Echoes of Gray

[LawrenceK]

I was watching an episode of the "Chikanic" about tuning your chainsaw carb. It featured a twenty-something year old gray Echo CS 5000 a customer had left there for repair. According to her, this was one of the best saws ever made. I already have six saws, but, gosh... if I could find a good used 5000 to play with. After searching Ebay and FB Marketplace, I discovered that wasn't likely to happen. Besides, I was acting on impulse and faith in Chikanic's opinion. I've never owned an Echo chainsaw, but I suppose that with any brand, the older ones are the better ones as things go. So, I did find a gray CS 520 for 280.00, and free shipping. Anyone know whether the 520 is a truly dependable machine, or a later not as good model? I imagine it's a 52cc without knowing. The one I'm looking at is just dirty, and the seller claims no issues, used every winter and maintained to some degree. So, it needs cleaning up and it runs. Appears to be all there, factory Echo decal in good shape, Has an Echo bar (hopefully not the one it came with). So please...unload what you know about these gray models. Any info, history, experience or anything else about 'em. Thanks.

 

[Fordiesel69]

I am an echo fanboy based on a family member selling them back in the 70's and 80s. We have almost all echo blowers and trimmers. On the other hand my chainsaw collection is mostly husky and im not sure why. Its just how it goes.

Echo saws in my opinion are in some ways more durable and have the potential to outlast the other two competitors. They are also less expensive to aquire. I can vouch for echo equipment overall being easier to start. In fact most start exactly the same even if they sit forever vs freshly used. The grey model saws usually wont win a race, but are built like tanks and should run forever with proper care. Echo has been known for having the best cylinder plating process, and using high quality japanese bearings. Tops ends and bottom ends just last. The grey product lineup is by far their best era in my opinion. For some reason I prefer the equipment labled as "Kioritz Corp". I just see less issues.

Compared to a husky or a stihl, they are a little lower power per weight ratio, and usually keep old designs alive where the other two innovate more.

 

[LawrenceK]

Thanks for the input. I'm just wondering if I can justify another saw. So far, I have a 90's Mculloch 20 inch (can't think of mod. no. It's the gold one), a nice Stihl 029 Super, an MS 271 new, an MS 210 16 inch, an early 60's Homelite blue & white XL 24 inch, and a little Husky 137 up at my camp in the UP. I do a heck of a lot of cutting with my firewood business most of the year, but don't put them all to use most of the time. I kind of get stuck on using one saw, and it's usually the lightest of the bunch unless I'm into bigger wood. But, anyway, when I saw that gray CS 5000 and heard what that gal said about it, I went into one of those "gotta have one" modes. The 520 was the only one I found in hopeful shape, but now I'm back down to being practical and wondering if it's a fair deal at 280 bucks. I assume it could handle a 24 inch bar if it's 52 cc's. Yeah, sometimes innovation can be somebody behind a desk constantly changing stuff just because they can, or they want to cut costs. It doesn't always turn out well for the consumer. I prefer the old designs mostly.

 

[Pioneer]

Take what she says with a gain of salt. I stopped watching when she said canned fuels are garbage.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

I've worked on echo 5000 49.3cc around 2013. Nice saw, but not all what that idiot chic says. SMH cant stand some bo-obtubers.

Like any other saw made in that range by echo IMHO.

See them from time to time local FS in the 100-200 range.

But just soon run the newer 501P.

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

Be honest, were you really looking at the saw?