The Stihl MS500i – A True Game Changer!

[D.F.B]

The Stihl MS 500i – A True Game Changer!

It’s hard to know exactly why I love chainsaws so much. The sound? The smell? The look? The teetering on the edge of danger? All of the above? In fact, it’s probably easier to determine WHEN and WHY I became obsessed with these noisy, dangerous and oh so addictive machines.

When I was 12 or 13, Dad installed a pot belly stove in the carport. Suddenly weekend firewood collection became a thing. At one point, we would go with our neighbour, he’d supply the chainsaw, we supplied the vehicle, each load split down the middle. I would watch on in awe as my neighbour sliced up box and redgum timber with ease. It’s fitting that I now own that saw, a Stihl 028 AV Super.



Eventually, after much nagging on my part, I convinced Dad to buy a chainsaw. I had my heart set on a Stihl, just like my neighbours. However, the salesman talked Dad into buying a 009L, which didn’t look like the 028 I had idolized. Even so, that saw became my pride and joy, I would clean it after every use, made sure it was always ready to go!



Fast forward to 2020, I decided to add a battery powered MSA 140C to my arsenal, which used the Stihl AK battery system that I already had. This unit became super handy for situations where a hand saw or set of loppers were maxed out, but didn’t warrant the use of a bigger petrol-powered saw. It also meant not having to deal with fuel or cranky starting procedures. Plug in the battery, zap zap, done.



But I still pined for that big, angry sounding Stihl……………………….

Stihl MS 271

Enter November 2022, I finally scratched the itch and bought the saw I always wanted. I had always eyed the 45cc MS 250/MS 251, in theory possessing the blend of performance, size and weight to suit my needs. But somewhere along the way, I got distracted by the 50.2cc MS 271. This upped the ante in terms of performance and put more distance between this new purchase and the 40.8cc 009L I already had. I walked in, asked to look at the 271, picked it up and said, "I'll take it". Suddenly, I had that Stihl I'd always dreamt of....................









In use, the 271 had plenty of grunt to easily carve through fallen gum tree limbs and remove unwanted trees, all the while being manageable for me to use. But……………………………….in January 2023, I was gifted my neighbours old 028 Super. Suddenly, I had two 50cc chainsaws. Fast forward to the present day, I figured I’d need to make a choice of which to keep.

At this point I’ll note my regret for not reaching a little higher when I bought the 271. As in, going for one of the pro-grade saws. Perhaps the brilliant MS 261, which has the same capacity as the 271, but with a traditional magnesium crankcase with a bolt on cylinder. The MS 271 is a clamshell saw, which has a self-contained engine unit bolted to a plastic case. Or maybe something like the MS 462, which as well as being a pro saw would have put space between it and the 028.

Clamshell type -



Magnesium case type –



Considering what that old 028 means to me, I guess the decision was simple……………….the 271 was on the chopping block, in turn making way for something a little more serious. In truth, I didn’t really need to replace the 271, in the same way I don’t need 4 cars, 5 polishers, 12 lawn mowers, instead, I just wanted one…………………………………….

Narrowing The Field -

I didn’t consider any other brand, it was always going to be another Stihl. Brands such as Husqvarna, Echo, and Shindaiwa make great products…………………but they just don’t grab me like Stihl does. In my formative years I was a Stihl boy, and I’ve turned into a Stihl man. The same applies to those who have a passion for Ford’s, maybe a certain brand of camera, maybe a clothing line or shoe brand. We want what our hearts want.

With that in mind, I narrowed the choices down to a MS 462 and MS 500i, both pro-grade saws with magnesium case. The 462 is a weapon, producing 4.4 kW from a 72.2cc engine, and all Australian market models come with M-Tronic automatic tuning. But, the 500i takes things to another level, be that engine size or power, but crucially, technology as well. With the current Stihl winter sale, both models are currently priced within $100 of each other, with the 500i being cheaper, well, it was pretty clear which would be the winner…………………………

 

[D.F.B]

What Is The 500i -

The MS 500i is the first and only fuel injected chainsaw in the world. Launched in October 2019, it’s still in a class of its own. In addition to the fuel injection, the 500i uses M-Tronic to automatically adjust the fuel mixture on the fly, which can help compensate for ambient temperature, hot or cold starting, fuel quality, elevation, and air filter condition. It also means rapid throttle response, Stihl claiming it can go from 0-100 km/h in 0.25 seconds.

