Stihl ms 500i

[BeerFarmer]

Dealer called today and my 500i is in. I wasn't able to make it into town to get it, but now I know they do exist!

[Andyshine77]

So a more "productive" fan on the flywheel would not be possible for those "air injected" models? Or are there additional reasons? 390's have it and they produce plenty of HP so its certainly possible. Husqvarna added fins early on flywheel's for the 372's and that configuration served through to the X-torqs. Have to believe like Husqvarna working through teething issues on their 5 series, Stihl will as well. Especially on their top of the line saws. The one thing I hope all the manufacturers do is within a series of saws design and produce upgrades where they can be retrofitted back, especially on the saws where there is a substantial upfront investment on the part of the customer. For example it would be nice to see filter holders & air filter upgrades for saws like the 562's capable of being a retro'ed back to earlier releases.

Those older saws didn't have the constraints of EPA requirements. IE lean tuning, strato porting. And more fan means more mass and or drag? And lastly, maybe what Husqvarna finds acceptable, Stihl does not. Except for the EPA deal, more hypothetical questions/ideas than actual answers.

[weimedog]

So a more "productive" fan on the flywheel would not be possible for those "air injected" models? Or are there additional reasons? 390's have it and they produce plenty of HP so its certainly possible. Husqvarna added fins early on flywheel's for the 372's and that configuration served through to the X-torqs. Have to believe like Husqvarna working through teething issues on their 5 series, Stihl will as well. Especially on their top of the line saws. The one thing I hope all the manufacturers do is within a series of saws design and produce upgrades where they can be retrofitted back, especially on the saws where there is a substantial upfront investment on the part of the customer. For example it would be nice to see filter holders & air filter upgrades for saws like the 562's capable of being a retro'ed back to earlier releases.

Those older saws didn't have the constraints of EPA requirements. IE lean tuning, strato porting. And more fan means more mass and or drag? And lastly, maybe what Husqvarna finds acceptable, Stihl does not. Except for the EPA deal, more hypothetical questions/ideas than actual answers.

I agree...lots of hypotheticals but nothing quantitative. Husqvarna's 572 seems to have solved the heat management issue first seen in the earlier 5 series offerings with good filtration as well. My guess? Cost. Already a bit out of line, wouldn't be surprised to find places where they need to either reduce the number of parts or god forbit even quality. The initial low numbers of a new tooled up technology makes everything more expensive. But plebe's like you & I out here will only know what is fed to us from behind the marketing veil...and their job is controlling the narratives.   Not unique to Stihl. My hunch is they will evolve this to a better and better state as the sales go up and the research & tools is amortized, cost comes down as well. Might even see better filtration or other upgrades as the product matures...they certainly have done that in the past. And it doesn't really matter. It's a cool new saw and will make its way as all pro saws do over time.

[HolmenTree]

I was talking to an  old friend who recently retired as Stihl USA's national sales manager.  He has lots of good things to say about the 500i.
I laughed when he said "their selling world wide better then cold beer on a 100°F day!" :D
He said the only saw that could "nearly" match the 500i's power to weight ratio is the 1988-'89 044AV and that's just on the edge!

Here's my NOS 1988-'89 044 I found this summer. 71cc 12 lb.14oz (12.8 lbs) PHO


 

[ehp]

so everyone else up here seems to have a 500i but me , most like them that are logging up here . Maybe abit hard on fuel but maybe there like the 462's , I have had lots of those and none used the same amount of fuel . Time will tell I guess 

[ZeroJunk]

I started one up yesterday and hit the throttle a time or two. They are quick ! Trying to fight off the urge.

Then they gave me an 032 and an 011 to take and repair. Oh well.