Why no love for ECHO chainsaws?

[pdxgearhead]

I'm in the market for a chainsaw and all the chatter is Husky vs. Stihl. I'm a weekend warrior and am looking for a "prosumer" saw, if you will. I looked at the Stihl Farmboss and the Husqvarna Rancher series. I ruled out the Husky since there are no dealers in my immediate area. Then I stumbled upon the Echo 590 Timberwolf. The dealers in my area sell Stihl and Echo, so service/warranty isn't an issue.

While I understand that ultimately the Echo 590 is still a "prosumer" saw, I noticed some features over the Farmboss 271 or the MS 291 such as - better warranty, magnesium case (vs. plastic), more hp, higher rpm (13,000), etc...

I'd love to hear from GJ members who have run both the Farmboss and the Timberwolf. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[BigSteve63]

I needed a small top handle arborist type saw for trimming up high in trees - bought a 12" saw at local farm store and absolutely love it. Had a really small Stihl a few years ago and this little Echo would hang with it fine. Plus, starts on first or second pull - Stihl never did that.

Steve

 

[classic70]

The Timberwolf is the best deal on new chainsaws in my opinion. A little heavy but for using it to cut firewood is not much of a issue. All my echo equipment starts in 2-3 pulls.

 

[DFB]

I have two Echo chainsaws, and had bought them back when I started clearing my land (and that was as decades ago). Have run them both hard for hours and hours both have truly been problem free saws. Only replacing bars, chains, and sprocket

 

[nikerret]

I run an ECHO chainsaw and multi head with trimmer. No issues. It’ll keep up with any Stihl or Husky I’ve run it against. With that said, I use mine in a part time commercial capacity.

 

[Kenskip1]

590 Echo, All metal construction. Not a clamshell.Adjustable oiler. Not on the other brands mentioned.Great antivibe system.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Around me the dealer is a little bit of a tool and the 3 Echos saws I've seen run ( hobby and farm use ) were much less than impressive on power. It could have been the model choice, operator, chain sharpness- no idea. I'm not the only one here with that experience and I am sure that isn't helping locally.

I think its lack of market exposure.

Never seen anyone with a Husqvarna and a frown at the same time.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Love my little Echo . Got a Stihl, apart from the chain brake , not much different really .

 

[nate_g_2003]

The CS-590 with the 18" bar is what I'm looking at also. My FIL is a Stihl man, and my BIL (his son) is a Husqvarna guy lol. I was looking at the Stihl MS250, or a used MS271, but the price vs feature of the Echo won out for me. I won't be cutting much more than baseball bat-sized trees and limbs, mainly pine, some oak and pecan limbs, and cedars at the hunting camp.

My FIL has always told me "buy the biggest engine you can afford, and then put a small bar on it."

 

[seber]

The consumer grade Stihl is not the same as pro models. I would go for Echo or Johnsered for the price. Parts will be way cheaper as well. If you don't have a Husky dealer, you are not likely to have a Johnsered dealer either. I've never owned either Huskvarna or Stihl consumer grade but I have used them and found them to be no better than low cost models from any other brand. The Pro models are a totally different standard.

 

[Davefr]

I'm in the market for a chainsaw and all the chatter is Husky vs. Stihl. I'm a weekend warrior and am looking for a "prosumer" saw, if you will. I looked at the Stihl Farmboss and the Husqvarna Rancher series. I ruled out the Husky since there are no dealers in my immediate area. Then I stumbled upon the Echo 590 Timberwolf. The dealers in my area sell Stihl and Echo, so service/warranty isn't an issue.

While I understand that ultimately the Echo 590 is still a "prosumer" saw, I noticed some features over the Farmboss 271 or the MS 291 such as - better warranty, magnesium case (vs. plastic), more hp, higher rpm (13,000), etc...

I'd love to hear from GJ members who have run both the Farmboss and the Timberwolf. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Echo makes excellent equipment including their chainsaws. I'd rather have an Echo then a consumer grade Stihl. However I'd take a pro grade Stihl or Husky over an Echo.