With injection, the starting procedure is vastly improved over a traditional Stihl chainsaw, no more multi-staged choke settings, no more flooding. The simplified starting procedure involves pressing the primer bulb a few times, then pull the rope and the injection and M-Tronic will adjust to conditions. A single push of a button then stops the saw.



Stihl also make a lot of noise regarding the power to weight ratio of the MS500i being unmatched for this class of saw. A MS462 has a figure 1.4 kg/kW, the much bigger and heavier MS661 is at 1.4 kg/kW. The 500i smashes that with 1.3 kg/kW.

The specs speak for themselves…………………………..





Why the MS 500i –

Because I’m a not job!

Seriously though, to answer this question, lets again look to the car industry for a metaphor.

Consider the BMW M2, the FPV F6 or Porche 911 GT3. In a technical sense, the M3, FPV GT and 911 Turbo all use a larger and more powerful engine, which translates to a faster car in a straight line. But it’s the smaller and lighter M2, the better balanced F6, or finely honed GT3 that are superior to drive, more nimble, more visceral.

There are larger and more powerful Stihl chainsaws above the MS 500i. The 91.1cc MS 661 and 121.6cc MS 881Magnum are pretty much the biggest and most power chainsaws money can buy. Using the car analogy, the 500i would be the 911 GT3, the 661 a 911 Turbo. The 500i uses a smaller 79.2cc engine that produces less power, but then its lighter, more nimble and with fuel injection, a more responsive engine. The 661 is about torque to lug through long, heavy cuts. So, one is a big hammer, the other is the proverbial dentist’s drill.



Anyone who knows me, I love the sound and response from a naturally aspirated engine over the low revving modern turbo engine with their flat, characterless sound. A high revving V8 or 6-cylinder will always be my preference. So, the 500i with its instant throttle response, linear acceleration and smaller physical size is the same concept.

And finally, the fuel injection factor sets the 500i apart from every other chainsaw on the market. That right there is a huge drawcard for me. The pinnacle of performance, a no regrets purchase.



Waiting list -

I’m one of those people who will spend hours, days, weeks and months researching a purchase. I’ll obsessively compare the specs, watch countless videos, and read just about everything I can find on the potential purchase. This is especially so when I’m new to a particular subject, that way when I do make a choice, I often end up knowing more than the person selling the product. If that purchase is from a bricks and mortar store, I can then walk in, point to what I want, pay the money, walk out, done! This is me buying just about anything and means I’m not wasting my time or theirs.

There is also an element of anticipation with this approach. The more I read and watch, the more excited I get. And when I’ve finally made that choice after such a long period or procrastination, I’ve already spent the money in my head, I want it NOW.

So, off I went to the local Stihl dealer in mid-June, rearing to spend the cash burning a hole in my back pocket. I walked in, told the salesman at the counter I wanted a 500i, only to be told with an element of frustration “so does everyone else”, then pointed to the relatively empty chainsaw display.

Along with other saws, the 500i is being heavily promoted for the winter catalogue. The Stihl rep told dealers that they had "2000 chainsaws in Melbourne" to support the winter promotions. However, what the rep didn't say was that all of those 2000 saws were quarantined on the dock. Technically, the sales rep wasn't lying about the stock being in Melbourne, but they were not "in stock" for dealers to order and sell. The dealer sales manager had been on the phone to Stihl every day wanting to know where his stock was.

So, I asked to be put on the order list, of which I was at least number 12 in line. I'm told they expected stock by early July...................which meant missing the EOFY cut-off. Not ideal either. You can imagine the deflation at this point. I toyed with doing the ring around, the Benalla dealer was advertising them as available, but…………………I felt like I should honour the relationship I have with the sales manager at the local store. As my mother always says, good things come to those who wait…………………………..

