Top Handle trimming Chainsaw.

[AlanB]

I have a husky 55 with a 20" bar which is a great saw and use it for the bigger stuff, but trimming and doing some things in tree's etc it is pretty big and really heavy.

I have an older Poulan 16" standard that is getting long in the tooth and starting to run crappy. I think it has reached a bit past it's life expectancy.

I got looking at these

Echo outdoor power equipment – Chain Saws, lawn care tools and more

The local Home despot has them in stock at about $259 (kills me their website says $200 but prices may vary)

Feels funny in my hands with the two hands so close together but my buddy the Arborist says this is the way to go, particularly if I am going to climb and limb (one of the projects that needs doing)

He run's all Stihls, but says for the money, and my usage, go with this Echo.

Anyone have insights or input?

 

[SnowRidge]

I have a 20" Echo. I love it. I know a lot of arborists favor the top handle Echos. I need one, too. Right now, just too much other stuff in the way.

Can I borrow yours?

 

[RobertN]

I have a friend who is an arborist. He has a couple of those saws. He uses a Husky that is similar top handle. He has a couple of Echo's that he lets the guys use in case they drop them. They work well, but he uses Husky, and sometimes Stihl as his personal saw.

 

[J.Walker]

You should stay with a Husky. The 334 saw is a top handle saw and can be found fairly cheap compaired to the 338xp or the Sthil top handle saw.
The top handle saws are designed for use up in the trees. Be carefull when using them on the ground.
The other neat Husky saw is the 336 or the 339. They have over sized handles on them, but are the traditional saw design, intended for use in a bucket truck. They have a very nice balance too.
Echo, Tanaka, Sthil, Jonsered and Domar all offfer a top handle design saw.
Take a good look around.

 

[AlanB]

Well, I went with the Echo, and was very pleasantly suprised.

One of the dealers in town that I had a bad taste after a deal was showing as being an Echo Dealer. I do like to support local dealers moreso then box stores, and is worth a couple extra dollars to me. Also, while I do agree that as a factory service center, he will fix whatever Echo saw I bring him, I honestly believe that having bought the saw from him, will give me just a touch better service then had I bought it somewhere else.

Anyway, Saw at HD $259 14" bar. Saw at Dave's, $239. No brainer here, go in to pick it up, has a 12" bar on it, ask Dave, Oh, you can have it either way (same money), no problem, but most like the 12" bar. Figure he handles more saws in a day then I do in a year, so OK, give the 12" a shot, Do you have an extra chain, sure, what cut, agressive, safety etc. etc. um, agressive, OK, here it is, how much? $13.95 usually (bout the same as Wal-mart runs through my mind) good deal, but since you are buying the saw, $12, better then Wal-mart I smile. Go to leave, hey, hold on a second, we need to gas and oil it and go through it with you. Then goes through it, running it, adjusting the oiler, showing me some "tricks" on side cover removing, best ways to hold, how much oil should spray when etc. etc. Making sure I know what to look for and what to check.

I pay, and figure I will stick it in my old saw case, go to the truck and it won't fit. Hmmm, walk back in, you have any used cases? Sure, they look around and find one, "how much", eh, you bought a saw, you can have it.

Sure did a big change on my opinion of that shop.

My money and I will be there again, and will probably not leave together.

It sure was nice to see a small shop be competitive on price, and over the top on service, all at the same time.

Snowridge, come on over and borrow it anytime, of course you will need to cut a couple limbs out of the top of one of these tree's for me before you go with it Nothing like climbing tree's when you are afraid of heights..... Then grab a running chainsaw in your hand............

 

[Podunkadunk]

Pardon my ignorance, but is there a such thing as a bottom handle chainsaw? I've never seen one. Just trying to figure out the difference. I understand the principle of a smaller, lighter-weight saw for trimming and easily handling, but when I googled Top Handle trimming chainsaw, it looks basically like any other saw, just lighter and smaller.

Podunk

 

[AlanB]

It is more top handle or rear / back handle.

A top handle saw has the trigger directly over the center of balance, a "standard" or rear handle saw, the trigger is at the back of the saw, usually literally hanging behind the motor.

