The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Chainsaws => Topic started by: rick f on February 17, 2011, 08:02:40 PM

Title: Efco chainsaws
Post by: rick f on February 17, 2011, 08:02:40 PM
Anyone using this brand for commercial use?  The local saw shop gave us one to try out for a week. Were trying out a 165, 65 CC. It seems to have good power, farly quiet. It handles well and is balanced good. The rewind is slow going back in compared to my Husky. The plastic cover on the on/ off switch is a pain. The chock is on the right side of the handle so that is diffrent.  He can sell one of these for about $460.00, compared to about $820.00 for a Husky.

Just wondering other peoples opinion of them.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: chucker on February 17, 2011, 09:22:29 PM
used the efco brand in a little less sized saw then your trying... their dependable as any other saw if takeing care of ! power is fair, air filter and oiler have had no problems of clogging when kept clean!! starts well as any other saw that i have in my arsenal.... im using a 147 which is a 2.75 c.i. sporting a 16" .325, 58 gauge 28rc66 baileys woodland pro...  i will buy another if the need arises!!
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 17, 2011, 09:27:55 PM
I have a 53 cc Efco here I picked up at the Piggy Roast at Jeff's. So far so good. I've only used it so far to cut bowl blanks. ;D I also have a Husky 55 barely broken in. People keep giving away saws, you know how  it is. I'm saw rich, but few trees to cut and mill. :D Ain't that the way? ;)
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: VT Logger on February 18, 2011, 05:48:53 AM
Got a new Efco165 last fall. Good running saw. I'm used to the 372 Husky so the Efco comes up a little short. Efco also lacks a side case chain adjuster(a must) and the oil-gas fill holes are small especially when pouring in cold bar oil. The Efco was a lot cheaper to buy, like $200 compared to the Husky. The Efco starts good and cuts well, you get what you pay for.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: rick f on February 18, 2011, 06:27:53 AM
Thanks guys for the replies. It does seem like a decent saw.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: NCFarmboy on February 19, 2011, 02:06:37 PM
Been running 181 same as 8200 w/ 20" for firewood this year got it for a steal.  Getting stronger as we use it.  Well pleased, air filter system stays cleaner than the top three Stihl, Husky Dolmar.  Shep
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: H60 Hawk Pilot on February 19, 2011, 03:27:11 PM
I got a Efco 152 as a open box buy for $ 225.00 tax included.  I had a problem with the tank vent that was plugged up and fixed it myself.  I have not had a new saw since the 70's and have a 40 year gap (knowledge) in saws. I compare it to Homelite's (XL12 & SXL) and like the saw's power vs light weight. The Efco has good balance and start's well. It has it's fair share of plastic and we'll see how it holds up. They have a 5 year warranty and the best I've seen for saws. I undersatnd the 165 CC size  and up are considered commerical grade and some better features.  


Avery
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: saw_nut on February 20, 2011, 08:14:19 PM
Been using and selling Efco chainsaws for a year now. For the size of wood here the 156 is the favorite among woods crews. The 156 is the start of pro grade saws. Have 4 152s out doing pro log/pulp work. The 165 is considerably weaker in performance to the older 962. Good saw none the less. Have a 152 that I am doing a long term test on. At 426 tanks now with no major issues. Shooting for 1000 tanks. The old 962 and any version of the 980-MT 8200 are my favorites.

Warranty and price are selling them here.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 20, 2011, 08:43:01 PM
Saw nut, do you know of any NB dealers? First I've heard of anyone in the Maritimes with an Efco dealership.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: saw_nut on February 20, 2011, 08:57:53 PM
I do not know of any other dealers. I can ask the distributor when I talk to them again.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: Cut4fun on February 20, 2011, 09:03:19 PM
Quote from: saw_nut on February 20, 2011, 08:14:19 PM
Have a 152 that I am doing a long term test on. At 426 tanks now with no major issues. Shooting for 1000 tanks.

