Echo CS355T first thoughts/review

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Dave P 71801

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Ok I pulled the trigger and got a new CS355T about 2 weeks ago and decided to post a thread on my first thoughts and review. First of all I have to say I am impressed with the build quality of this saw, it feels real solid and not flimsy at all. The first thing I did when I got home was to pull the muffler screen to see what was inside and I was surprised to find an empty can no restriction at all. No need to mod the muffler here.

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The next thing I noticed is that it has an actual metal bucking dog it's not big but is more than you get on other brands and more than enough for this size saw

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Another feature I really like is the interchangeable hand rest for the handle. It came with 2 grips and a plug if you prefer it without the grip, personally I liked the orange one. This reminded me a lot of the new Glock pistols and allows the user to custom fit the saw to their hand somewhat

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I also really liked the air filter setup, on the back where it should be, easy to access and clean, and made of a durable material that will do a good job of cleaning the air without being too restrictive.

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I know this is a small thing but it's another thing about the saw that I noticed and liked. The fill caps for the fuel and bar oil have male threads on the saw and female on the cap and as always the cap has a keeper to keep from being lost, but can easily be removed if nessary.

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Ok on to putting it to work, I took it out for the first time with the factory chain and quickly found that the chain was like most factory safety chains and cuts but not as well as it could, a quick change to some Oregon 91 vxl and all was good. I found the balance to be great. The weight is a touch heavier than other top handle saws but not by much and I would much rather have a touch more weight than a flimsy saw. With the new chain it chewed through 6"-10" hardwood like it was nothing and wanted more the only time I could get to bog was with a good amount of pressure in some 14" red oak. Throttle response was good and snappy actually surprising for a bone stock saw.

There are only two minor things that I wish were different. First I wish it had a rim sprocket instead of a spur on a pro style saw I would like to see a rim, but that's small and can be easily fixed. The other thing is even more minor an that's the controls are backwards from Stihl, the choke position is forward and stop is back where stihl is just the opposite and I find myself putting it to stop and trying to start it, but I will get used to it.

All in all I have been very impressed with the saw and can tell that they put a lot of thought into performance and making the best saw possible. I think that this is a strong contender to take over as the king of the top handles now that the ms200t is no longer made. It has great balance, low weight, great performance stock, excellent fit and finish, and a great price. So if your in the market for a top handle don't overlook the Echo CS355T
 
Good write up, being near half the cost of the leading TH saws in this class, its no wonder people buy these 355t's. The Japs know how to make them easy to use and dead reliable. My only beef with them is the plastic case/tanks. When you drop a echo/makita top handle the tanks crack a lot easier than mag cases. Despite it happening to me, I still buy them and use them often. Its a pity you guys don't get the worlds lightest TH...the Makita 231T made by Yamabiko corp Japan. It is approved by our EPA but not yours.
 
Good job, how big is the opening on the exhaust deflector, seems like the newer Echo saws have them rather small making it easy to open them up a little if needed. Steve

I'm gonna guess at 50% the size of the exhaust port big enough that I'm not gonna void the warranty to open it up but it could easily be done. I've been thinking about making a new deflector with a bigger opening and swapping it out and if I need warrenty work just putting the factory one back on.
 
Good write up, being near half the cost of the leading TH saws in this class, its no wonder people buy these 355t's. The Japs know how to make them easy to use and dead reliable. My only beef with them is the plastic case/tanks. When you drop a echo/makita top handle the tanks crack a lot easier than mag cases. Despite it happening to me, I still buy them and use them often. Its a pity you guys don't get the worlds lightest TH...the Makita 231T made by Yamabiko corp Japan. It is approved by our EPA but not yours.


You are correct it is all plastic but it feels like a good heavy plastic and seems like it will hold up pretty well, but only time will tell. I know the plastic on ms290/ms390 frames is tough as hell, I had an old frame from a saw that had been run over by a skidder and all it did was put one small crack in the fuel tank and the frame protected the engine from getting damaged, and all I had to replace is the frame and handle. I tried hitting the old frame with a sledge hammer to see how tough it was and it held up surprisingly well.
 
Nice to read this.

Just for info it is lighter then the 200 201 540 TH saws. ;)



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I just repaired an Echo 355T that was used by a tree trim/removal company. The chain brake handle was broken off. The bar was bent. The side handle was broken loose from the top handle, ripping out the plastic from the top handle, so the entire top handle had to be replaced. Parts alone were close to $100. I spent about seven hours taking it apart and putting it back together. Not an easy task, but it runs once again.

I rate it about even to a Stihl MS200T because these are also a bear cat to fix. Prices of top handle saws have gone through the roof.
 
I'll sell you some Homelite XL's for cheap. ;)
Actually, I have three top handles that still work well. An ancient Poulan XXV that refuses to die, an Echo 3400 that keeps going and going, and a newer Echo 330T that cost me $240 (less than half the prices of a 355T). I noticed this big price jump two years ago right after I bought the 340. Echo discontinued several models.
 
I just repaired an Echo 355T that was used by a tree trim/removal company. The chain brake handle was broken off. The bar was bent. The side handle was broken loose from the top handle, ripping out the plastic from the top handle, so the entire top handle had to be replaced. Parts alone were close to $100. I spent about seven hours taking it apart and putting it back together. Not an easy task, but it runs once again.

I rate it about even to a Stihl MS200T because these are also a bear cat to fix. Prices of top handle saws have gone through the roof.
Repairing a Stihl 201 is supposed to be a similar pain.

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Repairing a Stihl 201 is supposed to be a similar pain.

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Exactly and so is the Stihl 200T. I just finished one of those and have one in progress. There are actually more mechanical nightmares inside the top handle of the 200T than there are inside the Echo 355T. I believe the brains of the engineers who designed these concoctions are being studied carefully by scientists.
 

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