I can't speak to the Echo, but I have a Stihl MS362C and have run probably close to 40 cord through it in the last five years. Very happy with it. It has plenty of power to pull a 20" chain, and isn't so heavy that it will weigh on you with a full day of cutting. I'm not a huge fan of the oiling system, but keeping the bar holes clean and running Stihl chain seems to help. The air filter is easy to get at and keep clean. Shortly after getting it I cut through a log that was full of water (literally, it was hollow in the center and had a ton of accumulated water) and stalled it. It didn't run great for a few days after that, but I switched to marine grade Stabil in my two stroke can and it's been fine since. Figure I must have sucked some water up into the carb that traveled back to the fuel tank. In retrospect, I should have drained it and let it set for a few days.. lesson learned. It's got a reversible baffle for cold or hot weather cutting that's supposed to allow some heat from the exhaust to warm the bar oil tank, making it flow better in cold weather. I leave it set up for cold till about 40 degrees, and it does what it's supposed to do. I'd buy it again.
The echo is a solid unit, but a stihl is better. Especially that stihl. The stihl costs more, but has more power and is lighter. Have you looked at the dolmar 6100? I'd buy that over both the stihl and the echo. The dolmar will be less money than the stihl, and with the dolmar you get all the pro saw "pro's" with less cost.
It's actually quite a bit closer than some would like to admit. Echo cs620p Very close in power. 4.52 hp for the Echo vs. 4.69 for the Stihl. I will say this I have actually run both saws. After a simple muffler mod and retune the Echo will run right with the Stihl. The 620p is the heavier of the 2 after the 362's redesign, but it's pretty hard to tell the difference without a scale. Both are quality saws. Think of Echo's as the Honda of chainsaws. You just really have to ask yourself if the 200 bucks savings is worth it to you. Also don't leave the very good 562 husky out of the conversation either. Personally, for firewood, I'd rather run 70+ cc or 50cc and skip the 60cc class altogether. However, a 60cc saw makes a great saw for blocking down a spar while climbing. I had a dolmar 6100 for awhile and it just sat. So I sold it.
This is the first semi negative comment of a Dolmar I've ever seen. I don't own one so it's not personal to me. Was it the size (in your fleet) that made you avoid it or a saw issue? fwiw I've only run Stihl for no particular reason, and also they never gave me a reason to change brands over the 30+ years of owning them. My fav is my old 044 but it's getting heavy (shoulders) to use for "little saw" work. Got a little echo cs-490. Cheap to buy & good reviews. So far I'm impressed but mufler mods would be nice, as going back & forth from 70cc to the little echo, the power difference is "in your face". To condense all that^^^, I'd like to try a Dolmar if I need to fill another saw "gap" in my fleet. Your comment was the first "meh" I've seen.
Never owned or ran either saw. I have owned, and sold, a Stihl MS361. I liked the saw, it was a good saw, but I wanted something bigger (I have a "2-saw plan" at the moment) and traded it in for a Dolmar PS-6400C which will eventually be upgraded to a 79-cc saw with a big bore kit and a mild port job. If I had to drop the ca$h on a new-in-box 60-cc class saw, I would start with the Dolmar PS6100, or the Makita equivalent. Of the two you listed, I would seriously lean toward the Echo, have heard nothing but good words about that saw and it is a lot cheaper than the Stihl. For the savings, you could give it a muffler mod and possibly more, and it would probably cut circles around the Stihl.
Yes I love my 7910! And that was part of what I didnt like about the 6100. It's a different saw than the 7910 in more than just size. It was a few different things with the 6100. Size was a factor for sure. 60cc saws have always been a tweener size in my mind. Good for a 1 saw plan, but didn't really fit in with what I have. If you believe everything you've heard about the 6100 on the internet, it saved humanity. I think what happens a lot with these things is guys read what someone else says and then echoes the sentiment without actual trigger time. I'm not saying that has happened much here. In typical Dolmar fashion, the 6100 is a solid quality saw, but it isn't any better than the rest of the pack. This is me and my 6100 in the video below. Muffler modded 6100 vs. a bone stock echo 590 It's a very close thing between those two saws. Fit, finish, power, and feel all right in the same ballpark. As far as your 490 muffler mod, you couldn't imagine an easier job. I believe there is a thread around here somewhere where a knuckle head shows how done. Echo 490 Muffler mod starts on page 4. Hit me up if you need help with yours.
Hey thanks for the link Barcroftb, I'd like to try that on my saw. The muffler part is straightforward, although I do have a question or 2, it's the tuning that I question myself on. Will it need retuning after the mm? My biggest saw "wrenching" I've done was to change out the tank/handle on my 044. Other than that I don't think Ive even needed to change a spark plug in any of my saws. Just bar oil, gas & chains. (I think a gas line or 2 also) All my saw's before this Echo are 15 years old, some pushing 30 like my old farm boss.
I don't know about the newer models, but I feel that my old CS-510 Echo is as "pro" quality (obviously smaller) as my old Stihl 036. Both bought used years ago and have been bullet proof.
Yep you will need to tune the saw afterwards. Pretty good explanation of that procedure here Adjustment and Tuning of a Chainsaw Carburetor Post a thread when you get ready to tackle it and I'll make some and follow along.
I agree with Barcroftbs comment here in regards to the new line of echos!!! Never owned a stihl, but have had the echo cs600p for a few years and it has been a great saw!!!!
I think part of the reason why the dolmar saws rescue puppies, end global hunger, and fix the deficit is that they are pro saws that don't cost as much as the other German brand.
