About a week ago I caught a guy walking down the street towards the pawn shop, he had an almost new 500i in his hand, I asked him what he was gonna do with and he said he was going to try to sell it, I asked him how much? He said if I wanted it he would take $550! And he had the paperwork where he bought it. I didn’t want to buy a stolen saw, he said he had a family member in a bind, I just handed him$600 and shook his hand, dang what a saw! It’s way more than I need but I own it! I would rather have more saw than I need than not enough. I’ve got a 391 and a 362, an old 029 which is a good saw for small firewood. I’ve got some big 32 inch poplar I’ll try the 500i on!
So crazy I just walked into my stihl dealer with no intention of buying a 500i. I was there to get on the list. Then I looked on the shelf and there one was!!! I bought it on the spot. $1400. That’s a lot of money for me. I had a moment of oh crap what did I just do. Then I cut in a pile that would have taken me two days and I got it done in just under 3 hours and the longer bar allowed me to reach without bending and my back felt pretty good. It opened a new level of production, and fun that I didn’t expect in my best estimates. The instant power and always starts and no carb problems. Gotta be the best $1400 I spent that I can remember
Yea mine was 1650 .00 on sale lol.😢then 200 in after market parts acuttualy 250..but stihl saws well all saws need them especially exhaust modification. It's completely different tool once those are added suspension as well..great saws..they say 462 replaced 461 but it didn't bevause the 500i did its same cc as 461 ..the 462 is only 72...but that 2 pound deference is big deal.
I bought an MS291 several years ago. It has cut no less than at least 30 cords of wood. It is 55cc and still starts and runs like the day l bought it. Just a great saw for the money
I have the Stihl 180, 261, 500i, & 661. My favorite saw is still the 261 because it is super light to carry around. That said, it only works well up for trees up to 14" in diameter.
After two years on a waiting list my dealer finally called me a couple of weeks ago and I got my 500i. Love it. But lets get this straight - the MS261 is NOT a "homeowner saw" by any stretch. It's small and light and handy, but it's metal-cased and high compression, and has a compression release. I run a 20-inch bar, and it's the saw that's always with me on the tractor because it will handle 90% of what I run into in the woods.
Thanks Chris for making this video! I picked up a 500i yesterday and ordered the egan air filter upgrade, as many on youtube have complained about stihl's factory design letting saw dust in around the knob that pulls the cover off if im understanding it correctly. Brought it home and bucked up a willow, she rips! I wish i would have thought about the light bar when i bought it, comes with the standard bar that is just over 1 lb heavier. Sheib made a video showing the weight diff. You guys are AWESOME thanks for all you do!
That Tony...man, the collection of toys just keeps coming! That is a collection of Stihl's to be sure and a big ole Eastonmade splitter! I bet you've been eyeing his hidden tractor collection too!
I have all the big commercial saws Husqvarna 372, 390, 395 Stihl 460, 461, 660. I was told i wouldnt be happy with a 500i. I bought one this summer. They are alot of money. $1600 That said, Im very happy with the saw. It is truly a advanced saw. I love the simple prime ball and off switch. The wieght is awsome too.
You mentioned putting a shorter bar really speeds up the chain speed. The only way to change the chain speed is to change the size of the drive sprocket.
I have a 362 and a 661 and totally agree with you about the torque. The 661 just lugs along in big tree service wood. 362 is my go to saw it is 10 years old and great power to weight ratio for me. I am 5 foot 7 so a 20 inch bar saves my back. Great review of different color saws. White and orange saws matter too!
261 was my first saw. Great saw respond well to muff mod. I got a 180 I put a 12in bar on for limbing and pruning. Then I bought a couple makita electric saws and a makita 7910. Electric saws definitely have a place in rotation. My newest saw is the 400c though.
chainsaws are quite addicting. i used a 12in electric craftsman when i was a kid. then was given a homelite at age 18.i bought 2 more. then bought 1 every couple years. now at count 15. i want a 500i. love the pro stihl brand. the stihl saws are rated in kilowatts. {roughly} and thats what the model number represents, across the pond. thank guys, very informative video.
Terrific video! I tried a 24” bar on the husky 455 rancher, it was a bit too much load for it... about 12 cords done w the 572xp w a 28” bar, the difference between homeowner and pro saws is pretty clear!
I just picked up a 500i I have just a few tanks through it. Use a 20” bar that’s all they had. I have another 28” bar in case I need that. I’ve used a stihl 460 for around 15 years. It was time to upgrade and what a difference. Just around $1400 with tax. I do around the same amount of wood you do a year so a pro saw is needed. I don’t exactly see it as an expense just an investment like all our other equipment.
Dow here in Kentucky where I live, if you want a 500i. You better be at the dealership the day they come in, the loggers buy them as fast as they get them!
