Talk to me about Echo chainsaws

[Bakemono]

Alright folks, whats the verdict on Echo chainsaws. My family has always had Echo trimmers and they have been flawless and I was considering buying a new saw to replace my Stihl 021 and was kind of leaning towards an Echo, but a few people Ive talked to (including one guy who worked at an Echo dealership 10 years ago) said that Echo makes great trimmers but that their chainsaws are junk.
A few weeks ago I was looking at some Echo saws at the local Home Depot and they look to be pretty well-made, but Id like to hear some more opinions on this subject.
Thanks...

 

[Jacob J.]

Echo has several models which are good quality saws. All of the major saw manufacturers have good models and models which are junkers. It's a matter of knowing which ones to stay away from.

 

[excess650]

Alright folks, whats the verdict on Echo chainsaws. My family has always had Echo trimmers and they have been flawless and I was considering buying a new saw to replace my Stihl 021 and was kind of leaning towards an Echo, but a few people Ive talked to (including one guy who worked at an Echo dealership 10 years ago) said that Echo makes great trimmers but that their chainsaws are junk.
A few weeks ago I was looking at some Echo saws at the local Home Depot and they look to be pretty well-made, but Id like to hear some more opinions on this subject.
Thanks...

"Echo has several models which are good quality saws. All of the major saw manufacturers have good models and models which are junkers. It's a matter of knowing which ones to stay away from."

The larger Echos, CS520, CS670, CS8000 have aluminum or magnesium cases. The smaller, new saws have plastic cases housing the engine shortblock, not unlike many other manufacturers' lighweight saws. As far as I know, all of the new Echos have adjustable oilers and carbs(mine do). I own several of the CS-3450/345/346 and a CS-306. They are very lightweight, and work fine for small wood, and are extremely handy for limbing(9.25# ready to cut). I would hope that the CS-370 and CS-400 are more powerful than the smaller saws, because the powerheads are 10#, but I haven't run one. All of the new Echos do have a 5 year consumer warranty.

The low end Husqvarna/Jonsered, and Stihl products aren't any better, if as good, but the diehard Stihl fans will argue....

If you're looking for a small displacement, lightweight saw I would suggest the Makita DCS 401(Dolmar). It has the magnesium cases, 39cc 2.3hp, and available on Ebay for $225+S&H. Its about 1.5# lighter than the 40cc Echo.

Is your 021 beyond rebuilding?

 

[7sleeper]

@ excess650

great post!!!!

great info!!!

7sleeper

 

[2000ssm6]

Echo's are not that bad, just don't ever run a Stihl, Dolmar, Jred, or husky.:Eye: :Eye:

I own a cs346, a good cheap saw for small limbing. Maybe a few steps above the throw away saws like pull on and other wally world junk.

 

[mountainlake]

I own Stihl Husky Dolmar and Echos. The Echos come with me out to the woods most often, the run great handle nice and have good power. If your getting a Echo I'd recomend the CS520 10.6# and it rips, but on the other hand you could get a Dolmar 5100s for the same money and it will cut a little faster but might wiegh around a pound more. Steve

 

[pioneerguy600]

"Echo has several models which are good quality saws. All of the major saw manufacturers have good models and models which are junkers. It's a matter of knowing which ones to stay away from."

The larger Echos, CS520, CS670, CS8000 have aluminum or magnesium cases. The smaller, new saws have plastic cases housing the engine shortblock, not unlike many other manufacturers' lighweight saws. As far as I know, all of the new Echos have adjustable oilers and carbs(mine do). I own several of the CS-3450/345/346 and a CS-306. They are very lightweight, and work fine for small wood, and are extremely handy for limbing(9.25# ready to cut). I would hope that the CS-370 and CS-400 are more powerful than the smaller saws, because the powerheads are 10#, but I haven't run one. All of the new Echos do have a 5 year consumer warranty.

The low end Husqvarna/Jonsered, and Stihl products aren't any better, if as good, but the diehard Stihl fans will argue....

If you're looking for a small displacement, lightweight saw I would suggest the Makita DCS 401(Dolmar). It has the magnesium cases, 39cc 2.3hp, and available on Ebay for $225+S&H. Its about 1.5# lighter than the 40cc Echo.

Is your 021 beyond rebuilding?

Good to hear the 670 has a metal crankcase ,I bought one today site unseen and will pick it up this week ,its 6 months old but has a bent top handle and the chainbrake handle broke off as well,paid $60.00 for it ,hope its worth it. Pioneerguy600

 

[SawTroll]

said that Echo makes great trimmers but that their chainsaws are junk. ....

I believe that is a pretty accurate observation.....

.....well, not junk, but very low on power...

 

[pastryguyhawaii]

Good to hear the 670 has a metal crankcase ,I bought one today site unseen and will pick it up this week ,its 6 months old but has a bent top handle and the chainbrake handle broke off as well,paid $60.00 for it ,hope its worth it. Pioneerguy600

Not bad for $60.00. As I've said before, the cs670 is a good saw but I don't try to compare it a Stihl or a Husky. After Dean modded it, it's a great saw to run.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Not bad for $60.00. As I've said before, the cs670 is a good saw but I don't try to compare it a Stihl or a Husky. After Dean modded it, it's a great saw to run.

