Stihl recommendations

[chander]

I am looking for feedback on 362, 462, or 500. I will be using a 25" bar or possibly a larger second bar?

Using it for dropping oak and pine varying from 8" to 30". Then using saw for bucking and firewood.

Currently using 250 and 291, that is not enough for the bigger jobs but will still be utilized.

I am not opposed to the older models if I can locate a reasonable saw.

 

[DieselnHooters]

If you can swing it financially the 500i is the cats meow

 

[sea2summit]

Big swing between a 362 and 46x. A legitimate 30” of oak is a really big tree I don’t have experience with hardwood that large but I’d want a minimum of a 46x, probably larger if I was doing it anywhere near routinel.

 

[xyz123]

Wouldnt even look at the 362 and 400 replaced it. 462 or 500.

Ran both here that a friend had. I liked the 462 in smaller wood 20-24, but you may need more once over 24 in hardwoods.

Egan straight shots on front covers go for some gains proven on dyno for those 2. Egan Straight Shot Mufflers

 

[Rockbadchild]

I am looking for feedback on 362, 462, or 500. I will be using a 25" bar or possibly a larger second bar?

Using it for dropping oak and pine varying from 8" to 30". Then using saw for bucking and firewood.

Currently using 250 and 291, that is not enough for the bigger jobs but will still be utilized.

I am not opposed to the older models if I can locate a reasonable saw.

if your 291 doesn't cut it I wouldn't look that the 362, so the 462 at the minimum... I think its a nice size saw... if you can handle the weight and price of the 500 go for it you will love it in the bigger stuff...

 

[rocco611]

The 500i is a great fuel injected saw, I had the chance to use one for a day taking down some really large oak trees , I really liked it. Pro series saws are really expensive, they are tough and you only have to buy it once. If I cut trees everyday the 500i would be my choice for cutting large stuff. On smaller stuff I use the smallest saw I have that will do the job.

 

[5030]

I've gotten away from Stihl saws in general. I prefer the Echo gas powered saws for a couple reasons, mainly their lower cost and much longer warranty (5 years versus 1 year). I still own my 2 'shelf queens, an 090 and an 075 and both have 3 foot bars running 404 full tooth (not skip tooth chipper chain.

Stihl succumbed to the noise police long ago and the new ones require an immediate muffler modification to allow them to breathe halfway good.

Besides, Echo's are mostly made in Japan and Japanese made chainsaws are always top quality items.

Still have and use regularly the 028 AV I bought new over 40 years ago. Of course It's modded too. Cannot keep my mitts off any saw.

 

[ericm979]

A 24" bar (Stihl calls it a 25") is their recommended limit for a 362. It's not all that fast with that bar fully buried in doug fir and would be slower in oak. The oil pump could go a little higher for that length bar as well. There are mods you can make to the pump to increase its output using Stihl parts from other models. The 400 comes with the same pump but has the power to handle a 24" bar and probably longer for occasional use.

I think the saw would depend on the mix of sizes you're dealing with. If 25-30" is not that common and you're doing a lot of 16" and less I'd lean towards the 400 with a modded oil pump. If you're doing a lot of 25+ you'll want a bigger saw than that.

A used 460 in good shape would handle the larger end of the range fine but they're an older design with rubber A/V instead of springs like the newer ones. For me it's ok for a couple hours but if it was all day I'd prefer a newer saw.

 

[4570Man]

A 500 is a heck of a saw that will cut circles around a 291. If the budget allows that you won’t regret it.

 

[chander]

A 24" bar (Stihl calls it a 25") is their recommended limit for a 362. It's not all that fast with that bar fully buried in doug fir and would be slower in oak. The oil pump could go a little higher for that length bar as well. There are mods you can make to the pump to increase its output using Stihl parts from other models. The 400 comes with the same pump but has the power to handle a 24" bar and probably longer for occasional use.

I think the saw would depend on the mix of sizes you're dealing with. If 25-30" is not that common and you're doing a lot of 16" and less I'd lean towards the 400 with a modded oil pump. If you're doing a lot of 25+ you'll want a bigger saw than that.

A used 460 in good shape would handle the larger end of the range fine but they're an older design with rubber A/V instead of springs like the newer ones. For me it's ok for a couple hours but if it was all day I'd prefer a newer saw.

