Chainsaw decision help...

cast1 · Thursday at 7:25 AM

So I own a sawmill and will be adding a third chainsaw to my stable. I have a stihl MS260 with an 18" bar, along with an echo cs620p with 24" and 27" bars. I will be going echo because I don't really like the stihl since they've changed their carburation (I hate the whole green push) plus they've gotten prohibitively expensive for IMO not much more quality.

The 260 is my all-arounder, and the 620p is my felling saw. I'm trying to decide between a CS501p (basically another MS260) or maybe something lighter, like a CS2511P or even CS2511T. I've also thought about selling the 620 and getting a loop handle model, but that's an aside.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sum Ting Wong · Thursday at 7:38 AM

If you stick with the pro model Stihls, they’re great saws, but they are pricey. I have multiple Echos, including a couple 2511 top handles. They’re good lightweight saws for climbing, but don’t use them much on the ground.

When you say “loop handle” are you talking about a full wrap? You can buy one for the 620.

cast1 · Thursday at 7:51 AM

Oh I can buy just the handle?

GreenGO Juan · Thursday at 7:52 AM

Amazon.com

Jigstick · Thursday at 8:09 AM

Get rid of the toy saws and start buying Huskys

GreenGO Juan · Thursday at 8:58 AM

Jigstick said:
Get rid of the toy saws and start buying Huskys

702lineman · Thursday at 9:30 AM

I own several saws but the sthil ms200T is my favorite. It's been an absolute trooper also. The newer 201T were ok(can be close to the 200 with muffler and timing mods). It can do 90% of what a guy needs without the broken back.

Not gonna lie, milwakee m18 saw is a close second. Just have to keep the chain snug

Milf Dots · Thursday at 9:47 AM

cast1 said:
Oh I can buy just the handle?

Yes, you can just buy the full wrap handle for your Echo cs620p which makes it a cs620pw. The 620p/pw are great saws, as is the 501p.

chevy_man · Thursday at 10:12 AM

What you're cutting and the size you need should determine what you get.

Stihl still sells a few regular carb saws in their pro line. I picked up a ms462 with a full wrap. It's 72cc and came with a 28" bar. It rips good for the bar size, but I've run into a few downed trees across roads in the mountains that needed bigger. (Luckily someone came along with a 42" 88).
So a 20" full comp and 36" skip tooth bars and chains now ride in the camper with the saw.

I know a lot of guys like echo saws. I've never seen one here, everything is Husky or Stihl. Loggers seem to prefer the Husky, but my buddy that sells them said he sees them back 10x more often.

For the 70cc class the Husky was almost a pound heavier and .5hp less than the Stihl. Roughly the same price.

WasNH4X · Thursday at 12:12 PM

Hint : Find a used Husky 288 ,rebuild ,slap 24" bar on it........be happy.

I've been out of logging for a while ( shows when mentioning above saw ) and not familiar with new saws except a newer small " Husky limbing saw " . Back when I was logging the 288 with a larger drive socket would out cut any saw put up against it and weighed less to boot. I haven't handled any new logging size saws so have no idea how much weight has.been shed since I was doing it. Still have the 288 , just in case something BIG needing taken care of.

On side note , what kind out sawmill you runnin ?

Milf Dots · Thursday at 2:39 PM

Echo is the way to go- great products- they're the Toyota of chainsaws.

I'd buy a $tihl before a Husky, and I'll probably never buy a $tihl. Husky's dealership structure is collapsing, CS is horrible, lots of QA/QC issues with their saws and other products for years... And you have to check each individual Husky saw, including their pro saws, to know where it was made- China, South America, USA, Canada, Sweden.

Makita-Dolmar are great saws too, but Makita vacated the gas powered tools sector in 2022, so future parts availability will become an issue.

roostercogburn98 · Thursday at 2:44 PM

Just picked up a 251 wood boss, waiting to get out and cut something with it

GreenGO Juan · Thursday at 3:12 PM

If you want to try a top handle, but don’t wanna spend a bunch of money. Here’s a clone of an echo 2511 T.

V-MODEST 2511 12" Gas Chainsaw 25cc 1.5HP 2-Cycle Engine Top Handle Climbing Saw | eBay

Also match 10 in and 14 in bar ï¼ 0.050 Gauge 3 / 8" Pitch Chain. Saw chain lubricant: Oil SAE10W-30. Fuel mixing ratio: 25:1 ratio with 1SO-L-EGD(ISO/CD 13738) andJASO M345-FD two-stroke, air-cooled engine oil.

www.ebay.com

Yes, it’s a cheap Chinese clown they work just the same. If you like it, go by the real thing.

