Echo CS-400 or Husqvarna 440

[mantis]

Mantis You are correcting me on the 5 or 6 years then you recommend the wild thing? Shame Shame! Buy the Husqie or the echo Just get to work and quit thinkin about it.

Trust me I am not pushing for that PAS wild thing.,But I do know that it will last for about 5 or 6 years.And you will get about the same performance out of it as the other two and save a few bucks.But if you have to chose the two,and me being a Husqvarna fan, GET THE ECHO

 

[Taxmantoo]

FWIW, I paid less than $300 for my John Deere CS56, which has a LOT more power than your first two choices. I love that silly green thing.

I was hoping to steer him to a $155 CS40LE, but when I checked the local Craigslist, the only thing left was the black carrying case. There are some auctions running on eBay, but eBay prices are starting to return to normal, no more screaming bargains.

 

[trouba]

Go with the ECHO especially if the dealer is good and close.

 

[Cliff R]

I purchased the smaller CS-370 a few months ago. I've posted some info on the saw a few times. I consider it one tough little saw, and use it 3-4 times a week, since we cut a lot of tops, and I have a LOT of limbs to contend with.

Overal it is a very good saw, but not an overly fast saw. The engine is a clamshell design with open transfers, and prefers to make it's power in the mid-range, with plenty of "grunt" at lower rpms, WAY more than one would expect from such a little saw.

I will say, that as much as I like the CS-370, it would NOT run at all right out of the box, and required that the limiter screws be removed and custom carburetor settings.

I also modified the muffler, which was a big wake up call for the engine. I'm also very impressed with the 3/8" low profile chain, BIG improvement over the .325 safety chains most of these Echo saws show up with.

I'm not familiar with that model Husqvarna. If it is a "rebadged" Poulan, then for sure get the Echo!.......Cliff

 

[weimedog]

I have a little Husqvarna 440e. Its a nice little saw...and, believe it or not, has a "quality" feel about it. At first I was nervous about the tooless chain/bar adjuster. Its a pretty rugged design in retospect. Its not a Poulan. Its swedish made. For limbing and fence line cleaning (What mine has in store ) its perfect. Quiet, so far really fuel efficient, just enough power...more later.

Here's my issue. If your about doing clean up and brush with a few down branches...those two saws you are looking at are perfect. If you plan to take down a tree or two and the diameter of what you are working with gets past 10 inches...you need a bigger saw.

In my humble opinion you want to look at:

Husqvarna 450, 455 Ranchers
Stihl MS290
Dolmar 510
Echo 530

These saws will all do the trick.

Even better yet find a used Husqvarna 359 or 55 Rancher for the same money.
I do have an issue with Echo..but its not really rational or logical. The pull string handle. Looks like something out of a cracker jack box. If have hear nothing but good stuff about Echo's, but those handles kill them for me for no particular reason. I know....completely unreasonable!

 

[ckr74]

As said if you go Echo most likely you will have to adj. carb. I recently purchased a CS-370 and so far I really like it. I also have a 026 Stihl but now I'm partial to the Echo. The Echo won't be worth a :censored:unless you richen it up a little. Be prepared.

 

[SilverBox]

please let me know what you LIKED and DISLIKED about them. Thanks

I have a Echo CS-400 and I really like it. I use it for all smaller work 6" or less. It has plenty of power (mine is muff mod'd) for a 13 lb saw (wet with b/c) and always fires right up and cuts like a champ. Its a delight to put down a bigger saw and break out the 400 its like a lightsaber to slash thru the small stuff . It'll cut bigger stuff also no problem, I've cut bar deep before with it and it moves right along, but its not nearly as fast as a 70-80cc saw.

 

[savage_sultin]

Thanks for the information and the suggestions. I now know what to look for and I believe I will go with the Echo.

 

[Guarddog1]

5 or 6 years? With a 372XP he could cut the whole 10 acres and still have life in it.I would however recommend the 346XPhttp://www.usa.husqvarna.com/products_arborists_product_details.aspx?pid=12235
Or even the 455 http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/products_arborists_product_details.aspx?pid=149 (yeah I know I can hear it already) But it is still better than the 440 IMO.
IF you dont want something that big or if money is an issue buy a Wild Thing,and save a few bucks

I have a 346xp and a 372xp the 372xp is the way to go. If you can spend the cash the 372 with a 18" bar faaaasssstttt cutting great speed. If you cant swing quite that much the 346 is a ripper to it will just cut a touch slower its a great light little saw with some real cutting ability.