Your gonna drink fuel after a part job but your also making more power so that takes more fuel. But I think you do loose a bit on life of saw??
You shouldn't lose any life of the saw if it I is ported right. If you want him to do the 441 book you a spot now for later and he doesn't want the saw more than a week early so you don't have to send it off and wait forever.
Our 441s were nipping on the heels of saws that had 20ccs on us. Running in 24" of wood, we were within 2-3 seconds of an 064 and a 660. Neither of the big saws were stock either if I understood correctly. A few guys got to run my 441 with a 32" full-comp bar and chain on it in Sugar Maple. Ran it like a Boss. Not too shabby for a 71cc saw. Randy has a pretty good scheduling system going now. Book your appointment and ship the saw when you get close. No need to say goodbye for 6 months.
This depends on the builder. I know Randy has been quite frank in that he does not push the limits of bottom-end strength, especially with certain models. This is the difference between building a true "work-saw" and a G2G hotrod.
The stock 660 was slower than my 460, but was about even with the 441's. My 460 was the fastest saw run through the 24" wood. Only because the 7900 and 064 had no big bar. Our 441's were only two tenths of a second apart. It wasn't until we got to the 12" Cant, that the 064 came out (Jeff ran through the 24" but didn't have a bar and chain big enough to go through the entire Cant.) and the 7900 and 064 were fastest. With my 460 just behind the 7900 and 064 in 12' wood. But the 441's were still close. Bottom line. . Randy builds a mean 441C-M, and when ported will surprise most individuals. I honestly disliked mine. After running my 460 with a dual port? The 441 was a heavy and slow hog. . Now, it will stay with me for a very long time. As will my 362 and 460. Those 3 saws are all I ever need.
So that 660 was stock eh? I forgot that Jeff didn't have a long bar on that 064. Did you ever run your 441 in the 12"?
No but I ran my 441 in the 24" against yours (that's the 2 tenths) I only ran my 460 in the 12". (And 036, but that time is far from the times we are speaking to now)
Kinda wondering if I made a mistake taking the rakers down on that chain..... . I'll take getting beat by .2.
That is nuttin short of amazin to me...ported 441 keepin up with even a stock 660... 441/5.5 hp/70.1 cc 660/7.0 hp/91.9cc simply amazin!
Says a lot about how much potential a 441 has and how unamazing a stock 660 is these days. There has been some dyno testing going on recently that confirms the 660 ain't got it in the power department as delivered from Stihl. They are kinda like my old GMC C3500, a 454 making 230 HP (pitiful ) choked down to meet emissions regulations. My 2013 1500 makes nearly a 100HP more with 2.1L LESS displacement. But the 660 much like my big block, is a bigger, more durable chassis/engine that will work at max load much longer and more reliably than the smaller half-ton pickup/70cc MS441. Big saw for big wood, smaller ported saw for blazing performance in smaller wood. Gonna run a 36" bar full-time? Gimmie 660..... BTW: A simple bolt on muffler cover makes a very appreciable difference in power output on the 660.....
Is the power increase that dramatic?..ive only ever run stock saws...the 441 being my biggest...does woods porting decrease engine life or help it by opening it up?
Those that know said when done right as a work saw it doesnt decrease it. But a race saw running g on the ragged edge will definitely have a shorter life
With the 441, done right, it is indeed a dramatic difference. I would do your homework on whomever you choose to do the work.