Turns out that wait only lasted a week. At 4.50pm yesterday, I phoned the dealer with a query, only to be told that my saw turned up at 3pm. After explaining what I do in my spare time, the dealer kindly kept the saw boxed up and unassembled for me to photograph and film. Despite being Stihl policy to fuel, oil and test fire tools before they leave, I was kindly given the option to take it as is, but I got them to do the pre-sale process to be safe. Being a Saturday, if something was wrong, I didn’t want to wait until Monday to sort it out.



To be continued........................

 

[D.F.B]

Unboxing and First Start -

Yeah yeah, I know…………………unboxing videos are tacky, but hey, I’m having fun.

Unlike the homeowner and farm class saws that are made in China or the USA, the 500i is made in Germany.





After all that, I figured it was time to fire it up, fire it up, fire it up! With the decompressor pushed in, the primer pressed 13 times (as per instruction), one firm pull and the big girl fired. One pull! Like, I’ve NEVER used a chainsaw that has started from dead cold in one pull. And because it doesn’t have the multi-stage choke that is standard fare for all Stihl saws, you don’t have to listen for the “pop” on full choke, nor do you have the saw screaming to life on part choke, it just starts and idles. I’d say that is a safety feature in itself.

And OH MY GOD! I’ve never used a two stroke engine with this much throttle response before. Like, instantaneous! And the sound, FARK! Yep, I now have that big badass sounding chainsaw.

Also, I was expecting the 500i to be heavy, but its much lighter than I thought and is surprisingly well balanced.

Stick with me, there is more to come!

 

[ATC]

The 500i is the saw I want. I have absolutely no need for a saw bigger than your standard 250 or 290, but there is something about the 500i that just makes it a badass.

Our old MS180 was getting long in the tooth years ago, so I picked up a MS311 two or three years ago to use on a couple large oak's I had planned to drop.

 

[Davefr]

So Stihl finally embraced primer bulbs?

 

[jblnut]

Send that 500i out to a reputable saw builder to get ported and worked over and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear once again at your whole new saw.

I have an 044 that’s had the whole treatment and it’ll pull a 32” bar through white oak like my stockish 066. It’s a heck of a saw. I’ve used a ported 500i and it was like holding a V8 with a bar and chain on the end. It was absolutely unstoppable with the 24” bar that was on it.

Glad to see you’ve wandered down the Stihl highway. There are a few of us nut jobs out there racing around

These are the users. The collection of parts saws and “projects” is upstairs and takes up a bit more space.

 

[ericm]

So Stihl finally embraced primer bulbs?

I think it's to pressurize the injection system. However some of their other equipment like blowers and string trimmers have long had bulbs.

 

[D.F.B]

So Stihl finally embraced primer bulbs?

Yeah, I've always wondered about that.

Actually, they have used a primer/purge bulb on certain saws for a long time now. In addition to the 500i, saws fitted with the spring assist Easy2start recoil, they have a primer positioned on the clutch side of the saw. I think this accounts for the spring-assist and how it only allows the engine to spin over at a certain speed, so purging the carb make it fire easier.

 

[f121]

500i is such a great saw, the power to weight is just unrivaled. I used a mates for a day felling hardwood and bought one, no one understands why I have it until they use it. Then they go buy one.

My only complaint is there seems to be a bit of dust getting past the filter, I am thinking of swapping to an aftermarket filter to cure that.

 

[Farmall450]

A commercial saw with a primer is such a win. Typically they expect those to be frequently used, so they can the primer (more fail (leak) points). I doubt I'll ever see timber around here worth upgrading my CS-500P from, but the 500i sure is a neat saw.

 

[D.F.B]

500i is such a great saw, the power to weight is just unrivaled. I used a mates for a day felling hardwood and bought one, no one understands why I have it until they use it. Then they go buy one.

My only complaint is there seems to be a bit of dust getting past the filter, I am thinking of swapping to an aftermarket filter to cure that.