Id buy one but dont need it, have a 50+ year old top handle craftsman that was my grandfathers, that i love to run.

Long Range 338 · Thursday at 4:12 PM

Stihl vs Husqvarna is just Ford vs Chevy. Echo doesn't have nearly the market share as the other 2. From what I have seen Echo doesn't have the power to weight advantage like the others have but for a mill it may not matter at all.

akmike47 · Thursday at 4:34 PM

This is 18” right?

roostercogburn98 · Thursday at 4:36 PM

akmike47 said:
This is 18” right?
View attachment 8593545

akmike47 · Thursday at 4:41 PM

roostercogburn98 said:
View attachment 8593546

I knew she wasn’t lying!

Big Phish · Thursday at 4:43 PM

Echo pro saws all other is is a disaster waiting to piss you off. Stihl are junk nowadays unless you are okay with sending the damned things in for constant BS repairs. Dolmars are some of better saws if you can find them as they cut way above others with some tremendous power.

Sum Ting Wong · Thursday at 5:02 PM

Big Phish said:
Echo pro saws all other is is a disaster waiting to piss you off. Stihl are junk nowadays unless you are okay with sending the damned things in for constant BS repairs.

What repairs are you having to deal with? Three out of the twelve Stihl’s the company has are new models (500i, 400, 261) and they all have performed great.

We also run seven Husqvarna’s and five Echo’s. It’s pretty even as far as them needing service/repairs go. Our local dealer has dropped Husqvarna though.

nikonNUT · Thursday at 5:04 PM

Man, just find a good old Stihl 044 or 046 Magnum and rock! I Frankenstine-d an 044 with 46 magnum exhaust, carb, air filter and it pulled 20K RPM with a 20" bar burried in a big ass red oak. Obviously be careful because they have no conscience and love the taste of human flesh!

tsovern · Thursday at 5:08 PM

261
You almost had it

akmike47 · Thursday at 5:12 PM

tsovern said:
261
You almost had it

69420

nikonNUT · Thursday at 5:14 PM

tsovern said:
261
You almost had it

Pfft! MS881 (128cc) or a 3120XP (120cc). Go big or go home! BTW, I've looked at those big boy saws and decided to go home.

I got no gripes with either brand. Like Husky's anti-vibe set-up better but like Stihls oiling and starting system better. I got the 044 for $200.00 so I wasn't complaining. It's way more saw than I need. Oh, and it's pronounced "262XP". None of that down rated shit! Unless you swapped the piston and the muffler.

Big Phish · Thursday at 6:33 PM

Sum Ting Wong said:
What repairs are you having to deal with? Three out of the twelve Stihl’s the company has are new models (500i, 400, 261) and they all have performed great.

We also run seven Husqvarna’s and five Echo’s. It’s pretty even as far as them needing service/repairs go. Our local dealer has dropped Husqvarna though.

Carbs

Alpine 338 · Thursday at 7:07 PM

If you like your 260, get yourself a MS261 Pro (Non-c/m). I bought one a couple years ago, and it works fantastic. I bought it to replace an aging 026-AVS, and I use it more than just for deliming. If you want more power, and/or bar,, get a MS362 (non-c/m). Or an older MS440 Magnum, which occasionally can be found new on eBay. I have two, and they are awesome.

Milf Dots · Thursday at 7:29 PM

Big Phish said:
Carbs

Stihl has had some issues with cases cracking on their bigger pro saws- when a manufacturer pushes the envelope on low weight, you're likely to hit a hard wall on durability. All other things being equal, I'd rather have the slightly heavier saw (usually only 1 - 1.5 lbs) because mass equals vibration dampening. I'd rather run an equivalent Echo pro saw that might be a pound heavier- but much more durable and reliable. Huskies have a rep now for air leaks, fasteners working loose, QA/QC issues.

cast1 · Thursday at 8:06 PM

WasNH4X said:
Hint : Find a used Husky 288 ,rebuild ,slap 24" bar on it........be happy.

I've been out of logging for a while ( shows when mentioning above saw ) and not familiar with new saws except a newer small " Husky limbing saw " . Back when I was logging the 288 with a larger drive socket would out cut any saw put up against it and weighed less to boot. I haven't handled any new logging size saws so have no idea how much weight has.been shed since I was doing it. Still have the 288 , just in case something BIG needing taken care of.

