Anyone using a MS880?

[terrifictimbersllc]

I'd like to hear from anyone using a newer MS880, how you like it.  I'm asking because I read back through posts and hear some negative comments about it.

It's decision time again for me.  I was at this same crossroads several years ago but went down the path of getting a new MS660.   It had a 36" bar (050/375), and I used it mainly when my MS460 wasn't big enough, mostly for trimming flare off of big logs prior or during milling. I really liked the MS660, it started great, wasn't too heavy,  and when I started a cut that I couldn't finish on the Wood-Mizer,  I was able to trim logs on the mill and even throw it up at eye level to cut out a notch to let the head pass.

What I didn't like, was that I couldn't put a longer bar on the 660.  Bailey's had some listed (Cannon S1 mount, 50" for example), but while Cannon makes these the Bailey's listings weren't real when I tried to order.    I wanted a longer bar to try my hand at quartering some larger logs. AKA, Customsawyer style.   There's a lot of large oak in Connecticut and customers often want them quarter sawn.  I have a Peterson, yes, but out on a job with one 40" trunk, and the rest of the logs smaller, some of these whole trees could be done on the Wood-Mizer in one trip, with wider boards and less expense, if I could just break down the big log. 

So the problem is that someone took my MS660 out of my truck this past week.  I either go get a new MS661, or turn this lemon into an even bigger pitcher of lemonade by getting an MS880 instead.  I would probably buy an 880 with a 28 or 32" bar, use this combination for most of the lengthwise flare trimming that the MS460 can't handle.  Most of this sawing is on the ground and I wouldn't be carrying the saw around for hours a day.  Then for quartering bigger stuff, pull out the 41" bar & chains I already have, and if the quartering goes well then maybe pick up a 50" bar.  All the 880 plans would involve 404/063.

Comments on MS880s if you like them,  would be most welcome.  MS661, too. And if you don't like them I still want to hear. Thanks Dennis

[landscraper]

Never had an MS880 - can't help you.  However I can commiserate with you about someone taking your saw from the back of your truck.  I had two saws (a 61 and a 254) taken from my truck in a Lowes parking lot.  The cop told me there were guys who just sat and waited for a contractor type truck to pull in and one guy would shadow you in the store while the other guy would rob what he could from your truck.  They alerted each other by cell phone if the "victim" was walking out the door.  Another time someone stole my MS311 while I was on a job site.  I now have a swaged aircraft cable perma-shackled to a secure point on my truck and I loop it through all my valuables and lock it up when I park somewhere.  At least if they are going to rob me they are going to have to be conspicuous up on top of my toolboxes with bolt cutters.  Good luck on your replacement saw.

[JohnG28]

I can't comment on the 880 either,  but if you want to continue using bars you have for the 660 then get a 661. The 880 takes a large mount bar and will not take the bars you have. Also the info coming in on the 661 is that it's much improved over the 660, noticeably more power and torque. Hope to see your purchase soon! 

[terrifictimbersllc]

My bars weren't for the 660. I only had one for that and it went with the saw.

I have a 41" still rollomatic bar & chains, and a a 30" hard nose  with chains, big mount, for 090avs that I stopped using.  I could start using these with the 880.

[jmouton]

          i am in kinda the same boat you are in ,  id like to get a stihl to run  a  42-48 bar  ,like the 880  just dont know alot about those big saws ,,  i need one  to do the same thing your doing ,  but id like to slab a few big oaks we got laying around and there big  42  inch ish,   mine would be dedicated  just to big wood ,  i have  plenty of small and medium saws to handle everything else,,,


                                                                                                                            jim

[Andyshine77]

The 880 is pathetic stock, and will take some work to get one running worth it's weight, size and price. For what you seem to be cutting the 661 is ideal. The Husky 395xp should have a little more pulling power for longer bars, say 42" anything under that a 661 should out gun it with higher chain speed. The Husky 3120 isn't much better than the 880. Take into consideration the 880 and 3120 are both really old designs, and have been restricted for emissions reasons. The older versions of these saws "like my 084" will walk all over the current production model 100+cc saws.     