The filter is apparently a common complaint. I've seen some put a foam packer in the filter cover to help the situation.

 

[jblnut]

The filter is apparently a common complaint. I've seen some put a foam packer in the filter cover to help the situation.

Go to the Westcoast Saw website. They have a great 500i filter upgrade.

 

[NUTTSGT]

oh oh oh. .. .who doesn't like a big chainsaw. ... How big of a bar did you get 25" ?

Do they rate bars in metric ?

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Definitely a nice saw. Nice price tag too lol. I’m thinking of getting a Stihl chainsaw but for something I’ll use once or twice every couple years it won’t be $1600 lol. I don’t buy any of that battery or corded **** I want a Stihl gas powered one. I have a vintage Stihl from the 1970s that my neighbor gave me but I can’t remember the model of it but if I can locate it at my house I’m going to try and get it running.

 

[Rinspeed]

I just used my 500i this morning and what an amazing piece of equipment. What's a little strange is you have to prime it even when it's warm, eight or ten times. I got a 25" bar with mine only because I already had four Stihl RS chains. I might pick up a 32" light bar at some point just for the hell of it.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Nice saw, and good story.

I’m one of those people who will spend hours, days, weeks and months researching a purchase. I’ll obsessively compare the specs, watch countless videos, and read just about everything I can find on the potential purchase. This is especially so when I’m new to a particular subject

There is also an element of anticipation with this approach. The more I read and watch, the more excited I get. And when I’ve finally made that choice after such a long period or procrastination, I’ve already spent the money in my head, I want it NOW.

I'm exactly the same!

 

[f121]

Definitely a nice saw. Nice price tag too lol. I’m thinking of getting a Stihl chainsaw but for something I’ll use once or twice every couple years it won’t be $1600 lol. I don’t buy any of that battery or corded **** I want a Stihl gas powered one. I have a vintage Stihl from the 1970s that my neighbor gave me but I can’t remember the model of it but if I can locate it at my house I’m going to try and get it running.

Ms261 is the answer. Sweet spot between weight/power/reliability/price. Smaller capacity saws are frustrating, non-pro saws are much cheaper construction and worse power/weight. Don’t dismiss battery saws for a home owner, they’re a very good option, light, quiet, they always start. My wife uses my Msa70 battery saw around the yard, which is great as it takes stuff off my list

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Ms261 is the answer. Sweet spot between weight/power/reliability/price. Smaller capacity saws are frustrating, non-pro saws are much cheaper construction and worse power/weight. Don’t dismiss battery saws for a home owner, they’re a very good option, light, quiet, they always start. My wife uses my Msa70 battery saw around the yard, which is great as it takes stuff off my list

I’ll keep that one on my list. Pro grade is definitely the way to go. Just the thought of battery stuff doesn’t fit my criteria haha. I got to have something I can work on and that has an engine.

 

[jblnut]

I’ve got an 026 that has been ported and worked over and the thing is an animal with an aggressive .325 chain. It’s my go to saw second only to my MS250 with a muffler mod and timing advance. That little thing is a beast. It’s cut a couple hundred cord of wood in the last 20yrs and just keeps going.

 

[D.F.B]

Go to the Westcoast Saw website. They have a great 500i filter upgrade.

Well, that may or may not have happened before the saw arrived...............................................

oh oh oh. .. .who doesn't like a big chainsaw. ... How big of a bar did you get 25" ?

Do they rate bars in metric ?

It's strange, we still use inches for wheels and chainsaw bars in Australia.

The saw comes standard with a 20-inch bar here, I doubt I'll need more than that but it's nice to have the capacity to do a big bar should I need.

Definitely a nice saw. Nice price tag too lol. I’m thinking of getting a Stihl chainsaw but for something I’ll use once or twice every couple years it won’t be $1600 lol. I don’t buy any of that battery or corded **** I want a Stihl gas powered one. I have a vintage Stihl from the 1970s that my neighbor gave me but I can’t remember the model of it but if I can locate it at my house I’m going to try and get it running.

