Stihl vs Husqvarna

[5030]

Any saw will 'rip' so long as the loop is properly sharp and set correctly, really don't matter what powerhead or brand it is. Once the loop gets used and becomes dull and starts making sawdust instead of chips, everything goes to hell pretty quick and again, don't matter who made the powerhead. It's all in the cutting and not in the powerhead.

My Echo's run just as well as my Stihl's do. One thing that sets the Echo's over the Stihl's apart is the initial cost. Echo's are usually about 20% less retail than a comparable Stihl, FYI.

Just sold a MS Stihl and turned around and bought another Echo comparable model with the proceeds from the sale of the MS.

 

[WinterDeere]

Echo makes some great small and reliable saws. But what do they have that's even remotely comparable to Stihl's 500i?!?

I've owned a few Echo saws. All reliable as concrete... and damn near as heavy. Landscape crews seem to love them, probably owing to their high reliability. I've never seen an 80cc saw in their lineup, tho.

I was cutting a lot of very large wood for several years, and when burying the nose of a long bar, there's just no replacement for displacement. There are times when a little 60cc saw isn't gonna cut it in reasonable time, no matter how sharp and well-set that chain is.

Just like tractors, a small one can do nearly everything a big'un can do... just much slower.

 

[5030]

Go one Echo's website and have a look is all I can say. I have no need for a saw that size.

 

[WinterDeere]

Looks like they're all 50cc and under these days.

I've never had a bad experience with an Echo saw, they've all been reliable and solid saws. But all those I've ever owned have had lower power to weight than Stihl or Husqvarna, and it seems their largest saw today is smaller than the smallest saw I keep.

 

[D'oh]

I’m NOT writing this to start a Stihl/Husky war.

I rented a 12” diesel chipper from a well established rental company last week who is authorized to service Stihl and Husqvarna. (I didn’t realize a dealer could sell/service both).
I was talking to the GM a bit, discussing my dissatisfaction with new saws and their complexity when/if they break. He asked me what saws I ran. I told him I had 3 Stihls.
His comment to me was, “well at least you aren’t running Husqvarna, they outnumber Stihl for repairs in our shop by a lot and we sell more Stihl than Husqvarna”.

I am not brand loyal. This however kind of struck me as a pretty solid information from a guy who’s been in the saw business for like 40+ years.

Way back, I twisted wrenches at a Farm Machinery Dealership that sold Stihl and Husky saws both. Back in the 266 038 days.

All the Loggers still cut by Hand and ran Huskys because they had a pile of Parts Saws, but Yes, I would have to say that Stihl had a better saw.

Plastic Tank and Rubber Carb boot, Gas wouldn't Boil in the Tank. Today, I couldn't tell you, but I can go to Canadian Tire and buy a Husky Home Saw, so I know which Brand Identity has survived.

I haven't had to buy one, the 25 year old 026 still runs like new, as it should, it has less than 20 Cord of Firewood under it's use.

 

[jyoutz]

Way back, I twisted wrenches at a Farm Machinery Dealership that sold Stihl and Husky saws both. Back in the 266 038 days.

All the Loggers still cut by Hand and ran Huskys because they had a pile of Parts Saws, but Yes, I would have to say that Stihl had a better saw.

Plastic Tank and Rubber Carb boot, Gas wouldn't Boil in the Tank. Today, I couldn't tell you, but I can go to Canadian Tire and buy a Husky Home Saw, so I know which Brand Identity has survived.

I haven't had to buy one, the 25 year old 026 still runs like new, as it should, it has less than 20 Cord of Firewood under it's use.

I have an old Stihl 036 pro that still runs great. They don’t make them like that anymore.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have an old Stihl 036 pro that still runs great. They don’t make them like that anymore.

An 064 AV and 036 PRO are my regular pairing, for my 10 - 15 cords per year. Great saws.

 

[Hay Dude]

Im really getting to like my 261C and 500i pairing. 261c getting way more miles as you would expect. 500I just melts through bigger stuff with its’ higher HP.

