The 500i is one of the best power to weight ratio saws STIHL has produced the reason they are expensive your paying for electronic fuel injection they are proven reliable saws in Australia 🇦🇺 never had a problem with my 500i love this saw.
I have had 3 of them. Im also a Timber Faller in Oregon. Let's just say we push saws to the point they last around 18 months. My first I bought 20 days after the USA release power head only for 1450$ and I ran it for about 22 months almost 2 years before It started to go. I just put large dogs an exhaust plate and a maxflow with belray filter oil and I literally tried to break it towards the end as in not pulling maintenance and it wouldnt quit. It ran just as good if it was clean. I now run a "hopped up" version done by a professional chainsaw builder or modifier and it will pull a 42in bar no problem. In fact id put my paycheck on a bet it would out cut my 661 that's just got bolt on upgrades. Its light, it's fuel efficient, and it's insane powerful.
Great saw, real screamer, but I always have trouble starting first time. Starts with one easy pull once it has been running, Goes through wood like a hot knife through butter,
Trying to decide between the 661r or the 500i what's your recommendation for cutting down hard woods. I'm upgrading my hopped up 391 that's 6 years old
I love mine I’m not a professional logger I cut a lot of firewood that’s my main heat source so I cut a lot of hardwood. It’s a absolute beast. I’ve had it since 2021. very easy to start the 462 don’t even come close to it I run one of those at the mill I work at i decided to buy the 500 I am not saying the 462 is a bad saw because it’s not it’s been a very durable sale. We’ve had it 10 years at the mill he just don’t compare to the 500 i
just put 10 litres through my new 500i today, pretty impressed, got a 32" bar on it, had it up in the boom lift with me i find it very manageable coming from 55cc saws with 18" bars, the 32" makes it a bit nose heavy but even with that bar i was needing to connect cuts from both sides of the tree dozens of times, i had to noodle logs and piece it up to make it manageable as we didnt have the skid steer on sight, didnt use the decomp valve at all it starts really easy, had to turn the oiler up all the way for the longer bar... ill see how it goes on future jobs, it was still kind of easy to bog down maybe i should have gone with the 881 but i doubt id be swinging that around in the boom lift being 40% heavier... as far as im aware all the bigger saws now have some kind of computer in them.. to me mixxing a computer with a carburetor is insane two of the most unreliable things working against each other if it has to have a computer masewell have efi.. ive had quads start up on 5 year old fuel sitting in my shed within 2 seconds of cranking when theyre fuel injected a carb bike would of needed 2 hours of dissaasembling and cleaning to start after 2 years of ethanol fuel sitting
Just depends on your definition of "beat". There's more powerful saws out there, if that's all you're looking for. Stihl makes an 880. Not everyone wants them that big and heavy, though.
Who are you again?? And what makes you qualified to tell people what to buy?? These are PRO series saws. Timber fallers and arborist are pros right? Its Nothing like the 462 72cc vs 80. Fuel injection vs Mtronic. The chassis isnt the same at all the 462 is its own thing closer resembles the 362. A 661?? Is a 92cc beast. Either standard carb or Mtronic and weights almost 3lbs more empty with no bar vs dry no bar 500. The issue with the 500 is the weak mounts they coke with. There's a company (who I won't name because he isn't a very good guy and I don't want to push clients to him) that makes a "suspension kit" aka mount kit to stiffen them for 45$ or the 661 mount kit fits the 500 and works better. The stock filter system stihl makes is absolutely gargabe and let's fine materials into the intake so buy a maxflow and filter oil with it, and bolt on exhaust and it's the best saw stihl makes hands down. Taken care of, and this part is important BROKEN IN RIGHT, running it a certain way letting the rings seat on the piston, and not ran by a pro timber faller it would last 5+ years. 661 has been my favorite go to saw since it came out and I will grab my 500i unless I'm running a 36-42in bar in a large stand.
I'm not telling anyone what to buy. I'm just giving information from the perspective of someone that deals with the purchasing and service side of things. I do appreciate you reiterating everything I mentioned about the 462 and 661, also. Yes, the 500i is fuel injected. Yes, the 661 is more powerful and weighs more. I did mention that the 500i is on a "similar" sized chassis, not the "same". I wasn't referring to what it resembles. Thanks for watching and commenting, though.
The 500i is one of the best power to weight ratio saws STIHL has produced the reason they are expensive your paying for electronic fuel injection they are proven reliable saws in Australia 🇦🇺 never had a problem with my 500i love this saw.
I have had 3 of them. Im also a Timber Faller in Oregon. Let's just say we push saws to the point they last around 18 months. My first I bought 20 days after the USA release power head only for 1450$ and I ran it for about 22 months almost 2 years before It started to go. I just put large dogs an exhaust plate and a maxflow with belray filter oil and I literally tried to break it towards the end as in not pulling maintenance and it wouldnt quit. It ran just as good if it was clean. I now run a "hopped up" version done by a professional chainsaw builder or modifier and it will pull a 42in bar no problem. In fact id put my paycheck on a bet it would out cut my 661 that's just got bolt on upgrades.
Its light, it's fuel efficient, and it's insane powerful.
I'm glad you're liking it 👍
I’ve got two 500i and love them. 28” and 36” on both. Easy to work with and love it.
They are pretty amazing. I'm glad you're loving them.
I waited a yr to get mine I picked it up a week ago. Love it
Love my 500i just wish the light bars would come in stock
Great saw, real screamer, but I always have trouble starting first time. Starts with one easy pull once it has been running, Goes through wood like a hot knife through butter,
I bought my 500i back in May of this year and I have not looked back. What more can I possibly say, STIHL RUNS THE YARD. 😊💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿👍🏿 #stihlpower
I'm glad you're loving it!
