ECHO 590 Timber Wolf

[WVhunter]

I have been looking for another saw in the 60cc range for use around my farm and for firewood cutting. I have always been a Stihl guy, but thought about a Husky 555 this go around. I stopped by my local dealer to look at one and he got to talking to me about the ECHO Timber Wolf as well. He had a brand new saw he gassed, oiled and said have at it out back if you want. I took the saw and made several cuts on different size Oak logs he had. I was very impressed with this saw and think it would be perfect for my needs. He priced it to me $399 and an extra chain, he also said it had a 5 year warranty. After running the saw, I think it would be hard to beat for my needs and all it has to offer. Seems to have pretty good reviews from what I have read on here. Think I may have to get one, a couple hundred cheaper than the Husky 555 as well. I cut 12-15 cords of firewood per year and usually anymore, nothing bigger than 20" to 24". A family member "borrowed" my Stihl's from me, never could find them. So this will be used with my new MS271, just don't have the budget to replace my PRO saws and really probably don't need them for my purposes now. What do you guys think about these Timber Wolf saws?

 

[nmurph]

Does he have a 555 to run? The TW's seem to be a good value on paper and you seem to already have you mind made up.

 

[SawTroll]

I assume there is a reason (or reasons) theat the 590 is almost 300 USD cheaper than another Echo 60cc saw (the 620), and even that one doesn't have a really good power to weight ratio.

There are no power specs availiable for the 590 though, an issue that it shares with most Echo saws that are sold on the US market - and I know that it isn't a coinsidense - the truth would stop sales dead in their tracks!

 

[WVhunter]

He did not say if he had a 555 I could run. I should check on that. No my mind is not made up, that is why I was asking for input, from those who owned or had ran them.

 

[SawTroll]

He did not say if he had a 555 I could run. I should check on that. No my mind is not made up, that is why I was asking for input, from those who owned or had ran them.

The 555 obviously is a better option - then we are talking real chainsaws, and not junkers!

 

[nmurph]

He did not say if he had a 555 I could run. I should check on that. No my mind is not made up, that is why I was asking for input, from those who owned or had ran them.

I would want to run them both. I'm not disparraging Echo's, but I picked up a 600 in a HD and it had plasticky feel. I'm not one to cross off a saw because of plastics, there are some incredibly durable plastics available now, but it is one thing that caught my attention. I have also seen where members who have run this model report it being heavier than the 555/562 (the 555 is lighter than the 562). Weigh those thoughts against the $200 savings...The lack of power ratings on US Echo's does raise a bit of a red flag to me. I have seen some specs on Echo's sold abroad and as I recollect, they WEREN'T particularly impressive. It seems to me that if the numbers reflected favorably, Echo would certainly tout them. JMO!!!

 

[jughead500]

You wont go wrong with the echo.the plastics are durable enough.my cs600 took a 20ft flying leap and just came out with a few scratches.I logged all winter with my echo without any problems.

 

[XSKIER]

If I had a brand new MS 271 with 16" ROLLOMATIC E bar and 26 RM 67 chain, there's no way I'd even think about a 590 echo. Maybe a MS 192 T C-E with 14" ROLLOMATIC E and 63 RM3 50 chain or a Jonsered 2166 with 24" flimsy bar and crappy vanguard chain.

 

[WVhunter]

I held both and the weight of the two seemed very close to me in hand.
I knew what reply I would get from you "SawTroll" LOL... go pro or go home. I do not think I need to drop $700 to have a decent saw for cutting my firewood.
Do you actually ever use your saws or just write about them all day on the computer, man can't do much sawing with 52,000 + posts. LOL... (Just riding you a little)
Like I said I have not made my mind up, looking for comments from guys that own or run the ECHO.

 

[SawTroll]

I would want to run them both. I'm not disparraging Echo's, but I picked up a 600 in a HD and it had plasticky feel. I'm not one to cross off a saw because of plastics, there are some incredibly durable plastics available now, but it is one thing that caught my attention. I have also seen where members who have run this model report it being heavier than the 555/562 (the 555 is lighter than the 562). Weigh those thoughts against the $200 savings...The lack of power ratings on US Echo's does raise a bit of a red flag to me. I have seen some specs on Echo's sold abroad and as I recollect, they WEREN'T particularly impressive. It seems to me that if the numbers reflected favorably, Echo would certainly tout them. JMO!!!

