Bob, Great video. Down here in Marietta, GA I had to buy a a MS 261 Stihl since my 33 year old Husqvarna 50 has virtually no Husqvarna dealers left. I love that saw and am not as enamored with the Stihl since it is harder to crank than my 33 year old! But I am 71 now and getting a 572 XP is out of my orbit due to the weight and lack of dealers. That is why I went with the MS 261 and an 18" bar. Good luck with your 500i.
Thank you for watching! I’ve heard good things about the 261 but never held one. Having a servicing dealer for your brand of choice is very important for sure.
I been running Stihl saws and other products for 41 years and I never looked back, and I run them hard when I do, and they never broke. Husqvarna rotor tiller I own, was a nightmare when it was new. I went through three tillers, and they all failed on a bad weld inside of the transmission. Tiller, I had now was my first one I brought back after the mechanic welded what needed welding correctly, so much for automation assembly line and quality controls at Husqvarna.
I worked at a dealership and dealt with some of that quality issue stuff. Luckily Husqvarna always took good care of us and ultimately the customers when I was in that position.
@@BacktoBob1 Husqvarna said I was the first to report the issue, seems they went with an automatic welding process on a gear/gears in the transmission. Dealer I bought it from gave me a 100.00 gift certificate for my problems, care of them and Husqvarna..
Hey Bob nice video. I’m fairly new to the firewood game. I purchased a Stihl MS271 probably 5 or 6 years ago which was fine for some trees around my house. But when we installed a woodstove 2 years ago and I needed to cut for firewood, I realized that saw wasn’t going to work all the time. I ended up getting a used Stihl MS661c for a great price. It has been an awesome saw for the bigger ash and sugar maple trees I’ve had to buck.
Haha yes! We are making a woodyard at the land. Walked it last week and there are a few tall old maple and oak trees that have to come down. So we will do a mix of harvesting some of our own and buying logs as well.
Nice! Ya really up'd your game and with the add-on upgrades I think you went from hobbyist to Professional hobbyist! Think you'll end up liking the 25" lite bar the best.
My 55 Husqvarna self destructed so now I use Echo CS680 with a 20” bar and chain ( 24 - 27 is factory size) I like the 27” but 20” is cheaper to replace. Also use Echo CS330T top handle saw for limbing or the pull saw attachment and extensions for the Echo power head. I like the 5yr warranty. I’m interested in the Echo CS 620P or 7130. The one dealer in my area has Echo, Husqvarna, & Stihl. Nice video! 500I looks nice
Thanks for watching! I’m really interested to try some Echo saws some day. The long warranty is appealing as long as you have a service center nearby. Sounds like you have one with options that’s nice!
Get the 661 av up grade. The best bar box bar none is the Exile performance,it comes out on the recoil side and reduces the heat alot,be sure to use fial tape under the muffler. These are good saws for the tecj on them.
Hey Bob, the first thing that came to my mind when you were adding that bottom plate was why not drill a hole where the oil adjustment is ? Save some grief for later. Nice to see a husky guy fall in love with a Stihl. lol What king of dogs and where did you find them ? I purchased the 500i with the 25” bar about a year ago and I must say it was worth every penny, no regrets whatsoever. Cheers Woody !!!
I had the first generation Husqvarna 550XP. It was ok but was hard to start when warm. Had it hooked up to a laptop and done all we could do there but just wasn't very happy. Then the 550XP Mark II came out!!! I am in love!! Just curious which one you have!! It was nice to see ya over on Chris's channel. Nice grapple. I love your videos over on Wolf Ridge. I am really interested in the 17VS or 17VS-C. As an old farmer with a bad back that loves to put up firewood for our house and shop I feel like these splitters will work best for me. I would really like to be around one in the flesh. I may haave to take a drive over. I live in Central Minnesota. 211 miles!! Keep up the great work!!
Let me know if you’re planning a visit in advance, we can try to make sure we have a machine in the yard to show off. Also thanks for watching! I want a Mark II, probably an XPG this time for the heated handles.
