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The STIHL MS 460 first arrived in the catalogue around 2001 and wasn’t replaced until 2011. It remains a tremendously popular saw and it’s little wonder that it stayed on the product list for 10 years!
Boasting a high power to weight ratio, it is able to easily cope with all but the biggest of farm and forestry work.
The MS 460 was squarely aimed at the professional chainsaw operator, and was well received by the professional arborist community. It offers a reliable, light and powerful head unit that can be matched with a broad range of bar lengths.
It is even suitable for harvesting fairly large timber. Owners report that the saw is able to handle 20″ and even 25″ bars. This is important because it makes the saw a versatile tool for all the work you do. So you can just take one saw with you when you head out to work!
The STIHL MS 460 weighs in at 6.6 kg. Developing 4.5kW (6.0 hp) power output gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 1.5 kg/kW. So this makes it easy to handle and perfect for medium to high density forestry work.
The STIHL MS 460 is built with an early anti-vibration system. This should increase the time an operator can use it without getting tired. Some owners report that the MS 460 anti-vibration performs less well compared to it’s modern counterparts. It’s not a particular criticism of this saw but more an observation because anti-vibration technology has improved since this saw made it’s debut!
A good used STIHL MS 460 has become increasingly difficult to find. At the time of writing this there were fewer than 10 machines listed for sale on eBay.
Sometimes this can be an indication that a particular model lacked durability and is therefore in short supply. I suspect this isn’t the case with the MS 460. It’s more likely that the machines are highly reliable and well loved by their owners! If you have a really reliable, easy to use chainsaw, why on earth would you sell it?
If you can find a used one, in good condition it’s probably going to be a great buy!
It’s a different story when it comes to spare parts because there are thousands of spares advertised on eBay. This is a good indication that many of these saws are still running, and being used and maintained regularly by their owners.
If you own a STIHL MS 460 or are considering buying one, you can be confident in a good supply of spare parts for years to come. I was easily able to find replacements for cylinders, pistons, crankshafts, mufflers, housings, clutches and oil pumps. Consumable spares are in good supply too, air filters and fuel filters are readily available.
Model Name | Stihl MS 460 |
Engine Type | single-cylinder two-stroke |
Engine Capacity | 76.5cc, 4.67cu.in |
Cylinder Bore | 52mm, 2.05in |
Piston Stroke | 36mm, 1.42in |
Ignition Type | Electronic (breakerless) magneto |
Spark Plug Type | Bosch WSR6F (check eBay) or NGK BPMR7A (check eBay) |
Spark Plug Gap | 0.5mm, 0.02in |
Carburetor Type | Walbro HD-14C (check eBay), HD-16C (check eBay) |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 0.8 litre |
Fuel Mixture | 50:1 with Stihl two-stroke air-cooled engine oil |
Weight | 6.6kg, 14.6lb |
Catalytic Converter | N/A |
Chain Lubrication Type | Automatic oil pump |
Oil Tank Capacity | 0.325 litre |
The vast majority of comments about the the STIHL MS 460 are positive. It seems that you can’t go wrong with one of these saws. So get one if you can find one!
Very few negative comments about this saw, probably because owners just love them!