It`s sounding better all the time, if it is in half as good a shape as I was told I can easily fix it. There is always someone looking for a good used reasonably priced firewood saw around here.Sold all the rebuilt Homelite SXL`s for a hundred a piece and have more people asking if I can get more. Pioneerguy600

 

[Bakemono]

Everyone I know are diehard Stihl owners, so when I mentioned that I was considering replacing my 021 with an Echo, they all told me I was crazy, that Echo is junk and that I shouldnt even consider anything but a Stihl.
It sounds like just as with anything else, you get what you pay for. I use my 021 for cutting firewood and it only gets used a couple times a year. I wish I had some land to play on with a chainsaw every weekend, but right now thats not gonna happen.
Id love to someday buy some land where I could have my own dirtbike trails and maybe even my own motocross track. That would be cool.
Im leaning towards getting something bigger than the 021 that I have now. Its been a good saw, but there have been times that I wished it had a longer bar. My brother has several Stihls and one of them is an 028 with an 18". So, Im leaning towards either a CS-440 or a CS-520.

 

[Kurf]

Hi Bakemono,
If you are considering an Echo 440 or CS 520. I would buy the cs520. I have a cs346 and cs520. I like both saws but the cs346 is a little short on power. The cs346 is not very heavy so I use it more on general cutting around the farm. I was in the local Echo Dealer's Shop before I purchased my saws and the sales person told me that one of their customers bought a 440 and a 520 at the same time for cutting fire wood. She said that after a couple of weeks the guy come back in and asked if they would take the 440 back in on a trade for a cs520. They traded and all ended well. I have a 20" bar on mine but believe a 18" is the ideal length.
Kurf

 

[Bakemono]

Hi Bakemono,
If you are considering an Echo 440 or CS 520. I would buy the cs520. I have a cs346 and cs520. I like both saws but the cs346 is a little short on power. The cs346 is not very heavy so I use it more on general cutting around the farm. I was in the local Echo Dealer's Shop before I purchased my saws and the sales person told me that one of their customers bought a 440 and a 520 at the same time for cutting fire wood. She said that after a couple of weeks the guy come back in and asked if they would take the 440 back in on a trade for a cs520. They traded and all ended well. I have a 20" bar on mine but believe a 18" is the ideal length.
Kurf

Thanks for the advice. Im leaning towards the 520 just because it has the bigger engine. Id rathar have more horsepower than I need than to not have enough.

 

[stevenb334]

Echo's are not bad saws, I have 2 huskies a 359 and 372xp. We have 3 echos. A CS670 which is pretty good and 2 smaller ones for limbing. I think the decompressor on the huskies is what really makes them worth spending the money. They are so easy to start compared to the echos!

 

[THALL10326]

All the Echo saws I've seen in the shop seem to be made pretty good. All the ones I've run seem to lack alittle power CC for CC compared to other top brands but is power everything? I've seen a bunch of old Echo's still running quite well after many years of use. Longivity and reliabilty should be included when judging a product, not power alone. Biggest problem with Echo is Home Depot. For every Echo dealer,and they are far and few in between, there are a 100 Home Depots selling Echo and not backing them up with parts and service. Sadly without Home Depot Echo would probably be out of business, with Home Depot their name gets alittle tarnished from lack of service and parts. The Echo product itself from all the ones I've seen seem to be made quite well.

 

[Bob Wright]

There are quite a few Echo dealers around these parts of Ne Ohio seems like everywhere i drive i see signs. Maybe its time to open up another fix it shop...Bob

 

[THALL10326]

There are quite a few Echo dealers around these parts of Ne Ohio seems like everywhere i drive i see signs. Maybe its time to open up another fix it shop...Bob

I wish they would open some around here Bob. We got a Home Depot it seems every five miles and yet our local John Deere dealer is our only Echo dealer. I get alot of Echo's in the shop that need a minor repair requiring a small part or two. Most of them were bought over at Home Depot. I always send them to the JD dealer up the road since I don't have any parts for them. Like I say though I see nothing wrong with a Echo product itself. They look well made to me and I have seen a bunch of them running good after many years of use. I rarely hear anything bad about Echo.

 

[epicklein22]

If you have good dealer support and have been happy with echo products before, go for one. I would stay away from the larger echos, 670 and up because they have weak power, but the mid range saws and lower are a good deal for the money. They are slightly slower than other brands, but they last a long time. I am not a big fan of the ms210, ms230, and ms250 models from stihl or the lower model husky, except the 350. The Husky 350 is a good saw for the money and is built pretty well. That saw would be a good second choice. Used is always an option too. You could find a 028 for 100 to 200 bucks pretty easily.

 

[volks-man]

my echos are put together very well.
they are noticeably light on power for their weight and slow.
if you are the 'occasional user' echos could last you a lifetime.

if you plan to cut regularly, get a higher-end husky, stihl, or dolmar. i stepped up to a smaller pro stihl after using my echo cs440 for a while and it is like night and day.


in my opinion echos are at least one step up from the craftsmans, low end huskys, and assorted junk at the box stores. not a bad thing, mind you.

good luck!

 

[hanniedog]

Echos may not be the fastest per cc, but are as dependable as the day is long. I dont have any new stuff just a 650,500,315 and a 302. Due routine upkeep and they will last a long time. The adjustable oilers work very well also. Just my two cents.