Another vote for Echo saws. I bought my CS-310 in 2014 and it has performed fantastic.
Considering a Stihl MS 250 chainsaw
- Thread starter wavinwayne
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Another vote for Echo saws. I bought my CS-310 in 2014 and it has performed fantastic.
The reason I flooded mine was I thought I could keep pulling until the first hint of life...which didn't happen after like 5 pulls on full choke. By then it was too late I guess. Tried again cold later that day and the next day... nothing so I took it back to the dealer where the found it extremely flooded but nothing else wrong. I guess I just assumed they wouldn't make one that hard to start. It's never easy to start compared to my fs40 and echo blower but at least I kind of have it figured out.
One thing I do recommend if buying an Echo is get it from a local dealer, not Home Depot. The prices are usually the same or very close and the dealers will test run it/set it up before giving it to you, and will be a lot better to deal with should you ever need to use the warranty.
I'd love an MS261 but my two echos are fantastic.
I bought the stihl chainsaw because of the reputation of the dealer but when I needed a leaf blower I bought the echo conveniently at the local home hardware. If I had an issue they would probably be good about exchange or repair but it's been good other than some weird thing where it doesn't run full speed until it's been warmed up a while. Not a bad thing but it seems to take a while and initially cycles between the full speed and reduced speed before it finally stays on full speed. Other people complained about this issue too but it starts and runs good and exhaust sounds great at idle despite having a catalytic converter.
My dad actually has the 261c and he's had no issues with that one. If I have a big tree to cut I'm calling him over.
Btw my Stihl chainsaw is made in china. The echo blower is made in USA as is my 10 year old sthl fs40 trimmer.
We have a small engine business nearby who is an authorized Echo dealer. I'll visit with them.
2nd this. I have 2 echo chainsaws, a giant echo backpack blower, and an echo commercial trimmer. The dealers may elect not to work on box store equipment.
In my experience most dealers will, you just won't be as high a priority as customers who purchased a machine from them. Home Depot and Lowes don't service equipment, they usually direct you to a local dealer that can.
I’ll add another vote for a new Echo. We bought a new Echo CS-590 “Timber Wolf” in December of 2022, it’s been great. If you want a more ‘premium’ saw, the CS-620 (additional link) has a few upgrades over the 590, but it’s about $200 higher. I really don’t have any complaints with the CS-590, it’s a lot of saw for the money. Since we got the CS-590, all of my 2 stroke stuff is now using Red Armor at 50:1. The Stihl Ultra that I was using before doesn’t meet the warranty requirements for the Echo.
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I have the pro version of that same saw, the CS-501p. Definitely a smooth and powerful saw that isn't too heavy. The CS4920 I think is the replacement for the CS4910. You might be able to find some 4910's still leftover.
Per the recommendations above, I would lean towards the echo products. The CS-590 Timberwolf would be an excellent choice even if too big as it can use 18" up to 24" when needed. Based on your old saw i'd say you will like the 18" the best. If that is too much saw, look for the old CS-4910 as it uses the commercial crank case design. The CS-4920 is not junk but it is a homeowner grade saw.
Also if you do end up getting the Stihl, buy their crap oil to extend the warranty, and then sell it on FB or CL. Or throw it out. It is JASO FB and is junk!
Also if you do end up getting the Stihl, buy their crap oil to extend the warranty, and then sell it on FB or CL. Or throw it out. It is JASO FB and is junk!
I'm almost certainly going to go with Echo after reading everyone's recommendations. Something with an 18" bar, even a homeowner grade saw, will be all I'll ever need. Any work that needs a bigger saw would get hired out.
The CS4920 is still a great saw with plenty of power for its weight. That or the older CS4910 if the dealer still has any would be my pick for an 18" bar.
The CS4920 was out when I was shopping for my new saw. When I compared the two, a few features still available on the 4910 swayed my decision big time, such as the pro-style case (not the clamshell consumer grade nonsense), and a non-stratified port design. A decompression button along with a metal kill switch are nice touches, and overall, very sturdy construction. I bought some captured bar nuts from the CS501 and removed the screen from the muffler is all I've needed to do. Enough hours now that I have fine tuned the carb, starts on the second pull consistently, and it runs like a scalded cat. HD still offers the 4910 and my local dealer has over a dozen in stock, so they are still around. Mine came with a 20" bar, is quite easy to wield, and I have no desire to go with a smaller bar/chain. It rips.
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Echo makes some very good chain saws, and so does Husqvarna,, best way to decide is go to a dealer and check out, dealers offer proper set up parts and accessories, and proper use of the saws features ,safe use instructions etc , and may even let you try out the saws on a wood pile out back, a larger saw may not always be needed in most cases.
I'm pretty sure that since my little old '97 Craftsman does what I need from a saw, pretty much any new 16"+ Echo or Husqvarna saw would be a nice upgrade. At the end of the day, I'll probably keep using the Craftsman until I can actually justify a better saw. Maybe..
Most homeowner stuff can be handled easily with a battery powered saw. Even the tree guys are using them. Verify your need for a gas saw before buying another.
I used a Ryobi 12” battery saw for 4 full days to clean up my yard after Hurricane Ian. I have a big Echo gas saw but I literally used it for ten minutes. The battery saw was so lightweight, so easy to use, and cut like butter. And I used it for 8-10 hours a day for days. I thought it was junk but it proved its worth and then some. I keep spare bars and chains and a chain sharpening file.
I used a Ryobi 12” battery saw for 4 full days to clean up my yard after Hurricane Ian. I have a big Echo gas saw but I literally used it for ten minutes. The battery saw was so lightweight, so easy to use, and cut like butter. And I used it for 8-10 hours a day for days. I thought it was junk but it proved its worth and then some. I keep spare bars and chains and a chain sharpening file.
Battery saws have their place. I have one and it is great for pruning, trimming branches off trees I've cut, and cutting Christmas trees on a friend's farm. If you try to do anything more than that the battery life becomes an issue.
Don't listen to me though, I own way too many saws, haha.
Jonsered 2171 Turbo (for the big stuff)
Makita DCS5200i (was my dad's he handed down)
Echo CS-501p (my go-to)
Echo CS-352 (for the small stuff)
Dewalt 20v battery saw
Don't listen to me though, I own way too many saws, haha.
Jonsered 2171 Turbo (for the big stuff)
Makita DCS5200i (was my dad's he handed down)
Echo CS-501p (my go-to)
Echo CS-352 (for the small stuff)
Dewalt 20v battery saw
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