Sadly, that's the problem with gas powered stuff. I currently have my 009L apart for that very reason. I'd say at least get them out every so often and run them to keep the carb free and easy.

The battery saws are still worth looking at, but you get less for your money than gas. I have a small MSA 140 for light pruning and its nice to be able to grab it without messing about with gas, just got to remember to put bar oil in them though.

As others have suggested, the lowest rear handle pro-saw would be the MS 261, which is HIGHLY regarded as being a pocket rocket. I wish I had bought that instead of the 271, even though they share the same cubic capacity.

I just used my 500i this morning and what an amazing piece of equipment. What's a little strange is you have to prime it even when it's warm, eight or ten times. I got a 25" bar with mine only because I already had four Stihl RS chains. I might pick up a 32" light bar at some point just for the hell of it.

If seen them drop started without the primer. Frankly, I don't mind pressing the primer, anything to make it easier.

I’ve got an 026 that has been ported and worked over and the thing is an animal with an aggressive .325 chain. It’s my go to saw second only to my MS250 with a muffler mod and timing advance. That little thing is a beast. It’s cut a couple hundred cord of wood in the last 20yrs and just keeps going.

An older, well-maintained saw will most likely outperform the modern non-pro stuff. My old 028 rips!

 

[Kscardsfan]

Ms261 is the answer. Sweet spot between weight/power/reliability/price. Smaller capacity saws are frustrating, non-pro saws are much cheaper construction and worse power/weight. Don’t dismiss battery saws for a home owner, they’re a very good option, light, quiet, they always start. My wife uses my Msa70 battery saw around the yard, which is great as it takes stuff off my list

I'll second the 261. We use it constantly in a semi pro setting in a state park. It's my go to for most of the work I encounter. If the 261 isn't enough, I'm reaching for a 440 with a 25" bar and ending the problem.

 

[f121]

If seen them drop started without the primer. Frankly, I don't mind pressing the primer, anything to make it easier.

The 500i drop starts absurdly easily when warm. Find the compression then drop it about an inch to just turn it over.

 

[mike93lx]

Great writing!

I am not a chainsaw nut, but appreciate the 500i for how special it is and would love to have the need for one

 

[D.F.B]

Key Features -

The following are some of the key features of the MS 500i. Some of these are unique to the 500i, some are common to Stihl pro-saws, some are common to Stihl in general.

Captive Bar Nuts – All chainsaws should have these, but Stihl reserves this feature for the pro-grade models. This design has the bar nuts captive to the clutch cover, in turn preventing the user from potentially losing them in forest. A simple but handy feature.

I also really like the design of these clutch covers, which are cast magnesium instead of plastic.



Decompressor Valve – A healthy small to mid-sized chainsaw will produce 110 to 130 psi of compression, with larger pro-grade saws needing up to 160 psi to run properly. As a general rule, a 2-stoke producing less than 100 psi is considered toast.

When it comes to high compression, anyone who has used a mid to high level chainsaw will know it takes considerable strength to crank these engines over. The bigger the saw, the more effort required to overcome the compression.

That’s why manual decompression valves are installed, they help lower the compression while cranking the saw over. The valve is located on the top engine cover and is activated by pushing the valve into the combustion chamber, which is released once the engine fires. I will note, the 500i still needs some muscle to pull over, with or without the decomp.



Fuel Injection – Of course, fuel injection is nothing new in the automotive industry, but on outdoor power equipment, Stihl are a pioneer. As outlined earlier, the 500i is the worlds first fuel injected chainsaw. However, its not Stihl’s first fuel injected engine, the TS 500i cut-off saw holds that trophy.

Overall, injection produces more power from less capacity. It also boosts throttle response and can adapt to different conditions. Combined with M-Tronic, there are no manual adjustments to the mixture. I do realize there is risk involved with something so complicated on a chainsaw, but then……………..its hardly like a carburettor is without problems.



