For the first time in 16 years cutting timber professionally, I’m upset with Stihl. Me and a guy I work with both ordered new 500i’s within about 2 weeks of each other. His started acting like it was out of fuel even with a full tank of gas, today mine started doing it too. I changed the fuel filter (our gas is about 20% water around here) which usually helps, but it’s still acting like it can’t get fuel. My friends has been in the shop in Ketchikan for 3 weeks, I’m not going through that song and dance, they can plug it in and see I’ve only ran it for 2 weeks, so they’re gonna warranty it or someone is gonna wear it as a hat. This is the first time I’ve ever had QC problems from stihl, and I’ve worn out 20+ brand new saws over the years, which is a good track record but I’m still displeased that a $1,700 saw is giving me trouble 2 weeks in

a real timber professional uses husky

The "majority" of Stihl products are made here in the US. Maybe you got one that isn't or has a lot of "globally sourced parts". Hope ya get it figured out.

Maybe the spark arrestor

Echo is jap ....I hear good things ...what say you

AK knows his equipment I dare say being a pro. I'd take him at his word...he got a lemon. The company will need to make right.

They don’t make anything big enough. 500i’s are the smallest I use regularly. I have a couple 462’s but they’re just tinker toys for tree length sized wood down south.

No such thing

Husky does make a comfy seat so you can sit on it while you wait for the crummy lol. This is the first major issue I’ve had with a new stihl ever. Not pleased with them right now, but they’ll make it right. I buy at least one or two new saws a year, and many many rolls of chain, they take care people who take care of them.

Yeah, I tore it all down and made things simple for the stihl people, it’s either the injector or the ECM (I don’t have a computer to tell me which)

I run all stihl and have 4 500i's at work. They can be a pain with all the electric components but sure nice to swing. I let the crew members use them and the 461s but I carry an 046( which is my personal favorite saw ever built) and a 064 when I need to spin a big bar. You are right stihl will work with you but can take some time.

My only current echo is their smallest 2511. I have not used it much at all since I picked it up a few years ago.( present from my wife) I have taken down 2 maples over the house with it and the boys used it a little on the ground because it's so mall when they were small. Basically it has had very little use.

Right now it runs but chain won't pull through wood just bogs down . I also don't like the design of the cover on the bar chain adjuster is built into the cover not the saw and I have had the pull cord freeze up when parts got rusted up just sitting in the shed. Never had an issue with the sthils sitting right next to it.

Echo start easy but are low power on their saws compared to sthil and Husky. Mine needs a trip to the shop and I would be happy to get rid of it.

I have several other 500i’s this is the first I’ve had issues with (aside from just being plum wore out) I have a bunch of 661’s too, they’re probably still my favorite model

This thing is a monster

I stand corrected. But still not buying an echo lol. I have an 088 that I seldom use. It’s getting busted out tomorrow to run a 50” bar…stay tuned for pictures lol. Our crew has bets going on the diameter of what we’re referring to as “big earl” (spruce tree that I’m guessing is 11’8” in diameter, we have guesses ranging from 10’6” to 13’)

I think only having one major issue with a brand of chainsaw over the span of 16 years is impressive, especially if you’re doing the work you say you are.

Turn that frown upside down! Winter is coming!

You're the expert......I was looking at replacing my old 310 , but have since got it running like a champion...rarely use it though .. the last thing I replaced was the cracked fuel line after replacing everything else ..lol

Anyways , the echo had some good reviews , still being carburated, where the new sthils electronic carb stuff were having problems....I like my stihl but most anything JAP made seems to always be reliable

I did say they have a good track record with me, and I’m sure they’ll make it right. It’s just upsetting to know the woes of a husky guy, I usually don’t pack a saw out of the brush until a unit is done, then it goes straight into the next one. So being forced to pack out a saw because of a mechanical (or in this case more likely electrical) issue that I can’t fix in the brush costs me time, money, and calories. I trust stihl to sell me saws that won’t cause me any headaches until they’re about a year old. Doing what I do that’s about the life of a clutch, once I replace the clutch it becomes a backup saw, as that means it’s aged and it’s getting to the point where lots of random little things will start coming apart and costing you time (even though youre able to do most of those small repairs in the brush). Hence why I buy so many new saws, reliability. So I guess I’m just disappointed. Especially since my friend also got a lemon from them around the same time, so it’s not a single saw incident

That 661 sure looks impressive

I remember when I was a kid in 70s and my dad worked for a logging company, watching my dad throw a big commercial mcculloch off of a high river bank into the river when he got sick of pulling on it to start it. Said that was last day he was fighting that POS.
Jim