Hands on Review of The Stihl MS 400c! 

Did my first crane job today. Was absolutely nervous about it. But after the first big cut went smoothly I had the confidence in myself that I can do the job. Your content really helped me my man. Thanks.

I really appriceate your honesty, and showing the "oppsies", like the top slipping out of the rigging, and launching the facecut into the neighbors backyard lol! I always have a takeaway from watching your videos. Keep up the great work Jacob! Give your family some extra love for letting you travel around without them, and being gone. Serving overseas showed me that having family support means the world.

I've got one and I love it. Light enough to be used all day in the brush on the farm without tiring my arms too much but enough grunt to pull a 28" bar with skip tooth chain to handle the bigger stuff. just ordered a west coast full kit for it and excited to see how it performs.

I just bought the MS 261 CM, and love it so far. I've only put about 6-7 tanks through it as of now. I am new to this type of work but really enjoy it and this saw just shreds through anything I cut with it.

After using my ported 355 I put more trust in echo so I picked up a 590 with a 24" bar stock. I'm extremely impressed by the company, easily becoming my favorite brand

M-Tonic is still carbureted mon ami. Microchip controller and servo actuators to adjust carb to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions. Edit; Not sure if you actually liked the 400 or not (paused video to deal with some other stuff) but I wanted to say - if you thought it had good power now, wait until it wakes up. Every M-Tronic owner I've asked experienced a significant power jump around the 1 month mark, depending on usage. While not confirmed by Stihl, my theory is that the controller is set in a 'protected' mode until out of break-in. Once your saw gets out of break in ... wow. I was happy with my 362 (power wise) out of the box. Then it woke up. Still vibey af though. My 261? Same same, less the vibey :)

I used to do arborist work in central Oregon before coming to the valley, and I absolutely love it, climbing those tall pondies was always my favorite.

I've learned so much from this channel, it's by far one of the best Sawyer channels!

Nice to see you showing your mistakes too. Happens to the best of us. I was rigging out a spruce top the other day and tied the block above my face cut 😂 i went to do my back cut and was like something dont look right here. Ended up noticing it before i sent the top 😂

I have a 362 with a Bark Box and a high flow air filter. Pulls a 25" full comp Stihl ultralight bar in hardwood with zero issues. Great saw, not too heavy, enough power.

I do tree work 40hrs a week and I love watching these videos. Always learning something. Plus that wonderful sound of a saw 🤩

Your videos are getting better and better. Thank you!

Amazing content. That's pretty cool how your working with all these different companies. Probably makes for a really great experience.

You will love the saw with the bark box and the 3 point dogs. I bought a ms 400 put the box and spikes on now that its broken in it rips and it sounds good. Also after you run 5 to 10 tanks of gas through you new saws the ring will seat good and the saw will "wake up".

Haven't tried the 400c, but I have a Echo 620PW and while its smaller CCs than the 400C, I absolutely LOVE that saw. Super smooth throttle response!

I bought a 400c two years ago and love it so much. It's primarily used for firewood cutting hardwoods on the east coast. With a 20 inch light bar it just tears through no problem. Light enough to be used all day long. I have a 25 inch bar but just haven't used it yet.

Awesome you were in Sisters! Vernam crane is also the best. Drive by them every day. Great tree work as always!

Loving the new channel and content.

Just bought the 400 yesterday, breaking it in today. I needed to replace a 290 that was my 20" between my 201 & 066. I was considering a ported 261, since I need this saw above ground and wanted light but powerfull. Still going to pick up a ported 261 down the road. Also the 400 ported is a ripper! Going to run full comp and full skip on the 25" and see what it likes best. Keep up the great work and vids.

Thank you so much for this vid.. someone finally put some numbers with the still numbers.. this 400 seems about perfect.. I'm older now with a brand new shoulder, brand new knee, both on the right side now I'm starting on my left with left knee surgery in a month. I can't handle a heavy saw anymore but that 400 , a great compromise. That video you made about Jed was great. You're blessed to have known that man. A artist and a master of his trade.

Very cool & different jobs. That wood didn’t want to break that hinge. Great work. Stay safe

Enjoyed watching. Ponderosa Pine has so much pitch. It's a wonder it didn't gum up the bar. My late brother in law lived in The Dalles. We visited there and spent time in Sisters, and Madras. So beautiful there.

