John Deere CS56 chainsaw
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beenthere
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Nothing stacks up against a Stihl. 
But if it runs like a Deere, you should be good to go. Taken care of, it will cut wood.
Just I find that not just any Deere mechanic necessarily makes a good chainsaw mechanic.
I am born green, but I run Stihl saws.
But if it runs like a Deere, you should be good to go. Taken care of, it will cut wood.
Just I find that not just any Deere mechanic necessarily makes a good chainsaw mechanic.
I am born green, but I run Stihl saws.
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
We've had a CS56 and a CS 40 for about 9 years now and not a single problem. Love them both. they are made I think in Italy by ESKA. If I remember correctly, northerntool tried to sell them here in America and they had the longest warranty available in the market. But I don't think they caught on enough to keep on selling.
We got ours before the price went up and they were actually considerably cheaper than Stihl. I used to work at a dealership that sold Stihl and Poulan chainsaws as a sideline and I can tell you each brand had their plusses and minuses. This was 30 years ago though. I think most all stuff is better now.
I personnally like the Shindaiwa brand the best right now. I have a multi attachment tool and it works great.
Are you seeing any good deals on the CS56?
We got ours before the price went up and they were actually considerably cheaper than Stihl. I used to work at a dealership that sold Stihl and Poulan chainsaws as a sideline and I can tell you each brand had their plusses and minuses. This was 30 years ago though. I think most all stuff is better now.
I personnally like the Shindaiwa brand the best right now. I have a multi attachment tool and it works great.
Are you seeing any good deals on the CS56?
arrow
Super Member
These saws are Italian made back when EFCO was Olympyk. I've had 3 of these saws including the 56. Some have had oiler problems and on the smaller saws, you cannot adjust the oiler. They cut fast for their size and they tend to leak oil without the cap being screwed off for a moment to relieve pressure build up in the tank. Forget about the John Deere garage to fix these unless they have a chain saw mechanic. Largest problem with these is parts. Do not know if there is any. All have been good useful saws but I would not give any heavy money for it. Depending on condition, $50 to $$75 is all they are currently worth as factory back up is non existent and unless I'd contacted EFCO, I'd consider parts availability the same. In other words, there remains a strong possibility that you are on your own once you own one of these. The EV John Deere' s were Echos and parts are a bit easier to find. The CS saws do not seem as prevalent but I believe Olympyk saws had the number 9 in front of them so the corresponding John Deere would be CS56 while the Olympyk would be 956. There could be some parts availability by crossing numbers. Do not know about EFCO cross overs. Bars and sprockets are no problem as much as electronics and body parts. I am surprised there are any nib with these saws as they are at least 6 or 7 years out of production.
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JDGREEN4ME
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I had a CS56 for several years, recently traded it in for a Stihl MS 290. I never had any problems with it but was concerned parts could be an issue.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Nothing stacks up against a Stihl.
Except a dolmar:thumbsup::laughing::laughing:
On a serious note though, as others have mentioned, it isnt "actuall" a john deere saw. Just another brand that made it "for" john deere.
And the cs56 is a pretty good saw. And will hold its own against most other mid 50cc saws like the 029/290 stihl. It just may be more difficult to get parts/service for, thats all. But it is a good, pro built saw.
mountainlake
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Owning both a 56cc Efco and a 029 Stihl the CS56 is twice the saw of the Stihl, about the same wieght but the C56 cuts way faster and is built way better. Parts should not be a problem as these are Efco saws, not the overpriceded parts network of Stihl but you will be able to gety them. Steve
There is Efco dealers online I know that could get you parts in Canada and U.S if the need would arise. I would take a CS56 over a 290 any day, if the CS56 is built like the Efco 156
Old Iron Logging is a Efco dealer up north , Efco thread http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/efco/
Old Iron Logging is a Efco dealer up north , Efco thread http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/efco/
frischtr
Silver Member
The Efco should be a much nicer saw than the 029, as the 156 is a pro saw and the 029 is a homeowner/landowner grade saw.
arrow
Super Member
My 56 was quite faster than a 290 I owned. Lighter piston made it a peaky saw. There is more to a saw than speed of cutting of course but I would not call a cs56 a pro saw either only because a pro saw to me is a saw that will hold up for 2 years at an 8 hour per day clip and I have not done this with this saw. The air filter could filter a bit better in my opinion .