How long to get that many tanks through it, minus the down time when it was cold and you went with the heated handle saws.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 20, 2011, 09:08:45 PM
I would appreciate that saw_nut, as I have a new Efco here. I probably won't wear it out, but some things are helpful to know, like local dealers, if the need arrives.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 20, 2011, 09:12:29 PM
I dunno, but I put over 700 tanks through a brush saw last summer to cut 41 ha's. So won't take long if it's worked on a regular job. ;)
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: saw_nut on February 21, 2011, 03:30:17 PM
Quote from: Cut4fun on February 20, 2011, 09:03:19 PM
Quote from: saw_nut on February 20, 2011, 08:14:19 PM
Have a 152 that I am doing a long term test on. At 426 tanks now with no major issues. Shooting for 1000 tanks.

How long to get that many tanks through it, minus the down time when it was cold and you went with the heated handle saws.

Depends on weather, how many other saws I am playing with, and if I am in spruce or firewood. I usually do 1500-2000 tanks per year now. Used to top 3000/year when younger, 12-14 tank per day.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: Cut4fun on February 21, 2011, 03:41:57 PM
Quote from: saw_nut on February 21, 2011, 03:30:17 PM
12-14 tank per day.

Thats the part I was wanting  to figure out. Thanks.......... pepsi_smiley
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 21, 2011, 05:27:35 PM
Tanks per day yields variable production with the cutting difficulty to, and tank size obvious. Just like thinning does. I burn 7-9 tanks that could mean I cut from .25 to 0.6 ha a day, and the higher number of tanks isn't always the most ground cut. ;) A nine tank day would be from 6:30- 4:30, 10 minutes between tanks and 20 minutes for lunch. Some tanks will last 50 minutes and others 1h:20 minutes, than others 1h:50 minutes. I tell ya, when that 2 hr tank is run, I need water bad. :D I was in some ground last spring that took 8 tanks to cut a ha. :) I have a 0.67 litre tank in my Stihl FS550. :D

I'm saying here what I tell thinners, tanks don't equal XXX ground cut. ;)
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: snowstorm on February 21, 2011, 06:47:24 PM
Quote from: SwampDonkey on February 20, 2011, 09:08:45 PM
I would appreciate that saw_nut, as I have a new Efco here. I probably won't wear it out, but some things are helpful to know, like local dealers, if the need arrives.
r d faulkner in brewer me is the distrib.....dealer. they got one of everything. was in there for harvestor chain. that went up. he told me all about the efco. says they stand up real well
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: SwampDonkey on February 21, 2011, 06:51:26 PM
I've got one here, but was looking for a NB dealer. Brewer is 2-1/2 hours from here.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: saw_nut on February 21, 2011, 07:42:57 PM
Quote from: SwampDonkey on February 21, 2011, 05:27:35 PM
Tanks per day yields variable production with the cutting difficulty to, and tank size obvious. Just like thinning does. I burn 7-9 tanks that could mean I cut from .25 to 0.6 ha a day, and the higher number of tanks isn't always the most ground cut. ;) A nine tank day would be from 6:30- 4:30, 10 minutes between tanks and 20 minutes for lunch. Some tanks will last 50 minutes and others 1h:20 minutes, than others 1h:50 minutes. I tell ya, when that 2 hr tank is run, I need water bad. :D I was in some ground last spring that took 8 tanks to cut a ha. :) I have a 0.67 litre tank in my Stihl FS550. :D

I'm saying here what I tell thinners, tanks don't equal XXX ground cut. ;)

Some days 9 tanks=1 porter load. Other days 9 tanks=3 loads. Its all about the size of the wood. Last Friday I was clearing the edge of a field. Big white spruce with limbs to the ground. 2 tanks got me a 12 foot log and 2 ten footers. Big money that day.
Title: Re: Efco chainsaws
Post by: Kansas on February 21, 2011, 07:57:45 PM
We run both an Efco and a Stihl around the mill. Both work well. Personally, I like the balance of a Stihl a little more. Just personal preference, I think.  Don't really think there is much difference between the two for reliability. We used to have an Efco weed eater that was a good tough machine.