Echo saw.. sell or trade?

goodoleboy · May 17, 2005

I purchased an echo cs 305 14" bar. Well I got it for $135 new regular sales price is $199.. Whats the opinon on this saw and motor etc.. Are replacement parts exspensive compared to other brands. I canstill sell it and get what i got in it, but Can I get another "better" saw with safety features for the same price?

Kneejerk Bombas · May 17, 2005

It is a good little saw but it has about the smallest motor that comes on a saw. Echo is not what I'd call a commercial or pro saw, but a high end homeowner saw.
This would make a good light trimming saw, but if you want to cut bigger wood, look elsewhere. If you are an arborist, I'd say this is too small for removals, but might work out for trimming.
Some guys like them because they are inexpensive and lightweight.

NWCS · May 17, 2005

i can say one thing from my experiance with echo products.. i LOVE em. i have an old echo straight shaft trimmer thats about 21cc that i have beat the holy living heck out of for the last 10 years! little bugger gets full time brush blade duty with an oregon cobra blade (only for big machines

and i have never rebuilt the carb or changed the rings out.. and my dad used to have an old CS-302S i think it was, that poor thing was so abused the muffler was missing, rings were flat gone and she kept cutting. one thing i will note with the trimmer, most of the work i do is at about 1/4 throttle.. i have no need for RPM with that blade. that may be why such a small machine has taken so much commercial clearing.

tony marks · May 17, 2005

id agree. echos of the past havnt got the credit they deserved. especially since they usually cost less. still i prefer the stihls and husk. but echos strong point is durability.

Bob Wright · May 17, 2005

The Echo is top of the line in my book. Especially the older saws. I have one of the pre Kioritz Echo's thats at least 35 years old and it runs like a champ. When my dad was a dealer in the 1970's everybody around us had one. But they never had the sales of Husky and Stihl's....Bob

keith c raymond · May 18, 2005

Ive got an Echo 21cc trimmer and a 605 blower as well as my 8000 saw,a little heavy maybe but very reliable and trustworthy.Good parts support also.

NWCS · May 18, 2005

hey keith whats your review on that 8000? i have had my eye on that model for a few years now.. another year i may buy one.. i love that echo warranty too.

keith c raymond · May 20, 2005

lI have a soft spot in my heart for my "Boat anchor"Its some what heavy,But built Quite well.I got it for a good price ,and picked up a parts saw complete for 50 bucks.Ive customized it a little ,with all stainless fasteners and slight muffler mods. I like it,but it isnt a 066 or a 385xp.But since the price was right,It works for me.I understand it responds to ''tweaking'' pretty well too.If you can find one used in good shape and need parts,let me know.