MS441 R C-M M-Tronic Review and Mods

[Andyshine77]

My experience was far from scientific! It was at a GTG just goofing around. We didn't time any cuts, it just seemed a lot easier to stop the chain in the cut on the 576 than the 441. However, they had different chains and, like I said the 576 was new, the 441 was a few months old at the time. It will be interesting to see some back to back comparisons from a unbiased tester.

Hahaha I like some of the above test suggestions.

I have a feeling it will be so close it will be almost pointless, but hey it's fun.

 

[Andyshine77]

Now lets open a can of worms here. Other than the numbers the manufactures put in their literature, has anyone actually tested the fuel efficiency of strato engines?? I'm starting to think the numbers are inflated, we already know the weight numbers are off.opcorn:

 

[blsnelling]

Let me just throw this out there. Instead of the typical chainsaw comparisons of which one cuts faster, I propose a series of events that test the various merits of these saws other than just power.

1. Take the saws to the mall and have fashionable young ladies vote on which one is the prettiest.
2. Test the fuel efficiency by fueling both saws all the way up, starting them and letting them rip at WOT until one runs out of gas.
3. Test the oil flinging ability by stretching a clean roll of white paper across the drive way and seeing which can spray the longest rooster tail of B&C oil.
4. Noodle test.
5. Test the coolness level of the sound by running them at 5:00 AM tomorrow out in the front yard. See how many thumbs up verses middle fingers each saw gets from the neighbors.
6. Blind "taste" test.
7. Wrap the whole thing up by both Andy and Brad donning full body PPE and strapping 36" B&Cs on the saws and having a sword fight, first saw to stop for what ever reason is the loser.

Just an idea!

I think you've been hanging around Jason too much, lol

 

[Andyshine77]

Brad what say you about the fuel efficiency? Other than the AutoTune models, every new strato saw I've ran came screaming lean from the factory, maybe that plays a part in the numbers they come up with.

 

[young]

Andy,

you got a scale to weight the two saws?

 

[Andyshine77]

Andy,

you got a scale to weight the two saws?

I'll come up with one here soon.

 

[mdavlee]

It sounds good and looks pretty strong for the first tank. I guess we'll find out which is stronger with some timed cuts.

 

[the westspartan]

I think you've been hanging around Jason too much, lol

Hey that's how we test them up here! Sometimes we even have an evening wear competition. We think of it as more of a "pageant". LOL:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[forestryworks]

the only thing the wrap or half wrap handle does is get in the way.

Well which is it? The wrap handle or the half wrap? Two different handles there...

 

[wyk]

The 441 has a choke, but you leave it on until the saw starts, you can't flood the saw, that's a big plus for inexperienced users.

wyk quit assuming I'm simply a cookie cutter, or that I'm bias. Get it through your head, the 7900 is stronger in every circumstance, small bar, large bar, softwood, hardwood it doesn't matter.


I'll be running the 576-AT and making a video of it's first start this evening.

Have you ever ran an 046mag? That's a rhetorical question, as you would have a different opinion if you had. Adding to this the fact the 7900 weighs about the same as an 046, and the only reason to get a 7900 is for the AV mounts(even if they have been known to fail).

You said in a previous post you mainly cut cookies. I believed you then. What's changed?

 

[Philbert]

Let me just throw this out there. Instead of the typical chainsaw comparisons of which one cuts faster, I propose a series of events that test the various merits of these saws other than just power.

Don't forget the swimsuit competition!


(Philbert)

 

[mdavlee]

I bet the weight will be pretty close on the 2. I weighed the other 576 and it was a little over 15 lbs.

I owned a couple 460s one for several years and the 7900 I bought was stronger and smoother. It was what brought me to the decision to sell the 460s and actually all the stihls I had then. The 660 is the flagship for stihl and really the only one I think that has something over other brands.

 

[blsnelling]

046
11.34
14.04
One cut was lost because I cut out.

7900
10.93
11.05
11.78
12.17

Remember, these cuts weren't all made for fastest cut times, but to demonstrate the power band of the saw. The fastest cut times are with a significant load on the saw. You'll notice that the 046 is only 0.41 second behind the 7900, but behind never the less. Additionally, the 046 is very broken in and has a modded muffler. The 7900 is bone stock and not been used that much. Both are great saws, but arguement about which is fastest is a moot point.

 

[Andyshine77]

Well which is it? The wrap handle or the half wrap? Two different handles there...

You are correct. What I meant to say was the 3/4 wrap Stihl offers and full wrap others use..:msp_rolleyes:

 

[Andyshine77]

OK well I timed both saws in the same log with the same chain. I don't know how much of a factor it is, but the spacers for the bar I'm using do not fit correctly, so I couldn't tighten the bar down correctly. Because of this the B&C was moving around a bit and it wasn't getting near enough oil.

Nevertheless here are the times. The 576 simply does not have the RPM to cut with the 441. This could change in time but the 576 has a long way to go.

441.

13.86
13.83
13.52

576.
15.04
15.47
15.41

Remember these are just cut times, both saws are a pleasure to run and even though the 576 isn't as fast at this point, I feel the 576 has plenty of grunt.

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7LWq5_9UoYU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[FATGUY]

what do you mean they don't fit correctly? I know the guy who made them. They work fine on the 7900....

 

[Andyshine77]

what do you mean they don't fit correctly? I know the guy who made them. They work fine on the 7900....

I think it has to do with the studs on the 576, yes they work great on the 7900.

 

[mdavlee]

Well I thought it might be closer than that. The 441 is about 10% faster than the 576 right now.

 

[FATGUY]

it's probably not, we'll work out the bugs...

 

[albert]

How does the 576 react if you lean on it? I know the 441cm responds with "more power" I would be nice let both saws fully run in to their full potential and then compare.