Echo's new top handle: CS-355T

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I love it! The worlds largest tree company's Forman's manual states that chainsaws shall not be operated with one hand. I want to point out that the word they use is shall not should.

OSHA also agrees with that company they state, ◾Keep your hands on the saw's handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw. Note that it says hands, not hand.

Silly me for having concerns about someone with limited training and experience, operating a saw with one hand.

Thanks for quoting the fat-assed bureaucrats for us but, pardon me, what am I supposed to hold on to the tree with, my tail. or should I just learn to levitate? Ever been 60 feet up on a windy day? You got one thing right, "SIlly me."
 
Silly me for having concerns about someone with limited training and experience, operating a saw with one hand.

Actually you have concerns with anybody who's not a qualified arborist even touching a top handled saw and even called me lazy for using one at ground level before even asking under what conditions it was being used.
 
Anybody that pretends a top handle saw is never to be operated with one hand is not a real arborist.;)



Mr. HE:cool:
 
i use my top handles to juggle so idk what you guys are talking about:laugh:

i keep my little top handles around for light trimming and for the woman cause there light and she likes "her" saw (micro 2000). a saw is a saw next thing you know people will be getting pissed because everyone will be running bottom handled saws on the ground instead of upside down in a tree:potstir:
 
I love it! The worlds largest tree company's Forman's manual states that chainsaws shall not be operated with one hand. I want to point out that the word they use is shall not should.

OSHA also agrees with that company they state, ◾Keep your hands on the saw's handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw. Note that it says hands, not hand.

Silly me for having concerns about someone with limited training and experience, operating a saw with one hand.



What is your point?
Did I ever say that they should be used one handed?
I use mine one handed but do not advocate others use theirs in this manner.
I have concerns about ANYONE with limited knowledge and experience using ANY power saw. They can ALL bite you if you don't know and watch what you are doing.

The O.S.H.A. regulations as well as the laws of most states require that BOTH hands be on the steering wheel at all times. Do you follow that?
Makes it pretty difficult to shift doesn't it?


Mike
 
Is this the homeowner slash firewood part of Arboristsite where we bicker about one handling a tophandle chainsaw that was designed to be maneuvered in tight spaces while holding onto by both hands?
Last time I checked this was the topic about the 'new' Echo 355 chainsaw.
Any relevant owner input please! These machines are still not on sale here so every story is welcome.

Wolter
 
Love the performance of my 355t, but the darn chain brake mechanism is faulty...I've been through 3 so far...whereas my 271t's chain brake is rock solid.
 
Love the performance of my 355t, but the darn chain brake mechanism is faulty...I've been through 3 so far...whereas my 271t's chain brake is rock solid.

Does the 355T's brake assembly resemble to the 360T's?
And I do refer to it's guts.. the band, the linkage/s, leverage/s, spring/s etc'.. nevermind the handle and the rest..
Jo.
 
I'm not sure, I've never used a 360T.


All I know is that back when I had mine, I found on this very site, someone who knew just right how to discover that by removing a tiny plastic spacer from where the spring gets the tension - that eases the whole mechanism to work like a proper brake you have on any proper saw.. dunnow about the 355T though..

Jo.
 
For any members who are interested, Echo just lowered the price of the CS-355T with 16" bar to $359.99 and it comes with a "free" carrying casae. When you figure that a 201 goes for $649.95 plus tax (692.20 in VA), my son who cracked the fuel tank on the one Brad modified for him went with the Echo. Plus he gets a one year warranty versus Stihl's 90 day! No idea how long this price will last, but it is on the Echo website and my dealer in Yorktown said they got an email advising them of the price reduction. Guess Echo is really going after the tree climbers.

The only downside to the saw that I can see is the fact it comes with some Echo bar that while made by Oregon is a *astard size...57 drive links and has a real narrow tip designed for low kickback. So we will be upgrading to an Oregon 56 drive link bar.

Just thought I would pass this along.
 
Thanks for quoting the fat-assed bureaucrats for us but, pardon me, what am I supposed to hold on to the tree with, my tail. or should I just learn to levitate? Ever been 60 feet up on a windy day? You got one thing right, "SIlly me."
I'm glad some one posted to this thread, or I might have missed this comment. Are you saying the highest you have been up in a tree is 60 ft.? Position, position, position. experience and skill my friend.
 
Love the performance of my 355t, but the darn chain brake mechanism is faulty...I've been through 3 so far...whereas my 271t's chain brake is rock solid.
There is a white plastic spacer you can remove between the spring and linkage. It will lighten up the pull to get the brake off. I have done it to my saw years ago and had no problems with it
 
Actually you have concerns with anybody who's not a qualified arborist even touching a top handled saw and even called me lazy for using one at ground level before even asking under what conditions it was being used.
I still stand by my statement. If you think you can buck up limbs with a top handled saw faster, more efficient and safer than a rear handled saw i doubt your credibility.
 
Yeah, she's a hot little saw. Probably +1500 rpm over the 360 and four stroking. I don't have a tach, that's going by sound but I've tuned a saw or two by ear. The top end is great. A wicked sharp chain lets this saw's top end shine. I'm running square filed PS3 and it shreds. The throttle response is remarkable. Everyone I know who has used the 201 says that to be its best out of the box, it takes a few minutes to get it warmed up. The 355 can charge right out of the gait. Snappy. I've really only done moderate cutting with it. I need to use it on an all day removal to see its strengths and weaknesses, really put it through its paces. I don't know that there is much to be gained by way of a muffler mod either. The muffler is empty as is. The spark screen area is huge compared to the outlet and likely doesn't restrict flow to any appreciable degree. It's not a really thirsty saw either. Easy on the fuel for sure. The saw isn't pretentious, it doesn't come across as snobbish because of its bloodlines or the name on the side. It's an honest piece of equipment that wants to work.
These are my first impressions, but based in my experiences with other echo equipment, not much will change in the way I feel about this saw.

Saving $200 over the 201 is well worth it in my opinion. Take that $200 and buy something nice:) I think echo has nailed it with this little saw.
Really can't beat jap motors they were built to be pissedan reed and worked.
 
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