Chainsaw selection... ideas?

[mountainlake]

No the 372 is not $300 better than a Echo CS600, the 372 will cut a little faster, the CS600 will wieght almost 2# less ready to cut . Both are the same quality. Steve

 

[Nitro-Fish]

No the 372 is not $300 better than a Echo CS600, the 372 will cut a little faster, the CS600 will wieght almost 2# less ready to cut . Both are the same quality. Steve

Same quality? I think someone's had too much eggnog :laughing:.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

Don't know about the 372, except to say I was impressed with it and its price, but if the Echo CS600 is as good quality as my 500VL, and I could know it, I would jump on it..

The stats I saw on weight, though show the CS600 to be a little heavier, I though.. have to check again.. numbers are swimming in my head.. No, if web numbers are right, the Husky is only .4 pounds more powerhead weight.

What does bother me a bit is the CS600 seems to be the first redesign of a new wave from Echo. Might just be cosmetic, with a snap-on air filter cover instead of screw-in, but I don't know.

 

[mountainlake]

Same quality? I think someone's had too much eggnog :laughing:.

No eggnog here, Have you had a Echo saw apart? What model? If you want low qualty get a home owneer Husky or Stihls. Steve

 

[LD1]

Echo, Dolmar, stihl, husky, j-red(which is husky), makita (dolmar), Solo, and a few others all make professional saws. In their professional line, IMO no one is of better quality than the other. I put them ALL on a level playing field when saw shopping because they are all of the highest quality. Focus more on how the saw feels, ergonomics, anti-vibe, power, etc. A saw that feels good in hands might not feel comfortable to you.

Some of the models mentioned above ALSO make saws of lesser quality for a lesser price for the average homeowner. But they do a great job of differentiating between the on their websites. But again, all the pro grade saws from the different mfg's are ALL equally great quality. IMO

 

[Nitro-Fish]

No eggnog here, Have you had a Echo saw apart? What model? If you want low qualty get a home owneer Husky or Stihls. Steve

No mountainlake, haven't had an echo saw apart, have had many stihls both new & old (including my 056 Super), many Husqvarna's, new & old, jonsereds (pre husky days) again new & old, older homelites & both old and new poulans (new smaller saws of course not much worth fixing). I do own a top handle echo but it doesn't compare quality wise to my top handle husqvarna, of course there is quite a price difference there too. I have looked at the larger ECHO's & yes they are not bad saws, however I don't like the single side brake set-up on the larger ones, just a personal preference. I do think the 372 is $300 better than the 600 but then again, you have to take into consideration the size difference for what you are comparing (but I know I don't have to tell you that). Would a similar size Husky be worth $300 more? No. A similar size husqvarna wouldn't be $300 more though (I'm thinking the 359 as a comp here).

I agree 100% about the homeowner size Husqvarna's and Stihl's, I would have no problem choosing an ECHO over the lower end line of either of these manufacturers (that's exactly why I have the top handle ECHO now). My top handle was a purchase just to have a back-up top handle and bang for the buck, I thought it was a better choice than the MS 192 and the new Husqvarna T 435.

BTW welcome to the site, not as "clicky" as AS is lately!

 

[crazyal]

No eggnog here, Have you had a Echo saw apart? What model? If you want low qualty get a home owneer Husky or Stihls. Steve

The 372 and the 357 are NOT box store homeowner Huskys. Cuts faster equals a bigger saw/ more HP, that means more money. As for quality, I have no idea if the Echo is good or bad. I would assume good but Echo doesn't list HP for their saws and the 8000 is the largest saw they make where as Stil, Husky, and some tohers make much larger pro saws.

 

[crazyal]

No mountainlake, haven't had an echo saw apart, have had many stihls both new & old (including my 056 Super), many Husqvarna's, new & old, jonsereds (pre husky days) again new & old, older homelites & both old and new poulans (new smaller saws of course not much worth fixing). I do own a top handle echo but it doesn't compare quality wise to my top handle husqvarna, of course there is quite a price difference there too. I have looked at the larger ECHO's & yes they are not bad saws, however I don't like the single side brake set-up on the larger ones, just a personal preference. I do think the 372 is $300 better than the 600 but then again, you have to take into consideration the size difference for what you are comparing (but I know I don't have to tell you that). Would a similar size Husky be worth $300 more? No. A similar size husqvarna wouldn't be $300 more though (I'm thinking the 359 as a comp here).

I agree 100% about the homeowner size Husqvarna's and Stihl's, I would have no problem choosing an ECHO over the lower end line of either of these manufacturers (that's exactly why I have the top handle ECHO now). My top handle was a purchase just to have a back-up top handle and bang for the buck, I thought it was a better choice than the MS 192 and the new Husqvarna T 435.

BTW welcome to the site, not as "clicky" as AS is lately!

I have an older 357xp and it was a great saw. I run a 20" bar on it and I would go up to 24" as long as I kept the chain sharp. Two years ago I had my father in law get some gas for it and he got some cheap 2 stroke oil that didn't mix well. It scored the inside of the cylinder while cutting on a 100 degree day. To get the parts for it meant buying each part (no package deals) at a cost of over $400. I was able to get a new piston, ring, wrist pin, and cylinder for a 359 (parts are interchangeable) for $90 off ebay. I think it's aftermarket parts.

There is a noticeable difference between the 357xp and 359. It's a big enough difference that I'm thinking of buying the correct parts (now there are several people selling a kit for $200 for the 357).

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Next time I will move up in size to get a larger size chain link. The smaller weight chains have to be adjusted too often to suit me.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

There is a noticeable difference between the 357xp and 359. It's a big enough difference that I'm thinking of buying the correct parts (now there are several people selling a kit for $200 for the 357).

Be cautious of the kits that say they are for the 357, to my knowledge there is not an aftermarket kit available that has the same porting as found in the 357xp (and yes the 359 P&C is not the same even though they will interchange). I have inquired about the ones that I have seen advertised as being for the 357 for a lower than OEM price and on each occasion I have been told they are actually the same as the 359 as nobody makes an aftermarket for the 357 yet. I agree the 357xp is a great saw, I use an 18" bar on the one I have.

I think the 359 is a better match to the 600, that's why I mentioned it.

BTW the 8000 is no slouch, it does just make the 80cc club!