I have an 025 and a 241. I prefer the 241 over the 025. It cuts as fast or a little faster but more important it's lighter, easier to start and smoother. But the OP's not looking at 241s. Being expensive and small it's kind of a niche saw. My dealer didn't even want to sell me one, he kept telling me the 261 is bigger and only $20 more. I already have bigger saws. I had to special order the 241.
Echo CS490 vs. Stihl MS 250 or MS 291
- Thread starter David Haines
- Start date
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David Haines
ArboristSite Lurker
Alright. The majority opinion seems to be that the Echo CS490 is the way to go. So, I'll be going in that direction. Thank you, everybody, for the advice and tips.
kennyz
ArboristSite Lurker
Stihl is offering the MS250 right now for $299.00 is price is an issue.
when you get to home depo or the local saw shop take hard look at the echo cs-590 with a 16/18/20 inch bar ..spend a bit more.. you will be glad you did
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
I don't know about that...
I got the 490 and it's been plenty of power for me.
And I've cut some big stuff that the bar barely fit through, or had to adjust the angle to get the last little bit, with no trouble at all. Zipped right through.
Also, it's quite a bit lighter than the 590, which I surely appreciate.
D
Deleted member 149229
Guest
I have both the 490 and 590. The 490 has been converted to 3/8 lp, cuts much better that way than with the .325. That being said it can’t touch a 590 but the 590 is heavier.
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
That's all true. And if I had gotten the same kind of deal on a 590 as I got on the 490, I might have went with the bigger machine.
It's always nice to have more power than you need. But I sure do like the lighter weight.
Check eBay for the 490, I have seen some pretty good buys on there. Some have 20" bars and some 18" . I had a $201 Max bid on one and it sold for $212 while I was sleeping. You really can't beat it for the money. I have the 352 muffler modded and limiters removed. It cuts very well for it's size. I like echo for their value, however if money was no issue. I would buy Husqvarna 90% of the time.
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Jp_over
ArboristSite Lurker
Had a similar question - great discussion and info!
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
Now I've been thinkin 490 vs 421 vs 241.
I have the 490 with a 20" bar. And a 491s(same saw) that I picked up cheap, with 18". The 491 with 18" is noticeably lighter and better balanced. And I have a new skinny Oregon 16" 3/8LP bar and chain, and a 16" Stihl small mount, that I want to try on the 490.
And a Dolmar 421 that I haven't used(needs clutch hub/spur sprocket) and feels kinda chunky and heavy.
Thinkin bout selling two or all of them and getting the little Stihl. But should probably try the 16" 3/8lp b&c on the 490 first. Might just buy a metal handle for it and call it a day.
I have the 490 with a 20" bar. And a 491s(same saw) that I picked up cheap, with 18". The 491 with 18" is noticeably lighter and better balanced. And I have a new skinny Oregon 16" 3/8LP bar and chain, and a 16" Stihl small mount, that I want to try on the 490.
And a Dolmar 421 that I haven't used(needs clutch hub/spur sprocket) and feels kinda chunky and heavy.
Thinkin bout selling two or all of them and getting the little Stihl. But should probably try the 16" 3/8lp b&c on the 490 first. Might just buy a metal handle for it and call it a day.
James Miller
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'd like to have a 421 but family comes first 
.
.
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
Yeah. Sometimes I buy things that I don't need just because I find them cheap.I'd like to have a 421 but family comes first
Now wanting to refine my collection and get back down to just what I use the most. With maybe one or two extra because they have been around for so long. Or like the Homelite XL2 that I got for $20 probably isn't worth selling, and doesn't take up much room.
You might want to run "porky" before you judge it too harshly. I bet you'll keep it. Even if it is fat..
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
I agree. I was reading a thread earlier that had a vote between the 421, 241, 026, and a couple of others, and the 421 got like 80% of the votes.
Something like 55 for the 421 and 7 or 8 for the 241. I was really surprised.
That 421 sure does start easy too. Unbelievable really.
I have a 420. Almost exactly the same but actually a tiny bit nicer ( like a bale-wire over the airfilter, for one thing). Mine has a 16" with lopro chain. I highly recommend that set-up.
They are all-spring antivibe. Mag case, bla,bla, bla.
Look it over carefully; as far as I can tell it is a real quality piece.
I have a 5105. It's not as nicely made as the 420. Still pretty nice tho. Also fat.
And yes, in the case of the 420, starting is unbelievable. Really!
They are all-spring antivibe. Mag case, bla,bla, bla.
Look it over carefully; as far as I can tell it is a real quality piece.
I have a 5105. It's not as nicely made as the 420. Still pretty nice tho. Also fat.
And yes, in the case of the 420, starting is unbelievable. Really!
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
Yeah, it's a very well built saw with a really solid feel to it...with the exception of the chain catcher on the plastic clutch cover.
I’d go Echo. In my opinion it’s a much better saw but also offers better long term parts availability. Plus they don’t hide their parts diagrams from the public like Stihl does.
Colt Marlington
ArboristSite Guru
Well I won't be searching youtube or trying out a 500i.
But I agree they make some really nice stuff. The 241 is a beautiful little saw with great attention to detail. That and it's slim lines and sub-10 pound weight is what draws me to it.
I know the 490 and 421 can do everything for me that it can. But I sure wouldn't mind having just one new well refined saw. If the electronics could hold up, I'd view it as a lifetime saw for me, as I have a couple of other small saws to share the load.
Still I'm undecided
Switching from 20 inch .325 to 16 inch 3/8lp will make it feel like a different, lighter, faster saw, its a lot faster with that set up.
I don't have an echo but swapped back and forth on 45-54 cc Chinese saws, the 3/8lp on the gutless 45 was as fast as .325 on the much more powerful 54, it makes a huge difference.
I also don't get why guys run 20 inch bars on 50cc saws, it makes them front heavy and slow. If you need a 20 inch bar you need a 60cc saw IMO.
Ya! Wth! I forgot about that not-even-a-chain-catcher thing! I squeezed a piece of stout hose over that little tab to try to protect it in the event of a thrown chain.
That's a pretty sad detail on an otherwise well-finished package.
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