Echo CS-510 Design Flaw

[max2cam]

Hi guys,

First post in a long time.

Yesterday I was down at the mouth of my creek cutting some beaver-downed white ash with my Echo CS-510. Nice chainsaw that starts good, runs smoothly, and cuts well. I always considered it to be a top-notch design.

Turns out it has a serious, even a somewhat dangerous flaw.

While cutting through a downed tree about 10 inches in diameter the bar got a little bit "pinched" as the log halves separated. That caused the saw to ride back or kick back a little bit. No big deal as the bar was buried in the log, except for one thing.

The CS-510 choke lever is on the back of the saw body next to the handle on the right-hand side. The choke lever also sticks out quite a ways. So when the saw kicked back it JAMMED the choke lever into my index finger between the knuckle and the first joint. Luckily the kickback was not real severe and I was wearing heavy gloves, although I can still feel a slight injury there today.

Under more severe kickback and/or not wearing gloves, a worse injury could easily result. I could see where that ramming-back choke lever might even possibly break a guy's finger.

Checking my Jonsered 2050 and my Stihl 024 I see that those builders don't put anything in that same spot.

Maybe there's a reason for that.

I don't know how the latest model Echo is set up. Does the choke lever still protrude on the right side of the handle? If so, they should change it PDQ.

 

[blis]

not a design flaw imo, more like user issue... not even once has my right hand lost its grip in event if kick-back, and it really aint possible unless you get very strong kick-back or you hold the saw like a girl...

anyway, it ofcourse could be in left hand side, which is better place for it...

 

[Just Mow]

Did he just call you a girl ?
Fight on:sword:

 

[maveric944]

or you hold the saw like a girl...

thats fighting talk where i come from,, thank f*** i moved :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[vegaome]

Howdy max2cam,

I have a couple of 510s and I gues what you would consider the replacement a CS-520. The 520 has the choke lever in the exact spot but is shaped a little different. If you aint hanging on good you would have the same result with the 520.

OK you Fella's play nice and hang on to your saws.

v/r

Mike

 

[Cut4fun]

Used a poulan pro 220 to cut up the small stuff on my barn beams. The choke is on the right too on it. Had several kick backs when hitting nails and metal rods in the wood. Kick back hard enough to break cutters off. Just grip it and rip it. Never hit my hand or fingers using a FIRM grip.

 

[Logjam]

Hey Max2cam
Where abouts in Wisconsin do you live?

 

[max2cam]

not a design flaw imo, more like user issue... not even once has my right hand lost its grip in event if kick-back, and it really aint possible unless you get very strong kick-back or you hold the saw like a girl...

You should know. I hear that in Finland the girls do most of the chainsaw work.

What do you call a pack of condoms and a can of sardines?

A Finlander Honeymoon...

Back to subject:

When kickback occurs the chainsaw moves, sometimes rather violently. You can hold your saw with a white-knuckle deathgrip and it still happens.

The way this Echo CS-510 is set up, when your finger is on the throttle trigger and your hand is is positioned where it's supposed to be, the choke lever is right next to your index finger and nearly touching it. If the saw moves back it smashes your finger. You don't have to lose your grip on it for this to happen. The choke lever sticks out too far and it's in the WRONG place. A bad feature in its design.

anyway, it ofcourse could be in left hand side, which is better place for it...

Oh, I see, you agree with me.....

 

[max2cam]

Hey Max2cam
Where abouts in Wisconsin do you live?

Up in the Hayward country.

 

[max2cam]

Used a poulan pro 220 to cut up the small stuff on my barn beams. The choke is on the right too on it. Had several kick backs when hitting nails and metal rods in the wood. Kick back hard enough to break cutters off. Just grip it and rip it. Never hit my hand or fingers using a FIRM grip.

I don't know how the Poulon is set up. I've never owned one. But it would be interesting to set one next to this Echo CS-510 and see if the choke levers are the same. If this one were moved over just a little bit it wouldn't be in line with your finger. It's in the worst possible location plus its way too long.

 

[Cut4fun]

Since you didnt post a pic to show us and I had never seen a 510 echo. I found a rear pic to see what you were talking about. I can now see what you are talking about. The sucker is right there isnt it, is this the saw? Also the 220 with the right side choke was 2 fingers width away from hands harm.
http://www.sos-power-sales.com/Echo/images/cs510_250.jpg

 

[max2cam]

Cut4fun:

Yes, that's it. Thanks for posting the pix.

Yes, it is RIGHT there sticking way out and almost in contact with your finger all of the time.

I never liked the choke lever sticking out like that because it's on a spindly little post and I figured that sooner or later it would get broken off in the woods. But now there seems to be another and worse reason for designing it like that.

I sort of thought the Poulen might be just enough different to be okay. This one ain't okay, altho otherwise it's a nice saw.

Since you didnt post a pic to show us and I had never seen a 510 echo. I found a rear pic to see what you were talking about. I can now see what you are talking about. The sucker is right there isnt it, is this the saw? Also the 220 with the right side choke was 2 fingers width away from hands harm.
http://www.sos-power-sales.com/Echo/images/cs510_250.jpg

 

[max2cam]

Solution

I was out cutting again with this CS-510 Echo. This time up on an old pine barrens area of uncollapsed outwash sands cutting jack oak for firewood.

Anyway, I noticed that when in normal operation, the protruding choke lever actually presses against the middle joint of your finger when the saw is buried in the cut and the back end of the saw pivots upwards. Any vibration or kick-back movement is transmitted directly against the joint of your finger. Not good.

I think that I'll snip off most of the choke lever and just leave a little bit so I can still operate the choke properly. That should keep it from ramming against my finger.

Still a good chainsaw but with this one flaw.

 

[bump_r]

Maybe you need a Dolmar 5100s... I hear they run great and are fairly light.

 

[blis]

Maybe you need a Dolmar 5100s... I hear they run great and are fairly light.

fairly light? think not, unless you compare it to 60cc saws...