dissecting an earthquake chainsaw

[Softdraw]

It's a great little saw as is...

This is my first post on this forum. I write as a new owner of an unimproved EQ CS4518. I bought mine at Sears, $119.00 plus tax, and before I read the comments (all of them!) related to the saw in this thread. I'm going to try to defend from Joe Homeowner's point of view.

My Poulan with the same length bar died a lingering and unpleasant death when I needed it most. Before anyone rips Poulan, please know I know it is a low end saw that died primarily from my ignorance and neglect. I rarely cleaned it, left bad gas in it in the off season, and never sharpened the chain. Frankly, I did not know any better. But it gave up the day a friend called and said he had felled a big oak and needed it removed. The wood was free if I could cut it. Thus began the search that terminated with the EQ.

I could not afford the better saws, Stihl and Husky, and was leery of the Poulan/Craftsman/Homelites. But I needed a saw quickly because the friend wanted the tree gone and someone else was asking to clear and keep it. I stumbled on the EQ at Sears, read some positive reviews, and took a flyer.

The EQ has performed well right out of the box. I cannot compare it to the Stihls and Huskys because I've never run them. I don't know anything about porting, modifying mufflers, or chain pitches, compression or magnesium crankcases. All I know is I needed a cheap saw to collect firewood, and this one does the job. A previous poster posted photos of some of his cutting work. I've done almost five times that amount in a little over a week with the EQ and without a hitch. Occasionally it won't fire right up when I add fresh fuel and the engine is hot, but that's it.

I know longevity is important, and I cannot speak to that. I've been eyeing more expensive saws now that the pressure is off but I am not sure I need one. I'm a firewood and downed tree guy, nothing more, and while porting may bring some extra horses (or performance), I think the 45 cc;s are enough as is for Joe Homeowner.

 

[056kid]

I don't like the vibe of this thread end of story... Probably because I'm a different type of person.

 

[joesmith]

This is my first post on this forum. I write as a new owner of an unimproved EQ CS4518. I bought mine at Sears, $119.00 plus tax, and before I read the comments (all of them!) related to the saw in this thread. I'm going to try to defend from Joe Homeowner's point of view.

My Poulan with the same length bar died a lingering and unpleasant death when I needed it most. Before anyone rips Poulan, please know I know it is a low end saw that died primarily from my ignorance and neglect. I rarely cleaned it, left bad gas in it in the off season, and never sharpened the chain. Frankly, I did not know any better. But it gave up the day a friend called and said he had felled a big oak and needed it removed. The wood was free if I could cut it. Thus began the search that terminated with the EQ.

I could not afford the better saws, Stihl and Husky, and was leery of the Poulan/Craftsman/Homelites. But I needed a saw quickly because the friend wanted the tree gone and someone else was asking to clear and keep it. I stumbled on the EQ at Sears, read some positive reviews, and took a flyer.

The EQ has performed well right out of the box. I cannot compare it to the Stihls and Huskys because I've never run them. I don't know anything about porting, modifying mufflers, or chain pitches, compression or magnesium crankcases. All I know is I needed a cheap saw to collect firewood, and this one does the job. A previous poster posted photos of some of his cutting work. I've done almost five times that amount in a little over a week with the EQ and without a hitch. Occasionally it won't fire right up when I add fresh fuel and the engine is hot, but that's it.

I know longevity is important, and I cannot speak to that. I've been eyeing more expensive saws now that the pressure is off but I am not sure I need one. I'm a firewood and downed tree guy, nothing more, and while porting may bring some extra horses (or performance), I think the 45 cc;s are enough as is for Joe Homeowner.

You will find mostly friends on this thread...they are good saws and we only complain because we got them for a lot less than we can now...buncha cheap screws in this thread:jester:

 

[stihl023/5]

Very well then.

 

[joesmith]

So move to China mother####er! my boots are made in America, my socks are made in America, my blue jeans are made in America, my suspenders are made in America, my shirts are made in America. My wool is made in America and Canada. I run a grinder made in America. I put aluminum heads on my American made car that where made in America.
I try, and that's all I can do. You don't seem to give a rats ass, and I can't respect that. So have a wonderful evening sir..

I hear ya...I buy american when I can...but my saws are german and swedish and chinese...my guns is american...so is my maglites...and my truck...

Where is your computer made? And your TV?

Got no choice...but realize that a $40.00 earthquake with shipping is only $23.00 or so...this is not encouraging the chinese...just sayin...

 

[stihl023/5]

Like I said earlier all big corp. have a hand in China be it the whole laptop or parts, even the american vehicle parts sad but true. My Sorels. Irish Setters Rocky and LaCrosse boots all china.

 

[056kid]

Until recently I had a zenith console tv who belonged to my grandma. The phone well you got me there.

 

[joesmith]

Until recently I had a zenith console tv who belonged to my grandma. The phone well you got me there.

I am not a big fan of it either...too many americans not working...but we are trapped I tell ya! I have read that their standard of lving is higher and getting higher so at some point the cost of the labor and materials and shipping will bring alot of these jobs back...I hope.

