All I can add is I sent a stock MS460 to Simon, before it was sent we took a 24" dia ash log and with a new chain did a video of the before. After the saw came back, which took some time due to the Canadian Postal Strike, me having issues with the postmaster, all the time that log just got more seasoned. When the saw came back, we did an after video which was posted on here, same exact log was used and the same chain, which we just took off and hung up on a nail until the saw got back. The after video showed an average of like a 39.?% average improvement in cutting time with the best slightly over 40% improvement in cutting time. The saw gets the snot run out of it every week, almost everyday, it runs wot no load at 15,300 and has fantastic throttle response. It has clearly showed us that a woods ported work saw can and will pay for itself with the increased productivity it brings to the table. Don't know the politics involved or the circumstances mentioned, but I couldn't be happier with the results of my particular saw.
We're just pretty simple guys, in our part of the world we cut what is considered a lot of firewood, although there are many on here that dwarf our 375-400 cord output, we're just wood cutters and farmers these days, but I can tell you that this particular saws performance before and after is just amazing to guys that hadn't run a bunch of ported saws. We've ran it against my cousin who logs for a living and has for 30 years on his own, third generation logger's stock MS 660 and the Simonized 460 eats it alive, both saws wearing 25" bars. There are many good modders out there, anyone sending a saw to be modded should check out who they are sending their saw to anyway, not only to discuss the expectations, how "hot" they want the saw modded, whether to make it more of a cookie cutter or one that will go to the woods and work all day, one should get references, I remember not too long ago guys sending saws and payment and never seeing their saw again. The main point I want to make is don't let a thread like this discourage you from sending a saw to one of the reputable, proven porters on AS, a good woods port will make your current stock saw seem anemic, sick, in my line of work you will get the return on the 250.00 spent by increased productivity. I've seen no effects on longevity at all, it likes to drink the gas, but it's almost cutting twice the wood in the same period of time. For the amount of money spent it's one of the most fun things you can do for the money, whether you cut five cord or 500, everyone likes running a hotrod. You want to run a Civic or drive a ZL-1 Camaro, one will put a smile on your face.