Stihl or Echo top handle saw?

[IH3444]

ECHO 14 in. 35.8 cc Gas 2-Stroke Top Handle Chainsaw CS-355T-14 - The Home Depot

Get a powerful, rugged and reliable option for tree shaping at home or on the job with the addition of this excellent ECHO Gas 2-Stroke Cycle Chainsaw.

www.homedepot.com

Bought mine back in 2012? So it hasn't gone up too much. Does start easy, and mine has been very forgiving so far. Just used it last fall and it hadn't been started for over 5 years. Started right up. I mix my own non ethanol gas. 90 octane with a 32 to one Amsoil Saber.
Just had the mufflers off the 1988 026, piston looks brand new through exhaust port, I mean just brand new. No scoring at all. The 1991 064 same thing. The 026 has had the absolute snot run out of it. Really run hard, it has never even whimper. Was my go to saw for years and years. 16" bar. Sometimes 20".
The newer MS261 M-tronic saw is a sweet lightweight powerful saw. 4hp I believe. 6 bills on sale a few years back. Fall 2022.
The 1988 026 is 3.5hp if my memory serves me well. Still a great runner.

 

[JeepHead]

That’s the one I have on my short list.

Have ran the 355 and own the 2511. I would choose the 2511 any and every day over the 355.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I’m interested in the Echo CS-271T

 

[Hay Dude]

Have ran the 355 and own the 2511. I would choose the 2511 any and every day over the 355.

Seemed like a toy when I picked it up???

 

[JeepHead]

Seemed like a toy when I picked it up???

Yup, it's considerably lighter than pretty much every other saw out there and makes limbing an absolute breeze. It will out cut a 355T in 10" wood all day long. To me, a top handle saw should be light weight, easily maneuverable, and fast cutting through anything 10-12" and under. That's what this saw does and it does it better than most. The 2511 is Echo's pro series and the 355/271 are a homeowner series...

 

[IH3444]

Didn't even know about the 2511, how can it be 10cc less and be considered a PRO saw?
2.5 pounds lighter than the 355. Nice if up in the bucket all day long limbing.
How does the 2511 stack up against the Stihl equal?
My neighbor did just buy in fall 2022 the high-end Stihl MS201 M-tronic top handle saw. I think it was around $700 plus.
With a 6-month warranty which I thought was ridiculous. It's a Stihl! No, it wasn't, it was $700 plus!

 

[kozal01]

Didn't even know about the 2511, how can it be 10cc less and be considered a PRO saw?
2.5 pounds lighter than the 355. Nice if up in the bucket all day long limbing.
How does the 2511 stack up against the Stihl equal?
My neighbor did just buy in fall 2022 the high-end Stihl MS201 M-tronic top handle saw. I think it was around $700 plus.
With a 6-month warranty which I thought was ridiculous. It's a Stihl! No, it wasn't, it was $700 plus!

The CC's dont determine pro or not, its about power to weight ratio where pro saws normally shine. Plus build quality and performance. The Stihl 194 is the closest in comparison to the Echo but to me felt clunky and much heavier than the 2511 and from guys Ive talked to that have run both they are comparable in power output. I generally do not like Echo stuff but that 2511T is one awesome little saw.

 

[Hay Dude]

The CC's dont determine pro or not, its about power to weight ratio where pro saws normally shine. Plus build quality and performance. The Stihl 194 is the closest in comparison to the Echo but to me felt clunky and much heavier than the 2511 and from guys Ive talked to that have run both they are comparable in power output. I generally do not like Echo stuff but that 2511T is one awesome little saw.

Good to know. It was sitting at the dealer and when I picked it up I almost laughed at how small & light it was.

 

[Runner]

Even the pros seem to have a difficult time deciding between saws, but this one uses a Husky electric top-handle quite a bit. Also uses both Stihl and Echo 2511.

 

[IH3444]

I usually purchase the Stihl Pro saw, except for the 027 FARM BOSS, which I got when I saw a need for a second reliable saw to help out if needed. It has a mod muffler, about 70%. Really woke it up.
Thanks for pointing out that ECHO also has a regular consumer line, as well as a Pro line of saws.

 

[Hay Dude]

Found a very clean new-looking Stihl 201TC for $400. Seller says “like new”.
Echo is $500 + tax

 

[5030]

be careful with any 'used chainsaw' and inspect it very carefully as used saws, no matter how used or not used they can suffer from a multitude of abuses, most common is the lack of lubrication from being straight gassed. Bars and loops can be easily replaced but internal damage is a different animal. As a rule I don't buy used chainsaws but..

The one thing I'd do before purchasing it is pull it over slowly (ignition off) and feel the compression and pull the muffler off and run the piston up and see if it's scored or has any unusual wear (and if the owner has nothing to hide he should not object to that) as removing and replacing the muffler is easy and won't impact the saw in any way. If he or she is hesitant about that, it will tell you the saw has either been straight gassed or has been abused in some way. The piston won't lie. and if it is scored and you aren't adverse to rebuilding it and have the tools and expertise to do it, that makes the asking price extremely negotiable.