A top handle saw allows you to single handedly use the saw "fairly" easy, while a standard saw, you pretty much have to have both hands (or extremely strong wrists) as the weight of the saw is in front not underneath your hand.

I can go find pictures if you would like.

Here, look where this handle is in comparison to the one linked above, more specifically where the trigger is.

Echo outdoor power equipment – Chain Saws, lawn care tools and more

Sorry I do not know how to put the pictures in here, but if you go too the two links you will see what I mean I believe.

 

[WayneB]

I have a husky 55 with a 20" bar which is a great saw and use it for the bigger stuff, but trimming and doing some things in tree's etc it is pretty big and really heavy.

I have an older Poulan 16" standard that is getting long in the tooth and starting to run crappy. I think it has reached a bit past it's life expectancy.

I got looking at these

Echo outdoor power equipment Chain Saws, lawn care tools and more

The local Home despot has them in stock at about $259 (kills me their website says $200 but prices may vary)

Feels funny in my hands with the two hands so close together but my buddy the Arborist says this is the way to go, particularly if I am going to climb and limb (one of the projects that needs doing)

He run's all Stihls, but says for the money, and my usage, go with this Echo.

Anyone have insights or input?

Man, I always thought if you go with Husky or Stihl you never go back to anything other. Have you looked at the Husky 142? It is certainly a lighter saw than the 55 and a workhorse. I have the Husky 455 and a 141 both are good saws.

You should be able to pick up a Husky 142 for around $200. (don't think they offer the 141 any more)
You can also have the saw shipped to you and get extra chains and a hat from these guys!

Chain Saws - Husqvarna Chain Saws

I have a Husqavarna dealer in town so he will match any price I bring in to him if he can verify it. What I have found it is nice to have a dealer close at hand and he always has parts available and service if you need it.

Just my 2 cents

Wayne

 

[ultrarunner]

I've got a Stihl and an Echo.

The Echo is my saw of choice when I'm up in a tree or limbing a few branches. It's lightweight, starts easy and comes with a rope ring tether.

My Echo is one generation older and has the primer bulb for starting.... it has performed flawlessly and other family members are always asking to borrow it.

I tried to buy another for my brother... my saw shop said the new Echo model no longer has the primer bulb in California and they have had isolated cases of hard starting when not used over a period of time.

 

[AlanB]

Man, I always thought if you go with Husky or Stihl you never go back to anything other. Have you looked at the Husky 142? It is certainly a lighter saw than the 55 and a workhorse. I have the Husky 455 and a 141 both are good saws.

You should be able to pick up a Husky 142 for around $200. (don't think they offer the 141 any more)
You can also have the saw shipped to you and get extra chains and a hat from these guys!

Chain Saws - Husqvarna Chain Saws

I have a Husqavarna dealer in town so he will match any price I bring in to him if he can verify it. What I have found it is nice to have a dealer close at hand and he always has parts available and service if you need it.

Just my 2 cents

Wayne

I like my Husky, and had (I think it was) a 142 in my hand at Lowes a couple days ago, and yes, $200, but that is not a top handle saw, and it would take more of a man then I am to single hand that saw.

I also do like to buy / service local if possible, and the echo fit that bill, sounds like the husky does for you, but I looked through the Norwalk site and did not see the top handles. I looked several other places and did not notice / find them either (baileys, etc)

Correction on edit, I did find them on Baileys,

Bailey's - Husqvarna 338XPT Chainsaw with 14" Bar & Chain

The price kind of decided it for me. I am cheap or poor, depending on the company I keep

Sorry, I had missed it on Norwalk as well (think I overlooked because of price)

Husqvarna 338XPT Chain Saw Includes 3 Chains Total, Hat & T-Shirt "Increased Power, 45cc Engine" - 338XPT

Anyway, here is the comp Husky, but again, I just think more then I need (5 year consumer warranty on Echo is hard to beat )

And crud, editing again, I thought I had looked, and like on the second Post J Walker mentioned the 334 but I was unable to find that one, I think you would have to have a dealer that had one around still to get it.

 

[Podunkadunk]

It is more top handle or rear / back handle.

A top handle saw has the trigger directly over the center of balance, a "standard" or rear handle saw, the trigger is at the back of the saw, usually literally hanging behind the motor.