On side note , what kind out sawmill you runnin ?

TimberKing 2020.

It's one of the most fun things I've ever done.

daylate · Friday at 6:40 AM

Whoever at Stihl thought it was a good idea to change the fuel and oil caps should be fired…I’ve got a couple of stihl’s with the newer caps and just about ready to ditch them because of that…261 pro and 361….They do run good though….

Big Phish · Friday at 7:07 AM

I fucked up a few years ago as I was in a local pawn shop down south as they had 291 sitting on a shelf for $360 something. Looks like it wasn't used much but didn't bite so went back to property then decided to go back the next day and it was gone.

WasNH4X · Friday at 8:23 AM

cast1 said:
TimberKing 2020.

View attachment 8593747
It's one of the most fun things I've ever done.

View attachment 8593785

Looks like it does a good job cutting even.......that's some purty walnut lumber fo sho.

If I was 30 yrs younger ,I'd own me a bandsaw mill........too old now to invest and plus I done run out of "want to ".

WasNH4X · Friday at 8:34 AM

Big Phish said:
I fucked up a few years ago as I was in a local pawn shop down south as they had 291 sitting on a shelf for $360 something. Looks like it wasn't used much but didn't bite so went back to property then decided to go back the next day and it was gone.

Did you kick yourself in da ass ? That was a decent price for a 291, even if it needed a little work........I'd hate to have to tote it though, ....why I opted for 288s. Our timber cutter used a 291 to fell trees , while I had a 281 and 288 cutting 10',- 16' logs on the loading ramp , then loading them on trucks with knuckle boom loader.

Out of all the things I've done in my life to earn a dollar.......I'd say being on a logging job ,with a good crew , was the most enjoyable.

oneshot86 · Friday at 9:58 AM

Wanna know how to stop tools from getting stolen?
Stop buying stolen tools.
Stop buying shit half price from pawn shops

Heavyopp · Friday at 10:45 AM

I have nothing to do with this but I have purchased from here. Seller is GTG. Lots of happy customers.
Give this thread a read.

Want to Sell - NIB Husky 288xp, 353, Stihl 660, 070, 381, Echo CS-1201

Hi Guys, I am selling the saws listed below, im located in Malaysia and can arrange shipping PM me for price, thanks in advance 353xp (18", 20" sprocket nose b&c) 288xp (20",25",28" hard nose b&c) 070/ms720 (36" hard nose b&c) 1201 (36" hard nose b&c)

www.arboristsite.com

Big Phish · Friday at 11:18 AM

cast1 said:
TimberKing 2020.

View attachment 8593747
It's one of the most fun things I've ever done.

View attachment 8593785

Man that is beautiful looking wood! What the project you doing with it?

Big Phish · Friday at 11:21 AM

WasNH4X said:
Did you kick yourself in da ass ? That was a decent price for a 291, even if it needed a little work........I'd hate to have to tote it though, ....why I opted for 288s. Our timber cutter used a 291 to fell trees , while I had a 281 and 288 cutting 10',- 16' logs on the loading ramp , then loading them on trucks with knuckle boom loader.

Out of all the things I've done in my life to earn a dollar.......I'd say being on a logging job ,with a good crew , was the most enjoyable.

It looks like it was used maybe an hour at most as the saw looked very clean and no issues with it starting from the boss lady. It was just too big and didn't feel like I need that much saw. I could had made money just on reselling for sure.

cast1 · Friday at 5:58 PM

Hoping to do a dining room table out of it.

LuckyLuke80 · Friday at 10:02 PM

To the op, I’m not understanding what the question is. If you’re asking for saw suggestions (which is how it sounds, but I didn’t see any question marks) then you will get a wide array of answers. I’m a still guy. The next guy is a husky guy or whatever. Anyways, I’ve owned both of them and the husky was fine, but I had to take the carb apart and clean it every time I took it out in the mountains. It would scream like a raped ape and cut wood like you wouldn’t believe, but it vibrated so bad that it was constant maintenance. My stihl 362 is about 15 years old and has had the carb replaced once. It’s cut an unbelievable amount of firewood. I’ve used it every year to cut several cord for the winter and I sold wood for a couple summers. Around here in Idaho the only thing they let the sawyers use is stihl. Although a few have started using the holzforma saws. They are just a Chinese knockoff of a stihl. Completely interchangeable parts.

