Echo vs Husqvarna

[Oldpath05]

You guys that have these old saws should post a picture. My first saw I ran was the small XL Homelite, some time around 1966.

 

[shovelmike]

I will try to post a picture of mine in the next day or two. I started with an XL2, a friend had the XL12, which was more saw than he needed, I swapped him my XL2 plus some cash for his XL12.

 

[goeduck]

This is a google picture of the Homelite 5-20 model saw I started cutting with. Dad sold his for a Homelite XL12

 

[deerefan]

Still have not bought the Echo yet. Ran the Husky today. Can’t imagine running one heavier with my shoulder problems. It ran ok, a little hard to idle. Not bad for a 15yr old saw.

 

[two_bit_score]

I will try to post a picture of mine in the next day or two. I started with an XL2, a friend had the XL12, which was more saw than he needed, I swapped him my XL2 plus some cash for his XL12.

Wish I had a picture of the old McCullough bow saw we used back in the 60’s - 70’s.

mcculloch pro mac 7 bow saw - YouTube


They say they were dangerous. IDK, we didn’t have guards like this one.

 

[shovelmike]

My father had a huge David Bradley saw years ago, I don't think it was extremely powerful, but big and heavy.

 

[Oldpath05]

This is a google picture of the Homelite 5-20 model saw I started cutting with. Dad sold his for a Homelite XL12
View attachment 625458

That's is a mid 50s chainsaw so what year did you cut with it, mid 60s? I thought I was older then you. I remember my father having one of these old Pioneer 610, that to is from the 50s, I got it going in late 70s, I was about 20-ish, cant remember what happen to it. I do remember thinking that the power to weight ratio was more weight then power, cant imagine running those old saws today and or having a sentiment bulb on a saw.
OLD PIONEER 61 CHAINSAW - YouTube

 

[Oldpath05]

Wish I had a picture of the old McCullough bow saw we used back in the 60’s - 70’s.

mcculloch pro mac 7 bow saw - YouTube


They say they were dangerous. IDK, we didn’t have guards like this one.

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the bow bars, guess it was someone brain storm.

 

[sd455dan]

Wish I had a picture of the old McCullough bow saw we used back in the 60’s - 70’s.

mcculloch pro mac 7 bow saw - YouTube


They say they were dangerous. IDK, we didn’t have guards like this one.

Wow never seen a McCulloch bow saw before,

Still have dads old Promac 700 though,
not a high revver but it is a torquey old saw

Yea - I think we will skip the bow mod for sure.

 

[Industrial Toys]

So far, I like my Echo saw. But man, that stupid choke. Is the saw hot or cold, will it start with or without? It's 2019. Is that the best you can do? I mean, don't get me wrong, It's no different from any other stupid two stroke saw!

 

[Jstpssng]

So far, I like my Echo saw. But man, that stupid choke. Is the saw hot or cold, will it start with or without? It's 2019. Is that the best you can do? I mean, don't get me wrong, It's no different from any other stupid two stroke saw!

That's one thing I've noticed about my new Echo, it really seems like a step back in time. Yet as much as I hate to admit it, if you put
my $500 (now deceased) Husqvarna 545,
my $400 Echo 590,
and my $100 Poulan- which set forgotten in my shed for a year and a half-
side by side and tried to start each; the Poulan always starts first or second pull while the Echo takes several pulls, and the Husky always had me praying that it would start before I lost my temper and ran it over with the tractor.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Bow bars were designed to be used for brush removal...

SR

 

[two_bit_score]

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the bow bars, guess it was someone brain storm.

Wow never seen a McCulloch bow saw before,

Still have dads old Promac 700 though,
not a high revver but it is a torquey old saw

Yea - I think we will skip the bow mod for sure.

Bow bars were designed to be used for brush removal...

SR

Every pulpwood truck in East Texas had at least two Bow Saws hanging on them.

I started using the McCullough Bow saw at about 12 years old. Like the video shows you rev it up and put it on top of a log and let the weight of the saw push it into the log. I can see how they were better for some things. It was our only saw for years and years.

 

[goeduck]

That's is a mid 50s chainsaw so what year did you cut with it, mid 60s? I thought I was older then you. I remember my father having one of these old Pioneer 610, that to is from the 50s, I got it going in late 70s, I was about 20-ish, cant remember what happen to it. I do remember thinking that the power to weight ratio was more weight then power, cant imagine running those old saws today and or having a sentiment bulb on a saw.
OLD PIONEER 61 CHAINSAW - YouTube

It was not mine, it was my fathers and he held onto stuff a long time. I can not say I cut much with it, but it was the first saw I ever ran. I still like the sound of those old saws.

 

[ericm979]

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the bow bars, guess it was someone brain storm.

Since you cut with the end, you don't have to bend over so far. I used them on thinning projects in the '80s in Northern Arizona, mostly on Homelite Super XLs. We had bars that were a bit longer and not as tall as the one in the video, because were cutting trees at 6" max diameter. With full guards on top and bottom it's very safe, as long as you seat the "stinger" properly. You could start a cut and then take one hand off the saw and use it to push the tree over.

They wouldn't be very good for felling larger trees though.

 

[Oldpath05]

By the looks of these post it seems like those bow saws are a southern thing, that accent kinda implies that to.
Bowsaw part I - YouTube

 

[Jstpssng]

One thing which I don't like about my new 590 Echo, there isn't enough room between the handlebar and the chain brake. Wearing winter gloves today I was constantly setting the brake while trying to cut up some firewood.

 

[Oldpath05]

^^^^^^^^^^I haven't noticed that on my 501p Echo and I used it today but I was using thinner work gloves, that's weird maybe theres adjustment somewhere.

 

[PILOON]

Never saw a saw with adjustable hand grips.
Maybe the only adjustment would be 'shortening' your fingers.

I suspect professional woodsmen don't even wear gloves. Hardy guys!

 

[Oaktree]

I just use my 20" bar as my measure. Touch the trigger every 20" all the way down the log and then have at it. I've never seen these measuring devices.

Same here, I thought everybody did that.