.

That said, 661 no doubt. 500i is a hot rod, you want a heavy truck.

 

[Kurt Helgerson]

You'll get a better response posting your own thread in the chainsaw or the milling forum, rather than tacking on to an existing thread.

That said, 661 no doubt. 500i is a hot rod, you want a heavy truck.

That’s good enough, thanks!

 

[singinwoodwackr]

IMO the 50:1 stuff is an EPA scam
40 in all my saws

 

[singinwoodwackr]

As long as I have experts here on this thread, I am at the fish or cut bait moment on purchasing a saw for a chainsaw mill. I want to be able to power a 48” mill rarely and a 36” mill more often, but a total of 100 feet or so of cutting a year. If I can narrow a log enough for my bandsaw mill (HM126) I don’t need to do everything with a chainsaw. Mostly I see the fun of getting through large stuff here and there. Not as any business, just hobby. That said, Stihl has a $1610 price on the 500i and a $1560 price on the 661. Would you pick one over the other or neither? Thanks in advance.

661, no question

 

[huskihl]

That’s good enough, thanks!

I’m not brand biased. I actually own a 462, two 500s, and 661. If I wanted a saw for a mill I would buy a 395

 

[altatim]

I’m not brand biased. I actually own a 462, two 500s, and 661. If I wanted a saw for a mill I would buy a 395

Old school grunt gets it done

 

[lone wolf]

Old school grunt gets it done

I remember my Homellite super 925 would rip!

 

[cuttinstihl]

I’m not brand biased. I actually own a 462, two 500s, and 661. If I wanted a saw for a mill I would buy a 395

That and over 28” wood is all my clone 395 gets used for. Love the power it has but it’ll wear me out in a hurry if it’s not inside a mill. Makes my 590 Echo feel like nothing weight wise

 

[singinwoodwackr]

It definitely had oil.

The piston might clean up as a spare
New pts ordered...

Gas in the tank...looks like Ultra...

 

[huskihl]

It definitely had oil.

The piston might clean up as a spare
New pts ordered...

Gas in the tank...looks like Ultra...View attachment 1149371
View attachment 1149351

That’s the gas that’s in the tank, not necessarily the gas that last ran through the injector. It’s been my experience on warranty claims that people always dump out the straight gas and put in fresh mixed 50:1 when they know they made a mistake

 

[singinwoodwackr]

That’s the gas that’s in the tank, not necessarily the gas that last ran through the injector. It’s been my experience on warranty claims that people always dump out the straight gas and put in fresh mixed 50:1 when they know they made a mistake

Yea, I’m having the owner try to see if he can get a confession from his crew,
maybe the guy who quit back then?

but, definitely oil in the crankcase and scrounging the stuck rings.

 

[huskihl]

Yea, I’m having the owner try to see if he can get a confession from his crew,
maybe the guy who quit back then?

but, definitely oil in the crankcase and scrounging the stuck rings.

Don’t know how long it was pumped, primed, pulled on or ran after it quit but you might pump the primer bulb and see what comes out or investigate inside the fuel pump. I’m not trying to say it was straight gas. But it would be nice to know one way or the other.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Don’t know how long it was pumped, primed, pulled on or ran after it quit but you might pump the primer bulb and see what comes out or investigate inside the fuel pump. I’m not trying to say it was straight gas. But it would be nice to know one way or the other.

$130 in parts. I’ll just get it fixed and back to the crew.
he’s going to start using 40:1. Any idea if that Ultra will work at that ratio and not screw up saws? I’ve never used it so have no idea. Been using Red Armor for years, recommended by one of the saw builders I’ve used.

 

[huskihl]

$130 in parts. I’ll just get it fixed and back to the crew.
he’s going to start using 40:1. Any idea if that Ultra will work at that ratio and not screw up saws? I’ve never used it so have no idea. Been using Red Armor for years, recommended by one of the saw builders I’ve used.

Red armor works well. Stick with that for your own stuff if you don’t mind buying it.
As to whether ultra will work for him or not at 40:1 depends on his fuel and their habits. I have seen some engines that are really clean that were on ultra and some that are very dirty. Best way is to look at it after 10 gallons of fuel and see

 

[woodfarmer]

I run the stihl premium in all my saws at 40:1, never have an issue. It has a nice blue colour to it.

 

[huskihl]

I run the stihl premium in all my saws at 40:1, never have an issue. It has a nice blue colour to it.

The stuff in Canada is different than what is in the US. Yours is made by Castrol and I believe it’s actually a pretty good product

 

[altatim]

The stuff in Canada is different than what is in the US. Yours is made by Castrol and I believe it’s actually a pretty good product

Makes sense, most guys around here swear by Stihl 40:1 and they have been doing this for decades.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Cleaned up the cyl, no gouges, nothing grabs my dental pic now. One concern, however...a worn spot down low.
Run it or not?

 

[huskihl]

Is that from a hone? Not much going on down there. Sand it smooth and it will be fine