Simplified Starting - This is a significant change from the rest of the Stihl saw lineup. For the longest time, Stihl saws have had a single lever to control the choke, part choke, run and stop functions. This requires a specific technique that the occasional user would often mess up and flood the saw. It even took me a while to figure that out.



On the 500i, there is no lever. Instead, a solitary push button to stop the engine. There is also a primer bulb, which is somewhat controversial as no other pro-grade Stihl has one. To start, the primer is pressed "at least 8 times" as per the manual, but the dealer said 13 is optimal. Pull the rope and the engine starts at idle, no listening for the "pop" on choke, no high idle position, no screaming engine. I see this as a safety feature, as well as allowing the engine to warm up before it sees throttle.



Actually, this isn't the first primer on a Stihl saw. In addition to the 500i, saws fitted with the spring assist Easy2start recoil, they have a primer positioned on the clutch side of the saw. I think this accounts for the spring-assist and how it only allows the engine to spin over at a certain speed, so purging the carb make it fire easier.



Plunge Guides – This involves guidelines marked on the recoil starter and top cover, which are an important feature for professional loggers and arborists as it helps them to aim each cut for accurate felling. That is not going to be something I will be needing. :lol





HD2 Air Filter – These conical pleated PET air filters have replaced flock and polyamide filters on the pro-grade and high-spec farm saws. They are said to have 70% finer filtration, require no tools to install or remove, and are more receptive to cleaning.

There has been a lot of noise regarding the 500i and the standard air filter. This seems to stem from the air filter cover not holding the filter tight against the airbox. There are various ways to address this, such placing a layer of grease between the filter and airbox to seal and trap dust. Or using a foam packer to put more pressure on the filter once the cover is secured. There are also various aftermarket air filter setups for the 500i, most of which use an oiled foam filter and a different mounting design.



Easy Service Access - On my 271, you had to remove three threaded screws to remove the engine top cover, which then permitted access to the air filter and spark plug. On the 500i, access to the air filter is via a single knob, which means quicker and more convenient access to the filter in the field. The separate engine cover can be removed by a single quarter turn lock screw, which then allows access to the spark plug. Again, this is done to make on the fly maintenance quicker.



Stihl EMATIC Oiling – Compared to most chainsaws, the pro-grade models have a variable output oil pump, which is adjusted via the base of the saw. This feature means you can lower oil delivery for less demanding cuts, in turn saving oil. However, the user can max out the pump to deliver more oil when the going gets tough. More oil, cooler bar and chain temp, less radiant heat transferring into the crankshaft, piston and cylinder, longer engine life.



Rim Sprocket - This is my first saw with a rim sprocket, all others have had spur sprockets. The spur type incorporates the drive sprocket and clutch drum as a single assembly. These last longer but are more expensive and time consuming to replace.

A rim sprocket has a separate clutch drum and drive sprocket. For saws that are in heavy use, replacing just the sprocket is quicker and cheaper than replacing the whole assembly. Rim sprockets offer superior chain alignment, and are less likely to be damaged if a chain lets go.



Felling Dogs / Bumper Spikes - Again, these are more important for tree felling, but they can help when cutting firewood too. Dogs or Spikes provide leverage, allowing the user to feed the saw into the cut using the spike as a pivot point. This can also help reduce fatigue, in effect letting the saw and the spike do the work.

Generally, the bigger and heavier the saw, the bigger and more prominent the spikes will be. For example, my 009L has no felling dogs at all, while the battery powered MSA 140 has small nubs cast into the plastic case, which are virtually useless. On the MS 271 and 028, these have a single standalone felling dog fitted to the case, which are rather small but worth having. But the 500i has two sizable standalone dogs, one mounted to the case and one mounted to the clutch cover. Oh, and they look badass!

Stay tuned, there is more to come!

 

[D.F.B]

The 500i drop starts absurdly easily when warm. Find the compression then drop it about an inch to just turn it over.

I'll have a play around with it.

I will say though, I've never been confident with drop starting, likewise the crouch method.

Great writing!

I am not a chainsaw nut, but appreciate the 500i for how special it is and would love to have the need for one

Thanks!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Thanks for the great introduction to the MS 500i, it’s a great read so far @D.F.B !