I know this comment is late to the game, but I bought a 400 about 8 months ago too. My first 2 or 3 weeks with it I was very unimpressed.......I actually took it back to have them run a diagnostic on it because it was sluggish. But anyway, after a while using it, I love it. Maybe it had to break in, I don't know. I have had to go through the M-tronic reset procedure a few times and after that, it peps right up. So anytime I feel like its not cutting to it full potential, I'll do a reset.......Just my two cents, hope it helps someone. Love the channel by the way!

MS250, that would be a good one to review. I have a few. Ran fairly well. Drilled several hole in the muffler. Now it runs great. Last week while cutting fire wood, I ran it with out the top cover, that covers the air filter, now it out runs my 260. It runs very well. Probably shortening it's life, but it runs fast and pulls! Very happy with it. I was able to get one of the last 260's. I didn't run the 260 for several years because it was such a dog. I opened the muffler up now it runs very well. The 250 is now out cutting it, so I need to go through the 260 again. I have a few 250's and a few 025s. I like them. I have a few 026's and one 260. I like those as well. I have a 400. I like better then the 362. My favorite word cutting saw is the 046 with a 28" cannon. My 066 is kinda too heavy for me to cut fire wood. I live in n central AZ, high desert -Pinion Pine and Juniper. The Juniper holds sand! I go through bars, sprockets and chain at a very uncommon rate!

When I was younger I was in Redmond every weekend. The sweet air is the perfect way to explain it. Nothing better then waking up there on a cold morning and smelling that high desert air.

The little electric saw was kinda neat. Never used one myself and for the price I may never get to. Awesome work.

I love the new m tronic saws. Every season change you just let the saw warm up, rev it out for like 30 secs and the fuel trim automatically adjusts.

I'd love to see some of your tree climbing timelapsed from the ground! Some of those tiny little sticks you were climbing! I'm curious what that looks like. Thanks for all the content dude! I used to watch your other channel, and JUST found out what happened. So glad I found the new one! Cheers!

I really have to say your one of the best climber RU-vidrs out there. as a climber I really enjoy your content definitely up there with August and buckin in my opinion keep up the great work 👍!!!!!

Great job thank you....just purchased a 400c with Western Set up package ie...R model...last week for work nice saw. Shoe in SW Oregon.

Love your videos! Keep them coming! I have a Stihl MS 251 “Wood Bosss” and am saving up to buy the 400!!! So excited that you made a video of this saw!! Pretty sure they were released from Stihl in 2020 or 2021. So far, I’ve got enough for the wrap kit! If my post gets picked, I’ll definitely add it and I’ll finally have a “Big Boy” saw!! Best part, you’ve already got it set up most of the way I want to set mine up (when I get it) ~ WCS Bark Box and an ES Light 25” Bar!!! Want one of these saws SO bad!! 🙏🏼 Perfect for my small Plato of land in Vermont. Stay Safe and keep making fantastic content!

I usually sit on the side watching your tree skillsets, as I learn from you @Guilty of Treeson!!! We are going to be buying land and need to topple tree's and make room for owe OFF-grid home and we are going to start a RU-vid Channel to take everyone on our journey !!! So I value your experiences!!! And I need a saw!!!

You may regret giving that 400 up. I put a straight shot cover on mine and put five tanks through it. This saw is an animal with a 25 inch light bar on it now and the balance is perfect. I appreciate the honest review on it and enjoy your channel! Keep it up and stay safe.

I got a 400c last fall. I threw a bark box, 4 point felling dogs, and a 28" rololite bar on it. It took a few tanks to break in, but now it rips pretty good!

Love the 400 personal. They take a little longer to warm up than most saws but cut best when hot. Once saw is warm fire up with choke on and let idle with choke on for 30 second then hold throttle wide open it will sound like crap for 30 second then go wide open (don't let off). It will then jump back down from wide open. Once it has it is retuned and you can let off and go to work. Noticed a big difference in how much higher rpms where after doing this allso done it each time I mod

That’s nice little saw! It’s a bit of an odd size in my lineup of saws though. I thought hard about getting a 400 but I went with a 261c-m and had the muffler ported and it rips really good with a 20” lightweight bar. Had it out limbing and bucking up some really large bitter cherry trees on my job site. It was hogging through and chunking down 16-18” cherry trees like a champ.

