ECHO Echo, Echo, Echo

[Maintenance Chief]

Hello up there in Alaska. Those frosty saws sure don't look they're in Florida. Do they need some extra coaxing to start in that weather?

The west coast cover from the 2188 is a little wider, but may not be much stronger. 572 covers fit also. Can always throw the huztl 372 covers on there. They're so cheap you can't get too upset if they break. Any of the red covers are gonna be pricy. Seems like 50% more than the equivalent orange part in most cases.

You're right about the other brand thing. Not much to argue about.

Didn't NY get like 60" of snow at one point this year? Lol

 

[Ford3000]

CS-550 has a 34mm stroke vs 37,6mm of 590-621 so even if bolt pattern would fit the rest of the project is pretty complicated.
They look very similar due to the same starter and few other parts used but there is a bunch of differences and most of the saw is different.

@Piston Skirt Do you know what filter is used on the 4920, is it screw on like the 4510,
and is the clutch inbound like on the 621.

 

[Spike60]

Didn't NY get like 60" of snow at one point this year? Lol

That was only up in Buffalo and the Tug Hill plateau coming off the great lakes. Other than that, it's been a mild, if not downright wimpy winter up this way. Only ran the snow blower once so far. Still a couple months to go, and the big storms often show up late in the season.

 

[Spike60]

Yep, lots of bizarre rituals for not only getting them started in constant below-zero, but running them too.

Smaller carbs are purdy sweet for cold weather starting: husq 266 se, echo cs 6700, echo cs 4910, echo cs 8000 etc.

Flywheel bibs for colder than 20 below.

2 stroke oils with 50 below zero cold pour points. Crank residual that turns to gum is hard on rotator cuffs and starter recoils.

Bar oiled thinned with diesel or ATF.

Starting against a chain break ain't happening.

The density below-zero air is a btch on first start-up. All saws die immediately, if u shut off the choke on high idle. So yah gotta intermittently pull the choke in and out a half dozen times, before you shut off the choke and go to low idle. Hard to do with stihl "one lever for everything"

For stihls: max flow filter kits ain't happening. You loose winter setting.

Some saws need extra carb heat off the engine cover. I do this with pcv hoses off the cylinder cover, routed straight to carb cover.

My 2172 doesnt need extra heat, heated carb.

Porting for too high of rpms,they run like sht in the below zero. Moving too much air. I keep exauhst port lower too.

Port work: Keeping upper transfers lower, and moving the torque lower is better. 30 below frozen birch, high chain speed just skips and chatters, no matter the raker depth. Lots of moisture, and small growth rings.

Oregon versacut 72dpx and EXL seems to be good cold weather chain. Less broken teeth over some of my older stuff. Their marketing statement about OCS-1 steel is somewhat true:

"All Oregon professional and harvester saw chains are now made from the company's own patented OCS-01 steel alloy. Designed to be more durable in cold weather conditions, Oregon cutting saw chain steel is tested and proven to be 125% tougher at minus 20° Fahrenheit "

http://apps.oregonproducts.com/pro/products/fb/Patented_Steel.htm

That's gotta be the best answer to a question as I've ever seen here. Made me feel cold just reading it. Never cut in sub zero temps, but a few times in the single digits for sure. Usually grab the heated handle saws on those days. 2163W and 262xpg the favorites. I would think the G models would be popular up your way. Not just for your fingers, but for the carb as well. Does Echo make any heated grip saws? Friend of mine is an Echo/Shindaiwa fan and he says they have all kinds of cool models for sale in other markets.

 

[Gullet]

I think Echo makes the 501 & 680 in a G model (maybe more?).
Shindaiwa made em pre merger also.
I'd like to find a set to install on one of my 695's.
I dont need it here in the South (hardly), but the rarity of it alone sparks my interest.

 

[Piston Skirt]

@Piston Skirt Do you know what filter is used on the 4920, is it screw on like the 4510,
and is the clutch inbound like on the 621.

4920 is generally the same chassis as 4510, filter & clutch/brake assembly is the same part set.

 

[Piston Skirt]

Does Echo make any heated grip saws? Friend of mine is an Echo/Shindaiwa fan and he says they have all kinds of cool models for sale in other markets.

Yamabiko has 4310/501/7310 heated versions in domestic market. 501 in this configuration is also sold in Europe.

