New 500i

[Hay Dude]

Been wanting one for over a month.
After the big storm clean up job and dropping & bucking nearly 80 large trees, I knew my 261C was at its limits. It did a great job, but once I knew my Makita/Dolmar 6401 was toast, I knew something bigger than the 261C was in order.
We will be returning to the storm cleanup once again in November. Many stumps to cut lower and lots of logs to cut to log truck lengths. Now I have a serious weapon.

Did my homework for a few weeks.….nearly bought an Echo 7310. My Echo dealer had a 15% off promotion weekend. It was substantially cheaper, but it just didnt have the feel of the 500i. It’s also a pound heavier.

My Stihl dealer gave me 10% off and I went with the 28”. He threw in a can of motomix. I can’t wait to put it to work in the coming weeks.

Here it is next to the 261C and 20” bar.

Really wanted the lightweight bar, but none in stock and another $150. I already was more than I wanted to spend, so the Rollmatic ES was my only choice.
It’s wild how the 500i has no choke to mess with (fuel injected!). Just a primer bulb, decomp button and a “stop” button.
You just prime & pull.
It sounds like a dirt bike.

 

[4570Man]

My 372xp holds it’s own but my 500I is my favorite saw. The 500 won’t flood out which is nice, no levers to mess with is nice when you’re stopping and starting the saw 100 times, the captive bar nuts are great. The 500 runs cleaner than all my other saws. People can think chainsaw emissions are a joke but I don’t stink half as bad after using the 500 over other saws. And it’s a lot of power in a lightweight package.

 

[stevem5215]

79cc's of RAW power ! Now that's a Man's saw !

 

[Thomas]

That's heck of saw.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m not crazy about spending that kind of coin (I can remember when a large pro saw was $699), but it seems like inflation on equipment has no limit.

I found a lightly used one on FB, but he wanted $1,150 and it was only a 25” bar Plus a 3 hour round trip. $300 more and I got a new saw.

 

[groundcover]

That 500i is no joke ! Tree guy in town almost lost an arm with one ! He was running a short bar cutting small trees and he thinks as he reached for the next tree the one he had just cut see sawed over a big rock and caught the saw driving it into his left arm as his right hand grabbed the handle and throttle. Guy with many years experience, never thought he'd get bitten.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve got a 261 also. Maybe I should step up too? Nice saw and I bet you put it to work.

 

[Locoweed]

While I would really like one, I have a old 066 that is a joy to use when I need a bigger saw.

 

[Skeans1]

Been wanting one for over a month.
After the big storm clean up job and dropping & bucking nearly 80 large trees, I knew my 261C was at its limits. It did a great job, but once I knew my Makita/Dolmar 6401 was toast, I knew something bigger than the 261C was in order.
We will be returning to the storm cleanup once again in November. Many stumps to cut lower and lots of logs to cut to log truck lengths. Now I have a serious weapon.

Did my homework for a few weeks.….nearly bought an Echo 7310. My Echo dealer had a 15% off promotion weekend. It was substantially cheaper, but it just didnt have the feel of the 500i. It’s also a pound heavier.

My Stihl dealer gave me 10% off and I went with the 28”. He threw in a can of motomix. I can’t wait to put it to work in the coming weeks.

View attachment 827103



Here it is next to the 261C and 20” bar.

View attachment 827106

Really wanted the lightweight bar, but none in stock and another $150. I already was more than I wanted to spend, so the Rollmatic ES was my only choice.
It’s wild how the 500i has no choke to mess with (fuel injected!). Just a primer bulb, decomp button and a “stop” button.
You just prime & pull.
It sounds like a dirt bike.

Go longer on the bar and full comp chain these saws really thrive with a lot of aggressive cutters. If you do stay with the short bar make sure it’s running a 8 pin sprocket otherwise you’ll be 4 stroking in the cut more then likely. There’s a few things to watch for on them like the air filter isn’t the best sealing thing in the world and the springs are soft but otherwise they’re a runner from day one.

 

[Snobdds]

That is a nice saw.

I have been thinking of breaking my idealistic view of saws, and buying one.

I have spent the last few years precuring all the good old saws that are not computer fuel controlled. When I'm cutting at my cabin, I want to just tune and fix via a small screwdriver. However, it's amazing how expensive new saws have made old saws. There has been a rush to get all the old good stuff before everything is beat up. I just paid more for a once fueled MS361 than I did 12 years ago brand new.

