Finally

[DanG]

Finally, after 7 years of using my two Echo saws, I had to take the little CS300 to the shop.  It would fire up easily, as usual, and run strong for a couple of minutes, then suddenly die.  I couldn't crank it again until it cooled down for a while.  I called the dealer and he concurred with me that it was probably the coil and that it is difficult for the layman to install that properly, so I took it in.  When I dropped it off last Tuesday, I pointed out that the primer bulb was cracked and I would like that replaced too, but I knew that wasn't the problem because it had been cracked for a couple of years.  The saw doesn't need it, by the way.   Anyway, it was ready for me to pick up by Thursday morning so I went to get it.  When I got there, he said the problem was the primer after all.  It has a little diaphram under it that had crack in it also, and that crack was opening up when it got hot.  I was out the door with a fixed saw, a six-pack of mix oil, 4 files,and a new scrench for under $37!

And that, my friends, is the value in buying your saw from a good dealer!  He was convinced that it was a bad coil when I got there, but his boys properly diagnosed the problem before throwing new parts and my money into it.  Not only that, but the owner knew exactly what they found on that saw, even though he doesn't work on them himself.  He stays behind the counter and does business with customers, but he knows what's going on behind that wall to his back.  Can you tell I'm happy with my Echo saws and my dealer?

[ladylake]

Great service like that is hard to find, most would tell you it cost to much to fix and sell you a new one.   And what's wrong with those Echo saws, I've already had 1 AV mount break in 8 years.   Steve

[SwampDonkey]

I'm no saw guru here DanG by a long shot, but when a saw acts up and no warrantee, I usually do my own work. I mean brush saws here, and I use Stihl. They are easy to work on from my perspective at least. But, what I was going to say is there may also be an air filter in your fuel cap that needs cleaning or replacing on occasion. That, the primer button and carburetor are all tied together. Correct carburetor operation is only possible if the atmospheric pressure and internal fuel tank pressure are equal at all times.

But your right about a good saw and a good dealer to boot.

[bandmiller2]

A good honest dealer that stocks parts is worth driving a little further,whatever the brand of prof. saw he sells.Frank C.

[timber tramp]

   Cool, it's great to have good dealer support. That's why I've stuck with my Stihl's all these years. Once had the mechanic at the shop I use (not the closest one to me) stay until 1:00 a.m. on a Tuesday replacing crank seals in my work saw. (only had one saw back then) Good service indeed. Have'nt used another shop since, and I've referred everyone who's asked me to them.            TT

[windthrown]

Echos run OK, but over time they just plum wear out. I had a CS-3000, and a CS-300, and several others in that size. Thing is, when I had them, the 230 and 250 Stihls plain ran circles around them. I never liked the chokes on the Echos. Or the fact that the 3000 has the air filter up front where the chips fly. Or the outboard clutches. I hate outboard clutches. Also I know of few dealers that would service a saw like that here. Its cheaper to buy a new baby Echo saw here than to get one fixed.

For the price, they are what they are. For a cheap saw, they run good. But if you are used to running better pro saws, they fall short. No, the 230/250 are not pro saws either, and I ditched them as well for the 026 model saws. Now, you want a nimble and powerful light saw, the 026 is a great saw. But they are 3x the price of a 300 series Echo, so what the heck.

[MN Ripper]

Its great to hear there are still honest dealers out there.  DanG would your CS-300 have the lifetime warranty on the ignition module like the newer Echo's?  Not that you needed it but curious, I have no idea when they started that warranty.  I'm going to purchase a Echo PAS this spring when the weeds & underbrush get taller and the dealer told me you still get the lifetime warranty on the ignition module like the saws plus a lifetime warranty on the drivecable. 

[DanG]

Echos run OK, but over time they just plum wear out. I had a CS-3000, and a CS-300, and several others in that size. Thing is, when I had them, the 230 and 250 Stihls plain ran circles around them. I never liked the chokes on the Echos. Or the fact that the 3000 has the air filter up front where the chips fly. Or the outboard clutches. I hate outboard clutches. Also I know of few dealers that would service a saw like that here. Its cheaper to buy a new baby Echo saw here than to get one fixed.

For the price, they are what they are. For a cheap saw, they run good. But if you are used to running better pro saws, they fall short. No, the 230/250 are not pro saws either, and I ditched them as well for the 026 model saws. Now, you want a nimble and powerful light saw, the 026 is a great saw. But they are 3x the price of a 300 series Echo, so what the heck.

"I ship Stihl saws down under and to north Europe... message me for details."
That's what I see at the bottom of your post, Windthrown.  Does trashing your competitor's products on a publicly accessed forum help your sales?  I wonder how the legitimate Stihl dealers feel about you selling them out of your garage with no overhead, and pawning the problems off on them?  Your opinion is worthless to me.

[fishpharmer]

DanG fine saw and dealer you got there DanG.   I think I said this here somewhere before but it bears repeating.  I have a very good friend that is a mechanic at a small engine shop.  They are dealers for both Stihl and Echo.  He says they are both great saws but for his dollar he will buy an Echo because the warranty is so much better.  A good dealer, regardless of brand, or product is most often the deciding factor for me.

