Parts not a problem, just buy two
. I think its one of Robinsā more costly saws.
Echo CS 501P vs Stihl MS 260
- Thread starter leeave96
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. I think its one of Robinsā more costly saws.
Nah, not worth the cost for what would be more a novelty item.
damifino
ArboristSite Operative
Yeah maybe. I never understood why, with Japanese saw maker though. Japanese dominated with 2 & 4 stroke motorcycles over the years and make some of the best cars and so much more. Its not that they can't its they don't want too. Maybe its all business, they have their nitch and they are content.
damifino
ArboristSite Operative
But the fact is they are picking up speed. You need to take your BLINDERS off aye.
Because Echo's bread and butter is the trimmer,blower, edger, etc market, which honestly is probably a larger market. Just like Redmax. They are old tech for a reason. They just are not an important part of their sales and they are happy with the niche they have.
The problem with this is the whole emmissions thing going forward. Investments must be made or the saws will go away. We know which way Redmax went on this.
Might add that Germany was the epicenter of two strokes for years snd the swedes were no slouches either.
I am not sure this is based on reality other than this website. They just don't have name recognition to the general public.But the fact is they are picking up speed. You need to take your BLINDERS off aye.
damifino
ArboristSite Operative
walker, I think we are in complete agreement. Forgive me if I misled. By no means do I think Echo will ever run with Stihl/Husky in the logging industry. They target the home owner market and and do a great job imo. I go to bat for Echo (to give you a hard time aye) because I get tired of you and others bashing Echo saws because its slower than your 346xp or is 3 seconds slower cutting a cookie than another saw. They still make solid equipment, usually for lot less money and hopefully they will be around for a long time.
damifino
ArboristSite Operative
Yeah I love the history of the European motocross/enduro bikes and riders that pioneered the way.
It's not just that they are slower. They are as available, they vibrate more snd they are old tech.
I think āold techā is the way to go. None of my saws are mtronic or autotune. No need for dealer resets or dealer upgrades. In the beginning i still remember guys buying autotune saws and being left to find a dealer even capable of diagnosing the problem. Stihl guys the same. Costly software diagnostic equipment wasnt widely implemented or affordable. 20 years from now a guy with a gen 1 autotune or mtronic saw will likely be out of luck. My unused 346xp purchased new in 2010 wont need a magical reset if and when i or someone else decides to put it in service. Think Iāll just keep my āold techā.
You don't need anything software to diagnose an auto tune or m tronic saw. It's a carb with a fuel seliniod and a handful of wires. In 20 years you'll be lucky to find parts for a 346xp or most any other 2000 era saw. Just like every other 40+ year old saw out there.
Agree 100% on the auto tune/ m tronic. One of the best things since spring antivibe to ever happen to saws. I don't know if the old huskys and stihls will ever be put out to pasture though. If there is demand for the parts for the old saws and oem parts dry up the Chinese will happily supply them. For better or for worse. They may already be, I don't keep up with that very much, but it does appear there are Chinese Husky and Stihl clones readily available for some of the most popular models
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
The autotune/m-tronic discussion/argument is becoming equivalent to oil threads. Iām about to spring for a couple of m-tronic saws for commercial cutting, but Iām not delusional about what theyāll offer me. Iāll get a few good years from them, but in 10 years they wonāt be worth squat, much like the 3 early gen Husqy auto tune saws I ran through. I do have a handful of āold techā saws that still work hard that are well over 10 years old. Some that Iāve recently ordered parts for have been out of production for over 10 years. Parts are everywhere. Working on them is easy. I find them a pleasure to run and keep. M-tronic saws are very well suited for daily use, not longevity.
the guys that loved carbs said the same thing when fuel injection came out.....
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
Iāll admit, I never liked carbs on vehicles. I had a few carbed jeeps and had fits with them. However, 2 of them are over 40 years old, still carbed, still running. But Iāll buy m-m-tronic and auto-tune saws for work. Iāll soon be getting a 362 for the truck and an old cs440 for the pasture. I appreciate both styles.
Guys couldn't tune car carb either, but they sure thought they could. Just like carbs on chainsaws.
Thr fact of the matter is engines durability improved greatly with the advent of FI.
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
Maybe so. But Iām pretty good with tuning saws. All my carbed saws have lasted and I keep all of them a tad richer than factory specs. I never thought I could tune a vehicle, but you are right, engine durability in vehicles has come a long way, and I wonāt deny that the newer engine tech might make saws gives more service life for the average user, pro outfits, and the user that couldnāt care less about tuning. And perhaps those that think they can tune.
A tad richer than factory, which is most always rich to begin with is pig rich.Maybe so. But Iām pretty good with tuning saws. All my carbed saws have lasted and I keep all of them a tad richer than factory specs. I never thought I could tune a vehicle, but you are right, engine durability in vehicles has come a long way, and I wonāt deny that the newer engine tech might make saws gives more service life for the average user, pro outfits, and the user that couldnāt care less about tuning. And perhaps those that think they can tune.
My logging buddy still get 2 ish years on a saw, unless it get run over or something stupid happens.Maybe so. But Iām pretty good with tuning saws. All my carbed saws have lasted and I keep all of them a tad richer than factory specs. I never thought I could tune a vehicle, but you are right, engine durability in vehicles has come a long way, and I wonāt deny that the newer engine tech might make saws gives more service life for the average user, pro outfits, and the user that couldnāt care less about tuning. And perhaps those that think they can tune.
LuDookie
ArboristSite Guru
Factory spec. Echos come lean(most times). Husqy comes rich. Stihl is usually set up from the dealerā¦ mine have been rich.
