460 or 7900 ?

[Canyon Angler]

OK, sorry, I'm sure the question has been asked before but I'm not finding it in a search.

Let 'em rip, boys... opcorn:

 

[CaseyForrest]

If you arent a die hard Stihl fan...the 7900 walks over the 460 easily.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Hasn't the 7900 hadd a couple of issue, and then few dealers to help with those issues? I ran one at Sugarbush's shop in Minnesota. I was impressed with how it ran and how it felt. Didn't put it through anything heavy though.

 

[SawTroll]

I believe it is quite common knowledge that the 7900 outruns the 460 with a fair margin, but Jeff is right that there has been some issues, ask Ben Walker.....

...but hopefully they are fixed by now.

The 460 has less ccs, and I believe it is somewhat handicapped by the 2-port engine design also.

 

[sugarbush]

7900

Hasn't the 7900 hadd a couple of issue, and then few dealers to help with those issues? I ran one at Sugarbush's shop in Minnesota. I was impressed with how it ran and how it felt. Didn't put it through anything heavy though.

Jeff, next time your here i'll have something big enough to bury the bar in, ( the saw won't mind). nice pic of your partner in another thread, but i've a soft spot for those lab's. did you get involved in the storm? must of been a mess.

 

[Cut4fun]

Stock or woods port mod 7900
Full out race saw 460

 

[CaseyForrest]

BTW, Im a Stihl fan, so Id buy the 460.

 

[John Ellison]

I am a fan of both saws. No matter how good of care you take, if you use it, sooner or later you will have a problem with either one as you would any other saw. With three new 046/460s I had an immediate problem with two of them. A too soft carb boot colasping in hot weather and a faulty carb on another one. They were fixed by the dealers. Not slamming Stihl as I think they were both just flukes.
My one 7900 had no immediate problems, but a few eventually showed. The chain tensioner seemed flimsly. The throttle shaft in the carb became worn. The shaft for the starter pulley became worn. I fixed this with a bushing and eventually bought a new starter cover. The other two problems were much improved when I bought replacment parts. Ch. ten. is a lot better than the original and the carb now has steel instead of brass throttle shaft.
When I am falling whatever saw I am using will usually also swamp out trails, so they get a lot of trigger time and stop and start.
The Stihls also have parts replaced in the trigger ass. The clutch springs wear out quicker than the Dolmar. The starter cord grommet wears out in the Stihl and does not in the Dolmar. Drop starts. Angle?
I like the clear fuel tank on the Stihl. Until you get used to it and sometimes even then the Dolmar will catch the starter handle on your leg, then twist around and hit the decom. button killing the saw.
I like both saws a lot. Think they are pretty much equal, but right now prefer the Dolmar.

 

[Freakingstang]

I am a fan of both saws. No matter how good of care you take, if you use it, sooner or later you will have a problem with either one as you would any other saw. With three new 046/460s I had an immediate problem with two of them. A too soft carb boot colasping in hot weather and a faulty carb on another one. They were fixed by the dealers. Not slamming Stihl as I think they were both just flukes.
My one 7900 had no immediate problems, but a few eventually showed. The chain tensioner seemed flimsly. The throttle shaft in the carb became worn. The shaft for the starter pulley became worn. I fixed this with a bushing and eventually bought a new starter cover. The other two problems were much improved when I bought replacment parts. Ch. ten. is a lot better than the original and the carb now has steel instead of brass throttle shaft.
When I am falling whatever saw I am using will usually also swamp out trails, so they get a lot of trigger time and stop and start.
The Stihls also have parts replaced in the trigger ass. The clutch springs wear out quicker than the Dolmar. The starter cord grommet wears out in the Stihl and does not in the Dolmar. Drop starts. Angle?
I like the clear fuel tank on the Stihl. Until you get used to it and sometimes even then the Dolmar will catch the starter handle on your leg, then twist around and hit the decom. button killing the saw.
I like both saws a lot. Think they are pretty much equal, but right now prefer the Dolmar.

Good post.

I too love the 7900, but the 046/460 is also a great saw. The 7900 feels a tad heavier than the 460, but it isn't anything major. I honestly feel the 7900's power is more inline with the 385xp and the 660. Don't get me wrong, it is not a 660, but has quite a bit more power than a 372 or 460.

 

[B_Turner]

I am a fan of both saws. No matter how good of care you take, if you use it, sooner or later you will have a problem with either one as you would any other saw. With three new 046/460s I had an immediate problem with two of them. A too soft carb boot colasping in hot weather and a faulty carb on another one. They were fixed by the dealers. Not slamming Stihl as I think they were both just flukes.
My one 7900 had no immediate problems, but a few eventually showed. The chain tensioner seemed flimsly. The throttle shaft in the carb became worn. The shaft for the starter pulley became worn. I fixed this with a bushing and eventually bought a new starter cover. The other two problems were much improved when I bought replacment parts. Ch. ten. is a lot better than the original and the carb now has steel instead of brass throttle shaft.
When I am falling whatever saw I am using will usually also swamp out trails, so they get a lot of trigger time and stop and start.
The Stihls also have parts replaced in the trigger ass. The clutch springs wear out quicker than the Dolmar. The starter cord grommet wears out in the Stihl and does not in the Dolmar. Drop starts. Angle?
I like the clear fuel tank on the Stihl. Until you get used to it and sometimes even then the Dolmar will catch the starter handle on your leg, then twist around and hit the decom. button killing the saw.
I like both saws a lot. Think they are pretty much equal, but right now prefer the Dolmar.

Thanks for the detail. A biggie for me for the 7900 over the 460 is the 7900 is much smoother in the hand.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I wish I needed a big saw... Waaaa I have an itch for a big one but I just keep putting salve on it. No point in a 7900 for 16-20" oak.

Ian

 

[Cut4fun]

I wish I needed a big saw... Waaaa I have an itch for a big one but I just keep putting salve on it. No point in a 7900 for 16-20" oak.

Ian

Yes there is! LOL if you going to gtg race with the buds, you got to have them saws for all classes. Thats what i tell the wife lol. 0-50, 0-60, 0-80, 0-100, 100+ open class. So now you have the excuse to go get them saws. Hope to meet you in Murry next year.

 

[Ianab]

I wish I needed a big saw... Waaaa I have an itch for a big one but I just keep putting salve on it. No point in a 7900 for 16-20" oak.

Maybe you dont NEED a 7900, but with a 20" bar it would MOTOR through that size wood

Cheers

Ian

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Yep, but my saws have joined a union (Chain Driver's #1) and the 361 would lodge a grievance against me for letting the 7900 do it's job and then the 7900 would try to claim a displaced worker allowance. THEN where would I be?

Ian