Good morning Chris!!😀😀 Tony has a really nice lineup of Stihls. I haven't tried out a 500i yet but I have all the other saws that he has except the top handle one. My favourite one is the 460 . They have been the nicest all around saw for cutting firewood. Tony's 660 needs to be tweeted a bit on the top end. That saw was just blubbering and probably not running more than about 11,000 rpms. If it was running at 13,000 like it's made to run. You would definitely be more impressed with it. You need to stop over and take mine for a spin sometime. You are so right about the bar lengths for the different jobs. I need to try out a 500i sometime. I'm sure I would be very impressed. Looks like you guys were having a great time playing with the man toys!!😀😀 Take care my friend!!😀😀👍👍
@@InTheWoodyard I've only ran a 395 one time and it felt very torquey but it was overall very similar to running the 661, both are great options for falling/bucking the big stuff
I would just like to have my second saw. Lol. The 362 would be nice. Doug McDonald RN is now North Star Firewood of Niagara Falls NY. Keep the great videos coming Chris.
Friend has an MS261 CM and it’s a great felling and firewood saw. For the same sort of work, I use a Husky 550XP Mk2 and before that was a 545. But for bigger stems and or old nearly stuff, you need something with oomph. A different friend went from a many houred MS260 to an MS660 or 661; I went with the MS500i. When I was choosing a bigger saw, if was going to mill, I’d have gone for and old MS660 or MS880 or 3120XP. But I knew I’d not be milling, so the shortlist was an MS661, Husky 576XP & MS500i, (I considered a used 395XP). But in the end, it came down to how much fuel-cutting time, vibration levels, weight-power ratio and finally the 576XP or MS500i. At the buying point, there was a deal and the 500i was £300/$400 cheaper with a 25” bar+chain, compared to the Husky powerhead only. The only caveat, is while the 500i runs great, it’s a pig to start in cold weather. Would I buy another over a carbed saw, probably not but neither will I sell it. It’s first outing was felling a few small beech (14”), a small birch, a couple of mini oaks (8”) and big ash (28”) and it powered through them all. I gather from others, that at max. bar length, the MS500i has it. But up to 20” bar, the 500i has one big problem and that, is that the MS462 already exists.
Originally, there was the 026, 036, 046 and 066. The new numbering system uses the last digit for the generation. The 026 is now the 261, the 036 became the 360, 361 and then 362, 046 became 461, 462 and of course the 066 became 660, 661, etc.
I just bought the MS 194t arborist saw, it's the most amazing saw I've ever owned. Thinking about the 500i but I'm still not sold, you buy a $1,500 saw and then have to drill out the air filter to fix it LOL. I also heard that some fire departments have stopped buying Stihl chainsaws because the new ones have a pressure build up in the gas tanks and pop when you open them up, something you don't want to happen when fighting a forest fire. I guess Husky would be the next alternative. I also have a Husky 460 rancher, just bought the new X-Cut chain and a new bar. That X-Cut is amazing, lots of comparison videos on RU-vid, it's the fastest cutting chain that nothing can beat.
My buddy's firehouse swapped out all their 500i for 462 and 661. They were having issues with the saw not running correctly due to smoke in the air messing with the auto mix and them shutting off when used in smokey situations. I'm going to pick one up for forestry work on our property and to use for milling. If I need something bigger I'll borrow a friend's 880 that he rarely uses. 261 rides with me in my truck daily.
The MS 261 C is a 50.2 cc saw. The MS 400 C is a 70.7 cc saw my latest and the MS 500i is a 79.2cc saw. I didn't know so I had to look it up. Great video!
@@nigeljackson5880 I re-googled it and it's a 67cc saw. I must have been looking at the MS 440 for some reason. However, the 400 is a very powerful saw and I love it.
Lovely saws. I notice that in the US and Canada people tend to run longer bars inn general than in UK or Europe and in particular where mostly we use 16 or 18” bars on 50cc saws. It’s makes them a much more responsive and powerful saw with the shorter bar and you guys should really try it.
Across the pond we cut big hardwood and bigger trees than most of you do and we do production cutting. Speed and power are necessary to get the job done so that is what we use in North America. Little saws are used sometimes, mostly for limbing or by home owners.I have ran little saws and with a bigger saw I can cut TWICE as much in a day.
Thanks Tony for showing and sharing your saws. I have had a similar progression with Stihl saws bought through a very good local dealer. Looking at buying another 462 or trying a 500i when it's available. My wife prefers me to do my own laundry due to the 2 stroke perfume and man glitter all over.