What other saws do you have?
@@man9170 I also have a Stihl MS 391. Because as we all know STIHL RUNS THE YARD. 😊👍🏿#stihlpower #stihlisyourdaddy #stihlrunstheyard
Trying to decide between the 661r or the 500i what's your recommendation for cutting down hard woods. I'm upgrading my hopped up 391 that's 6 years old
I love mine I’m not a professional logger I cut a lot of firewood that’s my main heat source so I cut a lot of hardwood. It’s a absolute beast. I’ve had it since 2021. very easy to start the 462 don’t even come close to it I run one of those at the mill I work at i decided to buy the 500 I am not saying the 462 is a bad saw because it’s not it’s been a very durable sale. We’ve had it 10 years at the mill he just don’t compare to the 500 i
It is amazing and I'm glad you're liking it!
very good thank you think will buy one now, Peter in York England
Thanks! I'm glad I could help!
just put 10 litres through my new 500i today, pretty impressed, got a 32" bar on it, had it up in the boom lift with me i find it very manageable coming from 55cc saws with 18" bars, the 32" makes it a bit nose heavy but even with that bar i was needing to connect cuts from both sides of the tree dozens of times, i had to noodle logs and piece it up to make it manageable as we didnt have the skid steer on sight,
didnt use the decomp valve at all it starts really easy, had to turn the oiler up all the way for the longer bar... ill see how it goes on future jobs, it was still kind of easy to bog down maybe i should have gone with the 881 but i doubt id be swinging that around in the boom lift being 40% heavier... as far as im aware all the bigger saws now have some kind of computer in them.. to me mixxing a computer with a carburetor is insane two of the most unreliable things working against each other if it has to have a computer masewell have efi.. ive had quads start up on 5 year old fuel sitting in my shed within 2 seconds of cranking when theyre fuel injected a carb bike would of needed 2 hours of dissaasembling and cleaning to start after 2 years of ethanol fuel sitting
im in canada paid msrp on the dot, and they had it on the shelf ready to go
@@AndrewBrowner I'm glad you're liking it. I still haven't had any negative feedback in the store either.
On site
I have two 500is ... best saws ever.
Just got me a brand new 500i 36" bar for $1400.00 us dollar. Haven't put it in wood yet hope it does well enough.
Haven't met anyone who doesn't love it yet.
My 500i is ported, WCS BARK BOX & Max-Flo filter & 32 STIHL 32 light bar semi skip chisel chain. IT SCREAMS!!!!👍☝️☝️
Just ordered one on the strength of this review thanks!
Thanks, and I hope you love it!
I thought this was a review on the 500I😮
BHP means brake horsepower, not base horsepower.
It's too bad Solo doesn't make chainsaws anymore and Dolmar likewise, because the 7900 and 681 would beat that stihl easily.
Just depends on your definition of "beat". There's more powerful saws out there, if that's all you're looking for. Stihl makes an 880. Not everyone wants them that big and heavy, though.
@@rocketsoutdoorpower6971 in the 80cc class apples to apples
@@benjaminleslie3155 I'd take the fuel injected saw 10 times out of 10.
@@rocketsoutdoorpower6971 I will admit, you can't go wrong with the 500i 👍
love my 500i but I find it is very hard to start when cool !
Thanks for the feedback! That's the first starting issue I've heard about.
Acknowledged. Are you priming it enough? Stihl dealers told me today when I picked up my 500i, prime it 8x before starting.
I don’t like how the sawdust get under the air filter
Watch some RUclips vids people have found how to mitigate that
Awesome
here is your comment 😀
Stuffed animals and chainsaws
Idk what that means, but sure! Lol
I think he just means it’s bad ass!
Who are you again?? And what makes you qualified to tell people what to buy?? These are PRO series saws. Timber fallers and arborist are pros right? Its Nothing like the 462 72cc vs 80. Fuel injection vs Mtronic. The chassis isnt the same at all the 462 is its own thing closer resembles the 362.
A 661?? Is a 92cc beast. Either standard carb or Mtronic and weights almost 3lbs more empty with no bar vs dry no bar 500.
The issue with the 500 is the weak mounts they coke with. There's a company (who I won't name because he isn't a very good guy and I don't want to push clients to him) that makes a "suspension kit" aka mount kit to stiffen them for 45$ or the 661 mount kit fits the 500 and works better. The stock filter system stihl makes is absolutely gargabe and let's fine materials into the intake so buy a maxflow and filter oil with it, and bolt on exhaust and it's the best saw stihl makes hands down. Taken care of, and this part is important BROKEN IN RIGHT, running it a certain way letting the rings seat on the piston, and not ran by a pro timber faller it would last 5+ years.
661 has been my favorite go to saw since it came out and I will grab my 500i unless I'm running a 36-42in bar in a large stand.
I'm not telling anyone what to buy. I'm just giving information from the perspective of someone that deals with the purchasing and service side of things. I do appreciate you reiterating everything I mentioned about the 462 and 661, also. Yes, the 500i is fuel injected. Yes, the 661 is more powerful and weighs more. I did mention that the 500i is on a "similar" sized chassis, not the "same". I wasn't referring to what it resembles. Thanks for watching and commenting, though.
Still to 2 min
If it doesn't have an adjustable carb I'm not buying it.
It doesn't have any kind of a carb....nor does any vehicle for the last 30 years. Lol
Stihl 500i expensive piece of crap!
Thanks for the insight
You obviously don’t own one.
My 500i was $1,600 with all the extras it came to $2,000