Any experience with either? I will be replacing a husqvarna 359 and a stihl ms170. Tired of pulling on these. I'm an occasional user (once a month) and want something that will start when needed. Both saws mentioned above are nice when they start. I have an echo dealer close so it's time to give them a shot. I've read some pretty good things about echo and think that a saw of this size will work well for me. Also open to other echoes that may be worth looking at as well.

Sounds like you've got your mind made up already and probably for good reason. Go get an echo.


I recently posted a similar question. I was set on a Stihl but after sime feedback and thinking I went with a J-Red.

Can't find parts for older one. I had a John deer made buy echo no parts anywhere.

I had an echo. Cut alot of trees with it. Had a lot of chains come off. Sitting in my truck just as the thunderstorm came through with my echo chainsaw in the back with a thrown chain, I read the receipt and I could still return it for full refund within 6 months. Drove back to Home Depot and returned it. Went to Farm and Fleet and got me a Husky on sale for the same price. I love my Husky. I'll never buy another echo. I also have 2 Old Stihl. I still like my Husky.

that 359 is a good saw... i would have a hard time swapping that for an echo

I'll add this. Is there a saw out there that can set and then actually start? THATS the one I want. I want the Honda small engine equivalent in a chainsaw.

Are you using nonethanol gas?

Yes. For about 2 years now. That's when it became available around here. 87 octane.

Ethanol gas is a real problem. Buy what u want , I have a STIHL 261, small pro saw , best saw I ever owned. Starts , lots of power, 18 “ bar. That saw is my 7 th saw over the years. I cut about 4-6 cords of wood a year.

i run a cs-500p. it's about 7-8 years old. no problems. my cs-400 before that went 20 years.

if you want a saw to start after a month or 3 on 2-3 pulls

91 octane 100% gas with Star-tron fuel enzyme

or

the pre mixes 2 year shelf stable gas in a can

done both now , last 2 tanks of the season with the treated or canned fuel then fill it up full and put away in the garage for the summer typically don't cut June , July , august and often September

a pair of J-red chainsaws and a string trimmer that gets the same a the end of grass cutting season

I have gone to adding the Star-tron to any gas I don't have planed to be used up in under a week.

http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-additive

same thing for the lawn mower and snow blower.

had some gas go bad 4 years ago cost me two carbs about 100 dollars. 8-9 dollars treats 48 gallons could treat 480 gallons or buy new carbs for a chain saw and a lawn mower.

480 gallons of treated 2 stroke gas is a lot beats the heck out of buying carbs

the reality is I can't pour that little from the bottle into a 2 gallon gas can so I probably am only treating 20 gallons from a bottle but even at that it is a savings over replacing a carb or having the saw worked on.

my dad used to have problems with his string trimmer nearly every year ,can not buy real gas in the county he lives in. he uses maybe 2 quarts a year of the pre-mixed canned fuel and has gone years without problem.

I've considered the premix in a can. Hard to get over the price. But down time and repair cost are starting be just as much burden.

I'll look into the startron. Appreciate it.

I use the high test and premium stihl oil. Have a 462, 261, 170 and 2 climbing saws and never have problems with starting. My neighbors bring their saws to me once a week to start them not sure why they have problems, they start for me.

I 've had a Echo CS 590 for about 4 years. Premium unleaded. No starting problems. I don't consider the bars on new Echo's to be top notch. Had mine come off once, but I know I was too sideways in a small branch cut. If the bar has a grease hole on each side on the tip make sure you give it some grease every tank or two.

if you figure 2 gallons of premium is 6 dollars , a 2 gallon bottle of good oil is 2.50 and a splash of star-tron figure 50 cents your looking at 9 dollars if you use a quart and then it is months till you use it again , so you dump it in your truck or lawn mower it really isn't that different in price buying the premix at 8 dollars a quart and using it all.

even with startron in it I make a point to not keep it around for more than a month without dumping it in my truck , log splitter or law mower if I haven't used it up.

one hour labor is 60 dollars at the local saw shop that will buy 7 of the cans of premix.

when you buy a new saw most of the manufacturers will now extend your warranty to 5 years if you also buy 3 cans of the premix with the saw you send in the receipt with the product registration. they feel that strongly about breaking them in with good fuel and running them on good fuel.

I would have to guess they know something based on all the saws they have gotten back.

as a retired logger of 43 yrs. my advice is this.when you are done using any saw and wont touch it again for days or weeks drain the tank and start it, run the carb dry. old gas in your carb is your worst enemy . also never keep gas in a can over 2 wks.

I have a 501P. I only run non ethanol gas. No problems...starts like a DREAM and I own 2 Huskys and a Stihl. The only negative I can say about the saw is there are not a lot of aftermarket bar options with the Echo mount.

Lightest 50cc saw out there. The 490 is basically the same saw but the 501P has more pro features. Metal top handle vs plastic. Supposedly has a bit more power too. Not sure it’s worth the extra coin but the 501P is nice.

If you are looking for a saw that is a good starter you can’t go wrong with Echo. I will say that the Huskys are King in the anti vibe department though. They seem to rev higher too.

Have you replaced the carb on that 359 yet? Its a known problem with them. I struggled with starting mine for years then finally ordered a new carb a month ago. $23.99 from amazon at my door the next day. Easy swap with a couple good youtube videos. It fires the first time everytime now. Also bought a clip on tachometer to tune it and man does it rip now!

@RV6. I swapped out the carb maybe 2 years ago. Swapped a non-cat muffler at the same time. For a while it would run like never before and now it won't idle after initial start up.

After further consideration I'm going to try seeing what I can do with them myself. Drove to the echo dealer today and was closed. Appeared to be going out of business. I stopped at 2 other repair shops and 1 was $80 an hour and the other was 3 weeks out.

@soon duke. Light nd easy starting are what I want to hear. Thanks.