BJames · Saturday at 7:21 AM

Big Phish said:
It looks like it was used maybe an hour at most as the saw looked very clean and no issues with it starting from the boss lady. It was just too big and didn't feel like I need that much saw. I could had made money just on reselling for sure.

About 7 years ago, needed to thin some trees out. Mostly medium sized birch but a handful of bigger cottonwoods. Went to the local hardware store to buy a 271 farmboss, figured that was all the saw I would ever need. They had a decent sale going on and reasoned since I had already planned to spend the money, should buy the bigger saw. Walked out with a 311 and a 25” bar for the same price as a farmboss. It worked great and still have it, but it’s a beast, heavy, decent workout after running for awhile. What I’ve found now is, 97% of the time, I’m running a 170 or a little dewalt saw with a 12” bar for most home use.

Big Phish · Saturday at 8:47 AM

BJames said:
About 7 years ago, needed to thin some trees out. Mostly medium sized birch but a handful of bigger cottonwoods. Went to the local hardware store to buy a 271 farmboss, figured that was all the saw I would ever need. They had a decent sale going on and reasoned since I had already planned to spend the money, should buy the bigger saw. Walked out with a 311 and a 25” bar for the same price as a farmboss. It worked great and still have it, but it’s a beast, heavy, decent workout after running for awhile. What I’ve found now is, 97% of the time, I’m running a 170 or a little dewalt saw with a 12” bar for most home use.

That is a bad azzed saw but a heavy monster if you need to go that big. The Farm Boss we have on farm is POS as its been in for repairs twice. I won't use it but the nephew will. LOL

GreenGO Juan · Saturday at 3:01 PM

Ya'll are missing it. He don't want a big heavy saw. He wants something smaller and handy.

Prior I posted a cheap china rip off 2511

Below is a Ported 2511t. A bad ass little 25cc. Punches way above its weight.

https://ripsaw.shop/products/ripsawcs2511t?srsltid=AfmBOoqMrBS0f9oqXWWelUNm8PBhJgfxqxJ8rH1vfXGXYrwcBV7Vn89d

expensive but a nasty little echo.

Srgt. Hulka · Saturday at 4:27 PM

Big Phish said:
I fucked up a few years ago as I was in a local pawn shop down south as they had 291 sitting on a shelf for $360 something. Looks like it wasn't used much but didn't bite so went back to property then decided to go back the next day and it was gone.

i have a 291. Best saw I’ve ever owned. Been using it the last couple days.

thejeep · Saturday at 5:29 PM

daylate said:
Whoever at Stihl thought it was a good idea to change the fuel and oil caps should be fired…I’ve got a couple of stihl’s with the newer caps and just about ready to ditch them because of that…261 pro and 361….They do run good though….

Ffc!
Fuck flippy caps

Major Wader · Sunday at 8:09 PM

I really like the Dolmar saws. I believe Makita bought their saw plant, so they might be blue now.

CaptArab · Monday at 10:41 AM

I've got the little echo, a 372xp OE, and a ported 261. Once I got the 261 I never touched the other 2. It's light enough to do what the tinny echo does and feels like it has all the ass of the 372.

Mtronic isn't big brother BS it's a simple module that's extremely reliable, easily replaced, and it means I never have to tune my saw, from 5 degrees to 95 degrees.

I would never want to go back to a standard carb after owning mtronic.

oneshot86 · Monday at 11:35 AM

CaptArab said:
I've got the little echo, a 372xp OE, and a ported 261. Once I got the 261 I never touched the other 2. It's light enough to do what the tinny echo does and feels like it has all the ass of the 372.

Mtronic isn't big brother BS it's a simple module that's extremely reliable, easily replaced, and it means I never have to tune my saw, from 5 degrees to 95 degrees.

I would never want to go back to a standard carb after owning mtronic.

I agree.
I've wore one 260 out and am on my second.
I do like the mtronic

db2000 · Monday at 9:19 PM

360K views · 1K reactions | 🪚 A bar that wasn't long enough to reach through. PLUS ➕️ 🪵 A log that was super dry PLUS ➕️ 🪚 A Stihl bar modified to fit a Husky because we couldn't get one in time.. EQUALS 🟰 ...DRIFT..... ✔️ But overall... well w

🪚 A bar that wasn't long enough to reach through. PLUS ➕️ 🪵 A log that was super dry PLUS ➕️ 🪚 A Stihl bar modified to fit a Husky because we couldn't get one in time.. EQUALS 🟰 ...DRIFT........

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Chainsaw decision help...

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