Leaving a comment here for the algorithm gods. Love your content Jake, stoked to see the channel growing! Cheers from Northern California 🤘

You will love the 620 echo as well ran one on my crane for 3 years super reliable

you can almost hear the horse power in you favorite saw. i'm impressed!!!!

Hello, the wrap handle bar kit for the 362 mounts right up on the 400c Mine is fully decked out wrap handle, egan straight shot, west coast air filter and west coast clutch cover running a with a 20" stihl bar or 25" stihl light bar. I also have a fully decked out 500i-R. This is my falling pair. I used to run with the 441c and 362c as my falling pair and still love both the older saws, thanks for the videos!!!

Im currently learning with a ms 170. The weight is great for my injured harm, but with 3 months of good use, it seem that the saw won't last much more xD. Thx for your awsome content, you truly inspire and teach me so much!

That 261 sounds so good! I don't have mine ported, but have a box & dog combo.

I love the saw review videos!!! I personally own a craftsman s145 and I think its great. It would probably make a great video to get and review saws like that one form big box stores that the average person would get for "around the property" kind of usage.

Love the saw review videos, my absolute favorite videos you make!

So glad I'm a professional on filling my bar oil. I never knew it was standard practice.

Port and muffler mod... I did, and I love it.

The sweet smell in the air is probably the ponderosas. If you sniff the bark they smell like fresh baked cookies. It works best on older trees, in an area of the bark that's a bit cracked revealing the reddish inner bark with maybe a little pitch leaking out.

Cc is cubic centimeter used to measure the volume inside the cylinder

Great vid man! That 261 stole the show, it seemed to really throw those chips. I have a echo 620 that I really love especially for the price, I run a 27 inch bar on it sometimes for the bigger oak trees and it pulls it respectably.

Someone in Queensland, Australia recently had an issue with their bridge on that harness too. Rope wore right through and had a bit of an accident. Might be worth looking at

I work as a technician for stihl. Love the ms400. It has a magnesium piston so they are snappy and sound great.

Hey Jacob. We spoke on Instagram about the Rope Runner OG but just wanted to give ya a quick tip to get some gains on the power for any m-tronic saw. Since you swapped from a 25" to 20" to 28" you should reset the carbs when you swap bars that are bigger. Quick and easy to do and I promise you it will change the whole feel of the saw with throttle response and power. Even if only gains 5 to 10 secs in the cut that's saving time and time is money 💯💪🏼. Just thought I'd drop this tip for ya. Try it and let me know if it helped if you get time to reply or see this comment! Thanks for all the hard work you put into these videos as well! Hope you see this and be safe brother! 💯💪🏼

Perfect saw for Alaska I run Gordys goodies on it and 25" and 32" light bar skip tooth full chissle and it rips. Love mine.

Just bought a ms 261 and I couldn't be happier with it

Love your videos man. Be safe out there

CC stands for cubic centimetres, and it is the swept volume of the cylinder. You will be more familiar with the cubic inch measure for car engines etc.

Love my 400 after I got a broken and I almost sold it just didn’t seem like it had much power out of the box. Maybe it doesn’t tanks through the saw and She really came alive!!!

I've been in love with my 261 for years now and it's stock. I can't imagine running a modded one.

CC is short for cubic centimeters. It’s confusing with stihl saws but husqvarna has a pretty easy way to tell how many cc’s it is. For example the 572 is a 5th gen saw with 72cc engine.

GREAT vid my friend! Keep em coming!!

CC = Cubic Centimeters. Like CI , Cubic Inch

Love the review Jacob! And on that comment about the 620 Echo you made, you should review one. I’ve found them and the 590s to be wonderful saws, a bit heavy but boatloads of torque and they really wake up with a muffler mod. My muffler modded 590 is actually a razors edge faster than a 362, a muffler modded 620 blows them both out of the water

Just bought a new MS400C yesterday!

I've been looking at the 400.... but I do have a 620 and I love it

That 261 is awesome perfect crane saw for sure

CC stands for Cubic Centimeters. It’s the volume/displacement of the cylinder.