The majority of the oak that I will usually come across is between 14" and 24" with the occasional ones pushing over that. Probably about 10 percent would exceed 24" and I am not using the saw daily. Just clearing my property and using for firewood.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just dropped 75-80 24”-36” diameter trees with a Stihl 261C and 20” bar. Cut them to lengths and bucked them all, too. The guy helping me had a Stihl 362 & 20” bar and it didn’t seem to do any better. He liked mine better because it was lighter.
The 261C did an excellent job.

 

[chander]

I just dropped 75-80 24”-36” diameter trees with a Stihl 261C and 20” bar. Cut them to lengths and bucked them all, too. The guy helping me had a Stihl 362 & 20” bar and it didn’t seem to do any better. He liked mine better because it was lighter.
The 261C did an excellent job.

View attachment 821897

Pine?

 

[yomax4]

My cutting buddy has a new 362 and would rather cut with my muff modded 361. Mine with a 20" cuts at least as fast as his with an 18".

 

[Hay Dude]

Pine?

Yes, but some Cherry & Poplar, too. Really didn’t make much difference.

 

[stumblinhorse]

My 261c is more saw than I could ever use. I only cut 10 cords a year for myself. To me it is about how truly hard you‘re gonna run it. I can’t imagine anyone that could use more saw for personal use than a 261c. If you cut everyday all day for money, sure. But for my 10 cords annually it does amazing. By the time my back gets used to cutting wood for 3 weeks, I am usually finished! So I like the weigh to power.

 

[4570Man]

My 261c is more saw than I could ever use. I only cut 10 cords a year for myself. To me it is about how truly hard you‘re gonna run it. I can’t imagine anyone that could use more saw for personal use than a 261c. If you cut everyday all day for money, sure. But for my 10 cords annually it does amazing. By the time my back gets used to cutting wood for 3 weeks, I am usually finished! So I like the weigh to power.

If you’re dragging a saw through the woods weighs matters but if you’re bucking up firewood rounds a bigger saw is easier to use than a smaller one.

 

[Skeans1]

I personally own and run both falling timber the 462 reminds me a lot of the first generation Husqvarna 562’s that run good with up to 28’s sometimes 32’s. That 500 is completely different animal in that if you don’t have a long enough bar with an aggressive enough chain on it, it’ll four stroke in the cut. Some complaints about it are the suspension on it was too soft for the 36 I normally run on it all the time and the air filter sucks on the 500.

air cleaner after a few trees without the outerwear it’s plugged up with bark, it’s not uncommon for falling saw here to have some fine run through it.

 

[ruffdog]

I am looking for feedback on 362, 462, or 500. I will be using a 25" bar or possibly a larger second bar?

Using it for dropping oak and pine varying from 8" to 30". Then using saw for bucking and firewood.

Currently using 250 and 291, that is not enough for the bigger jobs but will still be utilized.

I am not opposed to the older models if I can locate a reasonable saw.

If your big wood is only 30", why do you need a 25"+ bar? I cut a bunch of White Oak that size this year with my 361 and 20" bar. If your chain and bar are in good shape, you can easily match the cuts with a shorter bar. If you don't need a long bar, a shorter one is easier to handle all day and quicker to sharpen. There was no reason for me to get the 460 out of storage for the wood I cut. Now, if the job had a strict time limit on it, the big saws come out.

 

[Snobdds]

I use the right saw for the right situation. I have Stihl, Husqvarna, and Mcculloch saws that I use depending of the situation.

I love running my MS151 to limb up a spruce or pine. I love my 272, or 361 to block up pine logs.

If I'm cutting cottonwood, I'm using my 461, 2100, 090, or SP125 to block up the logs. They are big heavy powerful saws, but once they are in the wood, you don't feel the weight.

The 260 rides in the truck all the time incase a tree falls in the road.

If you notice, none of my saws are Mtronic or Autotune. I tune my stuff with a small screwdriver. I buy old saws that are simple and easy to fix.

 

[xyz123]

I personally own and run both falling timber the 462 reminds me a lot of the first generation Husqvarna 562’s that run good with up to 28’s sometimes 32’s. That 500 is completely different animal in that if you don’t have a long enough bar with an aggressive enough chain on it, it’ll four stroke in the cut. Some complaints about it are the suspension on it was too soft for the 36 I normally run on it all the time and the air filter sucks on the 500.View attachment 822273View attachment 822274air cleaner after a few trees without the outerwear it’s plugged up with bark, it’s not uncommon for falling saw here to have some fine run through it.

Jason's filter set up can be used with stock covers. UNI and oiled. Air Filter Kit (Stihl 500 & 661)