Stihl 462 vs 500i vs 661C

[Aszerigan]

Need a bigger saw than my Stihl 311. Considering both the 462 and the 500i. Hearing really good things about the 500 but don't know anyone that has one. Also considering the 661C - buy once, cry once.

Anyone have firsthand working experience with more than one of these? All opinions valued. Thanks !

 

[Rookie]

I have a 500i and I absolutely love it. It runs up to a 42 inch bar without an issue. If you want, pm me and we can figure out a time and place for you to try it.

 

[Aszerigan]

I have a 500i and I absolutely love it. It runs up to a 42 inch bar without an issue. If you want, pm me and we can figure out a time and place for you to try it.

I appreciate that. I was talking to the Stihl techs this morning and they both agreed not to run anything longer than a 28" on the 500i. You've run the 42"? I'd be in the neighborhood of a 32" with the option to go bigger, but they weren't keen on recommending it.

 

[Rookie]

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms500i/#specifications

Their website says 16 to 36. A lot of the guys using them on the west coast run 42 inch bars and they are working them a lot harder than I ever will. I've run 42 inch for milling and 32 inch for falling and bucking. My buddy has a Stihl 660 knock off which is 92cc and my 500i easily out performs it. Granted, it's a knock off, but that's the only saw that I've compared it to.

I've got a 20, 25, and 32 inch bar that you could try out as well.

 

[yetti462]

Ran all 3, if I were to choose I'd get 500, 462, 661 in that order. The 462 is no slouch.

I like Husqvarna, if I were to get back into the field of logging id definitely consider Stihl. New huskies are not what they used to be.

 

[cmann250]

I run a 462 with a 25” bar up here on the prairie. I’m felling, limbing, and bucking hardwoods including ash, cherry, hickory, oak, and walnut. It blasts through the cherry and walnut and moves through the hickory and oak well for a 70cc class saw. 24” is large diameter for me. I do not mill anything, just cut firewood. I think the power to weight ratio of this 462 is very good.

If it got stolen tomorrow, I would buy another as I see no reason to upgrade.

 

[JimH]

I have an older 660 with 32 and 20" bars. With the 20" it just doesn't bog down. I hear lots of good things about the 500.

 

[bocefus78]

The 661 will out cut the other 2 in wood larger than 30 inches. In smaller wood than 30, the smaller saws are actually faster. All 3 are nice saws. Most of my tree service customers are finally starting to lean towards the 500 over the 462 and 661 ( I'm a stihl dealer). Those tree guys are slow to accept change. When m tronic carbs came out, they were buying up the old model 461s to keep in boxes for backups as they didn't trust a solenoid controlled carb.

Personally, I like the 500 with a light bar given the 3 choices. Keep a 20inch bar on hand and your choice of longer bar. Max out the oiler. Then you'll never run the 311 again which means you can sell it to cover some of the new saw investment cost. All 3 run the same bar and chain (3/8 .050) as your 311 so you already have the small bar in your possession.

As for the 42in bar, stihl doesn't suggest it...hence the techs suggestions. If running a semi or full skip chain, it'd be OK but do not expect to win any saw races. @Rookie Are you running full comp chains or a skip variant?

 

[Mounty09]

It's like he heard you asking.

 

[Rookie]

The 661 will out cut the other 2 in wood larger than 30 inches. In smaller wood than 30, the smaller saws are actually faster. All 3 are nice saws. Most of my tree service customers are finally starting to lean towards the 500 over the 462 and 661 ( I'm a stihl dealer). Those tree guys are slow to accept change. When m tronic carbs came out, they were buying up the old model 461s to keep in boxes for backups as they didn't trust a solenoid controlled carb.

Personally, I like the 500 with a light bar given the 3 choices. Keep a 20inch bar on hand and your choice of longer bar. Max out the oiler. Then you'll never run the 311 again which means you can sell it to cover some of the new saw investment cost. All 3 run the same bar and chain (3/8 .050) as your 311 so you already have the small bar in your possession.

As for the 42in bar, stihl doesn't suggest it...hence the techs suggestions. If running a semi or full skip chain, it'd be OK but do not expect to win any saw races. @Rookie Are you running full comp chains or a skip variant?

Full comp.

 

[gassprint1]

So much has changed since 2011 when i was a certified Stihl tech. We sold the hell out of the new at that time 361 with 28" bars and the 660 with a 32" bar. 880 was a friggin monster which i only got to play with once..lol..
You kinda have to research what is in these new saws. The electronics are a bit more advaced as far and actually reprogramming the ignition and carb idle such setting. I have heard it could be a real pain in the sss..

 

[Creedmoor]

I'm not much help, 023, 026 and a 044 Farm Boss.

 

[gassprint1]

I'm not much help, 023, 026 and a 044 Farm Boss.

I'm still on the 170 or 180 models. Sold the 340 pro and 360 pro saws years ago and a 290 super i had put a new engine in. Shoulda kept the 340. Seems they are using cheap metal on the smaller saw bars.

 

[Creedmoor]

I'm still on the 170 or 180 models. Sold the 340 pro and 360 pro saws years ago and a 290 super i had put a new engine in. Shoulda kept the 340. Seems they are using cheap metal on the smaller saw bars.

All of my Stihl stuff is at least 20 yrs old, including two strait shaft wackers and a big backpack.

 

[gassprint1]

All of my Stihl stuff is at least 20 yrs old, including two strait shaft wackers and a big backpack.

Nice, better made imo. None of the extra electric choke or throttle stuff. I used to strictly find or buy the old 29, 29 supers or ms290 and put new engines in them. I could get a brand new engine for less than $100....not these days. I tried that aftermarket piston/cylinder kits in 440s, 460s and 660s. They never lasted more than an hour after breakin. They were fun to work on though, i loved it.