Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[Kodiak Kid]

I want a chainsaw that has as much power and can cut timber as fast as this saw! The disk is about five foot across, cuts a two inch kerf, and saws a 24" tree off the stump just before the grapples close around the trunk. About one second! Unfortunately, these machines have put thousands of cutters out of work! Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

The 500i pulls a 36” buried in oak like a raped ape…you’ll never pick up,your boat anchors again…lol

I sure would like to run one before I made a decision on buying one. My 661 makes strong power and torque, and hauls ass! I don't run a 36" bar unless I'm in big timber on really steep ground and need the reach. Sometimes a 42" is needed for bigger timber on the extreme steep. Even a seven foot tree can safely be fell properly very easily with a 32" bar on normal terrain if your felling fundamentals are good in bigger timber. No offense, but your Idea/opinion of how good a power head pulls a 36" bar, may vary from mine. IMOP, A 36" bar steals horses and throws off the proper balance of a 90cc saw vs a 32"!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[mountainguyed67]

I guess I should post a pic with some wood in it.

If you want to be the oddball go right ahead!

 

[Sierra_rider]

Fixed it .

That's what ear pro is for lol. I don't think I even own a saw with stock exhaust. I've got a neighbor about a mile away that says he can hear my triple port 066 whenever I'm cutting at the house. Yard work entails loud chainsaws, classic country blasted on my portable speaker, and oversized burn piles...all the transplants from the city just love me lol.

 

[turnkey4099]

Boy does that bring back memories. I hadn't seen/heard one of the old beasts running in a long time. Slow but tons of torque!!!!

I had just felled a locust back about 1997 when a guy claiming to be a logger stopped by. He asked to try my 362 and liked it. I mentioned the old gear drives. "I never heard of a gear drive". So much for being a logger and watching him cut a few rounds showed he wasn't.

 

[Kodiak Kid]

That's what ear pro is for lol. I don't think I even own a saw with stock exhaust. I've got a neighbor about a mile away that says he can hear my triple port 066 whenever I'm cutting at the house. Yard work entails loud chainsaws, classic country blasted on my portable speaker, and oversized burn piles...all the transplants from the city just love me lol.

There is no kill like overkill! And you ain't loaded unless you're overloaded! Go big or go home. If you want to run with the big dogs ya gotta get off the porch!

 

[ValleyForge]

I sure would like to run one before I made a decision on buying one. My 661 makes strong power and torque, and hauls ass! I don't run a 36" bar unless I'm in big timber on really steep ground and need the reach. Sometimes a 42" is needed for bigger timber on the extreme steep. Even a seven foot tree can safely be fell properly very easily with a 32" bar on normal terrain if your felling fundamentals are good in bigger timber. No offense, but your Idea/opinion of how good a power head pulls a 36" bar, may vary from mine. IMOP, A 36" bar steals horses and throws off the proper balance of a 90cc saw vs a 32"!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

No offense taken brother…you make a living with your saws, I just make $$$ with mine.….when I work a tree it’s my goal to get the tree on the ground as quickly, safely and predictably as possible, that’s why I use a 500i with a 36, that and I’m a lazy farmer too lol. The dead standing 4’ ish Oak is my nemesis, they terrify me. The last one I cut nearly drowned me, there must have been a few hundred gallons of water in the center of the tree, and I couldn’t stop the cut by the time I found it.

Don’t get me wrong, i like my 661, it’s a good saw and it looks impressive on the shelf in the barn, but it’s not a 500i…my brother is the only one who lugs it around the woods anymore when he visits because he doesn’t have a big saw.

find one of your friends who has one and try it, stick it in the worst garbage you can find and I know you’ll like it.

 

[ValleyForge]

It's been awhile since I ran a 661, but I do have my ported 066 to compare it to. Even running an 8-pin, the 066 has more torque when you lean on it hard. However, if I keep the chain speed up on the 500i, it's not far behind the 066. It definitely will have zero issues pulling a buried 32" and will even run a 36" in softwoods just fine.

The FI is pretty cool on it, instant throttle response. Throw an aftermarket or modded muffler cover on it and it runs like a ported saw. The big selling point for me was the weight. I forget the numbers exactly, but it was within a few ounces of my 044...both with wrap handles, etc.

I know a lot of the contract fallers are starting to run them on the fires because of the weight and ability to pull a 36".