If you need dealer support and have a full service Echo dealer then get the Echo. The problem with Echo is lack of a robust dealer network here in the PNW. The PNW is Stihl country.

 

[driftpin]

I have a Stihl MS 193T w/a 16" bar, I bought it the day-before a FL hurricane hit, which in the Miami area took-down thousands of trees. It got put to-use to clear a path down the street as the fallen trees prevented anyone but someone walking from coming through, a dangerous situation should there be a fire or a medical emergency. It came with a smaller bar and I replaced the bar. It's easy to start, it runs through a tank of gas without hiccups, and it's an easy to-clean unit. I usually clean the air filter after every use, and of course, run it dry for storage.

I have an ECHO CS 300 which needs a carb rebuild to return to use, but since the Stihl is always ready to go, the ECHO and its carb kit have been sitting. The ECHO has given me decent service. I did not buy it new, I found it lying in the middle of the road, and scooped it up, evidently having-fallen-off a lawn service truck. It got some PM and a new chain and bar. That's probably the most-valuable tool I've found in the road, but there have been many others.

 

[kmacht]

I have the echo 590 timberwolf and have been using it for about 2 years now to clear 6 acres of oak trees. It has been an awesome saw. I love the fact that when I have people over to help they are spending alot of time just trying to get their Stih and Husky saws started while the echo starts on the first or second pull every time all the time. The only thing I would consider is getting the 600 instead of the 590 if you are buying new. The 590 handle that goes over the top of the saw is plastic. I broke mine at about the 2 year mark trying to stupidly yank the saw out of a log I had it pinched in. The 600 is the same as the 590 but has a metal handle with rubber grip. You can convert the 590 to a 600 with a new handle and some brackets for about $75 which is what I did when I replaced the handle. The only other downside to a big saw (and not just echo's) is the weight. I love the 590 for dropping trees and bucking but when limbing all the brush after the tree is on the ground the saw gets heavy to constantly be using over your head to cut small branches. I bought a CS-300 as a limbing saw and although it isn't as close to a pro saw as the 590 is it still easily gets the job done and just like the 590 starts on the 1st or 2nd pull every time.

 

[vavet]

I have the HD Echo saw for occasional storm cleanup. We don't heat with wood.
Its been fine for my use. More frequent use might warrant a higher level saw.

 

[BK13]

I don't really like the controls on Echo saws very much, particularly the kill switch (too used to Husqvarnas, I suppose) but I really like the little top handle Echo (2511 maybe?). They are supposed to start importing a conventional rear handle version this year sometime. I may have to look into one of those....

 

[lardy1]

I bought a new Husqvarna in 1998 and have never ran another gas powered chain saw since. My girlfriends (brand new) Echo is out there but I've never even fired it up. It might be better than the Husqvarna but I will probably never know it. I'm beyond satisfied with everything about it.

 

[pdxgearhead]

I'm going to get the Timberwolf then. Thanks

 

[Farmall450]

We have 2 MS290 Stihls; I sold my uncle a brand new Timberwolf. Wolf starts way easier (and has a compression release); besides that they're comparable saws in my book. Hard to beat Echo's 5 year warranty. Granted, if you're willing to pay Stihl makes nicer saws.

I'd probably still take one over a MS271 (now the "farmboss")

 

[Farmall450]

I have a Stihl MS 193T w/a 16" bar, I bought it the day-before a FL hurricane hit, which in the Miami area took-down thousands of trees. It got put to-use to clear a path down the street as the fallen trees prevented anyone but someone walking from coming through, a dangerous situation should there be a fire or a medical emergency. It came with a smaller bar and I replaced the bar. It's easy to start, it runs through a tank of gas without hiccups, and it's an easy to-clean unit. I usually clean the air filter after every use, and of course, run it dry for storage.

