Looking to get a saw to limb with

Sweet! That saw looks like a miniature version of the echo 680. Sounds like a great price too.


Just in case you are interested.

Echo CS-400 Muffler mod and limiters

 

^^^ good advice
400s are pretty clogged up, and de-tuned from the factory.....a bit of tweaking and they're pretty respectable lil saws.

 

I hope it is a good saw for you. I really like my 400

 

Stop it! I'mma have to go buy one....

 

Not sure what size of limbs you are going to be cutting. But if you’re talking about 6” or so maybe an occasional 8”. I’d seriously suggest a Milwaukee hatchet.

I know, I know they don’t look like much more than a child’s toy. But every time I use mine I always like it more. It’s quite an impressive little tool. About a month ago I completely limbed a 30ft plus blue spruce with mine and then bucked it down from the top to about the 10” diameter. (Probably 4 bucking cuts) all on one battery.
Today I used it for 3 hours out of the bucket truck, clearing a path for a satellite dish through a couple elms. Took down one limb that I measured at 9”. Comes with a 8” bar and 3/8” chisel NON safety chain.
Only other saw that has impressed me as much is at the complete opposite end of the chainsaw spectrum, and that’s my brand new Husqvarna 592.
PS
I didn’t even completely drain 1 battery today

 

CAD enabler.

 

You're welcome.

Btw, the Shindaiwa 402S is the same saw in red of that's any more alluring....

 

I just don't see the point of any saw under 50cc.

If you are really bent on cutting small limbs, get a 36" lopper.

 

Do you see the point of a 1/4" ratchet vs a 1"ratchet?

 

I very rarely contradict or argue about this type of stuff but.....

I would be interested in seeing you limb one of these with loppers.....to the tune of 50+ trees a day.






And yes, 1.5 pounds of extra weight does make a difference when you do this kind of stuff for hours on end.
And no, the extra power of a 50cc saw is not worth it, nor does it get the job done perceptibly faster.... in fact it can actually slow down your production.

Yes, this is an extreme example of tons of small limbs, but it serves to illustrate the place a good 40cc saw has in the woods.

 

I don't see the need for a saw over 50cc for the majority of Chainsaw users. Untold amounts of firewood has been cut with sub 50cc saws for decades. That said, I fully understand everyone's needs, wants and situations are different. Every tool has its place.

 

X2. Using my 201 on the red maple i just took down is a lot easier than when i picked up the 400 to buck it up. I love the light weight of it and was bucking up to 6-8" logs.

 

We have a neighbor that has been cutting and heating with wood for 50 years. 40-50 cc poulan saws are all he's ever used. Wild things even. Lol.

 

I see that a lot with average burners. One cheapo average saw for cutting.

I was really thinking of getting the 201 ported as i like using it a lot. How much power increase would i expect?

 

Agreed.

Aside from pro loggers and tree service guys, I run saws way more than most guys on the interwebs, and 50cc saws are my preference most of the time.
I cut stuff for a living....and on average we burn 5-10 gallons of saw gas a month here, so not the usual 2-10 cord a year wood burners.

At my house, a well sharpened chain is the number one cutting doctrine.... followed by proper saw tuning.... CCs, and HPs, are lower priorities.

I understand that personal preference is a factor, if someone feels the need to lug around a 70cc or 90cc saw for limbing..... go for it, more power to em!


When I was young and dumber, I cut brush with a 3120xp w/36" bar.....

 

When I sent my 029 super to Huskihl he claimed 20% faster cut times, and it seems about right. It may not sound like a lot at first, but when you’re pushing it there is a significant difference.

 

Agree!!

I've had experience getting saws ported by 5 different people and ran many more @ gtg's. A lot of times (most) I've seen 35-40% faster cut in the same log. Several times I made timed cuts, sent the saw, timed it ported (same bar, chain and wood).

 

Mine went from 13 seconds average for three cut to 9 in the same log. You could have purchased it $1000 plus shipping. It was snatched up by a tree service owner quite quickly.

 

A friend, and member here, Mrxlh, brought his 3120 to Walt's gtg this year. It didn't take long for him to get out his XS353 / 346.