The only downsides to the 500i that I've found so far, are the suspension and the clutch cover. The stock cover is kinda lame and wood chips go everywhere...it isn't annoying enough for me to buy that expensive WCS billet cover though. I did do the upgraded suspension kit from WCS, the 500i feels like a wet noodle with a 32 or 36 until you throw the stiffer AV on it. After that, it's easily my favorite falling saw.

Some people complain about the fuel economy of it, but I don't really have an issue with it. A few of my ported saws are fuel pigs too, I think it's just the cost of making big power out of a smaller cylinder. I certainly don't think it's any worse than my ported 044/046 hybrid and still better than my 066.

Sorry for the long-winded response, just lots to say on the 500 lol.

Upgrading the 500i suspension is a must…so much so, I wouldn’t recommend running it with the factory suspension…the engineers must have been smoking dope the day they designed that travesty…lol

 

[Squareground3691]

Looks great.
Dang beetles, ash trees dead everywhere.
I have been finding more and more that have made it through the initial devastation those buggers caused. Hopefully they are on their way out and these trees can thrive.

Those beetles have destroyed the ash trees in my area horribly not many survivors unfortunately all I have been burning last few years is dead ash

 

[Squareground3691]

Those beetles have destroyed the ash trees in my area horribly not many survivors unfortunately all I have been burning last few years is dead ash

Dead ash

 

[WoodAbuser]

Those beetles have destroyed the ash trees in my area horribly not many survivors unfortunately all I have been burning last few years is dead ash

I saved out a couple pieces of ash from the last dead still standing at my cabin. Use them for seats around the campfire. Even tho long dead and ready to burn as soon as it was down I have seen a couple of those emerald green bastages on then each of the last two times I have been there. Do they still hatch out out of long dead trees?

 

[morewood]

We needed more pictures here. I thought I was going to start cutting and splitting before the recent loads I've been gifted. I realized I need to consolidate the wood piles for more room and get some kudzu knocked down. With the other wood I still have to get we figure another 8-10 dump trailer loads.......and no, I don't have enough wood. Did I mention I only cut for myself right now.

Shea

 

[Kodiak Kid]

No offense taken brother…you make a living with your saws, I just make $$$ with mine.….when I work a tree it’s my goal to get the tree on the ground as quickly, safely and predictably as possible, that’s why I use a 500i with a 36, that and I’m a lazy farmer too lol. The dead standing 4’ ish Oak is my nemesis, they terrify me. The last one I cut nearly drowned me, there must have been a few hundred gallons of water in the center of the tree, and I couldn’t stop the cut by the time I found it.

Don’t get me wrong, i like my 661, it’s a good saw and it looks impressive on the shelf in the barn, but it’s not a 500i…my brother is the only one who lugs it around the woods anymore when he visits because he doesn’t have a big saw.

find one of your friends who has one and try it, stick it in the worst garbage you can find and I know you’ll like it.

Roger that, sounds good! Being as you have both a 661 and 500. What is the difference between the two as far as power? I've ran 046, 460 and 461 before. If the 500i dosent have a significant amount more power than those three 70cc class saws I would have to shy away from it. I need 90cc class power if that makes any sense bud. Unfortunately nobody in camp here has a 500i I can test drive.

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Squareground3691]

Roger that, sounds good! Being as you have both a 661 and 500. What is the difference between the two as far as power? I've ran 046, 460 and 461 before. If the 500i dosent have a significant amount more power than those three 70cc class saws I would have to shy away from it. I need 90cc class power if that makes any sense bud. Unfortunately nobody in camp here has a 500i I can test drive.

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Kodiak Kid]

That is one good looking saw Squaregrind! I sense the force being strong in that machine! I'm leaning towards joining the dark side more and more every day!

Well boy's, time to get ready for work!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

 

[Squareground3691]

That is one good looking saw Squaregrind! I sense the force being strong in that machine! I'm leaning towards joining the dark side more and more every day!

Well boy's, time to get ready for work!

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

Once you go to the dark side, there’s no turning back , lol Duel porter

 

[MustangMike]

KK, I don't have one but I'm on other forums, and the ported 500is are rumored to be very strong and lighter than anything else that will cut with them.

Just a FYI! Have one ported, springs upgraded, and Max Flo installed, and you will have the Peterbuilt of saws!

