880 or 881...?

[Ty Korrigan]

I've come across an 880 in stock.

I'll not pay that price though (£1250 plus vat)

I'll get a better deal from these guys.

Or... should I go for an 881?

I'd use it for milling in the future but mostly it would sit on my shelf as they all seem to do until I get jobs like last Friday's oak.

@Luckyeleven managing to find the only nail with a 90cm bar on a 500i

500i runs the bar fine but much too dry, the oiler can't deliver enough flow.

  Stuart

 

[Rough Hewn]

I've come across an 880 in stock.
I'll not pay that price though (£1250 plus vat)
I'll get a better deal from these guys.
Or... should I go for an 881?
I'd use it for milling in the future but mostly it would sit on my shelf as they all seem to do until I get jobs like last Friday's oak.
@Luckyeleven managing to find the only nail with a 90cm bar on a 500i
500i runs the bar fine but much too dry, the oiler can't deliver enough flow.
  Stuart
 

I much much prefer the 881 to the 880.
1. It’s a proper chainsaw, not an engine with handles.
2. It’s 30% more fuel efficient, and it is. With alkylate fuel this matters.
3. Same power as the 880, chain speed etc.
4. The fuel savings alone pay for the saw in less than 3 years.(with alkylate).
5. It’s bloody sexy!!! Yes that is a reason to buy one.

I bought a new 880 recently, it’ll stay in the box forever I hope.
When I need another saw, I’ll get another 881.
Can’t go backwards…
[emoji106]

[AHPP]

I had an 880. Sold it. Too big, too awful. 881s feel a bit less like a bike engine with handles and a bit more like a manageable, ergonomic saw but they’re still too big for the vast majority of arb work here. A 661 with a 36” bar is ample. That tiny oak only needs a 500. There are many other things I’d put on the shelf to be occasionally useful before an 880/881. A petrol capstan is the first thing that springs to mind. Or a yacht winch device. A good chain sharpener? I understand the idea of getting one to mill in future (that’s half why I bought my 661) but unless you really have everything else you need, I’d buy something that’s more useful now and buy something as truly specialist as an 880/881 only when you really need it. Sort of an answer to your question, sort of unsolicited advice. Hope useful.

 

 

[doobin]

^ What he said.

 

With my 462, it will pull a 36 for the odd job where required (and that oak ain't it!), but like your 500i, wouldn't deliver the oil. However, there is a stop for the oiler adjuster that you knock in with a punch, and then it lets you turn it up further. Probably some eco bullshit, but problem solved, and may well be the same with your 500i.

[Stihl123]

881 all day

[Ty Korrigan]

Thanks for that advice lads,

 Any more detail on this oiler stop punching?

Knowing my luck, I'd end up putting a hole in the crank case...meh!

   Stuart

 

Oh, should I buy that 880 anyway and put it on Arbtrader for £4k?

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I bought an 088 20 odd years ago, not a lot of laughs, use it for the odd pop or cedar.

Clients like it more than I do.

[Rough Hewn]

Thanks for that advice lads,
 Any more detail on this oiler stop punching?
Knowing my luck, I'd end up putting a hole in the crank case...meh!
   Stuart
 
Oh, should I buy that 880 anyway and put it on Arbtrader for £4k?
 

The 661 has it, don’t know about the 500i.
880s will be worth more when you can’t buy them new.

[doobin]

20 minutes ago, Ty Korrigan said:

Thanks for that advice lads,

 Any more detail on this oiler stop punching?

Knowing my luck, I'd end up putting a hole in the crank case...meh!

   Stuart

 

Oh, should I buy that 880 anyway and put it on Arbtrader for £4k?

 

Look underneath, it'll be obvious. Just needs a firm ish tap with a suitable punch.

[Paul in the woods]

1 hour ago, Ty Korrigan said:

Thanks for that advice lads,

 Any more detail on this oiler stop punching?

Knowing my luck, I'd end up putting a hole in the crank case...meh!

   Stuart

 

 

See p4 in this tread: https://arbtalk.co.uk/forums/topic/119667-stihl-500i-mods/page/4/

(Or read the instruction booklet).