I have 9 saws multiple MFGs. It can get hard to remember the starting sequence when you are running multiple brands of saws. You get used to it but if its one you haven't ran in quite a while every now and then you can mess around and flood it. I really prefer Stihl but I like them all. Stihl dealers are everywhere here though and near both my other houses which I like. I know of only 1 Husqvarna dealer close by might be others but I only know of 1 and I know of a half dozen or more Stihl and one is like 2 miles away so its just nice having parts and all close plus they are now selling them at some hardware stores and the Runnings store. The one Husqvarna dealer wasn't all that nice to me either when I was in there last. Bought a brand new Redmax GZ360 think the model is basically its a top handle saw with a rear handle wanted a really nice light saw and Redmax is just a red Husqvarna. Well I bought it on eBay from a Redmax dealer brand new. It came with the adjustable oiler screw broken off rolling around in the box. It was brand new should have a warranty so I took it to the Husqvarna dealer and they gave me a hard time told me I should have bought the saw there. Sure same saw different color but they were like $150 more then I paid that dealer online. I ended up just buying a new oiler myself like $20 and I didn't want to mess with it so I dropped it off at my small engine shop I use by the house and gave him $15 I think he charged to install it. Then when I pickup he has an Echo top handle he sells me lol. Its a 355t and I gave him $45 for it lol. Somebody dropped it off for repair he said almost a year earlier and never came back or answered his calls so I gave him what the repair bill was and he gave me a new Carlton chain with it so I guess I made out okay. Actually had issues the last 2 Husqvarna saws really but still like their saws. I really like Makita/Dolmar too you need to check them out as well. Especially if you like dogs they have huge dogs like on the 660 maybe bigger lol. I have a 6421 its a 64 or 65cc pro saw love that thing probably the saw I use most and Home Depot rents them they sell pretty often too that is how I got it for $250 looked brand new other then they painted the bar orange its about a $700 saw new and the bottom end is the same as the 77cc saw so if you want you can put the 77cc top end on it and pick up some power
I have an old 026 (my first brand new saw and one of the best 50cc saws ever made) and have also used the newer 261. I do not like the ergos on the newer 261. I think the chassis length and handle height are different. I have an 461 and love that saw. Also just bought a 250 for trail maintenance and it's a good little saw that I can carry on my dirt bike with a saw carrier. I mill with my 461, but it sounds like the 500i or even the new 462 are making much better power. Those saws were not available when I bought my 461.
I learned a lot about saws (even if I didn't know what half of the stuff you guys were saying meant LOL) and that my dad's camera work is pretty great! Loved those cuts where the wood chips were flying into the camera.
Hello from Spreeforest in Germany. Nice video guys👍. Good channel Chris. I ordered a 500i at the beginning of this year, hope i get it at the end of june... I had a stihl 440, 441 and still have a MS 241. All saws are very good for cutting firewood as homeowner.
@@InTheWoodyard The Stihl factory is 400 miles away. I wait to get the 500i from my dealer because I bought every chainsaw there for 22 years now. They have a good and fast repairservice. I appreciate this.
We don’t get quite so much fun here in the UK! Interesting what you said about the number of injuries from top-handle saws, in the UK you have to be certified before you can buy a top-handle saw, and they are only for use off the ground!
Sorry to hear about all the restrictions the nannies in the government make you follow, I am glad I live in a somewhat free country, although that is changing fast here!
I love my Stihl saws, however, when I was looking for another small top handle saw... I bought the Echo 2511T. the lightest, most powerful little top handle saw made. Now the MS192T stays on the shelf. I have a ported MS500i that I run a 25" and 32" bar on. This thing rips! Absolutely my favorite saw.
I have three saws, two real ones and a Stihl😳, kidding I like both, the stihl was left to me so it’s sentimental, but I use it weekly as I do will all of them to keep em fresh. They each have a different combination to start, and they all start well when you learn those combinations.
hi there really nice show . i had a 200t it was a really great saw shortest bar i could get . very fast light . there new model no were as good . all my saws i use short bars as i can . cheeper less sharping . i don't think the new saws will have the longevity . my go to saw is a 1982 041 still a great but getting tired . also have that 066 most the time with a 24 but handles 36 when needed . lately for a year or more a Milwaukee electric easy to start chains are cheep and the battery most the time lasts longer the i do but not for big stuff but it will surprise you . good show john
Great collaboration with Tony. Seems like a real interesting fella. All the toys are a plus too! 😁 Let Tony know that all the specs for the Stihl saws are on a sticker inside the handle. See ya tomorrow GNI
Call me a beginner homeowner if you will, but I usually pick what saw I’m gonna run by the size and amount of wood I’m cutting. 9 times out of 10 on 20in wood or less I’ll pick my 261 over my 461. I’ll give up a little speed and power for less weight. At the end of a long day my old body appreciates it.
I have used a 361 since 2008. That is my. Goto saw for firewood. Im looking at the 261 with a full wrap for a brush saw. I think i average 30 to 40 cords a year
The choke works the same on husqvarna and stihl, but you cant see the high idle shut off on the husqvarna saws. Also, remember that a lot of saws shut off left and right, it can get confusing if you own multiple brands.
