Small saws for small trees

[Brushwacker]

Most the time i carry 2 to 4 saws with me through out the year locked up on my pickup up usually liking to match saw size to applications. I have an Efco 3700 with with a 12in bar and mended busted up handle I seldom lock up so i can just grab it and make the cuts i need to clear whatever i need in my road or path. Super easy to keep a 12in chain sharp and it cuts well enough i often don't bother to unlock and fuel up a bigger saw to get a small load of wood. If its stolen while i am eating lunch up town which is unlikely given its appearance could probably find a better comprible saw for about $100. If it were a Stihl and i used it like that sooner or later likely a theif would find it irresistible and i would be out 2 times the money. I like keeping a saw or 2 like that handy here and there and if i am not cutting big wood for a substantial amount of time its sometimes as fast and more convenient to cut fair size trees with the little beater saw in my case, all things considered.

 

[Okie]

Are you one of those guys that still grease them lol.

If you grease them, you need to grease them an a normal basis. Or you can use brake parts cleaner to remove tue grease and then never grease them again.

I run my chains tight and haven't greased a bar tip on one of my saws in over 10yrs. The only bearing failure I've had on mine was from boring with an overly aggressive chain, 100% operator error.

I don't grease them roller tips and I have the little needle tip grease gun for such.
Several years ago I did so as per the owners manual but they get enough lube from the chain oiler.
I do inspect the roller/sprocket and take a putty knife and clean the bar slot good.

If I had a roller seizing up I would inspect such instead of just hoping it's problem would go away by itself. I suspect he will probably need a replacement bar, but I would also check that the oiler is operating properly and not ruining both the bar and the chain. If the is a 3/8 pitch he needs to make sure he is using the correct chain pitch. (picco (LP) vs standard)
AND like brushwacker says good to keep a beater/loaner saw around,, one of them type saws that if someone steals it they don't really know what they got until later.
I have couple of late model Poulans and Macs that are use for such and do not have to gas up my good saws unless I want to gdo some real saw work. No great loss if them Polulans and Mac's evaporate.

 

[Doorfx]

I have a cs490. seems to be a good saw except I have locked up the roller tips on 2 oem bars in about 30 hours of operation. I ran it last weekend with no problem what so ever. I pulled it out yesterday and fired it up and the tip was locked up tight. I have several echo saws and all have oem bars and no issues. cs300, cs3000, cs2511t and 2 cs355t but this 490 I just don't understand what the problem is. any ideas?

If you’re cutting really pitchy wood it will happen. Just need to clean it out.

 

[Will the wood chopper]

If you’re cutting really pitchy wood it will happen. Just need to clean it out.

I cut hedge. super sticky stuff. I just do not understand why it is only this saw that does it. I have a stihl ms 290, and echo cs300, cs3000, cs2511t and 2 cs 355t's and none of them have this issue. I was able to get it cleaned out and spinning good again.

 

[Mad3400]

Regularly, anything between 3/4"-6" I run my Echo 2511T, but I'll run it in 16"+ and never had an issue.

Mad3400