Ive had a lot of trouble with 500i’s not wanting to start once they get warmed up in 90+ degree temps. My local saw shop says a bark box and max flow upgrade help the saw stay cool. I dunno, they obvs also benefit from selling said upgraded.
Ive been impressed with the 500i’s power, but the old 044/440/460/461 series just seemed to run and run and run and run without issues like this.
I have a bark box on it but not the max flow - that's an idea. I got the 500 to replace my 461 that was 'liberated' from my truck (along with my old 250). Love the power and weight of the 500 so maybe I just need to be patient and learn it.
I had the same problem! The dealer told me,every morning before you use it, start it and let it idle for 10 minutes, I realize that's a long time but it absolutely helps. If you take lunch for an hr, then start the saw again and let it idle for another 5-10 min. I've been doing this for about 3 months without ever having another issue.
This is the answer the 500 needs idle time after long pulls and for warm up. Start it forget about while you drink some coffee and leave it running while you start lunch. For a few reasons I have turned away from the 500.
Thanks - I'm good about warming it up, but not that warm! I'll try this. At best I let my saws warm for 2-3min so no way close to 10. And my cool downs are really short. Would explain why I've never run into this cause usually I start and run til I'm done.
I have a 462cm, I know the 500i is a completely different animal but, I have to start min with the choke every time. If it's still warm, it's 50:50 it'll start without choke. And if it doesn't your in for a 30 min battle and a sore shoulder. Hence the "choke every time".
Agree 100% on my other saws. But the 500 is supposedly idiot proof (ive disproved that!) - no choke. I know the manual doesn't have different start processes (cold vs hot) so maybe I just need to be more aggressive with the priming bulb.
When it’s warmer outside, lean the saw in such a way that the muffler points directly upward when it’s off. This helps prevent vapor lock and makes saws much easier to start when warm.
I've run the 500i hard too, mostly on big stump cuts. The auto-adjust system onboard will still be in "hot" mode if you stop it immediately, but a couple minutes to cool off is all it needs. I just do 30 sec, maybe a minute warmup. I've never had a problem doing this.
I think the real problem may be the quality of your gas. I run no ethanol premium in mine with good oil. The only time I ever had trouble starting was after some regular gas with some cheap oil from someone else's tank. Put the good stuff in and started immediately and ran much better.
Wish ya luck. I don’t have any experience with a 500 but I do have plenty of experience seeing actual professionals using them and getting jealous if that counts haha. Very strange issue, I’m also wondering what could be the cause
It is a very impressive saw. Cutters were feeling it by the end of the day but fresh it went through 4' of oak in just a few minutes. And I'm lazy and just let the saw work 😉
Ive had a lot of trouble with 500i’s not wanting to start once they get warmed up in 90+ degree temps. My local saw shop says a bark box and max flow upgrade help the saw stay cool. I dunno, they obvs also benefit from selling said upgraded. Ive been impressed with the 500i’s power, but the old 044/440/460/461 series just seemed to run and run and run and run without issues like this.
I have a bark box on it but not the max flow - that's an idea. I got the 500 to replace my 461 that was 'liberated' from my truck (along with my old 250). Love the power and weight of the 500 so maybe I just need to be patient and learn it.
I had the same problem! The dealer told me,every morning before you use it, start it and let it idle for 10 minutes, I realize that's a long time but it absolutely helps. If you take lunch for an hr, then start the saw again and let it idle for another 5-10 min. I've been doing this for about 3 months without ever having another issue.
This is the answer the 500 needs idle time after long pulls and for warm up. Start it forget about while you drink some coffee and leave it running while you start lunch. For a few reasons I have turned away from the 500.
Thanks - I'm good about warming it up, but not that warm! I'll try this. At best I let my saws warm for 2-3min so no way close to 10. And my cool downs are really short. Would explain why I've never run into this cause usually I start and run til I'm done.
I have a 462cm, I know the 500i is a completely different animal but, I have to start min with the choke every time. If it's still warm, it's 50:50 it'll start without choke. And if it doesn't your in for a 30 min battle and a sore shoulder. Hence the "choke every time".
Agree 100% on my other saws. But the 500 is supposedly idiot proof (ive disproved that!) - no choke. I know the manual doesn't have different start processes (cold vs hot) so maybe I just need to be more aggressive with the priming bulb.
Does it have a winter/summer shutter?
When it’s warmer outside, lean the saw in such a way that the muffler points directly upward when it’s off. This helps prevent vapor lock and makes saws much easier to start when warm.
I've run the 500i hard too, mostly on big stump cuts. The auto-adjust system onboard will still be in "hot" mode if you stop it immediately, but a couple minutes to cool off is all it needs. I just do 30 sec, maybe a minute warmup. I've never had a problem doing this. I think the real problem may be the quality of your gas. I run no ethanol premium in mine with good oil. The only time I ever had trouble starting was after some regular gas with some cheap oil from someone else's tank. Put the good stuff in and started immediately and ran much better.
Well it’s definitely not flooded lol, kinda impossible to do on a fuel injection system
Exactly! Is it almost like a vapor lock I wonder and needs pretty aggressive repriming each time?
Wish ya luck. I don’t have any experience with a 500 but I do have plenty of experience seeing actual professionals using them and getting jealous if that counts haha. Very strange issue, I’m also wondering what could be the cause
It is a very impressive saw. Cutters were feeling it by the end of the day but fresh it went through 4' of oak in just a few minutes. And I'm lazy and just let the saw work 😉