Parts may or may not be a problem depending on who stipulated the architecture of the saw eg, JD or Olympyk/Efco. Some parts may interchange especially if the cs56 is the efco 156 but if the saw is picked up for $50 to $100 and runs, who gives a care. I'd be happy with one seasons use at those prices as fixing most any saw would cost you more than that. I have a feeling that anything the op is seeing as " NIB" for the JD saw might be from a much older posting.
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Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
When we first bought our CS40 and CS56, we went to the Stihl dealer and saw literally piles of dead Stihl products. Weedeaters, chainsaws and blowers. We were able to buy the JDs for about 70% of the comparable Stihl and we got free cases.
We are not "pro" users. However, During the 1st year, we cleared and trimmed 25 acres of post oaks. We burned piles of brush about the size of a school bus at least 5 times. I know we've burned at least 20 gallons of premix thru them and they still run like new. They start very easily. The problem mentioned above about the bar oil getting pressured and leaking out is true. I try to put them in the case with very little bar oil left. I would not hesitate to buy another one, even if it cost the same as Stihl.
We are not "pro" users. However, During the 1st year, we cleared and trimmed 25 acres of post oaks. We burned piles of brush about the size of a school bus at least 5 times. I know we've burned at least 20 gallons of premix thru them and they still run like new. They start very easily. The problem mentioned above about the bar oil getting pressured and leaking out is true. I try to put them in the case with very little bar oil left. I would not hesitate to buy another one, even if it cost the same as Stihl.
From Efco dealer I had posted in link here.
Saw has been at the distributer for 5 weeks. Saw is to be repaired under warranty ( second 156 with cracked case also).
Call this morning said to expect a wait of 3 more weeks as there are no crankcases in North America. New cases must come from Italy but are on backorder.
2 months for saw repairs is beyond reasonable.
I am dropping the Efco line of saws. Will keep an account open to service saws that are out.
The Efco saws are nice saws but they have no support system in place.
Saw has been at the distributer for 5 weeks. Saw is to be repaired under warranty ( second 156 with cracked case also).
Call this morning said to expect a wait of 3 more weeks as there are no crankcases in North America. New cases must come from Italy but are on backorder.
2 months for saw repairs is beyond reasonable.
I am dropping the Efco line of saws. Will keep an account open to service saws that are out.
The Efco saws are nice saws but they have no support system in place.
I've got two CS56s and love them. In my opinon, Stihl does not make a saw near as good in this size-range. I wish I'd bought more when I had the chance. When Deere stopped selling them, I found a dealer selling them off for $290 each with 20" bars. I'd bought half-a-dozen had I known what nice saws these are.
If you compare the Deere/Efco CS56 to the Sthil MS290 the Sthil loses easily. CS56 has a metal bar cover, compression release, twice the warranty, better power-to-weight ratio, decompression valve, primer bulb for cold starting, etc.
Stihl has made some great and some bad saws over the years, just like many of the most popular companies. There was a time when Stihl sold some of the best saws in the USA. Not anymore. Efco and Dolmar are every bit as good, and often better with a lower price and longer warranty. They aren't new companies either. In fact, Dolmar is older then Stihl (but not by much).
I've had problems getting parts for some Sthil's once they were 20 years old - so I assume that any saw can be a problem for parts when time passes. I'm talking expensive pro-saws, not little homeowner toys. Especially my 045 Super and 056 Magnum.
I worked for one of the first Sthil dealers in the USA back in the 60s, and have been using them ever since (along with other makes).
