Stihl cs500i is it worth it

[Stubby]

1 hour ago, 5thelement said:

How much trigger time have you put on a 500i?

About 3 minuets when I briefly tried one if I'm honest . . However all my saws are ported so I do have some knowledge of quick saws . ( My Crocky ported 395 is bonkers ) 

[5thelement]

3 minutes ago, Stubby said:

About 3 minuets when I briefly tried one if I'm honest . . However all my saws are ported so I do have some knowledge of quick saws . ( My Crocky ported 395 is bonkers ) 

Most people I know who use ported saws have had them tweaked after using them for a decent amount of time first, most 500i users I know haven’t used much more than a 261 previously, but still claim the 500i to be the best saw ever made. Nearly every chainsaw injury I have heard about since its release have involved this saw, like I said previously, it’s 90% too much saw for 90% of its users, the Honda Fireblade of the chainsaw world.

[Doug Tait]

I mullered a hinge or two with the 500 when we first got one but it never occurred to me the saw was to blame.

[Will C]

I don’t need a 500 to muller a hinge I can manage it with any saw! 

[5thelement]

1 hour ago, Doug Tait said:

I mullered a hinge or two with the 500 when we first got one but it never occurred to me the saw was to blame.

If you can’t blame the saw blame the Trainer. 👍

[Whoppa Choppa]

2 hours ago, handcutter said:

If you’re chasing a backcut you’ll end up another statistic!!! 

How much heavy leaning big hardwood do you fell?

[Whoppa Choppa]

1 hour ago, 5thelement said:

Most people I know who use ported saws have had them tweaked after using them for a decent amount of time first, most 500i users I know haven’t used much more than a 261 previously, but still claim the 500i to be the best saw ever made. Nearly every chainsaw injury I have heard about since its release have involved this saw, like I said previously, it’s 90% too much saw for 90% of its users, the Honda Fireblade of the chainsaw world.

One thing I have found - inertia chainbrake simply doesn't work. Tested it on purpose quite a few times - Stihl could have a problem here...

[oldwoodcutter]

For power to weight the 500i is absolutely brilliant.

When I  put in an appearance on site and the 500 has been put down for a few minutes I can’t resist picking it up and cutting anything big that’s laying about,  just because it’s so good to use.

[5thelement]

8 minutes ago, Whoppa Choppa said:

How much heavy leaning big hardwood do you fell?

Enough to know when to chase and when to use a holding cut I’m sure. 👍

[5thelement]

12 minutes ago, Whoppa Choppa said:

One thing I have found - inertia chainbrake simply doesn't work. Tested it on purpose quite a few times - Stihl could have a problem here...

Inertia chain brake is poor and doest’t work on a saw that has the potential to kick like a mule, AV system needs stiffening, fuel economy is crap, filtration system is dire, but all this can be resolved with a full wrap, big dawgs and a bark box. 😂
I don’t know any hand cutters who have replaced their 500i triggers broom with another, most have opted for a 462.