 

[thedude74]

CS 590 gets some mods. .020 off the flywheel key, base gasket delete, 106.5* ex...intake and trans stock for now.....carb hi jet epoxied shut...muffler opened up even more....and a drum/rim sprocket conversion.... Made my own bar adapter to run husky large mount bars.....

 

[thedude74]

And a new 20"Tsumara bar and a fresh loop of 72LGX

 

[Ford3000]

4920 is generally the same chassis as 4510, filter & clutch/brake assembly is the same part set.

Thanks @Piston Skirt , I priced the Echo CS4920 here in Ireland,
€649.00, way too expensive, better off with the 501 pro model.
And, its not available until April.
I have contacted the people in Northern Ireland / UK, they have
them advertised on their sites for 435 UK pounds, thats €500.00.
I want a shorter bar than they offer, so waiting on a price and to make
sure its in stock.

EDIT: The Echo CS-4920 is not available to my NI dealer until March either,
and with a shorter 15 inch bar, the price jumps from 435.00 to 500.00 GBP.
This makes this saw too expensive for what it is, a clamshell, with lots of plastic.

 

[Piston Skirt]

Thanks @Piston Skirt , I priced the Echo CS4920 here in Ireland,
€649.00, way too expensive, better off with the 501 pro model.
And, its not available until April.
I have contacted the people in Northern Ireland / UK, they have
them advertised on their sites for 435 UK pounds, thats €500.00.
I want a shorter bar than they offer, so waiting on a price and to make
sure its in stock.

EDIT: The Echo CS-4920 is not available to my NI dealer until March either,
and with a shorter 15 inch bar, the price jumps from 435.00 to 500.00 GBP.
This makes this saw too expensive for what it is, a clamshell, with lots of plastic.

That’s the nowadays reality of saws. MS 271 is 774GBP and husky 450 is 659 GBP

 

[Gullet]

After looking @ all these sweet Echo saws, I'm telling myself "You dont NEED" another saw... you dont need another saw!
BUT!......
I dont own a Echo so the door is open!

 

[Ford3000]

That’s the nowadays reality of saws. MS 271 is 774GBP and husky 450 is 659 GBP

Your right, things are crazy expensive.
And im odd, I really want a strong 50cc or a 55 ish cc saw, with a
manual carb. Was all set on a Dolmar PS550 until Makita pulled the pin,
I liked the Echo CS-501sx, but can not tolerate the buzz through the handles,
not much else out there.

 

[Gullet]

Your right, things are crazy expensive.
And im odd, I really want a strong 50cc or a 55 ish cc saw, with a
manual carb. Was all set on a Dolmar PS550 until Makita pulled the pin,
I liked the Echo CS-501sx, but can not tolerate the buzz through the handles,
not much else out there.

Shindaiwa 488.

 

[Ford3000]

Shindaiwa 488.

I do not see any new ones of them, NOS. I had the the 490 Shindaiwa, sold it when
I knew no better.

 

[Gullet]

Saw one NOS NIB recently @Woodslasher turned me on to it.
NOS NIB cylinder & piston kits are readily available (build your own NEW).
I like Echo's but LOVE the older Shindaiwas!
Shindaiwa was built for the PRO SAW crowd for the entirety of the company.
Echo has ALWAYS been geared towards the homeowner crowd.
Pre Merger Shindaiwa's are a hot rod compared to Echo, Imho.

 

[Piston Skirt]

Saw one NOS NIB recently @ woodslasher turned me on to it.
NOS NIB cylinder & piston kits are readily available (build your own NEW).
I like Echo's but LOVE the older Shindaiwas!
Shindaiwa was built for the PRO SAW crowd for the entirety of the company.
Echo has ALWAYS been geared towards the homeowner crowd.
Pre Merger Shindaiwa's are a hot rod compared to Echo, Imho.

That’s a bit of combination of internet assumptions 501 is essentially a Shindaiwa. On the other hand 2511 is pure Yamabiko (although yep, originally targeted at Japanese/European markets, just like the recent 4310)

 

[Gullet]

I was talking about a 488 pre merger Shindaiwa NOS NIB.
The 501 might be a Shindaiwa DESIGN, but it wasn't built by Shindaiwa (built by Echo).

 

[Gullet]

Echo made Shindaiwa isn't the same as MADE BY SHINDAIWA.

 

[Gullet]

Made by Shindaiwa.
Not much plastic on this one (magnesium clutch cover).
Steel brake.

LOTSO Plastic on Echo built Shindaiwas today (plastic clutch cover even).
They dont build em like Shindaiwa did.