The specs for the most expensive Echo 59.8cc saw, the 620, is in the open in Europe - 3.3kW/4.5 hp, but sadly 13.6 lbs, which is too heavy. The 600 is one step down in quality from that, and the 590 two steps and close to 300 USD down in the US - it can't be much "pro quality" left in that one.....

 

[rmh3481]

Dont pay no mind to Troll.

A 590 is a great saw, especially for $400.

 

[SawTroll]

Dont pay no mind to Troll.

A 590 is a great saw, especially for $400.

I assume there are reasons that it costs close to 300 USD less than the 620, and even that one doesn't look anywhere close to stellar, judged by specs and reports!

 

[Chris-PA]

I assume there are reasons that it costs close to 300 USD less than the 620, and even that one doesn't look anywhere close to stellar, judged by specs and reports!

The main reason would be that the price of something has little to do with how much it costs to make. Another way to say it is that price is a poor measure of value or worth. Clearly it only costs a few $ different to make the two saws.

There are plenty of similar examples of this from Stihl and Husky.

 

[stihl sawing]

opcorn:

 

[jughead500]

Troll have you actually held one of the echos in question? I'm not a pro logger but a pro landscaper.I do some logging during the winter to survive and I've ran just about owned or worked on every saw imaginable prior to auto tune and strato charging and just cant imagine anyone downing a saw from just the specs just on weight and unpublished hp figures.the cs590/600 and Cs620 are kind of in their infancy from the shindiawa buy out.im really impressed with what they are offering.I have no quarrels with the performance or quality.I had a whole lot more trouble with the 455 rancher I bought new then actually fixed and gave to a boy that helped me.the 455 was even less trouble than most of the 029's or ms 290's ive played with.
I'm not brand biased by any means just call it how I see it.

 

[SawTroll]

The main reason would be that the price of something has little to do with how much it costs to make. Another way to say it is that price is a poor measure of value or worth. Clearly it only costs a few $ different to make the two saws.

There are plenty of similar examples of this from Stihl and Husky.

True enough, but that doesn't mean it always is that way.

 

[rmh3481]

Im not so sure that the 600 vs 620 are the same in all markets. The 620 in the USA has a non limited ignition and a different carb. The second edition 600p cylinder was changed to provide 20% more fuel efficiency. Echo also advertised the HP rating of the cs-590 to be around 4hp. The graph is in the other thread if anyone want like to view it. No Strato Charging and No Auto Tune makes this platform a very user serviceable piece of equipment.

 

[mountainlake]

I assume there is a reason (or reasons) theat the 590 is almost 300 USD cheaper than another Echo 60cc saw (the 620), and even that one doesn't have a really good power to weight ratio.

There are no power specs availiable for the 590 though, an issue that it shares with most Echo saws that are sold on the US market - and I know that it isn't a coinsidense - the truth would stop sales dead in their tracks!

There are vids of Echo 60 cc saws cutting right with the best Stihl and Husky saws, open your eyes. Steve

 

[SawTroll]

There are vids of Echo 60 cc saws cutting right with the best Stihl and Husky saws, open your eyes. Steve

Random video comparisons mostly are useless, as way to many variables aren't properly eliminated, or there are no info about them. The chain usually are the most important variable to eliminate, but then there are carb setting and the operator, and more.

This does of course also mean that they are very easy to "manipulate" to "prove" anything you want to - if you have an agenda......

 

[nmurph]

Random video comparisons mostly are useless, as way to many variables aren't properly eliminated, or there are no info about them. The chain usually are the most important variable to eliminate, but then there are carb setting and the operator, and more.

This does of course also mean that they are very easy to "manipulate" to "prove" anything you want to - if you have an agenda......

I agree and tend to discount a lot of the rah, rah, cheerleading I hear. But, I respect Andre for his knowledge and experience. He seems to give them a good bit of cred, so that goes a little way in removing some of the doubts that arise in me because of Echo's reluctance to publish hp figures in the US. I don't think there is a doubt that Echo builds solid OPE, just look at the back of the local lawn jockey's trailers and you will almost certainly see some Echo equipment. But, in my experience, if a manufacturer fails to tout a feature or spec that the leaders in any industry do, there's likely a very good reason- their specs, whatever they may be, don't show favorably.