Talk me out of a 460 Rancher

[Skeletor]

I love my bone stock 500i, but way too early to tell.
Actually REALLY like my 261C, too and have ran a lot of tanks through it. A real nice saw.

I haven’t detected that my 500i was weak from a structural view. I am more skeptical about the electronics. I wouldn’t want to handle more than a 500i with a 25” bar more than a few hours at this stage in life anyway.

I hope they both work out because they feel right and I want to ride off into the sun with them-maybe add a small climber this year.

The 500i’s have been out in Europe for quite a while now. In my time with it I’ve never noticed it to be a lesser quality saw than any other stihl I’ve had.

I’m really happy with the 194t. It’s not a pro saw but for the money it’s a nice little saw. I have. Totally rebuild 200t but it’s like a shelf queen I never use it.

 

[oldnslo]

Nibanna
If the 460 fits your requirements then I would purchase one. My local dealer carries both Husky and Dolmar. I have never operated a Dolmar but dealer says very comparable to Husky.

 

[Skeletor]

The dolmar 7900 was a hell of a saw. Im
Not sure what the equivalent of that now would be. 460 is a good saw but it’s a little on the heavy side from what I remember.

 

[KeithT]

I bought a 7900 in 2010 and it has been flawless up until about a week ago. Started running rough while I was milling some red oak. I believe the coil is bad. New part is ordered. I have been researching new saws just in case….. Husqvarna 372XP and the 500i are my top choices.

 

[Skeletor]

I bought a 7900 in 2010 and it has been flawless up until about a week ago. Started running rough while I was milling some red oak. I believe the coil is bad. New part is ordered. I have been researching new saws just in case….. Husqvarna 372XP and the 500i are my top choices.

I’ve owned so many 372’s wanting to really like them because their loved in the saw world. I just think they’re too heavy for their output. The 7900 is a better saw imo. Great antivibe too on that one.

 

[319Quahog]

500i isn’t for everyone. Most people won’t spend that much on a chainsaw. I’ve had mine a couple years and it’s been nothing but perfect. I can’t say how a stock one runs as I had mine ported before I even put gas in it. It totally walks my 066. Imo a great all around firewood saw size is in the 60cc range. Of if you wanna carry more weight a 70cc. Personally I’d everyday a 60cc over a 70 for the weight savings. Antivibe is to be considered too.

IMO a great one and done solution is the 60cc saw. It will do almost anything a regular landowner needs.

I did the two saw solution with the 50cc 550XP Mk II and a 70cc 572XP.

The 550 is wearing a 20" bar and punches way over it's weight class. It gets probably 90% of my use. The 572 I'll swap out a 24 and 28" bar depending on use. Sweet spot is really with the 24, but has no problem pulling the 28 through hardwood.

 

[Hay Dude]

I bought a 7900 in 2010 and it has been flawless up until about a week ago. Started running rough while I was milling some red oak. I believe the coil is bad. New part is ordered. I have been researching new saws just in case….. Husqvarna 372XP and the 500i are my top choices.

I went from Makitas/Dolmar 6400’s to the Stihl 261C and 500i.

 

[RandyT]

I bought a 7900 in 2010 and it has been flawless up until about a week ago. Started running rough while I was milling some red oak. I believe the coil is bad. New part is ordered. I have been researching new saws just in case….. Husqvarna 372XP and the 500i are my top choices.

Just take you time while changing the module. It is not an easy swap. Requires disassembling about half the saw. The kill wire to the switch runs through a grommet by the starter and you have to remove the fuel tank to access it and to unplug and replug the kill switch. Which has a bad habit of breaking the back off when you try to unplug the wire from it. did so many that I always ordered a kill switch when replacing the module on the 6400-7300-7900 series saws.

 

[KeithT]

Good info. Thank you!

 

[xyz123]

Makita Dolmar quit making gas OPE last spring. Good stuff but I would tend to shy away.
Was hard enough getting parts even before.

6100 would be the one in pro grade mag case. To be same size as 460 etc. It and echo blow those plastic ones out at that price point.

You wont find these on the rack anymore. Like shown. Was before spring last year.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here was my last Makita

 

[Gator6x4]

Stihl 391 or 362?

I don't think the Stihls have compression release. I know the 020 and 025 I own doesn't. The 025 get harder to start every birthday I have.

 

[Locoweed]

It sounds like you had a problem with the oil that wasn't the usual. FYI my solution for the usual chain oil drool is to lay the saw on its side, chain side down. Works on my Stihl & Echo saws.

 

[Skeletor]

I always wanted to grab a Home Depot rental saw and do the 7900 engine swap but I never did.

 

[RandyT]

Never was a fan of the 6100. sold a couple 5600 saws but never stocked the 6100 because of one issue that I never could get past. the 6100 used the K095 bar mount which for the most part limits you to the 20" bar, and maybe a 24 if you look hard on a 60cc saw. For $20 more you could buy the PS6400/EA6421 with the D009 mount which offered bars from 16-32"

 

[NibbanaFarm]

It sounds like you had a problem with the oil that wasn't the usual. FYI my solution for the usual chain oil drool is to lay the saw on its side, chain side down. Works on my Stihl & Echo saws.

This was dumping a whole tank of oil overnight. According to YT, it's a common problem with Husqvarna where the oil tube slips off. There's some good videos for the fix but for me this was a brand new saw. Dealer kept it for a long time and said he couldn't find a problem. But the saw never leaked a drop since I got it back.

 

[kozal01]

I love my bone stock 500i, but way too early to tell.
Actually REALLY like my 261C, too and have ran a lot of tanks through it. A real nice saw.

I haven’t detected that my 500i was weak from a structural view. I am more skeptical about the electronics. I wouldn’t want to handle more than a 500i with a 25” bar more than a few hours at this stage in life anyway.

I hope they both work out because they feel right and I want to ride off into the sun with them-maybe add a small climber this year.

Check out the Echo 2511T for a climber, tiny little beast of a saw. I actually grab that more than my 261 most days now, love that saw.

 

[kozal01]

I don't think the Stihls have compression release. I know the 020 and 025 I own doesn't. The 025 get harder to start every birthday I have.

Some do, my 261 pro saw does but I never use it.

 

[Hay Dude]

Read up. They actually do.

Check out the Echo 2511T for a climber, tiny little beast of a saw. I actually grab that more than my 261 most days now, love that saw.

Great info, I will look into that. I have a great Echo dealer nearby.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don't think the Stihls have compression release. I know the 020 and 025 I own doesn't. The 025 get harder to start every birthday I have.

Both mine do, so yeah.