261c might be about the nicest grab & go, all purpose saw I’ve ever owned. Blew through this wild cherry like butter

 

[Hay Dude]

Go one Echo's website and have a look is all I can say. I have no need for a saw that size.

If you only do small work, small saws are all you need. 500I probably too much saw for you.

 

[Hay Dude]

An 064 AV and 036 PRO are my regular pairing, for my 10 - 15 cords per year. Great saws.

I’m always looking for deals on all equipment, including saws. After your testimony and a few others here, I’ve included those 2 saws in my searches. Hear nothing but good about them.

 

[WinterDeere]

I’m always looking for deals on all equipment, including saws. After your testimony and a few others here, I’ve included those 2 saws in my searches. Hear nothing but good about them.

The 064 is a great saw, but with your 500i in the house, I'm not sure I'd even bother! The 064 was the highest HP-to-weight saw they made at the time, but your 500i makes 10% more horsepower at 1.5 lb. less, if all the published spec's I found for both saws are correct.

Likewise with the 036. It's a great pairing for an older 80 - 90cc saw, as they were pretty heavy (16 lb. powerheads), but at only 63cc, it's almost as heavy as your 79cc 500i!

If you're into older saws, the 036 with 064 or 066 combo is a great way to go. Back when I bought them, I'd even argue they were the best saws available, at any price. But the 500i just puts them to shame.

 

[xyz123]

Stock like they come.
500i is still the P to W king listed at 0.81
2nd is the 592xp at 0.77

 

[5030]

If you only do small work, small saws are all you need. 500I probably too much saw for you.

It is in reality but then I own (but don't use) both a Stihl 090 G as well as a Stihl 075. Both saws are huge and very powerful and the 090 has a 5 foot buddy bar and the 075 has a 4 foot and both are running 404 skip tooth chipper chain.

Both are shelf queens devoid of gas and oil and just sit on the shelf and remind me of days past.

If I have 'large' work, I have one of my arborist customers handle it for me. At 75 years old, I have no desire to do large tree work at all. I don't mind grinding large stumps or roasting small limbs and brush but that is the limits of my tree work today. My ancient 028 or my Echo top handle arborists saw is all I really need and if I want to I use my Echo 590.

You are correct in your assumption.

Much easier to call up one of my arborist outfits and have them handle the 'light work' with their High Ranger's and commercial chippers and crews.

Too old for that stuff and why I downsized on my forage business as well.

Time to start smelling the roses instead of pruning them....lol

 

[jyoutz]

It is in reality but then I own (but don't use) both a Stihl 090 G as well as a Stihl 075. Both saws are huge and very powerful and the 090 has a 5 foot buddy bar and the 075 has a 4 foot and both are running 404 skip tooth chipper chain.

Both are shelf queens devoid of gas and oil and just sit on the shelf and remind me of days past.

If I have 'large' work, I have one of my arborist customers handle it for me. At 75 years old, I have no desire to do large tree work at all. I don't mind grinding large stumps or roasting small limbs and brush but that is the limits of my tree work today. My ancient 028 or my Echo top handle arborists saw is all I really need and if I want to I use my Echo 590.

You are correct in your assumption.

Much easier to call up one of my arborist outfits and have them handle the 'light work' with their High Ranger's and commercial chippers and crews.

Too old for that stuff and why I downsized on my forage business as well.

Time to start smelling the roses instead of pruning them....lol

Speaking of old large shelf sitters; these might be the largest:

 

[5030]

I have a penchant for 'shelf sitters' and not just saws either. I purchased both the 090 as well as the 075 at the same time I purchased the 028. Still use the 028 however and I've rebuilt it at least once, not I didn't 'mod' it, just replaced stuff like fuel and impulse hoses, fuel and oil filters and anti vibration mounts and a couple bars and more than a couple chain loops.

When I lived in Northern Ohio, decades ago, I owned and managed a tree removal company hence the need for the big saws. Sold everything, the chippers, the stump grinders and the bucket trucks but kept the saws for the most part, not all of them, just the 3 Stihl's. Why the saws? I have no idea, but I did. Long time ago but the saws are shelf queens except for the 028 and the 028 I own is the rare heated handle model and of course, no chain brake. As a testament to Stihl longevity, I bought them way back in the 1960's and I've used the 028 ever since.