Great job bob. I had problems looking for the bottom plate. Curious where did you purchase it. I put Egan. Exhaust with deflector. and west coast spring kit. On my 500I. Both upgrades 👍
I haven’t even run the saw yet but read about the different mounts. Does that keep the saw a little stiffer then? This was on eBay, this link will likely be dead in the future but for now here it is: www.ebay.com/itm/353337697613
The torque was due to a Locktite, we use the blue on about all the non daily threads. I guess from my falling days I dont use a saw unless it has a full wrap. Even if only on every 100th tree, its about safety for me.
@@weilfast having spent 37 years on a BC Coast falling crew, and at times in a 400 piece load in the interior, always with full wrap I'll disagree, as it's well worth the safety, never a chain issue, especially in big wood, and even when did pre yarding, Heli logging , was a safer tool.
I’m not a full wrap handle fan myself either but I can see the need. I actually stay away from buying full wrap handle saws. I like the option for cutting stumps low. Saw is easier to lay down and fill with fuel and oil. Saw takes up Less room also. But opinions are like as*Holes. And most stink
I thought about that too, we'll see how much I need to adjust it if at all. I usually ran my Husqvarna saws a little heavy on bar oil. Rather have too much in stead of not enough.
Nice collection! I haven't spent any cutting time with Echo saws, but I saw a couple in action at Dan's event back in October and they were impressive!
Oh Bob… Look at what you’ve done now!😢 You’ve buckled under SHIFTY’S peer pressure!😬 Don’t tell Dan, but I see them as a good option.🤫 I’m not one to follow a fad and I assure you the hype of the 500i will soon pass, much like it did with talking movies and the personal computer!😉 Nice upgrades, make it your own… Who cares what the hecklers think! Bless’ns, Tedd
Hahaha it is Dans fault. That day we gathered at his place I ran his and had to have one. 🙈😂 I still use my 550XP or 2153 more. Need to get some bigger logs to really put this 500i to use. I just got a 24” bar for my 562XP also, looking forward to using that this summer.
The two worst things I have heard about the 500i are the price and the fact that it sucks gas like no ones business. Oversize bucking spikes serve no practical application for 99.9% of chainsaw users, some think they look "cool" but I imagine most of those people also put 36" mud tires on a street truck. That said, your saw-do as you will! Also, the long bars that are advocated by a certain massive cult actually cause more of an issue than a benefit. They increase the speed of part failure exponentially on all saws, cause more strain on the back because you have to move it around more to keep the tip clear as well as creating a massive danger of snagging it in the woods when felling. Even the "West Coast" loggers that advocate massive spikes and 32" plus bars are living in a fantasy world these days for the most part. Those trees are long gone except in rare encounters but people see the channels who deal in putting compensators on their saws and think it is the only way! Oh well, keep cutting!
@@turtlewolfpack6061 I love this saw. You are right the dogs are just for fun. I’m still running a 25” light bar on it but I want to put a 20” light bar on it for most of the firewood I do is smaller in diameter. You are right also it DRINKS the fuel!
@@BacktoBob1 one of my favorite saws (yes, I have a new saw that could be considered better) is an old McCulloch Titan 57 that a buddy gave me three years ago packed full of saw dust and every line rotted off. This spring me and my youngest boy cleaned it up, plumbed it with new line and I was surprised that the carburetor was fine. It cuts awesome and sips fuel with a 20" bar. I have been stockpiling small parts for it to make sure it will run for years to come.
Bob, Great video. Down here in Marietta, GA I had to buy a a MS 261 Stihl since my 33 year old Husqvarna 50 has virtually no Husqvarna dealers left. I love that saw and am not as enamored with the Stihl since it is harder to crank than my 33 year old! But I am 71 now and getting a 572 XP is out of my orbit due to the weight and lack of dealers. That is why I went with the MS 261 and an 18" bar. Good luck with your 500i.
Thank you for watching! I’ve heard good things about the 261 but never held one. Having a servicing dealer for your brand of choice is very important for sure.
I been running Stihl saws and other products for 41 years and I never looked back, and I run them hard when I do, and they never broke. Husqvarna rotor tiller I own, was a nightmare when it was new. I went through three tillers, and they all failed on a bad weld inside of the transmission. Tiller, I had now was my first one I brought back after the mechanic welded what needed welding correctly, so much for automation assembly line and quality controls at Husqvarna.
I worked at a dealership and dealt with some of that quality issue stuff. Luckily Husqvarna always took good care of us and ultimately the customers when I was in that position.