[terrifictimbersllc]

The 880 is pathetic stock, and will take some work to get one running worth it's weight, size and price. For what you seem to be cutting the 661 is ideal. The Husky 395xp should have a little more pulling power for longer bars, say 42" anything under that a 661 should out gun it with higher chain speed. The Husky 3120 isn't much better than the 880. Take into consideration the 880 and 3120 are both really old designs, and have been restricted for emissions reasons. The older versions of these saws "like my 084" will walk all over the current production model 100+cc saws.   

Thanks.  I'm concerned about ability to get a 42" or 50" bar for the MS661, and since it would probably be 404/063, the need to change sprocket and ability to pull this longer and wider chain.  It would be occasional use but I don't know how that would work.  I think I"ve read comments about a 660 having trouble with long 404/063.  The alternative I'm still considering is springing for a new clutch ($350) for one of my 090AVs and trying some log splitting with the 41" bar.

[fishpharmer]

My 880 took a while to get "broken in,"  when new it bogged down some. Seemed to take a few hours to "free up" for lack of a better term and rev freely and hold its power.  After the break in it was unstoppable IMO.  Ate through huge Live Oak no problem with a 41" bar, with the whole bar in wood.  I feel certain it could handle a longer bar and chain.

Unfortunately, like your saw, someone stole it out of my truck. I will have another one. 

[clww]

I don't have an 880, and have never tried one. I do have two 084 saws that I routinely run a 36" bar on, and I also have an 090. That one I've run my 60" (.063/.404) bar on (5 times) with no problems ripping slabs and bucking oak trees. I also have a 54" (3/8/.050) bar that I have slabbed and bucked with using an 084.

[ohiowoodchuck]

I packed my 3120xp with a 36' b/c  around all day a couple weekends ago bucking up rather large white oak, let me tell ya I was flat wore out after the day was over. I'm with Andy look for something smaller like a 395xp etc. The weight just isn't worth it. There fun to look at and have that wow factor but after you use one all day, they get old rather quickly. Since I got my ms460, i'm almost at the point of sending it down the road.

[Andyshine77]

The 880 is pathetic stock, and will take some work to get one running worth it's weight, size and price. For what you seem to be cutting the 661 is ideal. The Husky 395xp should have a little more pulling power for longer bars, say 42" anything under that a 661 should out gun it with higher chain speed. The Husky 3120 isn't much better than the 880. Take into consideration the 880 and 3120 are both really old designs, and have been restricted for emissions reasons. The older versions of these saws "like my 084" will walk all over the current production model 100+cc saws.   

Thanks.  I'm concerned about ability to get a 42" or 50" bar for the MS661, and since it would probably be 404/063, the need to change sprocket and ability to pull this longer and wider chain.  It would be occasional use but I don't know how that would work.  I think I"ve read comments about a 660 having trouble with long 404/063.  The alternative I'm still considering is springing for a new clutch ($350) for one of my 090AVs and trying some log splitting with the 41" bar.

A 42" bar is the upper limit for the 661, but it shouldn't be a problem. However .404 would likely be too much for the saw. Remember a 7 pin .404 sprocket is the same size as an 8 pin 3/8 sprocket. If you do end up buying an 880 I would suggest at least opening up the exhaust and tune the carb. 880's have limited coils that really inhibits performance. The coils on the older steal mufflers can be swapped out in favor of the unlimited 088 coil. Unfortunately you can't do that with the newer 880's with the stainless muffler,

If you look around you should be able to find a good used clutch for your 090 for a lot less than $350 That's what I'd do.

[cbla]

Did Husqvarna get rid of the 395xp? Thinking about a big saw and liked that model but its no longer listed on their site here in Canada.

[Andyshine77]

Did Husqvarna get rid of the 395xp? Thinking about a big saw and liked that model but its no longer listed on their site here in Canada.

It's still available down here. 8)

[Al_Smith]

 :D I'd be rather reluctant to say  Stihl 880 or Husqvarna 3120 is a whimpy saw but that perception is in the eye of the beholder .

What they are is costly to the tune of nearly 2000 dollars a pop .Which seems to be a lot in my minds eye just to use on rare occasions .Of course no more than it would be used it would last a 'coons age before it got worn out if that's any consulation.