I have an ECHO CS 300 which needs a carb rebuild to return to use, but since the Stihl is always ready to go, the ECHO and its carb kit have been sitting. The ECHO has given me decent service. I did not buy it new, I found it lying in the middle of the road, and scooped it up, evidently having-fallen-off a lawn service truck. It got some PM and a new chain and bar. That's probably the most-valuable tool I've found in the road, but there have been many others.

That Stihl is a professional, albeit dangerous saw meant to be light and used by a guy in the tree/bucket. I'm surprised it didn't mind you adding 33% to the bar.

It would be comparable to the Echo CS-251T (which is even more compact).
https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1238656-echo-cs-251t-chainsaw.html

They're fun to run but inherently dangerous saws.

 

[mxdev]

Locally there is an Echo dealer right beside the Stihl dealer. I had bought a weed whacker and a backpack blower from the Echo dealer previously. But when I inquired about the price of some saws and if they expected any upcoming sales over email. It took a few days for them to respond, and the response didn't even touch on the pricing of the saws, just that there might be a sale in a couple months. I followed up asking for the price which was just ignored.

The Stihl dealership on the other hand answered all my questions quickly and promptly and treat me like they wanted my business. Since then I bought a ms261 and a stihl pole saw from them instead.

 

[JohnM45]

I've had a Top handle Echo 231 (I think that's the model) and its been a great saw for 15 years. Bit of a pain to keep running sometimes...tempted to just put a new carb on it. My Husqv 562XP is a really great saw and right now, I lean towards them.

When I shopped for my 562XP, I wanted to buy an Echo, but the disappointment was the power ratings were never really posted. Stihl and Husqvarna battle back and forth and compete with horsepower and engine size every year, it seems. Echo never jumped in that game. I think that's why they are often overlooked by most people that are looking for a pro saw. Otherwise, you really can't beat them for solid performing saws. In fact, all their equipment is very good. I still have one of their shred/vac leafblowers and string trimmer...going strong for almost 15 years.

That said, I went Stihl when I bought my combination trimmer/saw/hedge clipper thing. Echo was tempting, but features on the Stihl edged it a bit higher.

Ford, Chevy, Ram....pick one. In the end, you'll really be just fine.

 

[Show7d3]

Around me the dealer is a little bit of a tool and the 3 Echos saws I've seen run ( hobby and farm use ) were much less than impressive on power. It could have been the model choice, operator, chain sharpness- no idea. I'm not the only one here with that experience and I am sure that isn't helping locally.

I think its lack of market exposure.

Never seen anyone with a Husqvarna and a frown at the same time.

I tried to send a PM about who the dealer was, but I couldn't get my message to go through. Maybe post the first letter of each word in the name of the company. I might be familiar with that particular dealer.

 

[Steve_P]

Locally there is an Echo dealer right beside the Stihl dealer. I had bought a weed whacker and a backpack blower from the Echo dealer previously. But when I inquired about the price of some saws and if they expected any upcoming sales over email. It took a few days for them to respond, and the response didn't even touch on the pricing of the saws, just that there might be a sale in a couple months. I followed up asking for the price which was just ignored.

The Stihl dealership on the other hand answered all my questions quickly and promptly and treat me like they wanted my business. Since then I bought a ms261 and a stihl pole saw from them instead.

Why not actually stop in? Small engine shops don't necessarily have time to answer emails. I worked at one and we couldn't keep up with the phone in the summer and would sometimes take it off the hook. If email existed then you would never get a reply, we were too busy dealing with actual customers in the store.

We sold Stihl, Echo, Husky...... Echo was as reliable as the higher priced saws at the time (1980s- early 90s)

 

[pelletman]

My dad has a small Echo that was always very reliable, Stihl and others always seemed to need work. Lately I have been using a Ryobi cordless and couldn't be happier. I hate having to deal with small engine issues. Just light homeowner stuff these days, in the past, we took down some big trees

 

[DFB]

The major reason IMHO over 40 years since Echo hit the scene with chainsaws is because it was Japanese. Plain and simple.

