Fordiesel69
ArboristSite Lurker
If they left it the same quality and raised the price I would be happy.
If they kept the old price and made it with cheaper materials, I may still buy it but would not be as happy. I wont be considering a new one now and will rather seek out an older one that is mint.
I was interested in buying a new one until i started looking it over;
I've owned mine since new (june 20014)
Old = June 2014 MSRP was $199 for a true quality lightweight pro-sumer piece of equipment. People used them for pro application and got decent life out of them.
New = April 2023 MSRP is $229 for what appears to be a 100% homeowner grade piece of equipment. There is nothing pro about it.
Old = My 2014 engine is rated at 50hrs and has a 1 ring piston, and what appears to be some kind of plated cylinder bore.
New = The new 2023 engine is also rated at 50hrs and has the same 1 ring piston, but has what appears to be a bare aluminum cylinder with almost no crosshatching and no visible plating.
Old = My 2014 engine casting is a very smooth aluminum with zero corrosion and its fit and finish is near perfect of the old echo times.
New = The several 2023 engines I looked at are extremely porous, the surfaces do not appear to line up well, and there is already corrosion present on the outside.
Old = My 2014 engine has a solid aluminum flywheel.
New = The new 2023 has a black plastic flywheel.
Old = My 2014 has real friction material on the centrifugal clutch, and has a metal clutch drum.
New = The new 2023 has a solid metal centrifugal clutch and a metal clutch drum. (I personally dont know there if there is any benefit one way or another.)
Old= Cast aluminum clutch housing
New= Plastic clutch housing.
Old= Rubber isolated metal pole mount with two screws.
New= Black plastic, no rubber pole mount.
Old= Handle and trigger have nice soft vibration foam, and albeit mine is mint, but some say it deteriorated if left outside on a trailer.
New = Some cheap flexible plastic that is rock hard and does not feel very good.
Old= Throttle cable bracket is some kind of plated metal and has no corrosion.
New = 2023 throttle cable bracket looks like it may not be plated and already has white corrosion on the metal.
Both have very crappy debris shields that require chaps.
New 2023 Model:
2014 Model:
If they kept the old price and made it with cheaper materials, I may still buy it but would not be as happy. I wont be considering a new one now and will rather seek out an older one that is mint.
I was interested in buying a new one until i started looking it over;
I've owned mine since new (june 20014)
Old = June 2014 MSRP was $199 for a true quality lightweight pro-sumer piece of equipment. People used them for pro application and got decent life out of them.
New = April 2023 MSRP is $229 for what appears to be a 100% homeowner grade piece of equipment. There is nothing pro about it.
Old = My 2014 engine is rated at 50hrs and has a 1 ring piston, and what appears to be some kind of plated cylinder bore.
New = The new 2023 engine is also rated at 50hrs and has the same 1 ring piston, but has what appears to be a bare aluminum cylinder with almost no crosshatching and no visible plating.
Old = My 2014 engine casting is a very smooth aluminum with zero corrosion and its fit and finish is near perfect of the old echo times.
New = The several 2023 engines I looked at are extremely porous, the surfaces do not appear to line up well, and there is already corrosion present on the outside.
Old = My 2014 engine has a solid aluminum flywheel.
New = The new 2023 has a black plastic flywheel.
Old = My 2014 has real friction material on the centrifugal clutch, and has a metal clutch drum.
New = The new 2023 has a solid metal centrifugal clutch and a metal clutch drum. (I personally dont know there if there is any benefit one way or another.)
Old= Cast aluminum clutch housing
New= Plastic clutch housing.
Old= Rubber isolated metal pole mount with two screws.
New= Black plastic, no rubber pole mount.
Old= Handle and trigger have nice soft vibration foam, and albeit mine is mint, but some say it deteriorated if left outside on a trailer.
New = Some cheap flexible plastic that is rock hard and does not feel very good.
Old= Throttle cable bracket is some kind of plated metal and has no corrosion.
New = 2023 throttle cable bracket looks like it may not be plated and already has white corrosion on the metal.
Both have very crappy debris shields that require chaps.
New 2023 Model:
2014 Model:
