Well, finally broke down and bought myself a new chainsaw after my MS310 has been having issues and needing to be fixed up. I found it down in Arizona and got it shipped up here, and UPS ended up losing the 25" and 36" bars that were with it, so I got a price break from the guy. Ended up getting a 500i with very little use on it with a bark box, billet clutch cover, and a full wrap handle for $1,050. Went and bought a 32" STIHL light bar for it, a couple of chains, and a bar scabbard. Have about $1,430 in it, which is a very reasonable price for a used 500i in this shape. Anyway, enough talking, and here's the picture of it.

Nice !

Heck of an upgrade from the 310

I have the old 310 also ....chased a few problems and finally figured out the fuel line was old and had a Crack in it . Wouldn't stay running without adequate fuel pressure.

Runs great now

Meanwhile I was at the local stihl dealer and ended up buying a jap saw echo 620pw 27inch full wrap. Great reviews for the money . Reliable non electronic

I don't cut much so it should last me till I'm dead

Nice

How much wood you gonna have to sell to pay for it (what does a cord go for up there)?

I love mine.

WS

Very nice. With a 32 inch bar you won't even have to bend over.

Why the 32” bar, are you cutting redwoods ? I worked as a professional logging contractor for over 30 years, fell many trees 36”-48” with a 20” bar.

Nice big saw, I like my 365 Husky with a twenty inch bar, and I have a 30” for it…its all I want to handle.

Probably for bucking, 32" is pretty common here, probably the standard on a saw that size. Personally I prefer a 28" but that is personal preference. The longer bar is certainly nice for bucking.

Be careful with the long bar, you are more likely to hit an obstacle and have kick back. Also, as you tire more likely to drop the bar and cut your leg. Always wear protective chaps. Cut a lot of big timber with a 20"bar.

I'm running 25" bars on my 500i, May want to try skip tooth chain if you're regularly cutting much bigger than that. As stated, watch for kickback, that's not the saw to be running if you start getting fatigued.

Great saws but spendy.

500i are incredibly responsive and so light for the power they have. I ran one once and was impressed , but ultimately decided it was way more than I needed considering my 361 has done everything I needed in the last 20 years or so I have had it. With my boys cutting more i ended up buying a 261 with 20". It's 2 lbs lighter then my 361 and only. 3 base horse power less. With the shorter bar only difference I noticed in power is on the low end ripping with the bar burrito the 261 will bog out more. But that's not what it designed for.

My youngest just came home with a sthil 311. Guy had it at the road by the trash. He was outside and my son asked him about the saw. Guy said it was brok he was geting rid of it. My 13 year old packed it home put a new pull cord on it cleaned the air filter and fresh gas and said it runs great. He also noticed how much lighter our other saws are and improvements.

Looks like you got a great saw.

We were gifted one for Christmas! Couldn't tell you what it it, that's my husband's department. I used it a few times, it made a world of a difference compared to the previous one.

Is that in the KITCHEN? Trapper Les style! Well done.

I think on that maple , you are going to like it even more bucking with the a 24 inch bar

save that 32 for the times you need to fell the bigns

and buck with a 24

clean her out good with compressed air after each day cutting , make sure you only run ethanol free 91 octane and good oil , and cut away

bad gas is the fastest killer of saws , bad operators is next. but I guess that is redundant

LOL it was.

I didnt think there were trees in South Dakota, much less a use for such big equipment?

Congratulations on your new saw.

Sorry you had to settle for a Sthil.

I’m a Husky guy but I would’ve jumped on that deal! Great saw!