400 bucks is 400 bucks anyway you cut it. Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth and proceed but understand, internal damage will always be a deal breaker in my view and why I never buy a used saw. Chainsaws are usually flogged pretty hard and not maintained properly, generally. if I want to flog on a saw, I prefer starting out with a new one, versus used and internal damage to the piston, rings and the jug always tells the story and observing don't cost anything and can make any asking price negotiable.

of course you won't be able to observe the jug but if there is scoring on the piston, you can bank on the jug having at least some metal transfer from the piston and it only takes a couple seconds of straight gassed or inadequate lubrication to damage any piston.

Just my opinion and you proceed how you want to.

There are always the clone saws (Chinese copies) if you want to go cheap nut be apprised that what may appear to be a bargain may or may not turn out to ne one. I bought one some time back (a Farm Tech) and it turned out to be a rock and I gave it away to a not so close friend. It ran fine but build quality was sorely lacking.

 

[2manyrocks]

If the new saw is only $100 more with a warranty and the assurance that nobody has abused it, why not buy the new saw?

 

[David in KY]

If the new saw is only $100 more with a warranty and the assurance that nobody has abused it, why not buy the new saw?

A new Stihl is $800+. He's just saying he found a great saw for less than a comparable saw from Echo.

Awesome find, Hay Dude!!

 

[5030]

A new Stihl is $800+. He's just saying he found a great saw for less than a comparable saw from Echo.

Awesome find, Hay Dude!!

I know all too well as I ran mine over with the truck so I bought the Echo instead. 800 bucks is 800 bucks.

 

[ultrarunner]

Had a neighbor that bought a brand new Echo brush cutter and right out of the box I could here him cutting on his hill...

He did not speak English and came to find me...

The short of it is the engine seized on his new trimmer because no oil added to the gasoline... the starter bottle of oil had not been opened.

A few days later I learned he had taken it back to Home Depot for a full refund saying no good...

 

[Hay Dude]

If the new saw is only $100 more with a warranty and the assurance that nobody has abused it, why not buy the new saw?

A new Stihl is $800+. He's just saying he found a great saw for less than a comparable saw from Echo.

Awesome find, Hay Dude!!

Seller unresponsive on the Stihl.
Might be back on the Echo. Dealer wants more $ for bar and tiny tooth chain

 

[Oz_Kioti]

I've owned and used a Zenoah G2500 for around 18 years, predominantly in the annual pruning of our olive grove. What a joy to use! Not available down here anymore, but still available in some South Pacific countries. Zenoah was under the Komatsu umbrella when we bought it, subsequently acquired by Husqvarna which then killed it off. The clone of that saw is readily available at the usual online suspects.

I wanted to buy a second one in case the original one wore out, but no joy there. So I bought a nice (slightly lighter) equivalent top handle saw with Makita branding. Makita bought Sachs-Dolmar GmbH in 1991. It's also a fabulous little saw which my wife uses around the property for her pruning jobs.

After reading what you guys have posted, it seems in the states these just aren't available. At the time we bought the Zenoah, we also looked at the Stihl (based on the good run we'd had for years and years with the 026) but their top-handle model was noticeably heavier (and pricier!)

Having said all that, a few years back we bought Makita's battery version (single battery model top-handle saw) which is the go-to saw I use now in the grove. Faster chain speed makes for beautiful clean cuts every time!

 

[5030]

Seller unresponsive on the Stihl.
Might be back on the Echo. Dealer wants more $ for bar and tiny tooth chain

All the smaller saws will come with the 'tiny tooth' lo-profile chain and bar. The PICCO chain is matched to the output power of the saw and I suggest getting a second loop so when the installed one gets dull (a dull chain of any pitch will show buildup on the heel of the tooth when dull), change it out and sharpen the dull loop (if you know how to correctly sharpen it, that is). I always keep at least one sharp loop handy at all times.

Tiny tooth or 'full sized' tooth don't really matter except concerning what a saw can pull efficiently and what it cannot.

Being the 'expert' on stuff, I suggest you purchase a chain grinder and learn how to use it. Vevor has a clone to the Oregon (Tecomec) grinder on Amazon for just over 100 bucks. Buy one and learn how to grind chains. Oregon has a couple excellent vid's on how to use a grinder, how to set it and what to do.

I'm sure you can assimilate that.

My rule is, I never buy a used saw of any make that I need to depend on. Used saws will almost always have issues and most issues are scored pistons and jugs from inadequate oil in the gas-oil mix.

Just on the Arborist website reading about another used saw with a cracked case. Cracked case almost always required a complete teardown and TIG welding the crack. Not something 99% of people can do anyway. Not only is the correct TIG filler rod expensive but it requires a TIG welder to accomplish as well. JMO.

 

[5030]

Besides, you can well afford a new versus used saw or at least I assume you can....