Best 50-60cc saw

[Al Smith]

It's a Ford /Chevy thing .Older saws like a Stihl 036 or 038 AV would fill the bill nicely for a fire wood saw .Besides that you could buy both models with enough spare parts to rebuild them both at least two times before you reached the price of a new saw which now are gold plated .

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

It still amazes me the weight comparisons people make..I think it's hilarious lol !

I don't know a single person in real life that works with a chainsaw that's mentioned the weight differences between saw brands..only the internet..I swear...lol.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Just looking for something smaller and lightweight.

Me too. More power for less weight is never a bad thing. That's one of the reasons the 500i is so popular. People like powerful lightweight saws.

 

[TreeLife]

562 all day. Affordable, muffler mod it and go. Will work nicely with a 18-24" bar and will utilize a 28 if you arent too greedy with the gullet and depth gauges on your chains.

 

[TreeLife]

550xp mk2 with a 20" .325 bar wouldn't be a bad option ifn you're thinking about a real light saw.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

If you want a 20" bar and price isn't the main concern, I'd recommend a Stihl 400. I don't own one, but there's been positive feedback here on the performance so far.

If that's not light enough you could go to Stihl 261, get it ported and you'd have basically the same performance as the 400 with 2 fewer pounds to carry around.

Both a 400 and a ported 261 would pull a 20" bar in hardwood comfortably.

I have a 400 and with just the muffler mod and timing advance it will pull a 25” pretty well in hardwood.

 

[Johnmn]

562 all day. Affordable, muffler mod it and go. Will work nicely with a 18-24" bar and will utilize a 28 if you arent too greedy with the gullet and depth gauges on your chains.

I'd like to know how much performance was lossed with the new dished piston before buying a new 562 though.

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

I have a 400 and with just the muffler mod and timing advance it will pull a 25” pretty well in hardwood.

Cutting blocks on the first tank of gas: The 400 cuts faster. Ran them both with 20 inch bar. The 400 just screams. Randy builds a hell of a saw. This 400 is going to cost me more money - porting the 500.

A 400 just ported by Randy runs faster than a 500i according to the new owner. That saw would be a dream to own!

 

[TreeLife]

I'd like to know how much performance was lossed with the new dished piston before buying a new 562 though.

We should ask some folks

 

[larasea]

I have a ported MS261C-M (MMWS) and a ported MS400C-M (MMWS). I owned the 261 for 4 years prior to porting. I did not like a 20 inch bar on it prior to porting. Prior to porting it wore a 16 or 18 inch bar and I liked the 16 inch better. After porting I run an 18 inch all the time. It would handle a 20 just fine but I don't run it on this saw. As for the 400, I bought it ported so no experience with the saw stock. I run a 20 on it and have not run a 25 as of yet. It would handle just fine. In my opinion, the 400 with a 20 inch light bar is perfect for me. If I was going to purchase just one saw between these two, hands down the 400 ported.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

A 400 just ported by Randy runs faster than a 500i according to the new owner. That saw would be a dream to own!

I’ve never ran a ported 400 so no idea but my 400 won’t run with my 500i I know that. I have a 362 with a cylinder Randy did for me but haven’t had a chance to get a log to run my 400 against it. I’m sure the ported 362 will outperform it but curious by how much

 

[sawmikaze]

I just got a 400 from Harry and Kevin ported it..I've ran it with a 20" bar and it's got power to spare.

I'm not really in to it though, primarily because I can't tell the difference between it and a 462...they feel the same to me..but if you're looking for a saw to run a 20" bar and have the money it's not a bad choice at all.

 

[quattro.pilot]

Buy what you can get parts and service for easily locally. + whichever dealer/reseller treats you with respect and earns your business

Definitely don't want to throw money away needlessly.... sales & discounts are a great way to get good value tools

562xp on-sale can be a great overall value. And yes I'm biased like everyone else

If you would put up with the modified route, I think a ported and tuned-up 500xp Mk.2 would get you there too in a more than acceptable weight class.

I speak to Husky cause that's what I "know".. I'm sure Stihl has equivalents... that ported 261CM could do it, but again I don't know current model lineups.

Either way have fun!! I wish I could afford/justify buying a new chainsaw

 

[Seachaser]

Closest dealer with a good service department. Or order Husky on line for the sale price.

 

[Hundred Acre Wood]

If you don't wrench on your own saws, my recommendation would be to buy what you can get good service for.
Good local service can more than make up for any initial price difference when things break.

Buy what you can get parts and service for easily locally. + whichever dealer/reseller treats you with respect and earns your business

Closest dealer with a good service department. Or order Husky on line for the sale price.

I hear a theme of experience talking.

 

[NateSaw]

Looking for opinions on the best 50-60cc saw with a 20 inch bar. Thinking of either a echo 620 or husqvarna 562, any opinions would be appreciated.

I sure liked the looks of the 620 on paper... Especially for the price. But alas, I haven't bought one.

 

[NateSaw]

Are you talking about ported saws? I'm responding to the OP and referring to a stock 50cc saw.

Lets be specific so there's no misunderstanding. A 50cc with .325 .063 full chisel 20" buried in hardwood was not very pleasant to use in my experience. YMMV.

Nor mine, so far.

 

[thedude74]

For about the same price of an new MS261 or 550 xp you could buy a new 50cc echo (490, 4910, 501P etc) and have it ported. Check out Dyno Joe on YouTube @Red97. He builds a mean echo. His ported 50cc echos probably beat most if not all stock 60cc saws and weighs a lot less....Paid $250-$275 IIRC, brand new, for my CS490.

 

[whitesnake]

For your average guy buying a new one saw plan, a echo 620p is extremely hard to beat for the $$$. They’re not the lightest, fanciest, sportiest looking saw on the market…but they get the job done just as well for a fair amount less money. It will pull short bars and long bars and oil them well. It is simple to operate and easy to work on. They’re “pro grade” construction. They’re very reliable and will last a long time with proper maintenance. They are more of a torque saw that a lightning fast zippy saw. Just my opinion. I’m not an echo nut I own all brands. 562’s, 400i’s etc are good saws as well if you wanna spend the extra money and enjoy the autotune. And most importantly…don’t want a “heavy” saw

 

[whitesnake]

I just got a 400 from Harry and Kevin ported it..I've ran it with a 20" bar and it's got power to spare.

I'm not really in to it though, primarily because I can't tell the difference between it and a 462...they feel the same to me..but if you're looking for a saw to run a 20" bar and have the money it's not a bad choice at all.

I agree, kinda how I feel about the 462 and 500i comparison. 500i just doesn’t do enough for me for the extra money. 462 sure is a great saw.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

Here's a good in between at 57cc.