[ladylake]

 Getting a little windy there Windy, you run a old reed vavle 30cc Echo a claim they're all junk.  After having worked on a lot of saws the junk ones are the home owner Stihl 170. 180  210 230 250 and my small Echo's will cut circles around that lot cc to cc. And if you want bring your 026 or 260 over and we'll run it against my CS520.  I own 3 Stihls, 2 Huskys, a bunch of Echo's ,1 Dolmar 2 Solos 1 Efco, not biased, just telling it like it is .       Steve

[Al_Smith]

  It really doesn't make two shakes of a lambs tail who made the saw, if you like them who cares what anyone thinks about it .

I have one Echo ,old duffer ,302 I think .Compaired to say a 200T stihl or 335 Huskey it's slow but keep in mind it served in service for a tree company for decades .That fact alone says a lot .

The Echo brand is not one that is found in my area very much but neither are a few others . Fact is just last winter I tracked down some parts for a neighbor to repair his because there are no dealers locally .

[SwampDonkey]

Coming back to availability, I hear the Echo professional model brush saw is being discontinued. That's just rumour, as the guy I heard it from owns one and it was just rumoured to him also. Non-the-less Husky has changed and discontinued their pro brush saw model 3 times at least in a decade, where the Stihl FS550 has been around for 15 years. Gives me something to torment the guys who are loyal about them brands about. And torment I do.

Shoulda bought a Stihl boys, they got it right the first time.  

[ladylake]

What ever brush cutters has to do with this, even Stihl comes out with new models now and then and discontinue the old models. If you don't have a Echo dealer close by Echo parts can be ordered online and cost about half as much as over priced Stilh parts.  Steve

[SwampDonkey]

  Relax before ya pull the trigger and realize I was just fun'n. Sometimes a fella just feels compelled to join in even if he has a brush saw and not a chain saw.  Well, I do have a chainsaw to, but not a pro model, a husky55. Ok, I'll just stand by for another slap, while someone tells me how many thousand cords they cut last year.

[Mark K]

We have 3 of them echo top handle saws, couldn't tell ya the numbers because there worn off. Most of them are over 6 years or older. They are very reliable and handy saws. I have a Stihl 192 that we use for a climbing saw because a we lost our Echo dealer. It's a nice saw also.

[ErikC]

 I agree about the dealer 100% Dang. I drive 45 min to see mine. He sells echo and stihl both, and considers some of the echo line superior to stihl. I don't remember what model #'S, but at any rate they are not junk. I have a little top handle with a 14" bar that is from the late 1980's, bought used. Very dependable, after who knows how many hours. And besides that, eventually they all just "plain wear out", don't they?

[thecfarm]

Can't complain on that a bit.I run a echo trimmer and have used alot.I have a mile of stone walls to trim and all the other stuff I do with it.Just replaced the cutting heads on it.Have gone through a couple on it.I always say the dealer really counts.I have no idea about the echo dealer,never had to use them.

[ihookem]

I wish I knew of Echo a few months ago before I bought a Stihl 441. My new 441 starts about as hard as my  100 yr. old grandpa gets out of bed. It floods most the time. I heard Echo was all made in USA except the motor and the motor is made in Japan by the biggest 2 stroke motor company in the world. They should know something about 2 strokes. Windthrown, with a due respect, I think I disa gree with you on this one, even though you know a lot more about chainsaws than me. I wish I would have bought an Echo 680, just a little smaller and 150 bucks less. 

[Mark K]

ihookem- I bought a 441 when they first come out. Most miserable thing to get started . After month of bucking logs on the landing it started to break in and now starts pretty good.

[miking]

My cs-530 has relegated my 260 pro to the shelf, as has my 410 brushcutter to the fs350. I just bought a new echo blower a couple weeks ago as well, so you can imagine where the stihl blower sits. Echo is many great products these days.

[miking]

I wish I knew of Echo a few months ago before I bought a Stihl 441. My new 441 starts about as hard as my  100 yr. old grandpa gets out of bed. It floods most the time. I heard Echo was all made in USA except the motor and the motor is made in Japan by the biggest 2 stroke motor company in the world. They should know something about 2 strokes. Windthrown, with a due respect, I think I disa gree with you on this one, even though you know a lot more about chainsaws than me. I wish I would have bought an Echo 680, just a little smaller and 150 bucks less.  

Sorry about the 441, but I'll bet you could sell it for near what you paid for it in a heartbeat and replace with with a 680 just as fast and keep the change. Mine is great after a minor tuning, as all Echo saws seem to need.

[SwampDonkey]

I know one fella that has gone through 3 Echo saws in 4 years. I still can run my original Stihl FS550 I got in 2003 (have as spare) and I use my 2005 bought saw as my main saw. These saws are used 6 months a year day in day out, heat, rain, snow I cut in all kinds of weather.

[ladylake]

 Without properly adjusting a new Echo saw they will burn up in short order if used hard, when adjusted right they last forever but there are poeple that can ruin anything fast.  Steve

[LeeB]

Why you wanna drag me onto this?

[ladylake]

Why you wanna drag me onto this?

  Your not the guy that can ruin anything are you, I thought that was my BIL.   Steve