Ported vs. stock chainsaws is it worth it for a casual user?

[Alan]

So, you're probably wondering if getting your chainsaw ported is all hype. Maybe your regular saw's been fine for years, but then you hear people going on about how much faster and stronger their ported saws are. If you're just chopping wood on weekends, is porting really worth the cash?

I'm curious about your thoughts what's worked or not worked for you.

 

[Obsidian]

Porting? Nah, never got into it. My old faithful's been choppin firewood on weekends for ages, works like a charm.

 

[SappyGuy]

A buddy let me try his ported saw once. Yeah, it had some kick, but for what I do around my small woodlot, it seemed a little overkill.

 

[Paul]

For what it’s worth, here’s my take on porting saws. Perfectly fine if you wanna try some cutting comps. Chances are you’ll be running some sort of special chain, ( square ground or whatever) and probably cutting softwood. Try to get all the speed you can. Simply not practical for normal wood cutting.
Companies like Stihl and Husqvarna have rooms full of engineers that are there to make the most efficient power to weight ratio, most durable and environmentally friendly saws they can.
Why does everyone want to reinvent the wheel.
The sound of a ported saw is pretty cool though. Just sayin.

 

[Alan]

Thanks for sharing your take makes a lot of sense. I've heard the same from a few others, while porting is a blast for competitions, it’s not the most practical for everyday use. And I’ll admit, that sound is pretty tough to beat.

 

[STIHLTECH]

I have had a few come in the shop. Yes, they run well.
BUT, they require the maintenance that no one does.
A dragster with bad tires isn't going to perform.
A ported chainsaw with a dull chain, dirty air filter, old fuel, etc., will get outrun by a stock saw that has been maintained.
The theory is true. In the hands of a professional that maintains his equipment, there will be gains.

But John Q public has no desire to do these things.
And when not maintained, you are better off with a stock saw

 

[STIHLTECH]

Case in point- Customer brought in a 500i. Had it ported, fancy air filter, etc.
Says it is dying in the cut.
Chain is dull.
Air filter plugged.
Cleaning and sharpening cured the issue.
"But I just cleaned it yesterday."
My take on it- The fancy air filter with its foam and oil made the sawdust stick to it. Also no room around the new filter cover. And yes, there was debris inside the filter. Remember, you are moving more air through the saw.

Original air filter is actually designed to let some sawdust fall off the filter. Seal the base with a little grease on the seal and an extra washer in the center.

Is this the fault of the porting and aftermarket filter? No.

Maintain it.

 

[Alan]

Yep, mods are cool, but only if you keep up on the basics. Regular maintenance is way more important than any mods or fancy aftermarket parts.

 

[STIHLTECH]

It's the old Sunday drags story. The souped up Nova gets beat by the stock SS Nova. Simply because the stock Nova is maintained and tuned up correctly.
Pushing the power on the same ccs requires a little more maintenance.
If you are willing to maintain it, there are gains.
If you just want to run day in and day out and not look at the saw, it is a waste.

 

[Alan]

Exactly, proper maintenance makes all the difference.