I worked with a lot of loggers for years you wouldn't get them to touch an ECHO saw was either Jonsered or Husky. There was nothing else

But that's also a regional thing too as Stihl is also predominate name in many areas of the country for saws but not in my neck of the woods

Just like everything COO rules and in general European based name branding of a tool auto etc will generally run a higher ranking with Americans than an Asian company will general.

Not to say any other other machines aren't strong and reliable but once a mindset kicks in it hard to change it.

Interesting to see at least how certain Asian manufacturing though thru reliably built products has won serious public support, especially Honda & Toyota on automobiles and trucks, Honda and Yamaha names on things like generators and other outdoor power equipment, motorcycles etc.

Just look at stigma on this board alone that certain COO sources of products has to overcome

 

[wimpy525]

I have had a Echo CS530 for about ten years great saw, I also have a Stihl MS391 which is about 8 years old. The Echo is great for limbing trees smaller stuff, although it has plenty of power to buck trees as well. The Sthil is primary used for bucking and felling and is also anti-vibe.

 

[outlawz2004]

I have had a few other brands, but bought a new Husqvarna a few years ago and haven't needed another. It starts up after sitting up for months, runs as long as I want it to, and sits at idle without stalling. Great saw.

 

[DFB]

I have had a few other brands, but bought a new Husqvarna a few years ago and haven't needed another. It starts up after sitting up for months, runs as long as I want it to, and sits at idle without stalling. Great saw.

My ECHO does the same thing

 

[mxdev]

Why not actually stop in? Small engine shops don't necessarily have time to answer emails. I worked at one and we couldn't keep up with the phone in the summer and would sometimes take it off the hook. If email existed then you would never get a reply, we were too busy dealing with actual customers in the store.

We sold Stihl, Echo, Husky...... Echo was as reliable as the higher priced saws at the time (1980s- early 90s)

They aren't a small mom and pop style engine shop, I treat that differently. The Echo dealership primarily sells Kubota heavy equipment, and the Stihl dealership primarily sells John Deere. They are both big dealerships and I'm a small fish.

I'm not pissed off that they were slow to respond. I'm pissed off that they completely ignored two emails specifically asking for the price. They did respond initially and dodged the price part, and just ignored the second email directly to the sales guy. Maybe they figured I was comparing against a big box store, but I prefer to buy local, even if a bit more expensive. Their loss.

The Stihl dealer on the other hand has excellent customer service in how I want to do business, so they get it. Email, phone, walk-in, doesn't matter. You get treated like gold.

 

[Den69rs96]

Stihl and Husky have built up a reputation as top notch saws. Its not to say Echo isn't as good, but convincing people that its a good option is just hard to do. Its the same reason people pay stupid money for Honda power equipment vs something else.

 

[Steve_P]

They aren't a small mom and pop style engine shop, I treat that differently. The Echo dealership primarily sells Kubota heavy equipment, and the Stihl dealership primarily sells John Deere. They are both big dealerships and I'm a small fish.

I'm not pissed off that they were slow to respond. I'm pissed off that they completely ignored two emails specifically asking for the price. They did respond initially and dodged the price part, and just ignored the second email directly to the sales guy. Maybe they figured I was comparing against a big box store, but I prefer to buy local, even if a bit more expensive. Their loss.

The Stihl dealer on the other hand has excellent customer service in how I want to do business, so they get it. Email, phone, walk-in, doesn't matter. You get treated like gold.

It's hard to go wrong with Stihl. But not looking at the competition because the dealer doesn't answer emails makes no sense to me. Maybe you would like the Echo better and it was cheaper?
"Honey, we're buying one of those ugly POS Fiats; the Honda dealer didn't answer my email about the Civic and the Fiat dealer did"

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

some of it is reputation, some of it is regional, etc.....growing up, it seemed like man ran mccolluch........guess what the local dealer sold....go 30 min away and it's stihl country....

personally i like husky, but echo isnt bad. A saw that seems to get even less markey share than stihl, husky, or echo is dolmar...

