Echo vs Husqvarna

[sd455dan]

I have about worn out my Husqvarna 345. Been a good saw. My operation time on a saw has dropped to maybe 1x a month from just about every weekend. I am looking at 20 saws and narrowed it to the Echo and Husqvarna Rancher 455. There is a $60 price difference. I have an Echo weed eater that has been good, about 3yrs old. Any thoughts/opinions to help a guy?

Seems to me if wanting to run a 20 inch bar that you would be better off with a minimum 50cc saw.
if this is for all around use and firewood the extra power comes in handy.

If just mainly limbing a smaller displacement saw would seem to make more sense.

Have had good luck with an Echo trimmer that lasted well over 20 years and inherited a 350 Husky saw that ran good for several years and developed a crankcase leak making the saw run lean. after resealing the case and a (few) other mods I like it because it is light and just runs very strong.
If looking at new I would be drawn to that Echo CS 490- that is unless the 590 doesn't really weigh much more-
but some sites list the difference as 7 lbs:shocked:?
I like the Husky saws to, nothing wrong with the 455 Rancher either. brother and 2 friends have been running 455 Ranchers with no real complaints

 

[goeduck]

I recycled my wife's worn out or rusted baking sheet pans. They go in the saw cabinet under the saws to catch the oil.

I replaced the O ring or cap when I have had a leaker. I guess there is some oil that drips from the bar, but cardboard seems to absorb that for me.

 

[Oldpath05]

I thought the 18" bars that came with my saws, the Echo 501p was a better quality bar then the Husky 550xp, but the Echo had no drive link gauge option just .050, but on the 550xp I got .058 DL, I tend to like a thicker drive link for more strength.

 

[John_Mc]

Seems to me if wanting to run a 20 inch bar that you would be better off with a minimum 50cc saw.
if this is for all around use and firewood the extra power comes in handy.

I missed that he was looking for a 20" bar. I would not run a 20" on any of the saws he mentioned. IMO, they are underpowered for a 20" bar, and the balance is not right with that length bar. It just turns a nice lightweight limbing saw into something more cumbersome to handle when limbing, and too slow when buried in larger wood. I run a 16" bar on my 50cc saw, and most of the time on my 60cc saw (and it's a pro-level saw) occasionally I'll put a 20" bar on my 60cc saw. I'm cutting almost all hardwoods. Maybe I'd feel a bit differently if I were cutting mostly softwoods.

 

[TCowner]

I have an Echo CS400 along with a CS800p. The 800 is an 800cc chainsaw so it is brute when cutting the larger stuff but is a bit heavy. My CS400 is an over-achiever in my opinion. I've had it for 5 years and have done nothing but replace a few chains and the clutch sprocket is still in great condition. It starts quick and idles just perfect. If it ever fails I will replace it with another CS400.

 

[two_bit_score]

I have an Echo CS400 along with a CS800p. The 800 is an 800cc chainsaw so it is brute when cutting the larger stuff but is a bit heavy. My CS400 is an over-achiever in my opinion. I've had it for 5 years and have done nothing but replace a few chains and the clutch sprocket is still in great condition. It starts quick and idles just perfect. If it ever fails I will replace it with another CS400.

Engine Displacement 80.7cc maybe?



.

 

[deerefan]

I missed that he was looking for a 20" bar. I would not run a 20" on any of the saws he mentioned. IMO, they are underpowered for a 20" bar, and the balance is not right with that length bar. It just turns a nice lightweight limbing saw into something more cumbersome to handle when limbing, and too slow when buried in larger wood. I run a 16" bar on my 50cc saw, and most of the time on my 60cc saw (and it's a pro-level saw) occasionally I'll put a 20" bar on my 60cc saw. I'm cutting almost all hardwoods. Maybe I'd feel a bit differently if I were cutting mostly softwoods.

My current Husqvarna is a 16” bar. I looked at the equivalent Echo and it was lightweight, which with my shoulder problems, is a good thing. I will use it mainly for de-limbing and firewood. The 20” saws were a little heavier than I expected, I decided to stay at 16-18” max. All those years of baseball and football injuries are adding up!!

 

[m1garand762]

I must have a bad saw, because my husky 455 will out cut the echo all day long. It always starts and the echo is finicky

 

[Oldpath05]

^^^^^What size Echo? I started my Echo 501p last Tuesday after sitting for 2 months, 4 pulls and it ran like new if not better.

 

[goeduck]

I started my Echo 501p last Tuesday after sitting for 2 months, 4 pulls and it ran like new if not better.

4 pulls is a lot after just 2 months. After 2 months my Stihls start with 2 pulls.