The T540I 14"can be had for about $880 includeing 2batteries and charger shipped to your door if you catch them on sale.

462 or 500i thanks for another great video going to slowly build my 261c up.

I don't know if someone has let you know about the meaning of 'cc'. Simply cc stands for cubic centimetre. The imperial equivalent measure is the term cubic inch. The rough equivalent in capacity is 1000cc's equals approximately 60 cubic inches or in chainsaw terms 50cc = 3 cubic inches.. Love your videos and cheers from the east coast of Australia.

Hey Jake, thanks for what you do! Come volunteer down here in Florida and we can cut some hurricane trees.

I agree with another dude who commented: review an Echo, next. I have a CS400 (obviously don't review that one as it's too small) and have heard great things about their larger saws. A great "bang for the buck" brand, for sure.

the M tronic saws take some time to acquire data and adjust the tune. There's a programming sequence you can do, it's in the manual.

My MS 400 cm finally came in I've had it about 2 weeks. I love it. I got it with a 24 inch bar.

I've got a lot of family in Bend I go to central Oregon a lot, I love Sisters, always wondered what those funny looking trees they have their where called.

This is superb content! Thank you.

I noticed you stand directly behind the cut when blocking down. Or chunking. If you move to the left and stand beside the cut it don't jerk you as bad. It only moves the rigging. I feel better when I did

Sister is high desert so the ar is thinner. Grew up and live near hear. Gloves are highly recomened do to bark and nsty pitch. Lots of sage in this area.

I've got an Echo 590 timberwolf and I really like it.

Ponderosa forests smell SO good. The trees themselves smell like vanilla or butterscotch, and the sage that thrives in those open shady patches add to the smell. Best smelling forests.

Heat cycles are what break the piston rings in.. usually by the 3rd to 5th tank is when they wake up.

CC = Cubic centimeters. Static volume of the space traveled by the piston inside the bore.

Get a bark box from Gordy!!!! Loudest and also my favorite saw to run! Winnnn winnnn!!!

Get ahold of that Echo CS-620 PW with a 27" bar, I think you will be impressed! Great content!

Another great video. Love the giveaways your a awesome person.

Absolutely love my 400c..been running it since last year now and it’s a workhorse for sure..where can you get some better felling dogs though..I haven’t looked around to much but a recommendation would be awesome!! Thanks and great content as always

Full wraps are great until you want to level a stump. I use a 36” hard nose bar Husqvarna 380 with non full wrap ahd a plywood stump cutting jig with hole in the middle to slide that saw through the cut evenly and keep her out of the dirt.

Hey Jacob, cc is cubic centimeters, it's a metric measurement for volume, in this case the volume of the engine displacement. Just like how your car or truck engine is measured in liters. One cc is one milliliter or ml, and a liter is 1000 milliliters, just for comparison.

That saw has very unique sound to it; deeper than most.

I'd love to see one of the newer 201t's reviewed. I know that they were pretty hated when they first came out but with the m-tronic kinda coming into its own and the fact that you have so many other climbing saws to compare it to it would be cool to see your opinions on it now. Maybe also comparing it to the echo 355. Thanks Jacob. Love all your stuff.

Great editing!

CC = Cubic Centimetres. Its the volume of how big the engine is.

Great video. Keep up the good work.

C.C's are cubic centimeters (a volume). A cube with one centimeter sides is one C.C so a 70CC saw would have space for 70 x one centimeter volumes in the combustion chamber. It's comparable to European and Japanese vehicles with two liter engines which are another way of saying two thousand cubic centimeters as one liter is also known as 1,000 C.C's. Love your down to earth videos and honest looks at the tree trade. Regards from Scotland.

I considered the 400 to replace a 291. I think I will enjoy the extra power it has bucking firewood

CC's refers to the volume of the cylinder (bore x stroke), expressed in cubic centimeters.

You should try an echo. The 590 Timberwolf Is a super popular saw with homeowners/farmers near me!

Oh that 400 is just what I need!

Nothing but ponderosa pine and red fir, where I'm at. The ponderosas grow weird and can be real knotty. Stay safe brother!

I got a full wrap 400c with the west dogs and west coast bark box on it . I enjoy this saw too

I ordered a sticker right away God bless Jake