MS 500i review first thoughts after using 

Nice!! I sold my MS462c a couple of years ago and bought the 500i. Great saw. My pro saws: MS241c, MS261C, MS400c, MS500i, All ported except the 500i.

The fuel usage on ours was absolutely horrible at first but it did improve with run time, especially milling with it. We run a 36” with 404 full skip hex or a 42” with 3/8 full skip square (will convert to hex in time) or round semi chisel for milling. We also have a 32” 3/8 bar that does great with full comp but we run full skip because of our cutting conditions. We’re running the 36” 404 on it because the bar length fits my son better and 404 is a better fit for our cutting conditions. The 42” bar is tip heavy but fine with the other setups. No problem oiling when using good quality oil and the suspension has been upgraded. The 404 36” bar and the 32” 3/8 50 bar are both TsuMura lightweight bars. We’re running a WCS Bark Box for power and cooling, and an oil foam air filter. We noticed fines getting past the base of the HD2 air filter and then an improvement in cut times after installing the foam air filter. I believe it is because of the stock filter mount acts as an air restricter. It has a 3/4 wrap handle with the WCS clutch cover and three point dogs. The wrap handle makes it much easier to handle in our conditions and the WCS clutch cover clears the chips a lot faster and won’t clog up like the stock one did (rotten mushy oak), also directs chips away from the operator. The WCS three point dogs for grip and pivoting the saw during the cut. A 661CM would be a better fit for what we’re cutting but I didn’t want my son to have to deal with the extra weight in our hot humid weather and we can’t afford two large saws. The main go to saw is a 261CM or 241. The 261 is about 5 pounds lighter than the 500i and the 241 is about 7 pounds lighter. Both the 261 and 241 have foam oil air filters and WCS exhaust outlets added for a very noticeable improvement in cutting speed. Both have 3/8 full skip hex. Our cutting conditions are not typical and the way our saws are setup is so they work better in this environment. I strongly recommend against 404 chain unless it’s really necessary. The balance is about perfect with a 25” to 28” bar on the 500i. Bark Box does make a noticeable improvement in power with longer bars full skip square or hex in longer cuts, but it is very loud. Weather here is either very dry and dusty or wet and soggy here so we needed better air filtration. The stock air filters are much easier to clean and maintain. Half wrap handles and stock small clutch covers save a decent amount of weight and half wrap handles don’t get in the way with some cuts. The small stock clutch cover clears most chips just fine but doesn’t direct chip flow away from the operator as well.

Woww fantastic video,, when I saw this video,, now am planing to buy another one like that😊thank you Spanner man

Hi mate, Just on the comparison to the 660, the ones sold here in Australia were rated at 5.6KW @9,500rpm. Both the 500 and 660 have a max rpm of 13,500. They are right on the fuel usage with the 500i. If you’re running it at home it wont be an issue but, when running them all day when out some where they are extremely heavy on fuel. Much worse than the 660 and close to the 880.

Congratulations mate for cutting firewood it should be fine 👍

Why are you using that narrow bar? Teeth are going to break more easily in your hardwoods.