MS 460 Capabilities

[Tom D.]

Depending where you look on the Stihl website, the max recommended bar length of the 460 appears to be either 28 or 32". I've also seen used 460's w/ up to 36" bars. I'm looking for some actual owners of the saw to weigh in w/ their own experiences. How much bar can a 460 reasonably handle?

I'm trying to decide what makes sense as far as my next saw goes (I've got a 200T and 260 so far). I believe the 660 is a big price jump from the 460, so I'm trying to decide if it's really needed. I may have a job to take down a tree w/ around a 48" (?) trunk. I'm feeling pretty bold tonight, so let's see if I can figure out how to attach a couple photos...

Thanks,

T.

 

[NWCS]

when i bought a new 046 in 2001 it came with a 32" bar and full skip chisel chain. it was plenty capable with that but i personally would not go with a 36" on a stock one. if you want to pull a long bar i would suggest a modified MS460, like my woods port package or Dean's Stage II. my turnaround time is 1 week and return shipping is included in the mod price. a woods port MS460 will keep up with a stock MS660 in small wood. also the full wrap handlebar version has a higher volume oil pump in it than the half wrap version. that is another factor for using a long bar. (you can get a kit to convert the standard pump to the HV) the MS460 is a very well built solid saw, tuned and cared for properly it will last you a good long while.

 

[CaseyForrest]

Here is mine with 28" bar and full skip 3/8 RS chain. That was before the saw was broken in, and it had no problems cutting that silver maple. Ive since had it buried in White oak, and White Ash, with out a single problem. I see no problem with 32" bar and skip chain. The only mods are the Stihl DP cover.

 

[046]

my 046 wears a 20in bar most of the time

is pretty comfortable pullling a 24in in hardwood..

 

[rxe]

I used to have a 25 inch bar on my 046 - it pulled it just fine, though in hardwood it did struggle. Despite having the oiler turned up to the max, it only just got enough oil on the bar.

Right now, I have an 18 inch bar on it, and "hot knife through butter" is the phrase that comes to mind.

It certaintly has enough grunt to run bigger than 25 inch, as long as you take it slowly, and make sure the chain is sharp. Dunno about 36 inch though!

 

[clearance]

I bucked with a 460 that had a 28" bar, skip chain, nice setup. You have a 48" tree to cut down, a 28" bar on a 460 will do just fine. In the old growth, guys cut down spruces and cedars that are like 6'-8' d.b.h. with 660s that have 36" and 42" bars. I figure that saw is like a 372, it will do it all, within reason, step up to a 660/395 size saw if you are going to be cutting big wood constantly. Never ran a 260, a 460 is probably twice the saw.

 

[THALL10326]

my 046 wears a 20in bar most of the time

is pretty comfortable pullling a 24in in hardwood..

Same here, a 20incher on the 046. Makes it a fun saw. Easy to handle and pretty quick.

 

[sawinredneck]

I have seen an 046 run a 32" full comp stock, seemed to work the saw a lot, might be better with skip? You are only talking about a rough $200 between a 460 and 660 new if I rember right!
Andy

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I run mine with a 32" full skip, and only a DP cover. Pulls it fine. I usually pick up the 660 nowadays though. Haven't ran the 460 more than twice since I bought the 660.

 

[Lakeside53]

Haven't ran the 460 more than twice since I bought the 660.

didn't i say told you so :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[computeruser]

The tree in the attached picture should be easy work for a 460, I should think.

 

[Tom D.]

As always, lots of great input. Thx.

Just one follow-up question: what's a "DP Cover?" I'm guessing some sort of performance enhancing accessory...but probably not the kind that gets you kicked out of the Olympics.

T.

 

[computeruser]

DP Cover = dual-port muffler cover. It adds a second exhaust outlet to the cover of the muffler in addition to the normal one on the side of the muffler body.

 

[tek9tim]

I bucked with a 460 that had a 28" bar, skip chain, nice setup. You have a 48" tree to cut down, a 28" bar on a 460 will do just fine. In the old growth, guys cut down spruces and cedars that are like 6'-8' d.b.h. with 660s that have 36" and 42" bars.

I like the way you talk... I just swapped out the 32" bar on my fire saw for a 28" to save some weight. When you have to pack it around on the steepest ground for 16 hours a day and you rarely cut huge trees, it just makes sense. Plus, double cutting is fun.

All of the advice sounds good so far. The 460 will handle a 32" bar with full skip nicely. I've seen a few with 36" bars, but that's not really an ideal setup. At work I run a late model 044, (although lightly modded, big muffler mod, smoothed the ports and matching the muffler and exhaust port) and for the last 2 years I've run a 32" bar on it, and as long as the chain was sharp, it had no trouble pulling through cuts. Even last fall doing hurricane cleanup, I buried the whole bar a few times and it pulled fine. The biggest problem was the oiler. Stretched out a few chains to the point of no longer being useable.

Also, as Ben pointed out, modding will help your saw a good deal. I'm pretty stoked with the job WHS did on my saw. (Actually, Dean did the porting and Ben assembled it while he was working there) I would reccomend either one of them. I know Dean's saws rip, and I'm sure Ben's do too.

 

[Four Paws]

I may have a job to take down a tree w/ around a 48" (?) trunk.

That is a beautiful tree...why do the owners want it taken down? Problems with the roots? Is it too close to their fence?

 

[Tom D.]

I don't know the full history or condition of the tree, but from what I've been told they've already had a large limb come down and "crush" the neighbors deck.

These are friends of mine, and I'm absolutely not looking to demo a tree if it's not needed. If it looks otherwise healthy, perhaps I'll suggest pruning any dead or diseased looking limbs and leave it at that? Who knows, maybe the neighbor is just a little freaked out and everyone is over-reacting a bit. I need to make the drive and get a first hand look...

 

[pallis]

My 7900, which I figure is close to a 460, will pull a 36" full skip chain okay, when an occasional tree calls for it. I wouldn't want to make a habit out of it.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I don't know the full history or condition of the tree, but from what I've been told they've already had a large limb come down and "crush" the neighbors deck.

Uh-oh. Tom, what kind of tree is that? The leaves look like ailanthus to me. If that's what it is...


TAKE IT DOWN!


It's dangerous. That wood is VERY brittle. Some years back I went to trim a 4" branch that was reaching out over my yard because I was worried about it. I just barely touched the top side with my saw, and BAM! It was on the ground. When I got down I checked it. I had cut through the bark and MAYBE a quarter inch more into the wood.

If that's ailanthus, be very careful dealing with that beast!

 

[Max]

Nice tree. That old and close to the house, watch out for metal goodies buried in it. My guess is the tree has been the home base for a few clotheslines & bird feeders over the years.

 

[Tom D.]

Nice tree. That old and close to the house, watch out for metal goodies buried in it. My guess is the tree has been the home base for a few clotheslines & bird feeders over the years.

No doubt...and I'm not asking much for this job either (we're in the same hunting club). So it will be just my luck that I'll get the new saw, some brand-spank'n-new chains, and then cut into somebody's old "metal goody."