20 inch chainsaw recommendation

[Hay Dude]

Used Stihl pro saws really fetch high prices. Is it based on the name reputation only? Or there’s a better chance a used Stihl will be a better investment than a used saw of another brand?
Used 500i/661’s are usually $1,200 in MY area.
That’s crazy.

I can’t see paying $1,200 for a used 661, when a new one is $1,600.
You don’t know how that saw was treated, what fuel was run through it, etc.

 

[bmafg]

They're not the same saw, there are more differences than what you are seeing. I know they have different carbs, I know they also have different # of rings (2 vs 1) on the piston. IIRC, they also have different port timing. A 620 jug will fit on a 590 though. Th 620 is higher revving than a 590 as well.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[mx842]

Well said. I had a couple of seasons where I found a routine with a couple of smaller Stihl saws. Then I had two seasons of pure hell where I just could not get a consistent start out of either Stihl (170, 180C) -- every last time I went out to get something done, it was 2 to 3 hours in the shop tearing one of the other saw down for one reason or another. Sold them for parts. completely junk. I had a plastic toy which had Homelite stamped on the side .. I had bought that from a guy on Craigslist 7 years ago and it outran those dumb Stihls -- even though the engine was melting itself out of the plastic mounts by the time I was done with it.

Plenty of YMMV responses here ... folks who have found the groove with their Stihl and can coax it to get the job done. Maybe I'll see the light again some day. Not for now.

I don't know I have never had to coax any of my Stihl saws and I've had a bunch of them. Most would be still at it if they hadn't got burned up in my shop fire. I had an 051 that I traded for a 044 back in the 70's and you couldn't pile the firewood that 044 cut in a 5 ac field. It had pump gas and stihl oil in it the day of the fire, that's all it ever ate. I had 3 farm bosses that I used just for cutting limbs and they were pretty good but not as good as my professional saws. I had 2 of those 044's but one I ran over with my bulldozer so I couldn't blame that on the saw just my stupidity. Never had an Echo but I bought a couple Huskies, but they didn't last that long they didn't cut all that bad though when they were not in the shop. I gave one of them to my son about 10 years ago and he still uses it, but he doesn't cut that much with it. Most all the saws they are making now are good, but They are not building any of them like they used to. I noticed a lot of changes in these 2 new Stihl saws some for the better, but some things make me wonder if they will still be cutting wood 40 years from now.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don't know I have never had to coax any of my Stihl saws and I've had a bunch of them. Most would be still at it if they hadn't got burned up in my shop fire. I had an 051 that I traded for a 044 back in the 70's and you couldn't pile the firewood that 044 cut in a 5 ac field. It had pump gas and stihl oil in it the day of the fire, that's all it ever ate. I had 3 farm bosses that I used just for cutting limbs and they were pretty good but not as good as my professional saws. I had 2 of those 044's but one I ran over with my bulldozer so I couldn't blame that on the saw just my stupidity. Never had an Echo but I bought a couple Huskies, but they didn't last that long they didn't cut all that bad though when they were not in the shop. I gave one of them to my son about 10 years ago and he still uses it, but he doesn't cut that much with it. Most all the saws they are making now are good, but They are not building any of them like they used to. I noticed a lot of changes in these 2 new Stihl saws some for the better, but some things make me wonder if they will still be cutting wood 40 years from now.

Has me concerned enough to start looking at what models were the best before they were electronic.
I can just see it now ….”IMP’s render all electronic saws useless”

 

[glenintenn]

had some two-legged imps disable a chainsaw once.

 

[MarblemountLane]

Interesting conversation and experiences here. But the OP gave me the impression a 20” saw was needed for a few larger than usual logs, not forever. A saw that has pulled 18” for years can pull 20” for a while, if not quite as easily. Heck, I have an 18” bar on a tiny Stihl MS180, which is mostly carried in winter in case of trees across the road.

