Which pole saw??

[lostcreekranch]

Bought an Echo PPT-266 pole trimmer a couple years ago for $475. It's 107" collapsed and 146" extended. Echo has an "S" version of the PPT-266 which is shorter and a bit lighter and an "H" version which is longer and a bit heavier. My primary use is to trim lower branches of tree to allow my cab tractors to mow closer to trees. The in-between model is perfect for what I need to cut.

ECHO PPT-266 Telescoping Pole Saw Power Pruner - ECHO USA | ECHO USA

I switched exclusively to Echo a few years ago because of the reliability. CS-530 chain saw, PB-500 power back blower, SRM-261T Trimmer and SRM-280 brush cutter.

I run Tru-Fuel in them to eliminate carb issues from crappy Ethanol contaminated gasoline. All start well, usually 1-2 pulls.

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[SPYDERLK]

Efco is a good brand too. Made in Italy.

Thanks! Ill be checking the PTX out. Theres as dealer ~ 25mi.

I had a very nice new Efco tophandle saw, and it worked very well. Sold it on eBay, since
locals did not know the brand. Someone should try out that Efco polesaw and report back
here.

Well, I was going to. ... But the place near me quit handling them about 2 yrs ago because of problems with the telescoping shaft and with the adjustable head.
,,,The guy was unable to give particulars. For all I know it could have been operator problems. Also w/i 2yrs the mfg could have addressed the issues. Still it gives me pause. Ill have to find a place that has one with the new 5 position head to inspect. :confused3:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Well, I was going to. ... But the place near me quit handling them about 2 yrs ago because of problems with the telescoping shaft and with the adjustable head.
,,,The guy was unable to give particulars. For all I know it could have been operator problems. Also w/i 2yrs the mfg could have addressed the issues. Still it gives me pause. Ill have to find a place that has one with the new 5 position head to inspect. :confused3:

Well, they (efco) make really good chain saws. I have 2 of them, albeit in John Deere green, and they've been perfect except for the crappy ethanol messing up the small fuel lines from the tank to the carb. When northern tool sold them, they had the best warranty in the industry. My saws are now 13 or 14 years old.

 

[troutsqueezer]

I always like to offer opinions that differ from the group think so here goes. I get my firewood every year mainly from the trees I trim along a mile long stretch of road that leads to my house. So I have cut a few tall branches in the many years I have been doing this. I bought my first (and only) pole saw from Home Depot for not a lot of money just to see if it would work. If it didn't I would keep moving up in quality until I had one that did. That was a Ryobi gas powered saw.

Now, I would loved to have had a Husky or Echo high-end pole saw but after seeing what my Ryobi had to suffer through I'm glad I never spent the money. Cutting heavy branches that are high up in a tree poses a special set of problems which will, all too often, lead to your saw being caught in a pinch and then being drug down with the falling branch in the process. Some will say you're doing it wrong if that happens but in reality there are a lot of different circumstances you find yourself in with varying trees. Over the years my saw has crashed to the ground over rocks, other branches, ladders, vehicles, tractors and has been bent and beaten - abused, as it were. I've always been able to bend the shaft and/or bar and maybe the handle back to a working position. I'm still using that Ryobi, waiting for it to die, but it won't. At this point I'm glad I didn't put a much nicer saw through all this abuse.

My two cents.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I always like to offer opinions that differ from the group think so here goes. I get my firewood every year mainly from the trees I trim along a mile long stretch of road that leads to my house. So I have cut a few tall branches in the many years I have been doing this. I bought my first (and only) pole saw from Home Depot for not a lot of money just to see if it would work. If it didn't I would keep moving up in quality until I had one that did. That was a Ryobi gas powered saw.