A top handle saw allows you to single handedly use the saw "fairly" easy, while a standard saw, you pretty much have to have both hands (or extremely strong wrists) as the weight of the saw is in front not underneath your hand.

I can go find pictures if you would like.

Here, look where this handle is in comparison to the one linked above, more specifically where the trigger is.

Echo outdoor power equipment Chain Saws, lawn care tools and more

Sorry I do not know how to put the pictures in here, but if you go too the two links you will see what I mean I believe.

I see what you mean now... the light came on for me. Thanks.
Podunk

 

[WayneB]

Hey Alan, I sort-of missed the whole idea of the top handle, sorry about that.

 

[shaley]

OK, Now that you have a saw how are you going to get up the tree to cut the limbs? If you use a ladder make sure you tie the top to the tree. Limbs have a way of knocking the ladder out from under you as they fall.

 

[BigE_]

I've got a Shindaiwa 357 top handle saw, and I haven't looked back. That thing is great for limbing trees, as well as cutting up smaller pieces of firewood. I've got a Stihl 036 that I use for the bigger stuff, but the Shindaiwa is what I grab first.

I've also got a Stihl 020 (take a look at the MS 200) that I *never* use. Weighs about the same, but it is louder and doesn't cut as fast.

 

[billbill1]

I am looking at the top handle saws as well. I priced the MS 200T Stihl, that saw is almost $600 by the time I pay the sales tax. A little too spendy in my way of thinking. Looking hard at the Echo. The box stores around here don't carry the 338 Husky. Do you guys have the 330T or the 360T in the Echo?

 

[AlanB]

OK, Now that you have a saw how are you going to get up the tree to cut the limbs? If you use a ladder make sure you tie the top to the tree. Limbs have a way of knocking the ladder out from under you as they fall.

Safety police, close your eyes, I am a consenting overage adult and luckily OSHA is not in my personal life (yet)

Thats what they make backhoe's for

And when higher then that, I am ordering this

Bailey's - Weaver Northwest Dee Saddle

This morning.

My buddy the Arborist has all the climbing gear, and I went over to learn to gaff up a tree last Friday, and lets just say that my girth is a bit more then any of his guys and the 6 belts he had to choose from

My Dad was probably right, a guy my size 6' 260lbs probably does not belong in a tree on gaffs. Then again, I reminded him, that he went to pole climbing school at 41 of course he reminded me that he was a bit more svelte at my age.......

Anyway, to play the game, looks to me that the price of admission is to buy a belt. I can borrow the rest (and I actually own a set of Gaffs somewhere) If I get doing it more (I seriously doubt it) I will buy my own.

Billbill,I bought the 330T

 

[nolefan]

billbill - I own both a Echo cs-340 and the cs-360T. I have quite a few hours on both and highly recommend them. They have plenty of power and are fairly lightweight and well-balanced. I own plenty of Echo power equipment and have always been extremely satisfied with their reliability. I own a few Stihl products as well and they also are excellent machines. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Egon]

Here is another old man up a tree with no saw but he is tying a rope to the tree so it will not fall on a power line.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am a little late to the discussion but my grandfather uses wood for his only heat source and lives up on the hill where they get 10' of snow and is always cold. He uses an old Homelite to drop the trees but uses his top handle Echo (don't remember the model but it is a few years old now) for de-limbing the trees. He uses that Echo a lot, he doesn't cut a lot of wood in one day but he usually cuts a three point hitch carrier load of wood every day if the weather is somewhat decent. So far he only had one problem which was covered under warranty.

The Echo was the first chainsaw he bought that wasn't considered a cheap saw. Our old Homelites have served us well but the new ones just do not hold up. I am planning on buying a top handle chain saw for working in the orchard but haven't decided on which brand. I have a friend who owns a Husqvarna shop and we have bought a couple items from him last year and have been happy with the Husqvarna brand and if we have any trouble he is only 6 miles away.

 

[gsganzer]

I put myself through college as a certified arborist. I'm not sure if they still make them, but a Stihl 011 is the best there is. I wore out my first one (literally 100's if not 1000's or hours) and I've had my second one now for almost 15 years.