@@BacktoBob1 Husqvarna said I was the first to report the issue, seems they went with an automatic welding process on a gear/gears in the transmission. Dealer I bought it from gave me a 100.00 gift certificate for my problems, care of them and Husqvarna..
All I can say is WOW and be careful!! I ran one for about 5 minutes and it is crazy fast. Now I’m jealous…
I was blown away, can’t wait to put it to work!
Hey Bob nice video. I’m fairly new to the firewood game. I purchased a Stihl MS271 probably 5 or 6 years ago which was fine for some trees around my house. But when we installed a woodstove 2 years ago and I needed to cut for firewood, I realized that saw wasn’t going to work all the time. I ended up getting a used Stihl MS661c for a great price. It has been an awesome saw for the bigger ash and sugar maple trees I’ve had to buck.
From what I’ve seen the 661 is a bad boy! Never ran / seen that one in person but it has to make short work of anything you do with it.
Time to call more log trucks with that setup!
Haha yes! We are making a woodyard at the land. Walked it last week and there are a few tall old maple and oak trees that have to come down. So we will do a mix of harvesting some of our own and buying logs as well.
Nice! Ya really up'd your game and with the add-on upgrades I think you went from hobbyist to Professional hobbyist! Think you'll end up liking the 25" lite bar the best.
I need some wood hound stickers 😉😎
Should be running the saw with the 20 today, the 25 inch bar and chain arrives this evening!
Update on 25” lite bar and chain weight? Dealer didn’t have the lite version so I got the 25” normal and it’s really nose heavy
My 55 Husqvarna self destructed so now I use Echo CS680 with a 20” bar and chain ( 24 - 27 is factory size) I like the 27” but 20” is cheaper to replace. Also use Echo CS330T top handle saw for limbing or the pull saw attachment and extensions for the Echo power head. I like the 5yr warranty.
I’m interested in the Echo CS 620P or 7130. The one dealer in my area has Echo, Husqvarna, & Stihl.
Nice video! 500I looks nice
Thanks for watching! I’m really interested to try some Echo saws some day. The long warranty is appealing as long as you have a service center nearby. Sounds like you have one with options that’s nice!
Get the 661 av up grade. The best bar box bar none is the Exile performance,it comes out on the recoil side and reduces the heat alot,be sure to use fial tape under the muffler. These are good saws for the tecj on them.
Been a Husky guy for 35 years. Have a 450,465,266,572,276,288 and a 3120.
I've been Husqvarna / Jonsered forever.. but I really do like my new Stihl 500i.
Hey Bob, the first thing that came to my mind when you were adding that bottom plate was why not drill a hole where the oil adjustment is ? Save some grief for later. Nice to see a husky guy fall in love with a Stihl. lol
What king of dogs and where did you find them ? I purchased the 500i with the 25” bar about a year ago and I must say it was worth every penny, no regrets whatsoever.
Cheers Woody !!!
Woody, thank you for watching! I bought these parts on eBay current item number for the bottom plate: www.ebay.com/itm/353337697613
I had the first generation Husqvarna 550XP. It was ok but was hard to start when warm. Had it hooked up to a laptop and done all we could do there but just wasn't very happy. Then the 550XP Mark II came out!!! I am in love!! Just curious which one you have!! It was nice to see ya over on Chris's channel. Nice grapple. I love your videos over on Wolf Ridge. I am really interested in the 17VS or 17VS-C. As an old farmer with a bad back that loves to put up firewood for our house and shop I feel like these splitters will work best for me. I would really like to be around one in the flesh. I may haave to take a drive over. I live in Central Minnesota. 211 miles!! Keep up the great work!!
Let me know if you’re planning a visit in advance, we can try to make sure we have a machine in the yard to show off.
Also thanks for watching! I want a Mark II, probably an XPG this time for the heated handles.
Great job bob. I had problems looking for the bottom plate. Curious where did you purchase it. I put Egan. Exhaust with deflector. and west coast spring kit. On my 500I. Both upgrades 👍
I haven’t even run the saw yet but read about the different mounts. Does that keep the saw a little stiffer then?
This was on eBay, this link will likely be dead in the future but for now here it is:
www.ebay.com/itm/353337697613
Also, I’ve thought about a muffler mod but is it unbearable loud then?
