I'd never use a Timber Bear in a tree but then I don't climb trees anymore, anyway. Was just making an observation about the tiny space in the stirrup. My Stihl's are adequate. The 590 is not. The other thing I don't much like is the kill switch. It's really archaic for a modern saw unlike my Stihl's where the kill switch is integrated into the single lever but I guess for the price point I can live with it. I've replaced more than one (switch) at the dealership where I work part time. Seems as though owners don't much like it like me. Just got a 590 in that was straight gassed the other day as well and Echo immediately denied any warranty on it. It was in bad shape, you could easily see the metal transfer in the exhaust port with the muffler removed and very little compression as well. Guess it's new cylinder and piston/ring time on the owner's dime. Have to tear it apart and see what other damage there is. I find it somewhat amazing how stupid owners can be. Shop rate on non warranty repairs is $110 bucks an hour plus parts and that includes tractors and lawn mowers. Just got in a a Cub Cadet that the owner set on fire. Never cleaned the dried grass from around the engine and it caught on fire and melted the cooling shroud as well as all the wiring on the Kohler commercial grade engine.
You would be amazed at how many Kubota tractor owners never clean the OEM installed radiator screens as well and then they complain the units are overheating and when they wind up in the shop for a non existent repair and you lift the hood and see the clogged up radiator screens, you know exactly what the issue is. Some 'stupid' owners run them until the engines overheat and ruin them and then are faced with a rebuild and Kubota like Echo, will not warrant any engine damage caused by an owner neglecting maintenance items and a clogged radiator from grass or whatever falls under that.
Owner seem to never read the supplied with manuals or bother to at least do routine maintenance, they just run them until they puke and then they come in and we charge them accordingly.
One thing that owners of new mowers seem to not understand is, all the air cooled mower engines, commercial grade or not, require timely valve clearance adjustment. Kohler, Kawasaki and Briggs commercial V twins all have solid valve lifters and all require timely valve adjustments as well as timely oil and filter changes. Out of adjustment valves result in hard starting as the compression releases on them are actuated by the an assembly that acts on the intake lobe of the camshaft. Over spec valve slop always impacts starting any of the engines and setting the valve clearance is pretty easy to do (or expensive to do when we have to do it) and usually there is related damage as well. Glad I only fiddle with chain saws. Mowers are a PITA to deal with IMO.
