Tools & equipment that are fantastic.

[5030]

I bought the Echo arborist saw this weekend largely on the good recommendation from 5030. It has to be about 1/2 the weight of my 18" saws. After the first start of the day, seems to start very well. My Dad used to have a light weight McCullough chain saw in the 1970s that was a similar design. There's a sticker on the Echo that says "made in Japan."

All the echo's are as far as I can tell. Very high quality fit and finish too. Just don't get over zealous with the primer bulb (like I did) and flood it. The starting effort (the recoil is pretty light as well). I did replace the OEM cat muffler with a non cat muffle I purchased from Sawitagain. It's impossible to remove the cat from the OEM muffler without cutting it apart and the saw 'seems' to develop more power without it. The OEM muffler went to the landfill...lol One thing I do like about the Echo is the bar oiler. it don't oil the bar unless the drive sprocket is rotating and it don't pee on the table when sitting idle either plus the bar oiler is adjustable on the bottom of the saw.

Years back I had a nice Tanaka that I sold. It too was made by the same Japanese company that makes the Echo. Should have kept it. Everyone makes stupid decisions. Far as I can tell, Tanaka was absorbed by Makita and the lower priced Makita saws are now made in China.

 

[TugBarge]

Not sure if mentioned. But ANY Hitachi/Metabo NR83 framing nailers. I have a couple of the old ones we've had for 20+ years and rebuilt a couple times. Amazing nailers. I picked up the new NR83A5 and love it, trigger is different but it's works well for me.

 

[jjeff]

Not sure if mentioned. But ANY Hitachi/Metabo NR83 framing nailers. I have a couple of the old ones we've had for 20+ years and rebuilt a couple times. Amazing nailers. I picked up the new NR83A5 and love it, trigger is different but it's works well for me.

Used a old Hitachi for joist hanger nails the gun was always jamming. I own a Hitachi micro pin nailer that wasn't much more than a cheaper Chinese gun the pin nailer has worked flawless for my used, I've always used senco framers. However ill now keep an open mind for Hitachi framing guns.

 

[WinterDeere]

Not sure if mentioned. But ANY Hitachi/Metabo NR83 framing nailers. I have a couple of the old ones we've had for 20+ years and rebuilt a couple times. Amazing nailers. I picked up the new NR83A5 and love it, trigger is different but it's works well for me.

I like the Hitachi/Metabo framer and stapler, but I actually like the Bostich coil roofing nailer better. I'm all Senco for shop (brad/finish) nailers, for many years, so never got to try the Hitachi's there.

 

[ArlyA]

To end a common myth that pumping a fuel bulb on a 2 stroke engines will flood it. It doesn't, unless your cab needs work. These pump bulbs only fill the system, not flood it. Here is a nice video showing how these bulbs work

 

[WinterDeere]

To end a common myth that pumping a fuel bulb on a 2 stroke engines will flood it. It doesn't, unless your cab needs work. These pump bulbs only fill the system, not flood it. Here is a nice video showing how these bulbs work

This agrees with what I've read and observed, at least on my few engines with primers, but I admit I've never owned an Echo chainsaw with a primer bulb (mine had choke only). On older Tecumseh snowblower engines, such as those used by Ariens for many years, the starting instructions actually include priming until fuel runs out of the vent on the carb onto the ground.

 

[jjeff]

From various experience with carbs imo a primer bulb when working properly has always worked better than just using a choke for seldom used equipment when starting.

 

[5030]

To end a common myth that pumping a fuel bulb on a 2 stroke engines will flood it. It doesn't, unless your cab needs work. These pump bulbs only fill the system, not flood it. Here is a nice video showing how these bulbs work

Maybe and maybe not. Don't touch the primer bulb on the Echo when the saw is warm, only dead cold. I found that out first hand. Only saw I own with one actually. The Tanaka I sold didn't have one and none of the Stihl's have them either.

 

[kenmbz]

The primer is only supposed to purge air and drag fuel up to the carb. I would not use the bulb if warm as their should be no air in the line, even if running dry I never needed to use it. Mostly have bulbs on blowers and trimmers.

Most of my saws don't have em but have never had a problem flooding from the bulb, now leaving the choke on too long, yes I flooded my bigger saw as it starts a little different than my smaller echo.
I have a 490 and a 620 and both work well for me, the 490 for smaller stuff and the 620 for the bigger Ash and Poplar.
I have even used both to mill Ash planks.

I had a Sears 40cc saw, killed that one bucking large trees, just could not take the long cuts. I thought for a while I had low oil gassed it from the cylinder scores, but I only have one mix can and I used the same fuel on other engines without any issues. That was many years ago and all the other engines are still going strong.


Having the bigger saw speeds up bucking 30+inch trunks, really happy I have both.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have Craftsman, Echo, Husqvarna engines. Seems like each one has its own different starting ritual that depends on whether the saw is cold or hot.