Porting the dolmar 421...

[Four Paws]

One thing I REALLY like about the Echo's is where they are made. All my saws say "Made in Japan". And I have yet to see an OEM Echo part that says "Made in China". All that I have seen say "Made in Japan". That's a big deal to me because (IMO) Japan=high quality, China=low quality. Sourcing parts to China seems to be popular among the big chainsaw manufacturers these days.

Then you haven't ordered any bearings to rebuild an Echo saw lately. I have rebuilt Shindaiwa saws for years...always ordered OEM bearings...always received NSK bearings stamped Made in Japan. My most recent order, I received bearings in an Echo labeled bag (Shindaiwa/Echo merged) which were stamped Made in China. I was devastated.

I hope greedy and incompetent senior executives don't run the brand into the ground reducing quality to find cost savings necessary to show increased profits and compete at certain critical price-points In the OPE markets.

I see the same bad decisions made everywhere In business anymore. Look at Makita/Dolmar. Soon, neither brand will be recognizable...the trademark teal color of Makita will not be used in their OPE line up, and the familiar Dolmar name will be non-existent as well. Instead, the corporate geniuses have decided to market red Makita OPE. WTF?!

Anyhow, off my soapbox. Long live old magnesium!

 

[Idahonative]

Then you haven't ordered any bearings to rebuild an Echo saw lately. I have rebuilt Shindaiwa saws for years...always ordered OEM bearings...always received NSK bearings stamped Made in Japan. My most recent order, I received bearings in an Echo labeled bag (Shindaiwa/Echo merged) which were stamped Made in China. I was devastated.

I hope greedy and incompetent senior executives don't run the brand into the ground reducing quality to find cost savings necessary to show increased profits and compete at certain critical price-points In the OPE markets.

I see the same bad decisions made everywhere In business anymore. Look at Makita/Dolmar. Soon, neither brand will be recognizable...the trademark teal color of Makita will not be used in their OPE line up, and the familiar Dolmar name will be non-existent as well. Instead, the corporate geniuses have decided to market red Makita OPE. WTF?!

Anyhow, off my soapbox. Long live old magnesium!

Tell me it's not so!!!

 

[CR888]

Echo give you good little things like felt Walbro fuel filters and carbs, but I dare say in todays production environment I highly doubt all their components would be madee in Japan. In fact I know there not.

 

[Adirondackstihl]

This thing ported yet?

 

[Red97]

This thing ported yet?

Ported, compared, and shipped back to owner...

Think pages 3-9 have all the info

 

[SawTroll]

To me, it makes little sense to have a 42cc saw that weights close to some much better and stronger 50cc saws ported - but each to his own.

If you are able to port it properly yourself, the picture does of course change a bit - provided cost is an issue.

 

[Backtroller]

The question of porting a 421 comes up fairly frequently. Joe and I decided to see what could be done with one. I think our experiment brought out some interesting information and allowed people to make more informed choices. This site is about learning and sharing. If we all make decisions based on "paper" stats how does one grow or improve?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[exSW]

To me, it makes little sense to have a 42cc saw that weights close to some much better and stronger 50cc saws ported - but each to his own.

If you are able to port it properly yourself, the picture does of course change a bit - provided cost is an issue.

Hang tough Niko.Though at least three forums and a couple of dozen owner operators of these saws and you still don't give an inch.

 

[CoreyB]

Ya because if you compare the 421 and 490 to saws like the husky 445, 440, or what ever and the stihl variations the 421 is clearly a superior saw in everyway.

 

[SawTroll]

Hang tough Niko.Though at least three forums and a couple of dozen owner operators of these saws and you still don't give an inch.

No I don't, as it is obvious that the model is highly overrated by many, because of its low price on some markets.

People just want it to be better than it really is, to make an excuse for buying a cheap saw - pretty much the same syndrome as those speaking up for Echo saws.

 

[exSW]

He'd might turn tits up if I told him my bone stock Dolmar 6100 runs right with both my freshly rebuilt,base gasket delete 262 XP's.

Rebuilt with factory Husky parts I might add.

 

[Simondo]

No I don't, as it is obvious that the model is highly overrated by many, because of its low price on some markets.