I need to get the 075 and the 90 off the shelf and blow them off as they are getting pretty dusty....lol

Told my wife, when I pass, to put both of them on the Chainsaw and Arborist site I frequent and sell them but just not cheap. Very rare today and not easily obtainable. Do I expect the Echo's to last that long? Don't know as I won't be here to witness that.

I do have a Stihl FS66 brush cutter of the same vintage I use all the time but thinking hard about replacing it with an Echo handlebar style brush cutter as it's getting quite old and a bit tired.

Echo makes some very nice and quite capable straight shaft brush trimmers plus the Stihl Tri-Cut head will fit on the Echo trimmers as well and I like the tri-cut head a lot and use it all the time for weeding. Echo sells a tri-cut head but it's nowhere as good as the Stihl head and I have a pile of blades to fit the Stihl as well.

What impressed me about the FS66 was the fact that the US Forest Service had them and used them back then.

 

[arto98607]

Here's another one we saw at an old campground in Northern CA couple of years ago.

 

[5030]

That is a beast. Certainly not for the average wood cutter and as rusty as the bar and chain is, probably don't move anymore either.

Told my wife to treat my Kubota front mount mower the same way. Put it on FB Marketplace or CL but don't sell it too cheap....lol Tractors and all the implements are already spoken for.

 

[jyoutz]

I have a penchant for 'shelf sitters' and not just saws either. I purchased both the 090 as well as the 075 at the same time I purchased the 028. Still use the 028 however and I've rebuilt it at least once, not I didn't 'mod' it, just replaced stuff like fuel and impulse hoses, fuel and oil filters and anti vibration mounts and a couple bars and more than a couple chain loops.

When I lived in Northern Ohio, decades ago, I owned and managed a tree removal company hence the need for the big saws. Sold everything, the chippers, the stump grinders and the bucket trucks but kept the saws for the most part, not all of them, just the 3 Stihl's. Why the saws? I have no idea, but I did. Long time ago but the saws are shelf queens except for the 028 and the 028 I own is the rare heated handle model and of course, no chain brake. As a testament to Stihl longevity, I bought them way back in the 1960's and I've used the 028 ever since.

I need to get the 075 and the 90 off the shelf and blow them off as they are getting pretty dusty....lol

Told my wife, when I pass, to put both of them on the Chainsaw and Arborist site I frequent and sell them but just not cheap. Very rare today and not easily obtainable. Do I expect the Echo's to last that long? Don't know as I won't be here to witness that.

I do have a Stihl FS66 brush cutter of the same vintage I use all the time but thinking hard about replacing it with an Echo handlebar style brush cutter as it's getting quite old and a bit tired.

Echo makes some very nice and quite capable straight shaft brush trimmers plus the Stihl Tri-Cut head will fit on the Echo trimmers as well and I like the tri-cut head a lot and use it all the time for weeding. Echo sells a tri-cut head but it's nowhere as good as the Stihl head and I have a pile of blades to fit the Stihl as well.

What impressed me about the FS66 was the fact that the US Forest Service had them and used them back then.

Echo does make good equipment. I’m very pleased with both my Echo hand held straight shaft trimmer and my wheeled string trimmer. I haven’t used their saws.

 

[Hay Dude]

Stock like they come.
500i is still the P to W king listed at 0.81
2nd is the 592xp at 0.77

It’s like a huge displacement gas engine with a turbocharger, like BMW makes.
You mash the trigger and the torque comes on nonstop.

Can’t imagine a 500i tuned, ported, etc.

 

[xyz123]

It’s like a huge displacement gas engine with a turbocharger, like BMW makes.
You mash the trigger and the torque comes on nonstop.

Can’t imagine a 500i tuned, ported, etc.

Your just not used to bigger saws.

Thats only 79cc and runs alot like my 7900 did 20 years ago. Also 79cc.

To me these are medium sized cc saws. 70cc-80cc

Then you got the 80cc range and then 90cc range and then the over 100cc range.

Dont grab a 661 or 881.