New Echo Chain Saw.

Ron Anderson · Jul 17, 2014

People often post complaining about something not working etc. I decided to do the opposite.
Last summer I bought a Echo model 400 gas chain saw with 18 inch bar. I only used it a small amount then stored it with fuel mixed with Sea Foam. We had a large tree topple over a month ago and finally took care of it today. I can't say enough good about that Echo Saw. Plenty of power and with a sharp chain cut like butter. I have owned Stihll chain saws previous to this but sure like this model. Light, plenty of power, and balanced well. Starts in 3 pulls or less.

Russ from MN · Jul 17, 2014

Great! There are good saws other than Stihl! I like Jonsered, it's been a family tradition for almost 50 years. I have 4 of them, and I try to use each one a little at least every 6 months, and I have no carb or fuel problems. But, I really try to avoid gas with ethanol in it!

Phil in Pa · Jul 17, 2014

When I was finally forced to replace my ancient Stihl climbing saw a couple years ago I went to an Echo.

My only complaint is the choke lever is unhandy for that kind of saw, other than that it's been a good unit.

I need to get something bigger than my 260, I figure to go for a Dolmar next time if Stihl insists on staying with the weird gas cap.

JDemaris · Jul 17, 2014

My smallest saw is an Echo CS-3450. I love it. Been using it for 12 years and zero problems. Built every bit as good as a pro-series Sthil of this size. Only quirk is the gas tank in front and oil tank in back. Backwards as compared to any other saw I own.

For big saws I got cured from my Sthil addiction years ago. Good saws but overpriced. I'll take a Dolmar or Efco anytime. Just as rugged, better warrnatees, and more saw for the buck.

D beatty · Jul 17, 2014

My big saws are Stihl but for cleaning up tops I have an older Echo 3000 12" bar top handle which has been the best small saw I ever used ( light, easy start and plenty of power).I have been looking at new ones and will buy the model 341. I have used the model 360 & 260 and don't like the balance of them.

johnlobb · Jul 17, 2014

I got a new Dolmar 51 this spring and I love it! Plenty of power and runs like a top. I bought it because the local small engine guy sells them (Gordies in Gregory, MI) a great guy that is very helpful. Anyway, my next door neighbor bought a new Husqvarna at the Farm and Family in Chelsea, MI and 1/2 way through the first tank of gas it quit. He took it back and they kept it for almost a month then told him he put gas where the bar oil goes and bar oil in the gas. Plus, you now owe us $35 for cleaning it all up. This guy has owned and operated saws his whole life, he knows the difference between where the oil and gas go. He feels something failed and it was their way to charge him for something their fault. Anyway, the saw would have not ran for 1/2 a tank of fuel with the fluids reversed.

notjustair · Jul 17, 2014

That gas cap is a menace! I just bought a new Stihl trimmer and decided which one based on that bad gas cap. I have a Dolmar that I bought new 15 years ago or so. It has never had anything done to it and runs like a top. It is supposed to be 16:1 but I have always run it on the Stihl oil and it is just fine. I mix the ratio a little less than a gallon of fuel to the bottle of oil. My biggest complaint is that I have to dump all of the bar oil out of it or it drains into the saw case. If the saw is cold it can have a full oil reservoir, but after it has been running it seems to siphon it out. Always has.

Mine is an 18 bar and a little heavy but it is the most dependable thing on this farm.

JDemaris · Jul 18, 2014

I have the Dolmar 51 in Makita dress. DCS510. Fantastic small to mid-sized saw. It easily out-cuts my old Sthil 041 and the Makita/Dolmar is MUCH lighter. Also have it's big brother - the 64 cc DCS6401. Bought that to replace my Shihl 045 Super. The old Sthil is 84 ccs and the new Dolmar/Makita with 64 ccs cuts just the same but is much lighter. Cost me $539 new with a 20" bar and two chains. Sthil dealer wanted $900 for a new equivalent pro-saw which I refused to buy.