You did good.

 

[FriendwithTractor]

Welcome to the 500i Army.

My local Stihl dealer blew me off when I tried to order one, so I had to spend significantly more at a saw shop. But It's ported and I got it before that particular saw shop got famous.

Wait till you sink it into some hardwood, you won't believe the difference it makes.

 

[tacticalturnip]

That is one big saw, oh wow; I don't even know if I could comfortably handle such a tool.

 

[deezler]

wow. she's a beaut, clark.

What does it weigh with that bar and chain?

I ran a couple fuel tanks through my trusty MS310 last weekend for the first time in nearly a year, started up quick and ran perfect. My arms we sore in weird ways the next couple days.

 

[Skeans1]

wow. she's a beaut, clark.

What does it weigh with that bar and chain?

I ran a couple fuel tanks through my trusty MS310 last weekend for the first time in nearly a year, started up quick and ran perfect. My arms we sore in weird ways the next couple days.

With a lightweight 36 I want to say it was around 17.5 lbs mind you mine is a west coast trim saw with bigger dawgs.

 

[Hay Dude]

wow. she's a beaut, clark.

What does it weigh with that bar and chain?

I ran a couple fuel tanks through my trusty MS310 last weekend for the first time in nearly a year, started up quick and ran perfect. My arms we sore in weird ways the next couple days.

Thanks, Cousin Eddie.

I’d guess she weighs 18-19lbs

 

[Hay Dude]

I added the lightweight bar….
Dealer got me one for only $50!

 

[KeithT]

I have a Dolmar 7900 that I’ve owned since 2010. It is in or at least I thought it was in perfect condition. About a month ago I was milling some red oak and it started running rough. And oily residue was coming out of the exhaust. I just assumed the carburetor was out of adjustment. After messing with the carburetor adjustment, I watched a few videos on YouTube and decided to order a new coil. I put the new coil in yesterday, and there is no difference in how it is running.

So, I have a very low threshold to get a new chainsaw as much as I love that old Dolmar. 500i has really caught my eye.

I have a Dolmar 5100S that runs perfectly for small stuff.

I cut 6 to 8 cords of firewood a year. And just got a chainsaw mill this year that I would like to every once in a while, Mill a few boards for outdoor furniture.

Sounds like the 500i is the way to go. I emailed Ripsaw, I know this saw is more than enough for me in completely stock form. But I love tweaking my equipment. And those guys seem to be pros at it.

Any thoughts? I have a great local Stihl dealer.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have a Dolmar 7900 that I’ve owned since 2010. It is in or at least I thought it was in perfect condition. About a month ago I was milling some red oak and it started running rough. And oily residue was coming out of the exhaust. I just assumed the carburetor was out of adjustment. After messing with the carburetor adjustment, I watched a few videos on YouTube and decided to order a new coil. I put the new coil in yesterday, and there is no difference in how it is running.

So, I have a very low threshold to get a new chainsaw as much as I love that old Dolmar. 500i has really caught my eye.

I have a Dolmar 5100S that runs perfectly for small stuff.

I cut 6 to 8 cords of firewood a year. And just got a chainsaw mill this year that I would like to every once in a while, Mill a few boards for outdoor furniture.

Sounds like the 500i is the way to go. I emailed Ripsaw, I know this saw is more than enough for me in completely stock form. But I love tweaking my equipment. And those guys seem to be pros at it.

Any thoughts? I have a great local Stihl dealer.

I ran the crap out of mine Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. First time I really ran it for long periods.

It’s sick right out of the box. I’m sure ripsaw is great, but honestly I couldn’t use all this saws capability anymore than I could use a 1000 HP pickup truck.

It’s that good.

 

[KeithT]

I ran the crap out of mine Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. First time I really ran it for long periods.

It’s sick right out of the box. I’m sure ripsaw is great, but honestly I couldn’t use all this saws capability anymore than I could use a 1000 HP pickup truck.

It’s that good.

That is a really good point.

 

[Hay Dude]

Like my Ram/Cummins has 360HP/850TQ stock. With zero modifications, it’ll pull 50,000lbs and has done that many times. There’s no need for more power.

This saw is like that. It will do everything in it’s range/scope with ease and power to spare.

Maiden Voyage:

I also have a 261C and it’s not even comparable.