@BlakeTheCarGuy Don’t write off mains/ battery powered electric chain saws just for the sake of it. I fully understand the “petrol head“ approach, the sound and smell are hard to beat. But on the other hand, the ease of use and ready in an instant, even after months or years of storage is a big advantage for something only occasionally used. (And even with them, pump/oil assemblies can get clogged …)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[D.F.B]

Thanks for the great introduction to the MS 500i, it’s a great read so far @D.F.B !

@BlakeTheCarGuy Don’t write off mains/ battery powered electric chain saws just for the sake of it. I fully understand the “petrol head“ approach, the sound and smell are hard to beat. But on the other hand, the ease of use and ready in an instant, even after months or years of storage is a big advantage for something only occasionally used. (And even with them, pump/oil assemblies can get clogged …)

Kind regards,
Olli

When I was at the dealer last week, they had the top spec MSA 300 on the counter ready to go out. These use the pro-grade AP battery system, which sits above the homeowner AK system.

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/battery-saws/msa300co/?aqid=192634ae8169ba68e0679c9aad9f31bb

The power is certainly there.....................for a price. I will say, once you start to lean into a battery saw for extended cuts, the battery does wilt very quickly. Personally, I think battery is better for garden pruning rather than firewood or storm cleanup. Gas powered is still king for stamina.

So, it comes down to what you are doing with the saw. If its for pruning, then go for one of the high spec AK or low spec AL battery saws. For everything else, I wouldn't overspend on a battery saw, as in the

 

[D.F.B]

Ceramic Coating –

Yeah yeah, I know, but I'm sure you expected this would happen.

On a machine that will spend its life covered in oil and fuel, the coating is probably not going to last very long. But……………………it makes me happy, so I’m going with it.

For something like this, you would probably use a high-temperature wheel coating. However, I didn’t have any leftover wheel coating for this task, and I wasn’t dipping into a fresh bottle either. I did have an open bottle of Gyeon Can Coat EVO, so here we go.............................



First step, a wipe down with Koch Chemie Panel Prep Spray. Any prep spray would work, but I had this left over from another project and I thought I would stay with the German theme. In tandem with TRC Rip-n-Rag towels, the entire power head was cleaned, followed by the freshly unboxed 20-inch bar.



From here, it was time for the coating. Can Coat EVO is a sprayable coating, but for this task I used it like a traditional ceramic coating by applying a small amount to a Gtechniq finger mitt, then applied to the saw in sections. From there, more TRC Rip-n-Rags were used to level the coating. Can Coat was applied to the pretty much everything, from the top plastics to the chain brake, the recoil cover and name badge, the wrap handle and clutch cover, the rear handle and throttle, the stop switch and the front case. I even applied it to bar and fluid caps. The muffler, dogs and bottom of the saw missed out. Four hours later, I went over it again with a layer of Gyeon Cure.

You can see I also mounted the bar and chain.





In the past, I've done something similar to other new equipment purchases. Does it make a difference to how the tool performs? Absolutely not. Will it last for forever? Highly unlikely. Does it make me feel better? You betcha!

 

[jblnut]

Well, that may or may not have happened before the saw arrived...............................................

Whatcha all get ? Just the air filter kit or did you got all out with a bark box and other stuff as well ?

As others have suggested, the lowest rear handle pro-saw would be the MS 261, which is HIGHLY regarded as being a pocket rocket.

Not quite …. The MS201 is the smallest gas powered rear handled saw. Not a lot of them out there so they’re not well known. They’re the same saw as the MS201T which is highly regarded by arborists.

I have an MS200 and love it. It has a muffler mod and timing advance and is an absolute little ripper. It wears a 3/8 lopro bar and chain and will pull it very well buried all the way. I’ll use it when falling to cut up all the stuff under 8”. It’ll buzz through that stuff as fast as any other saw in my lineup. After that I grab the 026 or MS250.