Hey Bob. I have 4 of the 500i’s. The last one I got I put the big dogs on and a bark box. Like cutting hot butter. Man……. She is loud!
That’s awesome. Do you have any experience with the Stihl MS400c-m?
@@BacktoBob1Bob I have had a 400 for two years and love it!!!
Nice! Install the bark Box Muffler to
I got some more stuff for this saw going on this week 😁
Pleas send me a link for the bottom plate. Thanks
www.ebay.com/itm/353337697613
The under plate/skid plate must definitely affect the saws’s suspension given that it connects the two parts the saw is made up of
The torque was due to a Locktite, we use the blue on about all the non daily threads.
I guess from my falling days I dont use a saw unless it has a full wrap. Even if only on every 100th tree, its about safety for me.
I’ve never experienced cutting with a full wrap handle but most of my chainsaw use over the years has been for bucking firewood.
Full wrap bars put your hand awful close to the chain. They also create a higher stump in small timber.
@@weilfast having spent 37 years on a BC Coast falling crew, and at times in a 400 piece load in the interior, always with full wrap I'll disagree, as it's well worth the safety, never a chain issue, especially in big wood, and even when did pre yarding, Heli logging , was a safer tool.
But I’m genuinely curious how does it make it a safer saw with the full wrap handle? Because you can hold it in any position desired really or?
I’m not a full wrap handle fan myself either but I can see the need. I actually stay away from buying full wrap handle saws. I like the option for cutting stumps low. Saw is easier to lay down and fill with fuel and oil. Saw takes up
Less room also. But opinions are like as*Holes. And most stink
You could notch that bottom plate to get at the oiler adjustment screw
I thought about that too, we'll see how much I need to adjust it if at all. I usually ran my Husqvarna saws a little heavy on bar oil. Rather have too much in stead of not enough.
Great video Bob! What dogs did you use? Link?
Here you go, thanks for watching!
www.ebay.com/itm/363188329132
Nice saw
Thanks Larry!
MS180, Echo CS3510, CS4510, CS590. The 3510 is replacing the MS180
Nice collection! I haven't spent any cutting time with Echo saws, but I saw a couple in action at Dan's event back in October and they were impressive!
Oh Bob…
Look at what you’ve done now!😢
You’ve buckled under SHIFTY’S peer pressure!😬
Don’t tell Dan, but I see them as a good option.🤫
I’m not one to follow a fad and I assure you the hype of the 500i will soon pass, much like it did with talking movies and the personal computer!😉
Nice upgrades, make it your own… Who cares what the hecklers think!
Bless’ns, Tedd
Hahaha it is Dans fault. That day we gathered at his place I ran his and had to have one. 🙈😂
I still use my 550XP or 2153 more. Need to get some bigger logs to really put this 500i to use. I just got a 24” bar for my 562XP also, looking forward to using that this summer.
The two worst things I have heard about the 500i are the price and the fact that it sucks gas like no ones business. Oversize bucking spikes serve no practical application for 99.9% of chainsaw users, some think they look "cool" but I imagine most of those people also put 36" mud tires on a street truck.
That said, your saw-do as you will!
Also, the long bars that are advocated by a certain massive cult actually cause more of an issue than a benefit. They increase the speed of part failure exponentially on all saws, cause more strain on the back because you have to move it around more to keep the tip clear as well as creating a massive danger of snagging it in the woods when felling.
Even the "West Coast" loggers that advocate massive spikes and 32" plus bars are living in a fantasy world these days for the most part. Those trees are long gone except in rare encounters but people see the channels who deal in putting compensators on their saws and think it is the only way!
Oh well, keep cutting!
@@turtlewolfpack6061 I love this saw. You are right the dogs are just for fun. I’m still running a 25” light bar on it but I want to put a 20” light bar on it for most of the firewood I do is smaller in diameter.
You are right also it DRINKS the fuel!
@@BacktoBob1 one of my favorite saws (yes, I have a new saw that could be considered better) is an old McCulloch Titan 57 that a buddy gave me three years ago packed full of saw dust and every line rotted off.
This spring me and my youngest boy cleaned it up, plumbed it with new line and I was surprised that the carburetor was fine. It cuts awesome and sips fuel with a 20" bar. I have been stockpiling small parts for it to make sure it will run for years to come.
@@turtlewolfpack6061 That’s awesome