Now, I would loved to have had a Husky or Echo high-end pole saw but after seeing what my Ryobi had to suffer through I'm glad I never spent the money. Cutting heavy branches that are high up in a tree poses a special set of problems which will, all too often, lead to your saw being caught in a pinch and then being drug down with the falling branch in the process. Some will say you're doing it wrong if that happens but in reality there are a lot of different circumstances you find yourself in with varying trees. Over the years my saw has crashed to the ground over rocks, other branches, ladders, vehicles, tractors and has been bent and beaten - abused, as it were. I've always been able to bend the shaft and/or bar and maybe the handle back to a working position. I'm still using that Ryobi, waiting for it to die, but it won't. At this point I'm glad I didn't put a much nicer saw through all this abuse.

My two cents.

I wont say youre doing it wrong. ... Ill say that you need a saw that has an adjustable cutting head so that you can cut from the top of the branch instead of the side.
,,,larry

 

[lostcreekranch]

Cutting heavy branches that are high up in a tree poses a special set of problems which will, all too often, lead to your saw being caught in a pinch and then being drug down with the falling branch in the process. Some will say you're doing it wrong if that happens but in reality there are a lot of different circumstances you find yourself in with varying trees.

If I'm cutting a branch over about 2" diameter, I always partially cut bottom of branch from below, so I get a clean cut when cutting final cut from top of branch. Never had pole saw bar pinched or PPT knocked out of my hands by a branch.

But,YMMD

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[SPYDERLK]

If I'm cutting a branch over about 2" diameter, I always partially cut bottom of branch from below, so I get a clean cut when cutting final cut from top of branch. Never had pole saw bar pinched or PPT knocked out of my hands by a branch.

But,YMMD

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I do that too. The problem I have is that with high branches you end up doing the final cut from the side of the branch unless the cut head can be angled.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Inevitably you will want to cut a branch that is as high as you can reach. Do enough cutting and you will find yourself in a pinch from time to time. Any lumberjack will tell you, trees and branches don't always fall like you planned. With a pole saw, it is in more of a position to suffer damage if you need to move fast.

 

[kathy50]

Husqvarna is a good brand. My friend use Husqvarna 525P5S pole saw. Low weight and excellent ergonomics and superior balance help you work comfortably even with less accessible vegetation. Easy to use and good price ($569.95). You can use the pole saw. I think it is better from Stihi.

 

[hunt4570]

Well I was here surfing today and see I started this but never finished... I ended up with the Stihl HT 103.. about 3 years ago now I would guess. Great little saw and fits me well , not too big, not too small, good purchase on my part I think.. Sorry for taking so long to get back! and thanks for all the advice!

 

[Sonny580]

Poulan here, had it for years and use it all the time. also use the weedeater head on the power unit.

 

[kenmbz]

M18 Milwaukee Quick-Lok - pole saw , trimmer and extension.
Only a few hours on it so far.
If anyone is interested I can do a review in a few weeks.

 

[hunt4570]

M18 Milwaukee Quick-Lok - pole saw , trimmer and extension.
Only a few hours on it so far.
If anyone is interested I can do a review in a few weeks.

Well its been a few weeks, whatcha think?

 

[kenmbz]

The M18 Pole saw is holding up well, have a number of hours on it and had to sharpen the chain for the first time.
I still think the oiler is not pumping enough and storing the saw head tip down does stop the oil leak.

Power is good and can cut branches thicker than the bar length.

I wish batteries would last longer. I will need another 8AH, 2x8AH should last long enough for the 2+ hours of cutting I usually do on each run.
The trimmer head does wear the batteries down faster, and I have overheated both the 8AH and 5AH batteries.
They recovered fine after a cool down and overheated very close to the end of battery life anyway.

I would buy again, but the trimmer really does need the big batteries to do the work I need to accomplish.
The pole saw head has been really useful and I need my big saw less.

Not having the extension weight unless I need it attached is good, but the head is heavy and can wander a bit with the extension in place.

I have punished the pole saw, and gotten it to jump the chain, and the chain does loosen up during each use.
Tightening is quick, so that has not slowed me down.
It is pretty tough and I don't see any wear on the sprocket. Bar is doing well and chain took a new edge fine, stayed sharp for quite a long time.