New sthil reviews

[Joe Newton]

Yup, I go from a topper straight to a 441 with 20" bar then 66 with a 30" bar. Sometimes like today I skip the 44 out altogether.

 

Couldn't imagine having the patience to wait for a 50cc saw to struggle to pull a 20 bar through hardwood while on spikes...

[josharb87]

Im looking forward to the 500i, but won't be buying one straight away, learnt its best to wait a year or two with new stuff. High hopes for it, Stihl are back on a roll at the moment with their products. the 462 is a brilliant saw and their new version of M-tronic is back on track.

Perhaps the next generation of bigger output saws (395, 661, 3120, 880) will be fuel injected to meet emissions regs?

[Rough Hewn]

This guy

Does many interesting comparison videos. (Much better than mine)[emoji12]

Interesting to notice both saws slowed with an 8 pin sprocket[emoji848]

[spudulike]

Fitting an 8 pin will give you more chain speed but will only be an advantage on a shorter bar or on smaller diameter wood. Explore longer bars or start pushing harder and it will be easier to stall especially on harder or larger wood.

I found on a heavily ported 357, that an 8 pin was good up to 8-10" wood, beyond that, a 7 pin was faster on a 15" bar.

[Khriss]

14 minutes ago, spudulike said:

Fitting an 8 pin will give you more chain speed but will only be an advantage on a shorter bar or on smaller diameter wood. Explore longer bars or start pushing harder and it will be easier to stall especially on harder or larger wood.

I found on a heavily ported 357, that an 8 pin was good up to 8-10" wood, beyond that, a 7 pin was faster on a 15" bar.

...but what abt my heated grips ! k

[Rough Hewn]

Shock horror!!!
Bigger sprockets slows saws down????
[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji3]

In a while we'll realise the timing difference in running a bigger bar is negligible.
[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji848][emoji3][emoji106][emoji106]

[Rough Hewn]

Have to agree about the balance though.
A 661 is more balanced with a 25" but it's a waste of a 661.
[emoji106]

[skyhuck]

4 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Have to agree about the balance though.
A 661 is more balanced with a 25" but it's a waste of a 661.

IYO.

[josharb87]

Its not all about what the saw can handle for crosscutting though is it? 

If felling 3ft diameter trees, sure a 66 can pull a 36" or a 46 a 30" but it'll be a pain in the arse snedding it out with that length bar, risk of hitting the ground increases, manoeuvrability decreases etc.

Spending a bit more time doing bar n a half felling cuts at the stump then quicker easier de-limbing is my personal preference 

 

 

[MattyF]

Agree there josh , the big bar in forestry is bollox unless you like de railing your chain every 5 minutes....15” on a 560 is perfect control, speed snedding , difficult to derail, quicker to sharpen and there isn’t many tree you can’t fell with a letter box.

Big bars on Arb saws when on twisty stems chogging down are great though... you look more manly , don’t have to move as much and it feels great holding a big long powerful tool whilst watching the scared little ground guys scuttering around struggling trying to move huge lumps of timber out the DZ before you drop the next lump on them...

I did put an 18” with 9pin on a spud ported 395 when my 372 needed a rebuild , it was great fun until I realised I had done 5litres of fuel prepping some branches for the chipper.