Echo has a new CS-490

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Macky Anthony

Macky Anthony

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I recently purchased and returned a CS-370 because it leaked a ton of bar oil on idle and when stored. Planning to get a CS-400 but inquired with a local dealer for a 490 and was able to price it only $14 more than a 400 @ Home Depot. Soo00 excited! Hopefully first year model saws do not apply to the rule of buying first year model cars! :)

Now I'm really glad that the 370 didn't work out for me!
 
2lumbarleft

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I'm sure they got the kinks worked out with the cs500.if there is such a thing as a non EPA kink with Echo.
But im sure the 490 is going to be way too heavy at 10.6 lbs and way too under powered.:laugh:

To the best of my understanding, the CS-500P was fashioned from the Shindaiwa 502S. (Not as powerful as the CS510 - CS530 but lighter). If the trend follows that the CS-490 has the same power plant, it will come with a magnesium vertically split crankcase. I fail to see how a CS-490 will be too heavy at 10.6 pounds having a 50 cc engine? Its the lightest 50 cc chainsaw in that class right now. Even if it is a little underpowered by some estimates (2.8 hp?), I have run them, and they will run with a 450 Husqvarna rancher (11.3 pounds) once a minor muffler mod is performed, and it just doesn't get easier than with the CS-500P muffler. Its a ten minute job. Echo is very good with correctly advertising saw weights. I weighed my CS-500P minus fluids but with bucking spikes attached, and it came in at 10.8 pounds, so I believe the published weight. A Stihl 025 or an MS-250 comes in at 10.5 pounds with bucking spike attached. The build quality on an Echo is clearly superior to the cheaper Stihl saws, and those are actually quite expensive for what your are getting. With the Echo, you get an adjustable oiler, and a fully adjustable carburetor, not fixed jet like on the Stihl 025. If Stihl brought back the 026 Pro for $350, then I would agree that the Echo was no longer the best deal. Interestingly enough, Stihl has come out with new saws that are now heavier than before! To be clear, I am absolutely not comparing the CS-500P against the Husqvarna 550 XP, but it will be at least competitive with the Dolmar PS-421 w/2.9 hp and about 10.8 pounds (but probably a little heavier due to fudging the numbers). If we are going to make comparisons, I would argue that we have to incorporate build quality into the equation with weight and horsepower as well, as we evaluate most value for the buck.
 
fordf150

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About ago, I was trying to decide what Craftsman chainsaw to get. I honestly think that I can't go wrong with these, yet even a CS-310 would meet my needs :)
just my experience but i would stay away from the 310. sold 2 and had 2 come back with the rear handle broke where the wrap handle bolts to it at the front. seems a little flimsy and cheap.
 
Deleted member 83629
D

Deleted member 83629

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im been liking the 590 thus far last week i replaced the worn sprocket with a rim drive set up
the echo dealer has a blown 620 and he is letting me get the coil,handle bar and few other odds and ends from it
im going to look into a 490 it might land on my saw shelf in the next few months.

YOU GUYS have not said one word about the new echo cs 360 coming out May 2015 in the US all i know about the saw its 36cc and weights around 8 lbs
and will be priced somewhere in the 400.00 range.
echo-cs360-wes-30cm-bee9.800x600-s.jpg
 
jughead500

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To the best of my understanding, the CS-500P was fashioned from the Shindaiwa 502S. (Not as powerful as the CS510 - CS530 but lighter). If the trend follows that the CS-490 has the same power plant, it will come with a magnesium vertically split crankcase. I fail to see how a CS-490 will be too heavy at 10.6 pounds having a 50 cc engine? Its the lightest 50 cc chainsaw in that class right now. Even if it is a little underpowered by some estimates (2.8 hp?), I have run them, and they will run with a 450 Husqvarna rancher (11.3 pounds) once a minor muffler mod is performed, and it just doesn't get easier than with the CS-500P muffler. Its a ten minute job. Echo is very good with correctly advertising saw weights. I weighed my CS-500P minus fluids but with bucking spikes attached, and it came in at 10.8 pounds, so I believe the published weight. A Stihl 025 or an MS-250 comes in at 10.5 pounds with bucking spike attached. The build quality on an Echo is clearly superior to the cheaper Stihl saws, and those are actually quite expensive for what your are getting. With the Echo, you get an adjustable oiler, and a fully adjustable carburetor, not fixed jet like on the Stihl 025. If Stihl brought back the 026 Pro for $350, then I would agree that the Echo was no longer the best deal. Interestingly enough, Stihl has come out with new saws that are now heavier than before! To be clear, I am absolutely not comparing the CS-500P against the Husqvarna 550 XP, but it will be at least competitive with the Dolmar PS-421 w/2.9 hp and about 10.8 pounds (but probably a little heavier due to fudging the numbers). If we are going to make comparisons, I would argue that we have to incorporate build quality into the equation with weight and horsepower as well, as we evaluate most value for the buck.
Actually I should have been clearer.I was being sarcastic.:D
 
CR888

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l want to get a 35-45cc echo with a good power to wieght ratio. l got a new cs550p out the post here and it is a well built good saw that handles well but at 55cc's it feels similar in wieght/bulk to a 70/80cc saw of other makes. l'll keep it as l don't mind it too much and have plenty of saws but l want and echo that is fairly light for its displacement (am l dreaming). So threads like this are good to keep up on Echo's latest offerings. That 50 somthing volt electric battery saw that philbert talked about recently looked interesting, he said it was a stand out over other brands he ran side by side.
 
mountainlake

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l want to get a 35-45cc echo with a good power to wieght ratio. l got a new cs550p out the post here and it is a well built good saw that handles well but at 55cc's it feels similar in wieght/bulk to a 70/80cc saw of other makes. l'll keep it as l don't mind it too much and have plenty of saws but l want and echo that is fairly light for its displacement (am l dreaming). So threads like this are good to keep up on Echo's latest offerings. That 50 somthing volt electric battery saw that philbert talked about recently looked interesting, he said it was a stand out over other brands he ran side by side.


The CS550p has to be Echo's worst model in quite a while. Steve
 
bikemike

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Meant to compete with the ms250 and husky 450 but with magnesium case like the 590 has over the ms310 and 460 rancher. At $350 Echo has another best bang for your buck saw! These are already available at the factory. I plan to get one on my next order!
Echo does have a nice av system. My 6 dollar cs 510 has a 6 point rubber av. Stihl need a bar chain and spur gear then i will let my 10 yr old run it and maybe do some racing with it as a first saw
 
2lumbarleft

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This may be a stupid question but why doesn't this model have a purge/primer pump?

To lower the cost or simply not needed for this size of engine? Thanks in advance.


I am running two Echo CS-500P saws right now, and they couldn't possibly start faster with a purge bulb, so why bother? I bought a CS-590 for the hell of it, and that unit could use the purge bulb. Also, the decompression valves might as well not even be there, because they pop up in the middle of the first pull anyway. That happens on my CS-600P as well. That is a problem I wish Echo would address. Both my rotator cuffs are shot and I could use a little help in that department.
 

WSE

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just my experience but i would stay away from the 310. sold 2 and had 2 come back with the rear handle broke where the wrap handle bolts to it at the front. seems a little flimsy and cheap.
Tell your guys to sharpen their chain and quit yanking on the saw. I've sold several 310s and they have been flawless.
 

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