Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (2024)

  • Thread starterfearofpavement
  • Start dateJun 26, 2013
Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (1)
Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (2)
Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (3)

Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (5)

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fearofpavement

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #1

I was at a Stihl dealer today and they were trying to sell me an MS440 for a reduced price of $799. I am wondering if this is the same saw as the 044 or if there were changes?

I realize the 441 is different from both of those but not sure if it was just a name change or design differences as well with the 044/440.

I recently asked a similar question regarding the 046/MS460 and the consensus was that it was basically a change in the designation but pretty much the same saw under the hood.

bootboy

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #2

Flippy caps!

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #3

The MS440 is pretty much the same saw as the 12mm wrist pin 044 was, all the parts will interchange. The obvious difference is the flippy caps and the decomp on the cylinder. There are slight differences in port timing and the muffler is more restricted on the 440. The older 10mm pin 044 was a bit more high perf due to better port timing and a more open muffler. The piston, cylinder and crankshaft were different in the 10mm saws and will not in work well with the 12mm piston but the cylinder from a 10mm engine will work well on a 12 mm pin engine.

fearofpavement

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #4

If two saws were in the same physical condition, would the 044 then be the preferred saw or can the "restrictions" of the 440 be remedied?

ernurse

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #5

fearofpavement said:

If two saws were in the same physical condition, would the 044 then be the preferred saw or can the "restrictions" of the 440 be remedied?

I think just about any restrictions can be overcome with enough money:msp_wink:

pioneerguy600

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  • Jun 26, 2013
  • #6

Well I own several 044`s and two 440`s. I took it upon myself to make them all run equal, it takes a bit of work to do that but a MS440 is a very good saw right out of the box, most owners never get them modded but just use them the way they come. Some of us just know more can be gotten out of them and thus the work begins. The easiest gains on the 440`s is to open up the muffler to allow it to breathe and retune the carb when running it in the cut. I don`t cut in dusty conditions so I run a more open air filter, more air in, more fuel pulled through the carb, more power and speed and the exhaust flows more freely.

teacherman

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  • Mar 29, 2021
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I'm glad to have found this old thread, because I have an 044 that runs just fine, and a 440 I got new circa 2008(?). My plan is to sell the 044 and keep the 440 because it is basically new, very little use. Seems to run fine, plenty of power, and being so little used should last as long as I do. And... I like the decomp. I have a few 056 mag 2s and a couple of 064s I think will go away for just this reason.

Crazy prices these 044s are bringing today.......

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EricP13

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  • Jun 7, 2021
  • #8

teacherman said:

I'm glad to have found this old thread, because I have an 044 that runs just fine, and a 440 I got new circa 2008(?). My plan is to sell the 044 and keep the 440 because it is basically new, very little use. Seems to run fine, plenty of power, and being so little used should last as long as I do. And... I like the decomp. I have a few 056 mag 2s and a couple of 064s I think will go away for just this reason.

Crazy prices these 044s are bringing today.......

I will buy an 044 from you if still available. Thanks

pioneerguy600

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  • Jun 7, 2021
  • #9

How`s your 044 running these days ,Keith?

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  • Dec 3, 2022
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I’m considering a 044 or a 046 and figure both are good OLD SAWS WITHOUT THE EPA bs and Stihl still makes the piston and cylinder for each. Am I thinking correctly? My big saw is a 064 Mag and it’s just rebuilt and I would like a smaller bucking saw. I also have a MS250.

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  • #11

Terry_Krall said:

I’m considering a 044 or a 046 and figure both are good OLD SAWS WITHOUT THE EPA bs and Stihl still makes the piston and cylinder for each. Am I thinking correctly? My big saw is a 064 Mag and it’s just rebuilt and I would like a smaller bucking saw. I also have a MS250.

You won`t be disappointed with either the 044, 440 046 or MS460, very durable well built saws with plenty of OEM and AM parts avaliable.

Difference between Stihl 044/MS440 (2024)
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