I bought two 044 Stihl saws with 28 inch bars while logging at the family ranch in Montana in the early 1990s. Both saws still run fine to this day, and neither saw was ever in a saw shop for repairs. I've just purchased a new 500i, and so far I'm really, really disappointed. If I set the 500i down after cutting and pick it up ten minutes later, it will not start. I hate the M-tronic carbs, so maybe I'll end up going back to my two old reliable saws.
Hello, I am getting a new saw and would like opinion as to which way to go between a 500i and 661? Please tell me why you choose what you would. I ant to ren a min of 32” likely. 36”. Thanks.
I called my dealer and he had one in stock with a 20" bar. I told him I would take it. The dealer agreed to swap the 20" bar for a rollomatic es light weight 25" bar and chain like the one on this video. $1369.00 ouch!
Hey Chris, watch what to say about the Polish, we are all brotherski's 🤣 Would Love to have a Stihl 550i, I don't cut that much wood any more to justify the cost.
@@InTheWoodyard Admittedly, I switched from huskies to Stihl when the EPA started choking out the Husqvarnas. I'm a 3-saw guy. Stihls. 261/20", 500i/28" and my little top handle. Dad's a tree farmer, oak and walnut mostly. He switched to Stihl a year or so after I did, but he still has that old Jonesred, and I occasionally use it when I visit.
You'll absolutely love brushing out trees and tree tops with a top-handle chainsaw. You'd be surprised by how much wood you can cut with those little saws before you need a bigger saw.
Hey Chris, thanks for the video, I really enjoyed seeing you run the chainsaws. Stihl makes very nice saws. You should get both the 500i and the 462 because you can never have too many chainsaws lol! GNI
the 261 is one of the Stihl saws, that has been developed over so many years, its the Porsche 911 of chainsaws, in the 50cc segment, its the Saw, bigger saws, need justification to get them, the 261 ist the one Saw to get. the second one would be the the 400cm or the 462, if crazy is a thing, get the 500i as your fellingsaw, it is faster then the 462, that i know
@@InTheWoodyard yeah i can agree use the 462 myself, and 500i at work, both great saws, but if i have the choice to carry a 362cm or a 261cm for all of the smaller Jobs, i gladly take the offer, ecspecially since the ligth 04 bars have hit the market, it makes the 261 a wicked fast little thing...
At the beginning of the video a comment was made about a chain going very fast because of a short bar. In general, I don't find this to be true. It is the engine speed and sprocket that engages the drivers that determines the speed of a chain. Now it may travel slightly faster by reducing the friction enabling the engine to very slightly speed up. The time it takes for the chain to do a revolution is shorter because of the distance that the chain travels to complete a 360 degree turn but, the actual speed of the chain will remain constant on a given chainsaw no matter what the bar length you attach.
@In The Woodyard You are confusing yourself with a saw that is under powered to pull through the wood versus the speed. If a saw maintains 9000 RPMs on the engine the speed of the chain remains constant whether it is a 12" bar or a 48" bar. An example would be a powerhead using those 2 bars will operate at the same speed cutting a 10" diameter log. Now if you bury that 48' bar into a 50" diameter log and it slows down that relates to the torque (power) that the saw is putting out in order to pull that chain and is less related to the bar size. If you are using a 120CC saw I doubt there is minimal change in chain speed. I hope this helps you understand.
Been husky for a long while now. But finally got a 500i... stihl really really nailed that saw.... Still wouldnt buy any other model of stihl chainsaw tho ;)
I got a Stihl 462c and it's very comparable to the 500i. Cc wise, HP and price point. I would have bought a 500i but at the time they were very difficult to find.
@@InTheWoodyard my next purchase I’d like another “every day saw”. My current pack has a MS180c 14”, two MS250s (16”&18”), a MS291 20”, and a 038 magnum clone from Holzfforma 25” bar. Each had its place in the pack. I don’t want to tire out the MS291 which is my go to saw. I was considering a 261 cause it’s in that same cc range but it would definitely need to be a 20” bar saw. Guys are dropping green left and right getting 400c and 500i like it’s nothing. A 462c in CT at my dealer is almost $1200 before taxes. The 261 is $620. Granted any purchase is a lifetime purchase.
I would always take a 261 over a 291. The 261 is a pro saw but if you are gonna spend the money I would probably buy something a little bigger the 261 is the better saw though and really all you really need especially if you were only gonna own 1 saw. I would probably run a 16 or 18 inch bar they can def pull a 20 but I would rather not run that on my 261.
@@JesseLJohnson exactly what I said just a different way. I have no need for a 261, ive since picked up a used 361 and running that with a 20” on it. Still waiting for a dang 461/462 to come into stock at my local dealer. Happy new year.
