New Saw Recommendation

[Runner]

My Echo top handle and pole saws both start first or second pull every time, even when cold. My Husky always takes 3 or 4 pulls to start.

One thing I like about Echo saws is they stayed with regular gas/oil caps instead of the fiddly flip-top caps used by Stihl (and now) Husky.

 

[edgarrian]

I have three Stihl and two Husqvarna chainsaws that were all great when new, but became harder and harder to start every year. They are all different sizes and when running, they all work great. But even after paying to have them serviced, they are never easy to start.

My current favorite chainsaw is an Echo Timberwolf with a 20 inch blade and 59.8cc engine. I've had it three years and it is the easiest saw to start that I've ever used!!! The engine is huge and it's the only saw that has plenty of power. I also like how the plastic for the gas tank is see through and you can see how much fuel you have.

In my opinion, just about every saw in the same bar size and power range is going to cut as good as the chain that's on it. For me, what's important is how much I will have to suffer to get it to start when I want to use it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ECHO-20-in-59-8-cc-Gas-2-Stroke-Rear-Handle-Timber-Wolf-Chainsaw-CS-590-20/204221580

Why are your saws hard to start? My still 261 starts every time. After 3 pulls. Is your gas going bad? What are you using for gas and are you using any stabilizer additives?

 

[Rustyiron]

I bought an Echo trimmer and it has been very reliable.
I'll have to check out the saws. Thanks Eddy.

This is what pushed me into looking at Echo. I've had a Echo blower and a trimmer that were 20 years old and never really thought about it.
Checking the saw forums the stihl/husky devotees couldn't argue the quality and value of a Echo and had to get pretty deep into the weights and rpm's searching for an advantage that squashed the low cost.
I always say that anymore, I don't need a saw that's faster than I am! Just reliable.
That's not a high bar

 

[EddieWalker]

Why are your saws hard to start? My still 261 starts every time. After 3 pulls. Is your gas going bad? What are you using for gas and are you using any stabilizer additives?

I'm using the Husqvarna gas from Lowes in the one-gallon cans.

As for the argument that a pro saw is better than the Echo that I bought and Home Depot. I'm sure you're correct. But I'm a F150 kind of a guy even though I know that a Ram 550 diesel is a lot better truck. I just don't have any reason to spend all that extra money on such a better truck when I have no use for what it can do.

I burn less than two cords of wood a year and the rest of the time I'm using the saw to cut full-sized trees into 12-foot lengths so I can carry them to my burn pile with my grapple. There is nothing that the Echo can't do for me on my land, and what I like about it the best is how easy it is to start.

 

[xyz123]

I dont know if you need a saw this big or not. But the commercial users are dropping the 500's in favor of the 462's

500's weak built for commercial abusers and breaking and the parts are double the cost almost over the 462.

Maybe even the OE 400 or NE 400 you might really like too.

 

[xyz123]

Friends shop north of me. Just 2 weeks worth of 500's for repair on the ones he could save.

 

[newbury]

What's the problems with the 500's? Plastic breaking?
For the OP - Don't totally ignore the cheap clones. If the tariffs have not jacked up the prices clone dealers, like Hockfire saws have some good saws at great prices.

 

[xyz123]

What's the problems with the 500's? Plastic breaking?
For the OP - Don't totally ignore the cheap clones. If the tariffs have not jacked up the prices clone dealers, like Hockfire saws have some good saws at great prices.

That aint plastic. Look at those case pics. That is mag metal cases breaking everywhere.

 

[Paystar]

Funny to hear complaints of Stihl's being hard to start. That is the thing I love about my 029. It has sat a year at a time with gas in it and it starts in 3 pulls and first pull every time if I'm using it daily.
Maybe it's the newer ones? My mechanic friend said he hates the new EPA friendly carbs.
What I like about Echo is they are Japanese. So when you're talking about small two stroke engines, it was the Japanese that pretty much dominated motorcycle technology, so they should know how to build and engine.

 

[Paystar]

Trying to think of where I heard of Dolmar. Aren't they they ones that made the Ford branded saws way back that were sold through Ford agricultural dealers?

 

[xyz123]

Trying to think of where I heard of Dolmar. Aren't they they ones that made the Ford branded saws way back that were sold through Ford agricultural dealers?

O&R Orline small saws

 

[vic4news]

Trying to think of where I heard of Dolmar. Aren't they they ones that made the Ford branded saws way back that were sold through Ford agricultural dealers?

Dolmar was a German company that Makita acquired around 1990. The chainsaws were rebranded with the Makita name. They no longer exist since Makita quit selling gasoline chainsaws.

 

[rumwrks]

These were probably two of my biggest trees. But I don't mind investing in a new bigger saw

Yeah I mostly just wanted to temper your expectations there. It's not a huge jump in saw size so it's not going to be a night and day kind of thing, more of a "this is a bit zippier". I think if you went up to a 70cc saw you'd have an "oh .. wow.." moment.. but.. that's also about $600+- more and a pound or so heavier.

 

[edgarrian]

Friends shop north of me. Just 2 weeks worth of 500's for repair on the ones he could save.

View attachment 5473255View attachment 5473259View attachment 5473260
View attachment 5473261

Are they just not made with quality parts. Or homeowner abuse? Or the saws could be junk.

 

[xyz123]

Are they just not made with quality parts. Or homeowner abuse? Or the saws could be junk.

Commercial users are hard on saws. Bottom line.

500's just built weak cases to get light and parts cost almost twice as high as others.

So they going back to 462's and not seeing this issue.

 

[4570Man]

I dont know if you need a saw this big or not. But the commercial users are dropping the 500's in favor of the 462's

500's weak built for commercial abusers and breaking and the parts are double the cost almost over the 462.

Maybe even the OE 400 or NE 400 you might really like too.

View attachment 5473253
View attachment 5473254

How many of those saws broke while doing chainsaw things? Commercial users are pretty hard on equipment.

 

[Hay Dude]

How about an 880 or a 661c?

Something tells me the OP doesn't need, or want to spend the money on a 500i when a small-mid size Echo could do the job just fine for about 1/3rd the cost.
But I guess there's never a bad time for another Stihl bashing session...
We've pushed our Stihls real hard and they haven't fallen apart-yet.
If OP wants Stihl, a farm boss wouldn't be a 1/2 bad choice. Above homeowner and below commercial.
I think Echo is best bang for the buck saw.

 

[2manyrocks]

To the best of my knowledge, Echos are still made in Japan.

If a bigger saw is only needed for limited use, I'm surprised no one has suggested buying one of the clone saws like a Holzfforma G366?

 

[Highlandr]

The tree service that I have used four times now had always had 100% Stihl. I noticed this past week on the latest job they had 2 or 3 Echos in the mix.

 

[Paystar]

Hero of the day.....the old Stihl 029.
Never used it at all last year. Dumped the gas out, put some fresh mix in, 4 pulls and away it went!
Figured I'd try some cutting. It ate right through it like it was starving. Though I had to cut from both sides.
I'm even more surprised that I sharpened the chain that good, LOL

Maybe I won't have to spend money just yet. Mind you I'm not down the big ends of the logs yet but I'm sure it will do.