Echo String Trimmer purchase advice

[homey53]

Just talked to my dealer. He said he has a Shindaiwa T262 that is marked down. I pick it up Wednesday.

I think I saw an article online where that's the identical machine as the Echo SRM 2620, with a different label on it. Shindaiwa owns Echo or vice versa. Cant't remember which.

 

[homey53]

Just talked to my dealer. He said he has a Shindaiwa T262 that is marked down. I pick it up Wednesday.

Shindaiwa and Echo are both owned by Yamabiko.

 

[mdicken1]

I'm looking at one of these Echo's. What one would you suggest?
Only looking for a Echo, no good H or S dealers in the area.

Brushcutters & Trimmers | ECHO

ECHO brushcutters and trimmers justify their hard-earned reputation with some of the most powerful features grass and brush has ever faced.

www.echo-usa.com

I have an SRM-230 with mfg date of 2012. I have run the fire out of it and the only thing that has ever happened to it is a screw fell out of the base. Awesome machine. I am very careful to use only alcohol free gas with the proper oil content and I purchased this based on the recommendation of a landscapper. (a dealer could tell you the closest model that matches mine)

 

[JeepHead]

I have the PAS 2620 that accepts the different attachments. I only have the edger and trimmer attachments for it. I really like it, starts very easy and runs great. I bought it at the same time when I bought my Echo 2511T.

 

[mjonesnh]

Not a trimmer but have an Echo polesaw with the 2620 engine. Very powerful engine, always starts 1 or 2 pulls. Been used lots on my farm with zero problems.

 

[bgr]

You will love the Shindaiwa. I have run a t242 in commercial service for 8 years and still going. Use .105 line in the speedfeed head.

The secret to a reliable, easy starting gas trimmer is to use a premium oil mix with fuel stabilizer. I use Echo Red Armour. Will start fine when a year old because it is synthetic oil with a good fuel stabilizer. But still best to run the carb and fuel tank dry at the end of the season.

The Echos and Shindaiwas come with Speedfeed fast-loading, wind-the-line-in style heads. The smaller, 400 series head will take .105 line with no problem. The bigger head, 450 series can use up to .130 line for heavy weeds. People are saying the 500 series head has line welding problems, but that is a very late model. The 400 and 450 are very good.

Shindaiwa was bought by Echo a few years ago. It is a premium brand. Vibration isolation and carb performance and idle are very good in my experience.

When it comes time to replace the Speedfeed head, buy the original Echo brand head. I have bought the Chinese copies and they vibrate because of poor balance and the line is harder to wind in.

 

[Canuckz]

I have the Echo PAS-2620 with the high torque attachment. Works well on my farm so if those three are the only ones you are looking at I guess I would suggest the high torque one. Not sure what your use case is but I have several different trimmers, big powerful bicycle handle ones down to battery powered ones. I find that for just quick stuff around the house we seem to grab our Ego battery powered one more often as it is just grab and go, quick to use and quiet. No fuss with gas. For any long trimming jobs though I still use my gas powered trimmers and I spend the extra for the pre-mix ethanol free fuels in the cans and never have any fuel issues.

 

[subhunter]

2 1/2 tanks though it. Pretty happy with it. If the vibration level was half of what it is, it would be perfect.

 

[EddieWalker]

I think Echo makes the best small engine tools out there. If you haven't tried one of their chainsaws, you'll be surprised at how nice they are. I have two Husqvarna's and 3 Stihls that I never use anymore after getting my Echo chainsaw.

 

[mrmikey]

I think Echo makes the best small engine tools out there.

I'd have to agree, I've got a PAS266 trimmer powerhead, CS370 chainsaw as well as a hedge trimmer, never a problem with any of them. No doubt the others are good also but I can't comment never having owned anything else. Correction, a Poulan years ago but that doesn't even count in my books as an engine....boat anchor maybe LOL.

 

[JeepHead]

I think Echo makes the best small engine tools out there. If you haven't tried one of their chainsaws, you'll be surprised at how nice they are. I have two Husqvarna's and 3 Stihls that I never use anymore after getting my Echo chainsaw.

They do make great chainsaws but not every one they make is great. I am not a fan boy to any specific brand, I have great saws from Echo, Husky, Stihl, Makita, and Dolmar. I like specific models from many different brands. One of my favorite size of a saw is the 50cc because it's a good size for so many things. I own the Stihl 261, 026 Pro, the Husqvarna 550, the Dolmar 5105, Echo 4910, and the Makita EA5000. I may be forgetting a couple others. The Echo 4910, which is modded a bit, is by far my favorite of the lineup. I would say the Husky 550 comes next and the others are just mixed in. I will say that I am rarely ever impressed by any of today's Stihl offerings. Although, the 400 has peaked my interest.

 

[subhunter]

I had a great Dolmar dealer. I bought two 5100's and two 5105's from him. I really wish I had bought a 6400. I was able to use the saws for 2 years and sell them for what I had into them. Eight years of free saws, hard to beat.