Stihl/Husqvarna--Ford/Chevy --John Deere /Farmall .It never changes just the same old arguement like the oil wars . 8)

[HolmenTree]

Did Husqvarna get rid of the 395xp? Thinking about a big saw and liked that model but its no longer listed on their site here in Canada.

It's still available down here. 8)

Not for long the factory has since discontinued the 395XP.

[ehp]

395 is gone , the 661 will pull a fairly long bar but if it was up to me I would run 3/8's , 7 pin gear and skip tooth chain . I got guys running 48 inch bars on ported 7900's using the skip tooth setup  when they need a longer bar , Makes not buying a big huge saw that sits most of its life and that setup is alot easier on the check/cheque book, The 661 is a pretty torque saw so it will pull a longer bar ok , make sure you turn the bar oiler up

[Andyshine77]

Last I heard from Bob the 395 is still being made, and I know they are available here, and at a reasonable price as well.

Sorry Ed a 7900 won't oil a 48" bar, they struggle with a 32" B&C, but I'm cutting hard dry wood most of the time. I also don't see the clutch lasting long running a 48" bar. I have a lot of experience with the 7900 as you know, it's my all time favorite 70cc to 80cc saw.     

[ehp]

there are tree guys in Ohio running 7900's with 48 inch bars , just look around and they both had 088's and sold them , instead of modding the oiler mod the oil and lots of guys are doing that cause pretty much all saws the oilers suck today at running a longer bar .  the 395 is gone , you guys in the states are buying old stock the company has . In Canada the only 395s left are the ones at the dealers , Husky has zero here and the 395 is not on their ordering book , give about 8 months and the other 2 will show up missing as well 

[cbla]

so is the 390 considered the replacement to the 395xp? or is Husqvarna coning out with something new? on the Canadian site they have no mention of any of the big saws.

[terrifictimbersllc]

If I get a MS661 I would get it from the Stihl dealer with either a 32" or 36"  375/.050 bar.   Looking at the longer bar options for MS661, all I can find for the small Stihl mount and 375 is a 41" Cannon bar, CSB-S1-41-63-3 from Bailey's.  This is 0.063 gauge. 

Questions
1) are 63 gauge chains and bars only 0.013 wider than 50 gauge chain/bar, for example  Oregon JPX chain (75 JPX vs 72 JPX) or is it a bigger width difference than that that would bog down the saw?
2) anyone have a current source of bar for the MS661 longer than 41" with 375 chain?.  I would perhaps get a 50" bar for occasional use.

[Andyshine77]

there are tree guys in Ohio running 7900's with 48 inch bars , just look around and they both had 088's and sold them , instead of modding the oiler mod the oil and lots of guys are doing that cause pretty much all saws the oilers suck today at running a longer bar .  the 395 is gone , you guys in the states are buying old stock the company has . In Canada the only 395s left are the ones at the dealers , Husky has zero here and the 395 is not on their ordering book , give about 8 months and the other 2 will show up missing as well

Ed it's well known that this part in the oil pump wares out the 7900.



 

Ed I know quite a few people in Ohio who have 7900's, non of them run 48" bars. Ruining a 48" bar on a 7900 is absurd.

[Coast Steve]

I use an MS880 full wrap for milling.
I use a 72" double ended bar and rip maple logs with a tip oiler tank

What I don't like is the gas mileage it gets
Other than that it's the exhaust stink.

But it's got lots of poop and always starts. What more do I need in a chainsaw.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Thanks for your replies. Ordered a new MS880 with 30" bar. Will also use a 41" Stihl bar I already have.  404/063.  Things go well quartering some red oaks waiting for me, I'll probably pick up a Cannon 50" from Bailey's.  Suddenly feel better armed for he big ones. 

[Andyshine77]

Thanks for your replies. Ordered a new MS880 with 30" bar. Will also use a 41" Stihl bar I already have.  404/063.  Things go well quartering some red oaks waiting for me, I'll probably pick up a Cannon 50" from Bailey's.  Suddenly feel better armed for he big ones.

Good deal, 8) let us know how you like the saw.

[Coast Steve]

This big maple was cut into 10 slabs with my 880, since this pic I've done 2 other logs.



  Yep,

It's like getting a new car...well kind of.

The new ones have all the safety features (unlike my old 090)
Enjoy! 8)