 

[ValleyForge]

Roger that, sounds good! Being as you have both a 661 and 500. What is the difference between the two as far as power? I've ran 046, 460 and 461 before. If the 500i dosent have a significant amount more power than those three 70cc class saws I would have to shy away from it. I need 90cc class power if that makes any sense bud. Unfortunately nobody in camp here has a 500i I can test drive.

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

The 500i is in its own new class of saws as far a accessing its power but it definitely is topped out at a 36” bar. It’s hard to describe the difference since the 661 applies power differently…it’s like a steam locomotive (661j versus a diesel electric (500i)…both get the job done, but one doesn’t it with more finesse. The pure numerical difference in saw power is not noticeable to me, but the weight sure is. But as you said thats me, you put food on your table with your saws, and it will be interesting to hear your opinion once you get your hands on one…it’s a game changer saw.

 

[Squareground3691]

The 500i is in its own new class of saws as far a accessing its power but it definitely is topped out at a 36” bar. It’s hard to describe the difference since the 661 applies power differently…it’s like a steam locomotive (661j versus a diesel electric (500i)…both get the job done, but one doesn’t it with more finesse. The pure numerical difference in saw power is not noticeable to me, but the weight sure is. But as you said thats me, you put food on your table with your saws, and it will be interesting to hear your opinion once you get your hands on one…it’s a game changer saw.

Torque!!

 

[sean donato]

Yo Guys! Been a couple years since I've been on here. Still been cutting and burning lots of wood. Last couple seasons I've been fortunate enough to score some excellent, volumus, easy sources of red and white oak, hardly feels like scrounging lol.

Me and the wifey just bought a property (closing Aug 15th) on 2 acres that backs up to public land so I will be doing more. And putting in a huge garden, building a music studio....annnd many other things

I might finally get a truck. the prius V is a champ, but now that we're getting ready to homestead (sort of), there's more justification for it. I just looked at a 1995 F-250 XL inline 6 4.9L today. Its rather rough cosmetically but runs really well, got an HD rear end. 197k. Seller said he would take $1800. What do y'all think?
View attachment 1007420

What's the "heavy duty rear axle"? As far as I know they only offered a sterling 10.25 full floater, unless it was a light duty f250 then it had a semi floating 10.25 axle and was 7 lug. The 300-6 was a great engine even if slightly underpowered. My father in law has the identical truck with nearly 400k miles on the engine. Think it's on its third transmission, and is in really bad shape body wise.

oh and I guess I should post a pic with some wood in it. Not my wood just a job but anyway... A couple months ago got hired to cut up this big dead pine. I told them I wouldn't recommend burning it inside, but they wanted it anyways, so whateves. It was hot as balls till the shade came over. Cannot wait for fall...
View attachment 1007425

Most of the world heats with some form of pine. There's no reason not to burn it after it's been seasoned properly.

Definitely not a die hard Stihl buff. I've just had great luck with them in the past and its pretty much all I've ever run with the exception of my ol' ported 288, but heck that was 25 years ago. It made good power for sure. Id say between an 044 and 066 as far as power. I did however try my boss' 390 or 395 (cant remember witch) the other day and its all hopped to the max. Unbelievable power! Even more, it was lighter than my 661! I couldn't believe it! He said to me "I ran Stihl for years until I ran a 394. I Couldn't believe the difference. Ive been a Husky man ever since! Some day you will too". I know a lot if seasoned cutters that switched over from Stihl to Husky for a lot of reasons and my boss might be right sooner than he thinks! I like the power my 661 makes. However, it wouldn't make the power it does if it were stock. I don't however like the way Stihl engineered and designed the 661. I feel its a step down from the 660 as far as being user friendly maintenance free and reliability. Apparently right now, Husky is the 90cc saw to have for felling bigger timber.

Cut safe, stay sharp, and be aware!

Haven't ran any 661, cousin has a 660. There's no real appreciable difference in cut between it and a 394/5 xp. I'd rather run my 394xp, better ergonomics, way better air filtration, good av and a much better oiler. Only thing done to my 394 is it had a 395xp top end and Intake swapped on. Bone stock, never even did a muffler mod to it. Pulls a 36" in hardwood no issue. I have milled with a 42" bar, but just to use the full 36" width of the Alaskan mill. It's got its hands full doing that, but thats also real hard on any saw.