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.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

After 2 months my stihl wont start. My echo is the easiest to start, by far.

 

[DMax82]

I need to replace a Stihl MS290. Saw the MS291 for $450, but the Echo CS-590 at $400 seems the better deal. A Google search took me to an arborist forum where lots of really intense guys were discussing modifications and how saws were crap straight out of the box if you didn't make a bunch of adjustments.

 

[goeduck]

After 2 months my stihl wont start. My echo is the easiest to start, by far.

Send that Stihl to me, I will take it off your hands :thumbsup:

 

[Jstpssng]

After setting without gas for a year and a half my Poulan fired on the first pull. That's better than it's ever started before or since... maybe I'll let it set for another 18 months.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Send that Stihl to me, I will take it off your hands

Send cash. It's a 290 farmboss. Over 20 yrs old, used very very little.

 

[goeduck]

Over 20 yrs old, used very very little.

Well no wonder it is hard to start

 

[two_bit_score]

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

After two months my Stihls are so restless they start themselves.

 

[bullbreaker]

I need to replace a Stihl MS290. Saw the MS291 for $450, but the Echo CS-590 at $400 seems the better deal. A Google search took me to an arborist forum where lots of really intense guys were discussing modifications and how saws were crap straight out of the box if you didn't make a bunch of adjustments.

I have both with no mods . Sometimes around here you can get the Timberwolf a little cheaper also $ . If I had to choose one I would take the Timberwolf between those two . Also btw I also bought my MS291 to replace my MS290 . Also I"am not a pro , I don"t use my saws to make a living with .

 

[koshari]

Only real difference between the farm bosses and the pro saws is that the pro saws cylinders unbolt from the crankcase for quick top end replacement. The piston and a heap of bits are same part number. Main reason is pros will likely wear top ends out in the owners lifetime and occasional users generally wont.

 

[Oldpath05]

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

Battery saws dont count...........