saw guys question

[fillthefreezer]

so the ol 044 is becoming such a problem child i think its time to replace. just curious if its worth the extra money to get the ms441 over the ms440 or if i should look for an ms460. pros and cons of each from those in the know would be great

[BigGoonTuna]

the 441 isn't too bad of a saw if you're looking for a big firewood saw.  haven't dealt with a single logger that likes them, at least more than the 440.  they aren't bad to run, but have very soft mounts, like a husky.  gets really floppy if you're using any bars over 24" or so.  the big drawback is that they are as heavy as a 460, and are a pain in the ass to work on compared to the older saws.

the 440(again) and 460 are on their way out.  dealers are limited to stock on hand, after that they're gone.  good news is that the 461 that replaces the 460 is more or less the same familiar saw, they just modified the top end for the most part(not internet hearsay, i've torn one apart to check it out).  they're good runners too, and don't weigh any more.

you really can't go wrong any of them in my opinion, my bias still lies with the 044/440 because they've got such a proven track record and are lighter than all the other options you've listed.

[hntrspud]

460! It weighs the same, has a bunch more power. Like said above the 461 is top notch. Lowered the wrist pin on th :tup:e piston which provides more torque. 441 is not a saw I would get if you ever want to fall. Too floppy. Also, unless you're crank bearings are bad and the saw is in bad shape,a little work to the 044 might not be a bad option as well. Some of us still have some 460's left, and there is a reason the fire department uses them for rescue. As long as you don't get the 441 you'll be very happy.

[fillthefreezer]

i was in this same pickle about this time last year and decided to put work into the 44. about $150. all was good then but now im back at it. getting tired of having to work on it more than cut wood.
i like a 28-32 bar, not so much cus i fall a ton of wood, more for not bending down.
sounds like i should stay away from the 441 and look for a 440, 460, or 461.
dont really want to spend the $$ for brand new but wondering if maybe it will be worth it to have a saw that i can have for 20years?

[hntrspud]

It will, just bite the bullet. I know its hard to do. You wont regret it. If you take care of it, then yea it could last that long.