 

[JohnM45]

some of it is reputation, some of it is regional, etc.....growing up, it seemed like man ran mccolluch........guess what the local dealer sold....go 30 min away and it's stihl country....

personally i like husky, but echo isnt bad. A saw that seems to get even less markey share than stihl, husky, or echo is dolmar...

Now we're talking! Dolmar! I wonder why they never took off - probably dealership availability. Great, German-built saws, though. Then Makita bought them. I don't think that negatively affected the brand, though. Either way, it seems a Dolmar is for chainsaw "enthusiasts".

I'm happy to have inherited my wife's grandfather's 7300. Although, my father-inlaw always preferred his Stihl 441 to that Dolmar...

 

[DFB]

Ya Dolmar was one that was around here too. I almost bought one once, a friend of mine started a sharpening business and was the local dealer for a short while so he offered me a good price


John Deere had offered some pretty decent rebadged saws over the past few decades

Echo was the brand one for a while

EFCO saws made by Emak (Italy) was another

 

[Davefr]

Now we're talking! Dolmar! I wonder why they never took off - probably dealership availability. Great, German-built saws, though.

Dolmar invented the gas powered chainsaw.

The problem with Dolmar is almost a total lack of dealers. Their marriage with Makita really hasn't helped them much.

Dolmars are very well built and generally have better power to weight ratios then Stihl.

 

[Farmall450]

Dolmar invented the gas powered chainsaw.

The problem with Dolmar is almost a total lack of dealers. Their marriage with Makita really hasn't helped them much.

Dolmars are very well built and generally have better power to weight ratios then Stihl.

That's a weird way of spelling Andreas Stihl

1929 IIRC -- father of the modern chainsaw

 

[Davefr]

That's a weird way of spelling Andreas Stihl

1929 IIRC -- father of the modern chainsaw

Andreas invented an electric chainsaw in 1926. It was Emil Lerp founder of Dolmar that developed the first gas powered chainsaw.

Andreas didn't come up with a gas saw until 1929.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainsaw

 

[mxdev]

It's hard to go wrong with Stihl. But not looking at the competition because the dealer doesn't answer emails makes no sense to me. Maybe you would like the Echo better and it was cheaper?
"Honey, we're buying one of those ugly POS Fiats; the Honda dealer didn't answer my email about the Civic and the Fiat dealer did"

I know where you are coming from, but I don't care what brand dealership is selling. If their sales staff doesn't treat me like a valued customer, I won't buy from them. I'm not going to buy something I don't want out of spite, but it's not like I hadn't already shopped around.

For what it's worth, you go on their website, and there is a big "TEXT SALES NOW!" inviting people to get in contact and ask questions. Far from me picking some obscure way of contacting them.

 

[Farmall450]

Andreas invented an electric chainsaw in 1926. It was Emil Lerp founder of Dolmar that developed the first gas powered chainsaw.

Andreas didn't come up with a gas saw until 1929.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainsaw

Right. Large truck sized chainsaws had been around for a hundred years. Andreas invented the first modern, portable one man saw

 

[justtools]

This is a ford vs chevy question so here is my 2 cents. I have a good number of saws from stihl Husky echo jonsered dolmar etc.. In my opinion the echo saws are the best bang for the buck. All the echos are made to be more of a commercial model. Stihl and husky make homeowner series along with farm/ranch series and pro series. All the yard care guys i see use echo. Blowers, whips and saws. My city public works switched to Echo 10 years ago and they love the equipment. My personal experience is echos start easier and are more forgiving with the fuels you use. I also own a cs590 and love the saw. It is not too big or too small. It fills the nitch of having one saw for most tree work. The arborists like the 2 saw rule a 30 to 40 cc for the small stuff and a 70 plus cc for the big stuff. Buy the echo and enjoy.