EFCO Brand - Please leave me your feedback!

[Steve NW WI]

Same here, ST is not shy at all about sharing his opinion.

I limit my opinions to saws I have actually cut with, most are considered relics now, that narrows the topics some.

I maybe should have used a couple smileys, I just like to pick on him a little. He's a nice enough guy, we just need to get him on a plane to a GTG to run some of the saws he's only seen on paper.

We are just smarter than they give us credit for.

Like we say at work when we're trying to make a process foolproof, make something ***** proof and they'll make a better *****

I bought a Efco 940 from a dealer a few years ago, it was something he had in his shop for awhile but was new never used. I found it to be an alright saw, it didn't come with the spikes or whatever you call them so I ordered them, they came with 2 small screws to hold them on, seemed like a "cheap" setup as they screws always came loose.

Try some thread locker, or for a cheap alternative, some of the wife/GF's nail polish. Almost every saw out there holds the spikes on with just 2 screws.

 

[milkman]

I bought a Efco 940 from a dealer a few years ago, it was something he had in his shop for awhile but was new never used. I found it to be an alright saw, it didn't come with the spikes or whatever you call them so I ordered them, they came with 2 small screws to hold them on, seemed like a "cheap" setup as they screws always came loose.

LocTite works on small screws.

 

[ncfarmboy]

Several years ago a guy had Efco 165's on Ebay for $235 delivered. I bought 2. Guy had more Efco's 1-181,2-8200, 1-7200,4-165(total6),2-165 parts saws($35), 3-156. I wound up with $2600 in all of them. i bought them to resell. I wound up using the 181 sold 1-156 and 1-165 in three years. This is Husky and Stihl country. IMO they are well built commercial grade saws. IMO the 156 is the best saw in it's class. The 162/962 ranks right with the 036/MS360 Stihl. I'd buy one over the Stihl. Stihl makes a good saw I'm just not going to pay for the name. I do have some though bought used and
I WON ONE.:yoyo:

1. The reason I still have them is no one in my area has heard of them.
Need to advertise there is no name recognition. Need cool hats (see Dolmar), t-shirts(see Husky,Stihl) ,etc.

2. NO parts availability
The two I sold I promised I would rob parts from new saws if needed and I had to. The 156 scored piston tore down new 156 for P&C.
I was glad to see quad transfers in the 156. The 956 and the CS56 I have were 2 port. I am impressed with the quality of the cylinder casting on the 156 esp.
3. Parts pricing is equal to Stihl.
Sell OEM parts a lot cheaper than they are now. I was quoted $400 for 162 P&C kit from an Dealer thats ridiculous. I bought 7900 Dolmar P&C for $170.

4. Improvements would be:

1-Improved air filter system see Dolmar HD AF for 7900 and Echo CS400. The AF seal is a pain in the rear.
2. Autotune carb.
3. Removeable transfer covers on cylinder.
4. Bar adjuster in the clutch cover.
5. Cross reference for parts that interchange in different models.

I really like these saws. It's a shame no one knows about them. Would I buy one? Absolutely I'm a saw hoarder. 152 is next.
Shep

 

[belgian]

Our local Stihl dealer sells Oleo Mac as second brand.
They seem to be fairly good equipment but with a lower power/weight ratio as the top brands. For the average firewood guy, not a bad option.
I have a old 261 in my collection that still runs perfect. But a real boat anchor as well.

 

[R2D]

I was glad to see quad transfers in the 156. The 956 and the CS56 I have were 2 port. I am impressed with the quality of the cylinder casting on the 156

Hear I thought the 156 and CS56 were exactly the same minus the color. Good to know.

 

[tallguys]

It really is no value in a long warrenty, unless you have a really good and experienced dealer to back you up on any claims.

Agreed. I'm not an Echo basher as I use their products and like them, but without a good dealer to back you that 5 year warranty isn't worth the paper its written on.

 

[dboyd351]

Agreed. I'm not an Echo basher as I use their products and like them, but without a good dealer to back you that 5 year warranty isn't worth the paper its written on.

Efcos a very good rep on here, but suffer from identity crisis (many, many different names, no consumer recognition), nearly non-existent dealer or parts network, an extensive warranty that is even more useless than Echo's 5 year warranty, confusion with the better known Echo name, etc.

One thing you could use is user testimonials. You have a lot of very satisfied customers on here, meaning you have found favor with a much more demanding group than your average chainsaw user. Use that.

Long term reliability is reputed to be excellent. Do a search on here for the long term test results of Efco products. There was one member on here that had put thousands of hours on an Efco 152, as I recall, and he documented it for this website. Seems to me like if you could document a large number of satisfied, discriminating users and a track record of long term reliability, that would go a long way towards marketing your product. You still need a way of getting parts to the users at a competitive cost, and in a timely fashion. I don't think you can compete with the Stihl and Husky dealer networks any time in the near future, so my suggestion is to go the website route.

The parts prices need to be competitive and IPLs, service manuals, etc. readily available to the general public. Stihl has done a very poor job with the latter (high parts prices, high labor rates and closely held access to IPLs), which is why I prefer Husky.

You make a very good product, but that alone won't make your product successful. Just look at Tanaka, they make a good product, too, with a long warranty, but without dealer service or parts support they are still an unknown.

