Bought a new climbing saw today

[treeclimber165]

Even though my 3-4 year old Echo 3400 is still running strong, I spent some of the proceeds from my latest road trip today on a new Echo 340. First thing I did was remove the bar tip guard and the ring on the back of the saw for hanging it on your saddle (I prefer a short leash choked on the handle and the Echo rings can break causing a freefall for your new saw).
I fired it up and it was rather doggy compared to my old saw. So I ran about a half tank of fuel through it at varying speeds and made very minor carb adjustments. A little better but not up to par. Then I pulled the muffler. I removed the screen, filed back the deflector flap about 1/4" and drilled out the 4 holes on the internal baffle to 7/32" each. I filed back the exhaust gasket to eliminate any blockage of the exhaust port and carefully brushed out all the shavings from inside the muffler before putting it back together. The muffler took about 20 minutes.
I got a call to knock down an oak this afternoon. Took my new saw and used about 1.5 tanks of fuel on the job. It's almost as strong as my old saw and I expect it to get better once it's broken in. I really like these little POS Echo 340's. Best bang for the buck that I've found in a climbing saw.

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

Re: 340

Brian, I bought an Echo 340 last Saturday. I ran a tank thru at idle, and started carving. My first top handle, I like it. feels like a toy after that 346xp. My application doesn't require the stoutest saw available, but I did wonder about opening up the muffler. Post some muffler pics if you can. O yeah, Was concerned about the pump primer in cold weather. Well, I went out tonite , after work, the weather was only 30, but the bulb felt very pliable, 10 pumps, and a couple of chokes and she fired right up (2 tanks). Thanks -Mike

 

[treeclimber165]

I don't have the extreme cold weather you do, but haven't had any problem with the primer bulb on my old Echo. I did have to replace the fuel line this year as the old line had gotten hard and started to crack. Even if the bulb did eventually fail, it's a cheap fix.
My camera isn't good enough to get viewable pics of the muffler work. I tried taking pictures of other muffler work and they didn't come out. It's a simple muffler though, and fairly self- explanatory if you pull it off and look at it.
Glad you like your Echo. Perhaps you can share some of your handiwork with us? I mean, besides the drunk naked chick passed out on the picnic table.

 

[Climbing mike]

I also love the echo 3400. I havent bought a 340 yet. I have 5 echo 3400 and 8 or 9 3000. They are by far the best top handle saw for the buck.

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

Hi Brian, I have a couple of pics I should be able to post, but I can't right now. I just started carving Thankgiving week and mad Christmas gifts for everybody. I have sold a welcome_bear and a little bear since then. I have several carvings in a couple of stores hearabouts, but the weather hasn't been too good hear lately. I will e-mail you what I do have.

 

[treeclimber165]

Mike's carvings!

Here's some of Mike's work. I was able to reformat them for him.

 

[treeclimber165]

Mike's carvings!

I'd say these are pretty good! I wish I could do stuff like this.

 

[treeclimber165]

Mike's carvings!

How do you carve a bear? Simple- start with a block of wood and remove everything that doesn't look like a bear!

Nice work, Mike!

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

Thanks for the posts Rocky. Why do I do this? because can sell three feet of log (welcome bear) for more than I can sell a cord of wood... or something. y'all be careful out there.

 

[YUKON 659]

Mike, nice job on the bear carvings!!!

Jeff

 

[Jumper]

Great carvings especially the "welcome" bear.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Nice work,Mike.
How do you turn a 3400 into a 340?
Take the last zero off. The two saws are basically identical.
I still think the 345 is a better climbing saw.

 

[Newfie]

Nice carvings...

Cool Mike, now how about an armadillo?

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Or if you want to improve sales, have the bear groweling and holding a gun with a sign that reads "Go Away".

 

[oakman]

i got a 3000 thats had the snot run out of it, and has never quit or broke. i bought it new in '97, mainly for carpentry work, but it's cut up many trees as well. most guys will laugh if ya break out a chainsaw on a construction site, till they see how fast it will cut out window and door holes in sheeting, or stack up 10 sheets of ply and rip 'em all in 30 seconds. here is a rather large garage i built out in phoenix in '98. i used no electricity at all, only my echo 3000 and a paslode impulse framing gun. i cut all the studs, headers, sheathing, even the mitres on the 2x8 rough sawn facia with the little echo. very tough little saw.

 

[oakman]

here i'm almost done

 

[Toddppm]

Nice work! That's my dream garage.

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

Nice pics oakman. I had an outside pipe bust last Sunday. I cut the inner sheetrock out. The supply pipe was shattered almost to the slab. I cut the baseboard molding with a 346xp and a quarter tip carving bar.