Till then I still love my ipad/iphone...would love them more if they were made here...at least the designers/engineers for them are.

 

[H 2 H]

Oh don't forget all major brand chain saws have parts made in China :taped:

 

[Streblerm]

I don't like the vibe of this thread end of story... Probably because I'm a different type of person.

If you don't like this thread then stay out of it. Go feel superior somewhere else cause nobody here asked you.

 

[diggers_dad]

You know; I'm starting to feel naked by only having 4 Earthquakes now

What happens if a storm comes or even a earthquake


:jester:

I think 6 is a good starting number.

This is my first post on this forum. I write as a new owner of an unimproved EQ CS4518. I bought mine at Sears, $119.00 plus tax, and before I read the comments (all of them!) related to the saw in this thread.

I've been eyeing more expensive saws now that the pressure is off but I am not sure I need one. I'm a firewood and downed tree guy, nothing more, and while porting may bring some extra horses (or performance), I think the 45 cc;s are enough as is for Joe Homeowner.

Well said. Cheers and new guy rep headed to you.

It takes dedication to read over 80 pages with so many posts from 08f one fiddy. :msp_w00t:

 

[H 2 H]

Softdraw; Welcome to AS

I have a question for ya about the Earthquake Chain Saw

If someone offered you the same saw and it had been MM'ed and retuned and they told you they would sharpen the chain any time (you would have to bring it to there house) for $80 would you go for it ?

 

[tbone75]

i can't believe this,,, you of all people john buying an earthquake :hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange: that is just to funny,,
i think we need to take up a collection and buy one to send to 056

Hey ya Ol Phart ! I will have you know this is my 3rd China saw ! LOL

 

[dswensen]

That's strange - did you measure before and after? If removing the gasket didn't change it then there must be something else limiting it - ring seal? If so it may improve in time. The machining looks a little rough so it may take a a little longer than usual for the rings to seat.

I did measure before and after - no real change. As has been stated, the gasket was REALLY thin, but still, I was expecting sumpin'. We'll see how she breaks in as you suggest.

Thought - I think I'll go out and check my compression gauge with my compressor regulator. Might be a problem there.

EDIT: Nope, gauge reads properly.

 

[Walt41]

I went to the "made in America" store and bought some $9 winter socks, they were kinda rough and shrunk to half their size after a trip thru my German made Bosch washer, went back to the soft high end ones Jen gets me online from Vietnam that seem to last forever.
I understand that folks are hurting here and I try to buy American products but some things are just higher quality from other places, take nails for example...high end framing nails come from Dubai. I did go out of my way to use only American and Canadian lumber on my house, can't beat those 2x12x24' boards from good old USA for rafters but those nice tight ringed 2x6' studs from Canada make a perfect wall to hold up all that weight (and snow) And don't even get me started on wallboard, US made only for me after reading about all the tainted gypsum from China that smelled like rotten eggs and corroded wiring after a few years...

 

[dswensen]

If you don't like this thread then stay out of it. Go feel superior somewhere else cause nobody here asked you.

A++

 

[H 2 H]

I think 6 is a good starting number.

LOL; I wish I would have only bought 4 :msp_ohmy:

But o8 has me bet by 252 :msp_tongue:

 

[Streblerm]

LOL; I wish I would have only bought 4 :msp_ohmy:

But o8 has me bet by 252 :msp_tongue:

I have three. One is going to a friend, one is for my use, and the third is going on the shelf for parts or use if saw#2 craps out.

It took amazing restraint on my part as I have a dominant hoarding gene that I fight on a daily basis. Luckily I also have a dominant cheapskate gene from the same side of the family that helped me say no when the saws started getting over $40.

I guess this saw will save wear and tear on my Redmax that I bought to save wear and tear poulan 330 that i bought to save wear and tear on my Stihl. I keep buying cheaper and cheaper saws and when I decide I like them I quit using them so they last. I think I may have finally hit bottom with the earthquake

Maybe I should have bought more of them:msp_rolleyes:

 

[Chris-PA]

LOL - I like new made in USA chainsaws too, but I bet few of our made in USA fans would be caught dead with one. As I've said, for most people a Poulan would be a better choice - better quality control, better parts availability and a strato engine. And still very reasonably priced. Also, keep in mind we are not buying these retail - these are used/demos/returns. The importers of these saws have them on fire-sale them for some reason. I personally expect them to fail in the US market like everyone without strato engines.

That said, I like the G3800 saws and I'm glad I had the opportunity to get a clone for cheap.

 

[Walt41]

I think we should clear up the fact that the Chicoms got their money from the importer before the cargo container of these things hit the belly of the ship, from there the card carrying union longshoremen unloaded it, truckers trucked them and many a profit was realized, then for whatever reason things didn't work out and they were liquidated, trucked(again) and now stored, auctioned and shipped(again) to us crazy chainsaw maniacs...bottom line is that something that appears to the uneducated as hurting our economy is actually a little 38cc economic stimulus every time it changes hands...just the way of the world, sometimes we get so micro focused on one aspect we forget to stop and think about the big picture.