Chainsaw Recommendations

[happysawer]

My CS-490 was finicky starting, once it coughed, you needed to take choke off.
Since I learned this , starts on third pull.
Had my shop tweak the carb and it runs stronger now since factory setup was too lean.
Running 18 and 20" bars and have taken down some massive ash with no problems. Almost three years and hundreds of hours use.

Jo D - congrats on the saw- hope it works great and lasts through all the work your family needs.

Many times we read that the factory sets up rich, and people lean them out.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So far I LOVE my ECHO saw. Starts exactly like any other saw I have ever owned. Choke, pull til it burps, choke off, pull and away you go.

Like that it doesn't piss out all it's bar oil like every Stihl I have owned. 034, 036 and 017.

Not impressed that the nose wasn't greased from the dealer, seized up virtually the first time and now has a tendency to lock up. Also annoyed that the Oil plug is of stupid design. Two finger tabs, rather than a screwdriver slot like the Gas cap.

That mixed gas in the can that doesn't go bad is apparently becoming VERY popular. Expensive? Yes, but not nearly as much as shop time or a carburator.

 

[happysawer]

So far I LOVE my ECHO saw. Starts exactly like any other saw I have ever owned. Choke, pull til it burps, choke off, pull and away you go.

Like that it doesn't piss out all it's bar oil like every Stihl I have owned. 034, 036 and 017.

Not impressed that the nose wasn't greased from the dealer, seized up virtually the first time and now has a tendency to lock up. Also annoyed that the Oil plug is of stupid design. Two finger tabs, rather than a screwdriver slot like the Gas cap.

That mixed gas in the can that doesn't go bad is apparently becoming VERY popular. Expensive? Yes, but not nearly as much as shop time or a carburator.

are you saying the nose of your bar was not greased?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, it would appear so. I don't even always grease the nose and this is the first one I ever had seize up.

 

[happysawer]

are you saying the nose of your bar was not greased?

First thing my dealers service guy did on my 211 was spray the full chain, this was after he had already started it, then he removed the bar&chain for some reason have no idea, i have a tooth brush and rub bar oil on any chain i have off for cleaning or checking.

Sales guy set up my 261 put gas in it and bar oil, just started it and quickly shut it off then he handed it to me, i took it home and i lubed chain and adjusted it, every service person does things diffrent and i really don't fully trust any of them.

The 211 does not have adjustable bar oiler and i did not think it was working, took it back they said it was oiling enough, i e-mailed Sthil support they said EPA forced them to keep oil at minium, i still take bar off and check flow while it's running.

And i do a lot of checking the oil hole in the bar.

The 261 has ajustable chain oiler it was set for minium flow i kicked it up some, i want my chain to have oil on it even if it get all over.

 

[crazyal]

I use a dremel with a chainsaw chain sharpening bit they sell. If you have a dremel or similar tool you can repair chains. I use to use a file for routine sharpenings and the dremel to repair damage. Now I just use the dremel as I can touch up the chain in about 1/4 the time (not that it too too long before). Being able to do it yourself means if you hit a rock on a Saturday afternoon doesn't mean loosing the rest of the weekend waiting for it to get sharpened. A back up chain is nice but I prefer to keep one on hand so when one stretches too far I toss it and swap over to another. I'm not always the best at remembering to get a new one so if I had two half (or more) worn chains and one was damaged it's possible that I'd forget for a week or two to get a replacement. This way I always know you have a new chain waiting in the reserves. It doesn't sound like you are going into the woods for so long that you will need more than one chain. If you think there will be large gaps between using the say I would suggest draining the oil and gas while it sits.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't use that high priced stuff in the metal can that doesn't go stale. But, I certainly would, before I had to empty my saw.

 

[happysawer]

I don't use that high priced stuff in the metal can that doesn't go stale. But, I certainly would, before I had to empty my saw.

Is there a problem with getting non alcohol fuel in Canada?

 

[kenmbz]

Hard for me to get it in eastern PA. unless I want to pay for Aviation fuel.

 

[xyz123]

18" bar is what I read and wanting to be able to do bigger trees if needed. With $400 to spend.

I would be looking at the Echo 590 that comes with a 20" for $399 over the S271 or H440 you listed.

Great bang for the buck 60cc class saw. Took one in to try out myself. Then sold to a friend after muffler mod etc.