People just want it to be better than it really is, to make an excuse for buying a cheap saw - pretty much the same syndrome as those speaking up for Echo saws.

I would suggest that the comparison between the more expensive saws has not been made with this saw. I doubt very much anyone is suggesting the 420/421 is in the same class/group or price as the pro class Husqvarna saws. It surly can't be a issue to like a saw that is cheeper than others ....the 420/421 stacks up well in the price and cc sector its in , Thats the point I would think.

 

[ajschainsaws]

Life would be boring without the 421 it appeals to home owners , weekenders , and crazy people who put drills and grinders to a engine and make it cut soooooo fast

I do enjoy putting the new 420's together for customers and they faces when they see how easy they are too start

 

[Welder56]

I think with the amount of cutting I do I don't need a true 'pro' saw. As long as the chain is sharp. Wood gets eaten. I don't get paid for cutting wood so it doesn't matter if I shed a second with a better pro saw.

I go cutting in the woods with a buddy of mine. He's using a Stihl ms170 and I just received my Makita ea4300 (smurf version of the 421). I rebuilt a Stihl 056S just for the bigger stuff.

I pretty much always brought pro saws with me. 044, 034S, 026,254xpg,262xp.

My idea of a good time is being in the woods with my friends. As long as My saw is working good with a sharp chain I'm happy.

Brand wars is silly. Wood doesn't know the difference.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I see the appeal of the 421. And this is coming from a guy that has nothing but orange in his garage....

Much of the industry has abandoned the 40-ish cc class in pro saws, and reasonably so since they are building 50cc pro saws that weight nominally more than yester-year's 40cc saws. Pretty much all of the more mainstream branded saws in that size are shall we say, not their best products... The Husky 543xp notwithstanding.... I know there are guys that like them, but they seem like a cheap attempt to me. I will admit however that I have only handled one at a shop and have not run one yet......So my impression is still fluid albeit somewhat tacky....

While all of this has happened and despite it all, there still seems to be a segment of the market that desires a well crafted saw in that size that doesn't have a plastic crankcase. As I said, I can see the appeal of it. But everyone is different and that's OK, that's what keeps things moving and advancing.

I forgot to ask the 421 owners out there: Does the 421 have an aluminum front handle or is it all plasteek like so many other brands of saws in this size class?? Trivial maybe, but I am utterly turned off by plastic front handles....

 

[Welder56]

Plastic front handle

I agree I like a metal front handle.

It's a very solid feeling saw. Nimble for sure. I can see why it's not meant for a guy that is suppose to make money with it tho. For us guys that use a saw for light firewood duties or in the woods for a light carry around saw, it would be handy.

Starts so easy my 4 year old could pull it over.

 

[Welder56]

Mind you the price reflects that. I spent alittle over $450cdn for mine brand new.

I seen husqys at the dealer today with plastic cases for $550 plus tax. A 543xp is over $600 here.

 

[fordf150]

Its all in where your priorities are. mag case, well built, starts easy, stout for 40cc, smooth, under $350 almost anywhere you go.

yes there are 50cc saws that weigh the same and are equally well built but they are also approaching double the price so i dont see a downside to the 421 if all you need is an easy starting saw to run a 16" bar. I can make almost the very same argument for the 490 echo with the exception of being smooth. Lots of people come into shops needing the best saw that $300-350 will buy, the 421 and 490 fit the bill perfectly.

 

[SawTroll]

I see the appeal of the 421. And this is coming from a guy that has nothing but orange in his garage....

Much of the industry has abandoned the 40-ish cc class in pro saws, and reasonably so since they are building 50cc pro saws that weight nominally more than yester-year's 40cc saws. ....

There is no point with a 42cc semi-pro saw that weights pretty much as the much stronger 50cc pro saws from another brand - except that they dump the price on some markets, so it is much cheaper., more at homeowner saw level.

As an alternative to 45-50c homeowner saws it is a good buy (at least in the US), as are the 500/490 Echo saws - but that doesn't make them great saws.

 

[exSW]

I honestly never noticed the front handle being plastic. Mine has made several thousand dollars in firewood.