Stihl 881 Magnum for milling

[deholtsl]

Hello,
I've been using a Stihl 046 magnum for milling with a 36" bar and ripping chain. I've been getting into some bigger hardwood logs and want to upgrade. I was using the maxflow filter on the 046 because the stock filter was terrible and would let in tons of debris to the carb. My question is should I use the maxflow on the 881 or is the stock filter good for milling? Any other tips for milling with this saw? I've read a lot of different opinions on it online but don't want to risk a $2300 saw.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Coralillo Lo Pro]

My experience with hardwood is the harder the wood, the smaller the kerf you want in cutting it unless you have unlimited power at your disposal. Holds true with every blade I use in woodworking. So while I invested in an 880 for milling years back, I think I made the wrong decision for the extreme end of North American hardwoods that I mostly mill. Now I mill almost exclusively with 3/8LP with a 36" bar, and an untested 48" lo pro bar in reserve for bigger stuff. Unless you're getting into a lot of 36"+ diameter logs, I think a 661 and standard 3/8" chain is a more reasonable upgrade than an 881 and .404. It also give you an all purpose big saw, vs the enormously heavy 881 that is pretty much a milling only saw. If you're dead set on an 881, my experience is that the standard filter is fine for milling. People complain on forums that they're "dogs" stock, but those people are chasing performance not slow and steady torque. The air/fuel mix wasn't designed for max horsepower, but for max torque in cutting huge trees without bogging down.

 

[deholtsl]

My experience with hardwood is the harder the wood, the smaller the kerf you want in cutting it unless you have unlimited power at your disposal. Holds true with every blade I use in woodworking. So while I invested in an 880 for milling years back, I think I made the wrong decision for the extreme end of North American hardwoods that I mostly mill. Now I mill almost exclusively with 3/8LP with a 36" bar, and an untested 48" lo pro bar in reserve for bigger stuff. Unless you're getting into a lot of 36"+ diameter logs, I think a 661 and standard 3/8" chain is a more reasonable upgrade than an 881 and .404. It also give you an all purpose big saw, vs the enormously heavy 881 that is pretty much a milling only saw. If you're dead set on an 881, my experience is that the standard filter is fine for milling. People complain on forums that they're "dogs" stock, but those people are chasing performance not slow and steady torque. The air/fuel mix wasn't designed for max horsepower, but for max torque in cutting huge trees without bogging down.

Thank you for the reply. For the filter, I wasn’t so much worried about power as fines getting into the carb. With my 046, I had to have the engine rebuilt because small wood dust got into the piston and tore it up (with the stock filter) The max flow has been great for keeping the carb clean

 

[Coralillo Lo Pro]

Thank you for the reply. For the filter, I wasn’t so much worried about power as fines getting into the carb. With my 046, I had to have the engine rebuilt because small wood dust got into the piston and tore it up (with the stock filter) The max flow has been great for keeping the carb clean

046 is an older saw, they tended to have kind of weak filter setups in the older ones. I switched out the cheap screen filters of my 1980's vintage 045/056 Supers. Hasn't been an issue at all with the good stock filter in extensive use of my 880.