Thoughts on Echo Chainsaws?

Incredible equipment at an incredible price!
I think I can speak for a bunch of us here, I'm to the point in life where I simply don't need a saw that's 10x faster than I am.
Reliability is #1, getting the job done and price is #2, speed, well that's been slowly going "down the drain" for years.

 

I have Echo, Stihl and Husky all in the fleet. I agree with huskihl that while the Echos aren't as modern or ergo friendly, they are every bit the quality of the other two brands.

 

I have an Echo 620 and a 490. I'm not impressed with the 490, a 261 stihl or 550 husqvarna is 10 times the saw. The 620 is a different matter, mines bone stock and will pull a 28 in pine no problem . I'll take the echo oilers over the others any day. When you turn the oiler up they flat put it out. And remember, the echo 680 and 800 have auto and auxiliary oilers.

 

Have you modified the 490 muffler?

 

No. I'm aware that any of the Echo saws are pretty choked up with the stock mufflers. I'll get to it some day. I'm gona probably get the 620 ported by next spring I hope.

 

Ported this guy for dirtdevil last week. The 4910 is about halfway between a 490 and 501p. It’s basically a 501p with a plastic front handle, although this one has a 572 full wrap fitted to it. They’re just a tick behind my ported 346’s and 550’s, with a better oiler and a half pound less weight. Probably more like 1.5 lbs lighter than a 550 MK2

 

Stop trying to talk me into buying one....

 

It’s a completely different saw after a muffler mod. It’s also the easiest muffler mod you’ll ever do. Maybe a half hour/1 beer job.

Echo 490

Edit: post #73 in the link above shows how easy the muffler mod is…

 

I was at the saw shop to get my Stihl fixed and the guy was an Echo dealer. I bought a CS-310. I love that saw. Always starts and runs great. Thinking about selling the Stihl and getting another Echo.

 

So yooperdave are you thinking of picking one up ?

 

Good question.

 

That was the only saw I owned for several years. I muffler modded it and pulled the carb limiters. Always started and did what I needed and still would if I hadn't found Chainsaw forums lol. My nephew owns it now.

 

What I grabbed saterday when my brother asked if I could help a buddy cut firewood. 355t,490,4910,and 590. And some other assorted cheap saws.

 

Has anyone run both a Stihl MS 250 and an Echo 4510 or 4910 ? I have always liked my 250 for cutting small diameter wood and think it's better than it should be but I can buy a 4910 for about the same price and gain 5cc.

 

CS-400 or CS-4510 or CS-4910 40 cc, 50 cc, 59cc respectively.

 

4910 is 50cc

 

I have a CS-8000P that I bought in 85. Absolutely love that saw, but my back doesn't. You're right about the tab tho

 

I have an ms250 with the 16" picco setup and my 4910 runs 16" .325 with an 8 pin rim. There's no comparison. I like the 250 and it's probably done 15-20 cord for me when it was the only saw we had. My 490 will out cut it also but that runs a 14" 3/8lp setup from a 355t with a 7 pin rim.

 

Indeed it is, thanks for catching that! I don't know why I typed what I did,

 

I typed the wrong engine size for these chainsaws.

The 400 has a 40 cc; the4510 has a 45 cc; the4910 has a 50 cc. Oops!