Makita made a mess of Dolmar so I started buying Echo. I picked up a Echo cs400. Really nice little saw. Used it for 2 1/2 years and sold it for $100 less than what I bought it for. I picked up a Shindaiwa 402 (same saw but all red). I would love a Echo 590 Timber Wolf. If I get a tree removal job, I will buy one.

Really happy with my Echo, Shindaiwa, Kubota dealer.

 

[JeepHead]

I had a great Dolmar dealer. I bought two 5100's and two 5105's from him. I really wish I had bought a 6400. I was able to use the saws for 2 years and sell them for what I had into them. Eight years of free saws, hard to beat.

Makita made a mess of Dolmar so I started buying Echo. I picked up a Echo cs400. Really nice little saw. Used it for 2 1/2 years and sold it for $100 less than what I bought it for. I picked up a Shindaiwa 402 (same saw but all red). I would love a Echo 590 Timber Wolf. If I get a tree removal job, I will buy one.

Really happy with my Echo, Shindaiwa, Kubota dealer.

I almost bought a 6400 off of Home Depot a few years ago from their rental program. I wish I had now because it was a good deal.

I have a Echo 590 as well and it's a great saw that has cut a lot of wood. For a 60CC saw, my Husky 562 is where it's at though. That is one beast of a saw.

 

[sklunk]

I think Echo makes the best small engine tools out there. If you haven't tried one of their chainsaws, you'll be surprised at how nice they are. I have two Husqvarna's and 3 Stihls that I never use anymore after getting my Echo chainsaw.

Another agreement here.

My son works for a company that sells both Echo and Stihl products (they are the exception, since both of those companies usually require non-competes, but long story about how they got grandfathered in). Their service shops see WAY more Stihls coming in for work, and very few Echos. This is true across the entire lineup of products, especially the new Stihl electrics.

I know that last statement will start an internet war, but I'm just relaying the facts from their actual data

 

[MMC]

I think Echo makes the best small engine tools out there. If you haven't tried one of their chainsaws, you'll be surprised at how nice they are. I have two Husqvarna's and 3 Stihls that I never use anymore after getting my Echo chainsaw.

I have to agree, at least from my experience running both Echo and Stihl products on a farm. I used Stihl for many years for trimmers and chainsaws (still miss my ancient Stihl 028...). We currently run an Echo gas 501p chainsaw, an Echo gas pole saw, an Echo 2620t weedeater (for torque) and a heavier old Tanaka brushcutter (which were great until Hitachi screwed up that line).

Frankly, there is also a Stihl chainsaw here we take out for back-up, but no one wants to use it compared to the Echo 501p - just simply a better saw... The 2620t is great for fencelines which don't have a lot of woody brush in them.

We aren't loggers, but sure cut up a lot of downed trees each year. Perhaps Stihl still shines in their heavier saws, I don't know about that. I was not pleased with their more recent offerings in mid power chainsaws though.

What I can say is that if you have a good Echo dealer, I would definitely recommend their line of small engine products. And...wait for it...the saw everyone tries to grab off the truck is the Echo 56V with several heavy batteries - 18" bar and cuts amazingly well. Completely exceeded my expectations...

 

[JeepHead]

I have to agree, at least from my experience running both Echo and Stihl products on a farm. I used Stihl for many years for trimmers and chainsaws (still miss my ancient Stihl 028...). We currently run an Echo gas 501p chainsaw, an Echo gas pole saw, an Echo 2620t weedeater (for torque) and a heavier old Tanaka brushcutter (which were great until Hitachi screwed up that line).

Frankly, there is also a Stihl chainsaw here we take out for back-up, but no one wants to use it compared to the Echo 501p - just simply a better saw... The 2620t is great for fencelines which don't have a lot of woody brush in them.

We aren't loggers, but sure cut up a lot of downed trees each year. Perhaps Stihl still shines in their heavier saws, I don't know about that. I was not pleased with their more recent offerings in mid power chainsaws though.

What I can say is that if you have a good Echo dealer, I would definitely recommend their line of small engine products. And...wait for it...the saw everyone tries to grab off the truck is the Echo 56V with several heavy batteries - 18" bar and cuts amazingly well. Completely exceeded my expectations...

Echo's biggest flaw is their warranty, it downright sucks. Getting them to honor a warranty repair is difficult and even when they do there is still a charge.
There are still some Echo 4910 NIB floating around out there. Almost same saw as the 501P with slight differences like no captive bar nuts, metal handle etc, but they run the same and it's a great deal cheaper. The 4910 is an amazing saw!
With the Echo2511T, I don't see why anyone would even consider the electric saw.

I do love my Echo products though.

 

[N7HEVN]

I have (3) of the PAS-225 units (6+ years), using line trimmer, saw blade, and pole saw attachments for all my various land maintenance tasks; across two properties. Other than having to clean out the spark arrestor filter every couple years, they've worked great for me.
Wish you success in your decision.