Looking to upgrade my small saw, and I think I'll stick with echo, but go from rear handle to top. I'll start with a 14" bar. Looking for recommendations for the upgrade. Light and reliable and spunky are the main requirements. If you love other small top handle saws, I'm all ears.
Well I’ve used older echo tophandle saws, I think they were cs3000’s and I’ve used the 2511t. I liked them both. I use a Stihl 201tc and a 150t and I like them both. You are more limited in the size of wood you can cut with 25cc saws Echo makes good top handle saws and they are a less expensive than Stihl.
Thank Chud. I think I'd like a little versatility, and as this isn't a climbing saw, the really low weight of a 25 cc saw isn't required. What are your thoughts on a little more firepower?
I don’t have any recent experience with the bigger echo top handle saws. Most of my experience is with the ms200t 201t. You can easily cut wood up to 16” with them. I use a 16” bar on the 201t. If you want to cut wood over 16”, you should consider 50cc. The Stihl 261c costs less than the 201tc.
Anything over 16" will get handled by the 55cc husky. Heavy, but dead reliable so far, up to 40" to date. So much of my cutting is small wood, so I really like to use a small saw as much as I can.
Any opinions on the echo top handle the dealer is having you demo T.Jeff Veal I checked one out the other day at the shop and what a nice handling little unit. I could see myself getting used to something like that!
I sure like my new/used cs-440 I just picked up for $150. 45cc not too heavy. Nimble enough to cut some logs. Runs great with a sharp chain. I had pretty good luck with my Ryobi 3716 too though. Edit: not sure that mine is top-handled.
If you are cutting small wood, the 2511T Echo is a great little saw. Only top handle I've run. There are things I like/dislike about it. It has the side adjusterfor chain and a GREAT oil pump, the oiler adjust screw is on top which is nice, good power. I dont like the Husky style clutch, makes taking chain off a pain. We have rub 5 tanks of fuel through it so far. Cut a bunch of limbs up to about 7" with it. It has a 12" b/c on it.
After having ran 5 tanks through it, do you have a preference between a small rear handle saw and the small top handle?
I guess it depends on the task. I really like the top handle cutting limbs on the jig, used it to take down 2 dogwoods today. And I used the MS180 on the bigger pieces, even noodled some. 14"b/c And I found out the gloves I jad weren't Kevlar and the 2511T will bite you. Next pic is a bit graphic...got my attention... Bad operator error... Took a little chunk out. Washed it, cleaned it, antibiotic and a big bandaid