If you decide to go larger than the 20” bar on the 500i I’d give a serious look at a SugiHara bar. I splurged on a 32” bar and absolutely love it. Miss Lily also seems to be a fan lol

 

[D.F.B]

Whatcha all get ? Just the air filter kit or did you got all out with a bark box and other stuff as well ?

All in good time..............................

Not quite …. The MS201 is the smallest gas powered rear handled saw. Not a lot of them out there so they’re not well known. They’re the same saw as the MS201T which is highly regarded by arborists.

I have an MS200 and love it. It has a muffler mod and timing advance and is an absolute little ripper. It wears a 3/8 lopro bar and chain and will pull it very well buried all the way. I’ll use it when falling to cut up all the stuff under 8”. It’ll buzz through that stuff as fast as any other saw in my lineup. After that I grab the 026 or MS250.

Ah, I forgot about that one, Stihl doesn't offer it in Australia.

 

[jblnut]

Ah, I forgot about that one, Stihl doesn't offer it in Australia.

I’ll send you one if you’d like

I can’t believe how handy it is.

 

[dutchgray]

I would like a 500i but probably don't do enough to justify it.
I have an MS261c, since 2012, for the first few years it just did my own firewood each year, but my brother and I now do our own and about 5 other households worth, all family members.
The 261 has been perfect, gone through a bunch of chains, couple air filters, fuel filter and one plug (which I probably could have left longer) original 16" bar is near the end now. For firewood I really don't think anything more is needed, if the 16" bar can't cut a ring from both sides then the log is too big for me to handle for splitting anyway.

 

[jblnut]

if the 16" bar can't cut a ring from both sides then the log is too big for me to handle for splitting anyway.

Time for a larger splitter !! If you don’t have a mini excavator to put it on then it’s a good time to get one of those as well. I’ve split some stuff that was around 70” into boiler wood pieces. It took a little doing but worked well. Lots of firewood in the big stuff !

 

[mike93lx]

Time for a larger splitter !! If you don’t have a mini excavator to put it on then it’s a good time to get one of those as well. I’ve split some stuff that was around 70” into boiler wood pieces. It took a little doing but worked well. Lots of firewood in the big stuff !

Everyone should have a mini ex. And a tele handler. And a dump truck

 

[dutchgray]

Everyone should have a mini ex. And a tele handler. And a dump truck

We actually have 2 mini excavators, a 1.5 ton Kubota and a brand new 5ton Takeuchi (it was delivered Thursday), and a Merlo telehandler, 3.8ton lift 10m boom. We have the use of a Case 13 ton excavator if needed as well.
Point still stands any ring bigger than you can cut with a 16" bar (so really above 30" diameter) I don't want to deal with it.
We have more ash than we can use at the moment from the die back, most is 9" to 12", plus about 10 ton of beach a tree surgeon had they wanted rid of dropped into our yard FOC. The ash is rotting on the ground literally everywhere, why struggle with the heavy stuff.
Our splitter is hand operated vertical hydraulic, so probably not the most efficient but if we were doing it all the time instead of a couple days per month we would get a processor.

 

[Sumboodie]

That's an odd handle setup, didn't know they came with the light duty setups like the 362 can have.

Mine has another section near the clutch cover, same as my 362 and 460.

 

[Sumboodie]

Time for a larger splitter !! If you don’t have a mini excavator to put it on then it’s a good time to get one of those as well. I’ve split some stuff that was around 70” into boiler wood pieces. It took a little doing but worked well. Lots of firewood in the big stuff !

I've considered one, but I'd have to setup my Hitachi with a bucket changer and I guess T off the thumb for another auxiliary.

Had one for my skid steer but it self destructed in about 10 mins

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Op nice saw. Picked up a Stihls MS362 with 25 inch bar cutting up 24 to 46 inch tree. With a high speed chain cuts like butter. 500 would be a good addition with additional 20cc.

 

[Caa311]

My brother is a engineer at the sthil plant in VA Beach and absolutely loves the 500i!

 

[Caa311]

Here are a few. I'm getting a MS462 in about a week!