JKendrick87
ArboristSite Operative
Yeah can’t swing a new 261 right now, I’ve been looking at them used but they’re pretty rough in 350ish price range.
Echo Saws, are they Dependable
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spkay31
New Member
I have owned a basic Echo CS-400 (40cc) saw purchased "reconditioned" from my local Home Depot almost 10 years ago. One of the most reliable little saws I have ever owned. Starts easy and runs like a champ. I would never hesitate to recommend Echo saws based on this experience, but it is a small/mid saw at 40cc and therefore is mostly used for cutting wood 12-14" or less so can't comment on move heavy duty usage. But for basic residential use I think they are great. Tempted to get a 50 or 60 cc Echo but have opted for Chinese Stihl knockoffs instead. But I think the Echo quality is far superior to the China/Stihls I own.
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
I’ve got a MS261. It’s been a good saw but never would have bought it over an Echo 590 or 620 in hindsight. But I agree with a 261 out performing the 3510 and 4510… with more displacement and twice the price, I would hope so. The 261 would be more evenly matched with the Echo 501p. I’ve no experience with that saw but I just can’t get over its looks. I think it’s ugly.
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
Based on pure simplicity and reliability, the cs400 is my favorite saw. I own a 370 and a red 400(402s). If you do your part right, you can’t kill them.
JKendrick87
ArboristSite Operative
3510 would be compared to the MS 180 and the 4910 is supposed to be close to the 501p and 261
I'd save up the money for the 261 or 550... your only talking a few hundred bucks here.
IF you buy a 3510 my guess is you will NEVER use that 310 again. When I bought my 352 before the 3510 was created, I had a 310. It had a muffler mod and tuned correctly. That little thing Cuts great BUT, it was just sitting unused. Almost new. I sold it to a friend for 130 bucks. They use it very little. I keep it up for them and sharpen the chain etc..BUT.. I would never buy another 310.. I'm 75 now and use my saws less so I'm happy with the 352 but a friend bought the 3510 and it's awesome.. I have the 490 and use it some. I'd bet the 4910 is nicer.. FOR most of what I do now the 490, and the 352 are the most used saws. For that OCCASIONAL huge tree, the cs590 with a 28 inch bar does the trick..All of my saws are cranked pretty often even if I am not going to use them. Every gas engine on the farm is started every couple of months just to keep them alive..For that I use NON-ethanol gas and One Ounce of Sea foam to a gallon. I add just a TINY bit of Mixed gas to the Chainsaws. Crank them warm them up and then empty the fuel out while they are running. I then let them idle until they die. Some folks say differently. It might allow the carb parts to dry out. It might be worse. But that how I do it.. I once got a saw from a guy that had set up for 5 or 6 years. BEFORE I did anything I removed the Carb and soaked it for a month in a jar of NON Mixed gasoline. THEN I cleaned the carb. That way the internal gaskets were soft and DID NOT crack..But,, what do I know? It's just my way. Yours might differ..
JKendrick87
ArboristSite Operative
Looks like somebody loves the Echos enough to make some cool parts for them. Out of 590/620 deflectors at the moment though...... https://www.sawsalvage.co/search?q=gearhead
Why are people comparing a 261 to 3510? Not even same league or comparable. I own both and the 3510 is a gem of a little, reliable saw that does limbing well and I wouldn’t want to be without it. 261 is refined and the Mtronic is nice but I’m feeling Echo products more and more lately, the Stihls are just too costly.
The way life works is Every Person knows their business better than other people do..I love the 590 and my 352 and my 490. BUT I had a NEED for all of those saws. Your needs might vary a lot.. The 310 cuts pretty darn well with a Muffler mod and re-tune.. IF I were 65 instead of 75 and still climbing like I was at 70, i'd just have to get a new saw..Not that I don't want one but my house is small and most of the BIG trees that I wanted cut are already gone..Last year I did cut a HUGE Maple. It was hit by lightening so had to come down. My Grandson was in Irak at the time so I waited for him to come home. I used that tree to help teach him the proper way to drop a big ole hard wood Tree. We blocked it and now that it's dry it's REALLY hard..I'm splitting it with a wood splitter.. I'm not sure BUT I think it would have made some good wood wedges..The 590 will be pulled out soon because I am going to flush cut the stump..WHEN I can the 352 gets used. Once in a while the 490. If it's a downed pine tree just so the Sthil 029 don't feel neglected I'll use it to cut it into 10 foot pieces..BUT this 029 isn't a stock 029. She wears a 24 inch bar and pulls it like a Champ..Last year I was called to a house with a big pine down. The guy wanted it cut up. He had tried one of those small saws on it. When the 029 with that good bar and chain opened up he stood back and smiled. He wanted to buy it BUT I was not going to let it go cheap. So.. It's still kept up..As long as someone else is Happy with what ever, I am happy for them. Any saw beats NO saw..All saws are good if a person isn't in a hurry and can keep the chain sharp, tight, and the motor running. Heck I had an Old Poulan 2150 for years. That little thing cut good BUT no antivibe. I gifted it to a helper..It cut a lot of trees and some bigger than expected. Enjoy your saws..
Echo is all i use in my work from early april through late october and i can't say anything bad about any of it. Been using there trimmers for years and prefer them due to the lack of vibration and they don't cramp my hands like stihl or husqvarna products.
JKendrick87
ArboristSite Operative
My original thread on all of this was best saw for limbing, the 261 was a very popular suggestion. I’m not really looking to replace my current saw I like it. I want a second saw (someday probably a third
) just trying to figure out the best route to go.sand sock
ArboristSite Operative
my first saw was a echo and it burned up in less than 2 years. i never really enjoyed running it, but it was ok as a learner saw. but the shop fire may of had a lot to do with it andthe insurance bought me a stihl, so i guess i cant complain. if you needed a loaner saw, that you dont care if it comes back, echo may be your choice
Both nice saws. I pick up both used off marketplace. The 490 for $80 and 3510 for 50.
CutsThroughKnots
ArboristSite Lurker
Yeah, Echo. Only a couple months into my slightly used CS590 but this saw rocks my world! Big step up from a box store Poulain. Bought it from a saw jockey who has a love affair with Stihl so he wanted no part of it. Had a dull chain and I didn’t know how to start it without flooding but once I got those two things figured out it’s been a joy to use. I only have a 20” bar, which is fine for me. Interested in how it handles bigger bars.
Stick with the 20" unless your 100% soft wood. Great saws, know many that run the 590 and a few running 620's. 20" is a good size for its power in hardwood. Soft wood I'd go the 24" max.
My people are creamsicle people but I have heard a LOT of good feedback about Echo saws over the years. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if it didn't look out of place in a sea of light gray and orange...
No doubt Echo makes good stuff. Lack of saw shops carrying them, little to no exposure in the pro market and dated designs is what holds them back.