Bret4207 · Jul 18, 2014

I think Echo is a real sleeper these days. They were always looked at as an oddball "cheapy" line. It wasn't true mind you, but they just didn't have the advertising and national recognition Husky and Stihl did. I wouldn't be scared of an Echo or Dolmar/Makita. I'd lots rather have either of those than a TSC/big box store Husky, Jred or consumner line Stihl.

D beatty · Jul 18, 2014

jdemaris I go along with Stihl saws are high priced but they have the best network of dealers and parts. Your comparing of new Dolmar-Makita to the Stihl .o41 and .045 is no comparison. You are talking of new saws to saws that are over 30 years difference in technology (.041 1967-1977 and the .045 started production in 1974). I think if you compare the new Dolmar-Makitato the new Stihl of the same size that there is not much differance in power,weight,and cutting ability of saws.

Kajun · Jul 18, 2014

Thanks , Ron for posting something positive . Too much negative stuff in this world . [ BTW , I have proved Echo ,too .] Wait until you see my negative post about my Stihl :>) !!!

Ron Anderson · Jul 18, 2014

I should have added my Stihl was a 41A Super and was a very good saw in its day. it served me well and no complaints. But as I got older it seemed that saw gained weight like I did and was no longer fun to handle.
The newer lighter models could have disadvantages also in that you have to stop and add fuel-oil more often and they have some plastic parts. I do have two Echo dealers near me one 15 miles and the other 13 miles so that was also a consideration. In this age of companies changing ownership and quality diminishing it seemed worthwhile to mention when I had good results from a purchase.

Cas · Jul 18, 2014

Six years ago I bought a new Stihl, Can not remember Model number, but it was around $400. Used it once and it waw stolen out of my garage.Always, had good luck with Echo. So, I went to BJs and bought an Echo. Push the primer bulb and it starts easily. I can leave it out in the yard and nobody takes it. The crackheads around here must not think its good enought to take.

Cas · Jul 18, 2014

Six years ago I bought a new Stihl, Can not remember Model number, but it was around $400. Used it once and it waw stolen out of my garage.Always, had good luck with Echo. So, I went to BJs and bought an Echo. Push the primer bulb and it starts easily. I can leave it out in the yard and nobody takes it. The crackheads around here must not think its good enought to take.
I do not have any idea how it would hold up under commercial use.

JDemaris · Jul 19, 2014

Yes, but when comparing a new Dolmar to a Sthil now - and you shop carefully - the Dolmar buys a lot more saw for the same dollars along with a better warranty. As far as a networks of dealers? Means absolutely nothing to me. I would never use a dealer for anything. My parts are gotten on-line and I do all repairs myself (which is rarely needed).

Note also that to be technical - Dolmar has been making saws longer then Sthil. Just happens Sthil worked harder for a US market and Domlar focused more on Europe. Sthil had most all its assets confiscated along with its saw patents after aiding Hitler during WWII. I'm amazed the company has survived.

By the way -I was a Sthil mehcanic and started working for a Sthil dealer in 1969 So - I've got some experience with the old and the new ones. Still use my old 040 and my S10. I also worked for one of the first deales to carry Echo equipment in 1972 (Kioritz Corp). They came to the USA to compete with Sthil with back-pack blowers. The Echo model was worlds better then that piece of junk Stihl sold at the time (SG somet

Right now -EFCO of Italy and Dolmar of Germany have some the best big saws for the price. Echo makes some of the best smaller saws.

Roy Suomi · Jul 19, 2014

I'm sold on Echo products.. Super easy to start.. Priced right.. Haven't used my Echo weed whacker in 3 years , started on the 3rd pull.. Both saws start like they were just shut off.. My little saw gets used every couple of weeks and my 400 gets used once or twice a year and starts/runs beautifully..

D beatty · Jul 19, 2014

I use dealers because when I need parts I can't wait foe 2 days to maybe a week to get parts online when doing a job. We have no Dolmar dealers in aera and Markita is sold at big box store (Lowes) and they service nothing they sell. I do have a small top handel Echo and it has been a great saw and when I replace it it will Be an Echo.