But if you WANT to buy another saw, enjoy the experience. Of my ten saws, five have 20” bars. The four Homelite Super EZ Autos were originally sold as 16” saws. The Homelite Super XL Auto was most likely sold new as a 20” saw. For the record, my favorite saw is the Super EZ Auto I bought new in December 1974.

My “new” saw, also my biggest, is the Husqvarna 385XP I bought in 2002, giving $400 for a demo saw with a few hours on it instead of $800 for a new saw. I have 28” and 32” bars for this saw. I also have ripping chains and an Alaskan Sawmill, which this saw can handle.

I inherited a Jonsered 625 II which is basically a Husky 61 in red instead of orange. It runs fine with a 24” bar.

What do you actually need? What do you want? Today’s saws are mostly overpriced and difficult to adjust. I like metal saws more than plastic. Buy what makes you happy but does not bust your budget.

 

[Fields_mj]

Used Stihl pro saws really fetch high prices. Is it based on the name reputation only? Or there’s a better chance a used Stihl will be a better investment than a used saw of another brand?
Used 500i/661’s are usually $1,200 in MY area.
That’s crazy.

I can’t see paying $1,200 for a used 661, when a new one is $1,600.
You don’t know how that saw was treated, what fuel was run through it, etc.

It depends on how old the saws are, and how much use they've had. 500i's have not been out that long, so I'd expect them to be pretty expensive on the used market. The cost of used saws also varies by region. Around here (Indiana) you used to be able to pick up an older 066/660 in decent usable shape for around $600, but an 046/460 of similar age and condition would run you closer to $900. I buy mostly used equipment, but I've gotten to the point that unless its a REALLY good price on a saw that I know is in good condition, and hasn't been rebuilt or pieced together by a wanabe mechanic, I lean more towards the chinese clones. I can buy one of those, replace the oil pump, clutch, starter pawl, starter rope, and mounting screws (about 30 min with of work, and less than $100 in parts), and have reliable saw with new rubber for less than what a nearly worn out saw sells for.

Generally speaking, the opinion seems to be that Stihl saws last longer. Even though I run Stihl saws, I think that is more of an opinion than a fact. It most likely depends on how well the saw was taken care of. There are plenty of guys out there rebuilding both Stihls and Husqvarna saws. In my opinion, Echo saws are disposable. That doesn't mean they are trash. They seem to be good, durable saws. They just aren't something that you're going to run hard for several years and then rebuild like you would a Stihl or Husky. Even on the Stihls and Huskys, its the pro saws that are intended to be rebuilt. Their homeowner and commercial saws can also be rebuilt, but its more work.

 

[glenintenn]

its the pro saws that are intended to be rebuilt. Their homeowner and commercial saws can also be rebuilt, but its more work.

and this is probably the point that newbs (me) have to get through thick skulls.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I thought my CS-590 was a dog until I got the correct information on taking care of it and starting it. I did some damage through ignorance, and I bought an expensive Husqvarna.

When I got the Echo figured out, I was able to turn it into a great saw. I advanced the timing. I opened up the exhaust. I started using Biobor EB instead of Sta-Bil. I tuned it to about 15,000 RPM, properly. I fixed the carb so it doesn't have a hole in the main jet. I got a real chain to replace the Romper Room chains all amateur saws come with.

It's a monster now. Put $500 into one a CS-590 and a few parts, and you can have a really nice saw without going up the food chain. The CS-590 has a metal case, so it's not all that far from a pro saw.

Don't worry about voiding the warranty, because Echo doesn't honor warranties anyway.

 

[5030]

Don't worry about voiding the warranty, because Echo doesn't honor warranties anyway.

Not true and I work part time for a Kubota-Cub-Echo dealer and at least my employer does. Having said that however, Echo requires prior to any warranty work, we have to drain the gas out of the saw and determine in it was straight gassed, which is more than often the case. Straight gassed saws = no warranty. The oil tank gets drained as well and if the oil tank don't have bar oil in it but used or new motor oil, same deal applies. What I find amazing is how people flat out flog a saw and then expect it to be warranted when in fact they are the cause of the failure.