new husky 545 replace echo cs500p

[tjkubota93]

I bought a echo cs500p about a year ago. I liked the metal consruction, adjustable oiler, and no converter exhaust. But it was a pain in the rear! It had several no-starts. After looking in the carb, i noticed more than once the air filter was letting fine dirt in. It had some goofy 2 piece filter.
So after talking to a smarty pants echo service rep woman who did not believe me, i sold it down the river and bought a husky 545. My buddy has one and it screams! Didnt like idea of auto tune, but my friend hasnt had any problems.
Anyone else have echo troubles? I had a weedeater and blower from echo10 years ago and they were awesome. Thats part of the reason i bought the cs500p turd.

 

[TCowner]

My Echo CS670, CS400 and CS360T have been excellent saws. I've had the 670 ten years now and I replaced the bar tension adjuster but that has been it. I've had the 400 for three years and its been flawless. I bought the 360T a couple of years ago because I wanted a top handle saw that I could use one handed to trim trees. But I have a should injury that really requires a two handed saw so it has been rarely used and I may sell it.

I hope to add a CS8000 to my arsenal within the next year. So, I am a big fan of Echo products.

 

[s219]

My Echo saws have been great, and notably easier to start consistently than my Husky or Stihl saws. The 500P is a good saw, so sorry to hear you had problems with it. The equivalent Husky would have been a 550XP in my opinion, but the 545 is no slouch. Husky auto tune saws have been good performers for me.

 

[Giles]

I bought a echo cs500p about a year ago. I liked the metal consruction, adjustable oiler, and no converter exhaust. But it was a pain in the rear! It had several no-starts. After looking in the carb, i noticed more than once the air filter was letting fine dirt in. It had some goofy 2 piece filter.
So after talking to a smarty pants echo service rep woman who did not believe me, i sold it down the river and bought a husky 545. My buddy has one and it screams! Didnt like idea of auto tune, but my friend hasnt had any problems.
Anyone else have echo troubles? I had a weedeater and blower from echo10 years ago and they were awesome. Thats part of the reason i bought the cs500p turd.

I probably talked to the same woman when I called Echo. She informed me that Echo never made a CS330 ??
I informed her that they must have made one. She had no comment!

 

[tjkubota93]

Yeah i really didnt expect that out of echo. My buddies 545 ran circles around my 500p. I think the 545 is a step up and the 550xp would be 2 steps up.
I didnt get a 550xp because i couldnt justify $100 extra for firewood use. And i dont like the gray two tone.

 

[murphy1244]

Why didn't you take it back to the dealer?

 

[tjkubota93]

2 reasons.
-There is not one around here that i trust. -I believe the air filter design was defective and could not be repaired.

Dirt would pass right through it. I called echo to inquire about it and talked to an idiot. So its not my problem now. That could make me unreasonable or lazy. But now i have a saw that works better and more reliable.

 

[tjkubota93]

I am an acomplished mechanic and an unreasonable perfectionist. I have not seen anywhere in town where i would trust the losers they employ to fix any of my stuff.

 

[murphy1244]

okay, they do have a 5 year warranty.

 

[Giles]

I never put much confidence in a warranty. If you read any warranty, it is worded to protect the company!
I know several people that have been denied coverage for a seized engine when they used the same fuel mix for their other saws! !

 

[tjkubota93]

Exactly. Call me paranoid or pesimist (sp). But they would put a filter on and say those arent covered you owe us $50.
And we could not duplicate no start problem. The problem with warranties on cars or equipment is the dealer facilitates it and its hard to find a good dealer.

 

[murphy1244]

Well I can't say as I never used the warranty buy I bought my saws from the same place I bought my tractor from and I would be happy to use their service department.

 

[tjkubota93]

I wish we had a decent place around here. I had to drive an hour to buy my tractor from a good dealer. I am happy with them.

 

[tjkubota93]

I would let the tractor dealer fix my tractor. I have talked to the parts/service dept and they are good. The dealer owner is a nice guy too. He delivered my tractor.

 

[murphy1244]

I have 7 echo products and I had trouble with 1, a leaf blower that ran like crap. The dealer changed carbs on it. No paper work was filled as he was done by the time I bought a new saw.

 

[s219]

The 500P is a Shindaiwa design that came on board when the companies merged, and actually has pretty good filtration compared to some saws I have run. I suspect something was wrong with the filter elements or filter housing on your 500P. Some of the expensive Stihl pro saws have some of the worst filtration, believe it or not.

The 500P I tried was every bit as good as my Stihl 261 and Husky 346xp I compared to. Closer in feel to the Husky due to the design.

 

[ksluy]

I have Stihl Chainsaw's but my yard tools are echo and i love the way the echo motors sound and run. If I ever kill my 360 pro I would take a look at echo. Plus we have a echo dealer in Bentonville Ar when you go in his shop its like stepping back in time. I like just hanging out in there.

 

[tjkubota93]

The shindaiwa design is what sold me on it. My blower and weedwacker are shindaiwa and have been trouble free for 7+ years.

 

[Bluegill2]

Husq 545 is a **** good saw!!! I've wanting to get a 550xp, or 545, but have three 346xps' and can't kill em...

 

[tjkubota93]

Yeah it hauls butt. I wanted a 346 but waited too long. I have never run a 346 so i dont know but some people on arborist site say tge 545/550 has more power. I personally believe the 346 is more durable because it doesnt have auto tune.