 

[SawTroll]

There's little the EPA can dream up, that can't be defeated in a matter of a couple hours...
They're just not that bright...

I believe tha 165 is quite hard to "fix", but that's based on posts I have read, not personal experience....

 

[zogger]

I believe tha 165 is quite hard to "fix", but that's based on posts I have read, not personal experience....

I'm telling Fish about this post in his rant thread....

 

[Freakingstang]

I had an oleo-Mac 999. Sold it because I couldn't find parts for it ever after contacting Efco USA.


Efco sounds a lot like Echo to the average non saw knowing junkie ( homeowner).......

 

[gmax]

I had an oleo-Mac 999. Sold it because I couldn't find parts for it ever after contacting Efco USA.


Efco sounds a lot like Echo to the average non saw knowing junkie ( homeowner).......

If you do find parts they are expensive, a coil for my oleo Mac 999 was $150

 

[Stihl Crazy]

Well, to begin with I was an Efco dealer. I still can get saws but work for a Stihl dealer now. I have the 152,156,165,962, 7200 and 980 as some of my personal saws.

Being in Canada I cannot deal directly with Efco but a company that carries Efco as a small percentage of their business. It is my view that Efco will never amount to anything in Canada as long as that situation remains the same. Dealers need direct access to Efco North America. Support is almost none existant as it stands now. You can read of my issues with saws and distributer in older posts of mine.

Here as some saw issues.

Brake failures on 152, 156, 165. 16 in total all under 6 months use. All failed at the same place. Not covered by warranty.

Case failure on a 156. Replaced by warranty 3 months after failure.

Crank bearing failures on 156,165 and 962. 9 in total, under six months. Not covered by warranty. Bought these saws back and sold the users new Stihls.

Flywheel exploded on a 165. Covered by warranty.

 

[sunfish]

I had never heard of EFCO until I found this place. Been runnin saws a Long time!

But I do believe I ran an EFCO one...In J.Deere green. :msp_sneaky:

 

[Hedgerow]

I had never heard of EFCO until I found this place. Been runnin saws a Long time!

But I do believe I ran an EFCO one...In J.Deere green. :msp_sneaky:

That one stays clean...
It's a toy...:msp_wink:

 

[sunfish]

That one stays clean...
It's a toy...:msp_wink:

It's nice lookin and a very strong runner too! :msp_smile:

 

[tallguys]

Well, to begin with I was an Efco dealer. I still can get saws but work for a Stihl dealer now. I have the 152,156,165,962, 7200 and 980 as some of my personal saws.

Being in Canada I cannot deal directly with Efco but a company that carries Efco as a small percentage of their business. It is my view that Efco will never amount to anything in Canada as long as that situation remains the same. Dealers need direct access to Efco North America. Support is almost none existant as it stands now. You can read of my issues with saws and distributer in older posts of mine.

Here as some saw issues.

Brake failures on 152, 156, 165. 16 in total all under 6 months use. All failed at the same place. Not covered by warranty.

Case failure on a 156. Replaced by warranty 3 months after failure.

Crank bearing failures on 156,165 and 962. 9 in total, under six months. Not covered by warranty. Bought these saws back and sold the users new Stihls.

Flywheel exploded on a 165. Covered by warranty.

Actually buying defective saws back from your customers? Kudos to you. Rep sent.

 

[jerrycmorrow]

dsavage,
i see you've posted 4 times and have 6 pages of feedback. i'd sure like to think efco is gonna actually do something about its snafu (situation norma, all ____ed up) but being a product of the '60s i have my doubts. for sure, overcoming the inertia of no positive presence in north america isn't gonna be cheap. but it can be profitable.
as you can see there are many knowledgable users on this site. but we tend to feed off each other. the "average" saw user usually doesn't know squat. its time to give the "big two" a run for their money.
you got any feedback to AS feedback?

 

[SawTroll]

Efco USA was established in 2006. There were a couple groups importing a few saws before that. The "Oleo-Mac" brand was established in 1972 I believe.

Efco is the brand that earlier was called (different spelling versions of) Olympic (at least in the US).

The parent company of these brands (and others by now) is EMAK, Italy.

 

[dboyd351]

dsavage,

its time to give the "big two" a run for their money.
you got any feedback to AS feedback?

Good question.

 

[wilsonishere]

One of my good cutting buddys ran in to one of these about 2002 used, go it for $50.00 and has ran the living ---- out of it. The saw is around 60cc and does good, the only issue he had was with the chain brake. One of the pieces broke so he brought it to me to fix, as said before parts are non existent so I did the only thing i could just completely eliminated the brake. I know some will scream safety safety safety at me but what is a friend to do. I have cut with it and all around it is not bad, but the ergonomics of the handle are not right it is just a little uncomfortable for me to cut with. I know some will have no problem but my right wrist has had a 3/4in wide metal rod ran through it, so i have issues with holding my hand at certain angles. The husquvarnas and stihls I have are fine this saw has just a diffrent angle to the handles. The carb is a walbro so i had no problem getting a kit to rebuild it and the spark plug is just an ngk. He also ran through a chain sprocket and i was able to get an Oregon replacement other than that an a bar I wish you luck.