ayoungtexan
I tell a lot of lies
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I recently got to do a comparison of the homeowner and pro 50cc saws from Stihl, Husqvarna and Echo. For this review I’ll be stating the pros, cons and my overall opinion on each saw. I had a variety of wood to test them on. They were 8” live oak, 14” ash, and some 18” pecan.
The Homeowner Saws: Echo CS490, Husqvarna 450, and the Stihl MS271
The Pro Saws: Echo CS501P, Husqvarna 550XP Mark II and the Stihl MS261C.
All of the saws were running 16” .325 and were bone stock and broke in.
Echo CS490 Pros:
1. The Echo was built better than the 450 and the 271 as it had a magnesium crankcase.
2. The Echo was the lightest
3. The Echo had the best controls and started the easiest
4. The Echo had the best value
Echo CS490 Cons:
1. It cut the slowest out of the three saws.
Overall: This saw needs a carb tune and MM out of the box to make it a decent saw. Other than that it’s a great value 50cc.
Stihl MS271 Pros:
1. The 271 cut faster than the Echo and Husqvarna
Stihl MS271 Cons:
1. The 271 felt the heaviest and not built as well as the other two
2. The 271 didn’t seem to balance as well as the Echo and Husqvarna
Overall: An okay saw but not my favorite in this class. Your better off buying a CS590 Echo.
Husqvarna 450 Pros:
1. The purge bulb makes cold starts nice. It still doesn’t start as easy as the Echo
2. It cuts decent, a bit slower than the Stihl but a bit faster than the Echo.
3. This saw had the best balance with a 16 on it
Husqvarna 450 Cons:
1. The plastic crankcase is disappointing to see
Overall: Not a bad saw, I prefer it to the Stihl but not as much as the Echo.
Winner: The CS490
The Pro Saws: They got put through the same test as the homeowner saws.
Stihl MS261C Pros:
1. This thing is a little wood laser. I could tell it was a bit faster than the Echo and Husky. It lost to the Husky in the pecan, but this seems to have higher chain speed.
2. The balance was very nice, albeit a bit heavy on the powerhead side, would be better with an 18
3. Built like a tank
4. The captive nuts are a great feature.
5. The mtronic definitely works better than the previous 261s that I’ve worked with.
6. The 261 is the easiest to start
Stihl MS261C Cons:
1. I do wish that the handle was metal like the Echo and Husky instead of plastic.
Overall: A beast of a saw that handles whatever I reasonably threw at it
Husqvarna 550XP Mark II Pros:
1. The 550 has more torque and it cut the fastest in the pecan.
2. The engine sounds the best out of the 3, especially at idle
3. The captive nuts
4. The gas caps are easier to open than the Stihl and Echo
5. The metal handle is better than the plastic one on the Stihl
Husqvarna 550XP Mark II Cons:
1. It’s the heaviest out of the 3
Overall: The 550 would be best for longer bar lengths or larger diameter wood
Echo CS501P Pros:
1. I like that you can open the caps using the starter handle. I still think the Husky has better caps.
2. Captive bar nuts
3. Like the Husky, the 501 has a metal handle.
4. I like the simplicity of the controls
Echo CS501P Cons:
1. The Echo seems to be built cheaper than the other 2
2. I wish it had an automatic adjusting carb
Overall: A nice saw, but it would be even better with autotune or something similar.
Winner: Stihl MS261C
My 2 cents: These are all fine saws as long as you use for what they’re designed for. For a homeowner I’d take the Echo 490 because it’s the best value in that class. For the pro saws I’d take the Stihl 261 because it had the best power to weight ratio and it seems to be built the best
The Homeowner Saws: Echo CS490, Husqvarna 450, and the Stihl MS271
The Pro Saws: Echo CS501P, Husqvarna 550XP Mark II and the Stihl MS261C.
All of the saws were running 16” .325 and were bone stock and broke in.
Echo CS490 Pros:
1. The Echo was built better than the 450 and the 271 as it had a magnesium crankcase.
2. The Echo was the lightest
3. The Echo had the best controls and started the easiest
4. The Echo had the best value
Echo CS490 Cons:
1. It cut the slowest out of the three saws.
Overall: This saw needs a carb tune and MM out of the box to make it a decent saw. Other than that it’s a great value 50cc.
Stihl MS271 Pros:
1. The 271 cut faster than the Echo and Husqvarna
Stihl MS271 Cons:
1. The 271 felt the heaviest and not built as well as the other two
2. The 271 didn’t seem to balance as well as the Echo and Husqvarna
Overall: An okay saw but not my favorite in this class. Your better off buying a CS590 Echo.
Husqvarna 450 Pros:
1. The purge bulb makes cold starts nice. It still doesn’t start as easy as the Echo
2. It cuts decent, a bit slower than the Stihl but a bit faster than the Echo.
3. This saw had the best balance with a 16 on it
Husqvarna 450 Cons:
1. The plastic crankcase is disappointing to see
Overall: Not a bad saw, I prefer it to the Stihl but not as much as the Echo.
Winner: The CS490
The Pro Saws: They got put through the same test as the homeowner saws.
Stihl MS261C Pros:
1. This thing is a little wood laser. I could tell it was a bit faster than the Echo and Husky. It lost to the Husky in the pecan, but this seems to have higher chain speed.
2. The balance was very nice, albeit a bit heavy on the powerhead side, would be better with an 18
3. Built like a tank
4. The captive nuts are a great feature.
5. The mtronic definitely works better than the previous 261s that I’ve worked with.
6. The 261 is the easiest to start
Stihl MS261C Cons:
1. I do wish that the handle was metal like the Echo and Husky instead of plastic.
Overall: A beast of a saw that handles whatever I reasonably threw at it
Husqvarna 550XP Mark II Pros:
1. The 550 has more torque and it cut the fastest in the pecan.
2. The engine sounds the best out of the 3, especially at idle
3. The captive nuts
4. The gas caps are easier to open than the Stihl and Echo
5. The metal handle is better than the plastic one on the Stihl
Husqvarna 550XP Mark II Cons:
1. It’s the heaviest out of the 3
Overall: The 550 would be best for longer bar lengths or larger diameter wood
Echo CS501P Pros:
1. I like that you can open the caps using the starter handle. I still think the Husky has better caps.
2. Captive bar nuts
3. Like the Husky, the 501 has a metal handle.
4. I like the simplicity of the controls
Echo CS501P Cons:
1. The Echo seems to be built cheaper than the other 2
2. I wish it had an automatic adjusting carb
Overall: A nice saw, but it would be even better with autotune or something similar.
Winner: Stihl MS261C
My 2 cents: These are all fine saws as long as you use for what they’re designed for. For a homeowner I’d take the Echo 490 because it’s the best value in that class. For the pro saws I’d take the Stihl 261 because it had the best power to weight ratio and it seems to be built the best