Bret4207 · Jul 19, 2014

(quoted from post at 15:31:43 07/19/14) I use dealers because when I need parts I can't wait foe 2 days to maybe a week to get parts online when doing a job. We have no Dolmar dealers in aera and Markita is sold at big box store (Lowes) and they service nothing they sell. I do have a small top handel Echo and it has been a great saw and when I replace it it will Be an Echo.

HAR! You must have much better dealers than I do. I order parts because I can't wait 3-10 days for a dealer to get me what I need...and pay 4x as much too.

D beatty · Jul 19, 2014

I have 4 Sthil dealers with in 13 mile radius and have only had to wait 1 day at the most for parts. I have mostly Sthil saws but do owen Husky and Echo and there is not that much differance in prices between these saws for parts.

JDemaris · Jul 20, 2014

Last time I needed a part for one of my Stihls (my 045 Super) - the local Stihl dealer told me it was obsolete. Then I tried Sthil USA headquarters and was told the same. So I bought a new Dolmar. Not long after I found out that dealers in West Germany had the new parts for my saw. I had them shipped to me and fixed it. Electronic ignition unit. Now it's a spare. I worked for five different Stihl dealers in New Jersey and New York. Can't say we ever had great parts service from any of our suppliers. As a dealer - we'd often rob parts off a new saw to satisfy a customer who needed it.
I've got wonder though - how many parts does one need over time? I've got Stihl, Echo, EFCO, Dolmar, and a few cheap Poulan Pros. Hardly ever need parts except for bars, chains, and sprockets. All easily had from places like Baileys.

Bret4207 · Jul 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 07:57:37 07/20/14) Last time I needed a part for one of my Stihls (my 045 Super) - the local Stihl dealer told me it was obsolete. Then I tried Sthil USA headquarters and was told the same. So I bought a new Dolmar. Not long after I found out that dealers in West Germany had the new parts for my saw. I had them shipped to me and fixed it. Electronic ignition unit. Now it's a spare. I worked for five different Stihl dealers in New Jersey and New York. Can't say we ever had great parts service from any of our suppliers. As a dealer - we'd often rob parts off a new saw to satisfy a customer who needed it.
I've got wonder though - how many parts does one need over time? I've got Stihl, Echo, EFCO, Dolmar, and a few cheap Poulan Pros. Hardly ever need parts except for bars, chains, and sprockets. All easily had from places like Baileys.

Yup, "Can't get them anymore." Heard it a million times. Then I go on line and do some searching and find exactly what I need for half of what the dealer would have charged me if he could have gotten it and free shipping to boot. Our "Big" Stihl shop doesn't even carry parts for saws more than 4-5 years old any more. Go in looking for parts for an 028, which has got to be the Mac 10-10/Homelite XL of the the Stihl line, and they don't even want to talk to you. If I'd have done business like that when I had the Husky/Jred dealership I'd have closed up over night. But that place caters to the townies that need a $15K status symbol to mow their 2500 sq ft lawn, not farmers, loggers or woodlands owners.

Donald Lehman · Jul 20, 2014

BTDT, Brett.

Nothing drives a legitimate dealer bonkers like customers being able to buy stuff online or at a box store for less money than the damn company will sell it to the dealer for. You go to Wallly-World, buy a gun and add about $15 to $30 dollars (shipping costs) to that price and you will have a pretty good idea of what your local dealer had to pay for the gun. The same is pretty much true for small engine stuff, too.

Bret4207 · Jul 20, 2014

Hey Don, we had to make a quick trip past your place last week to see a sick relative. Had a couple questions- The starter shop north of town, are they any good? It's about the same distance for me to one on Potsdam that is slipping and myself and some locals here are looking for a good shop.

2nd- is yours the place right by the U-store it type outfit? I spied a Ollie or 2 and it looked like some sort of celebration last Saturday.

BenderBrau · Jul 24, 2014

Bought a dolmar ps-5105 with 20" bar a few months back. Use it every other day and have not had a problem. Dealer I got it from was $80 cheaper than anyone else in the area.

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