Looking for a new saw with a 24" bar. Echo 490 or Husky 550x?

[IQRaceworks]

I've got a huge oak tree that fell over in my backyard that I need to cut up. The trunk is around 30". I've got a few different saws (Echo 352 w/16" bar, Poulan Pro 5020Av w/20" bar), but I figured this gives me an excuse to get a bigger saw that will help me take care of this thing faster. Tried a few cuts with my 5020, and it's just a pig trying to get through that oak. Long story short, I'm looking for a good saw that I can put a 24" bar on, and will save me some time over my 5020. Yeah, it's a weak excuse....but I kind of just want another saw!

So, I've been doing a lot of research...and I think I've narrowed it down to a couple different saws. Either the Echo 590 (around $450), or the Husky 550X Mark II (around $690).......unless there is something else you guys would suggest I should look at. I've heard the 550 is an awesome saw.....but is it worth the extra $200+ that it's going to cost me? After I cut up this oak tree....honestly, the saw probably won't get used much. My little Echo 352 is what I use most of the time, it's an awesome little saw (after a muffler mod).

From what I've read online....the 590 is a great saw, but heavier than the 550....and the 550 probably makes more power than the 590, and is lighter. But am I just throwing away $200+ buying the 550?

Any suggestions or advice on these two saws would be great.

Thanks!

 

[coffeebrk]

Husqvarna recommends 20" on 550xp

 

[FXJenkins]

Go with the best you can afford...

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Looking for a new saw with a 24" bar. Echo 490 or Husky 550x?​

Neither with a 24 inch bar- personally I would be looking in the 70-80cc range.

 

[oldguy]

24'' bar is 70cc country, you will have a hard time finding a 24'' bar for the 550, but they are available.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I've got a huge oak tree that fell over in my backyard that I need to cut up. The trunk is around 30". I've got a few different saws (Echo 352 w/16" bar, Poulan Pro 5020Av w/20" bar), but I figured this gives me an excuse to get a bigger saw that will help me take care of this thing faster. Tried a few cuts with my 5020, and it's just a pig trying to get through that oak. Long story short, I'm looking for a good saw that I can put a 24" bar on, and will save me some time over my 5020. Yeah, it's a weak excuse....but I kind of just want another saw!

So, I've been doing a lot of research...and I think I've narrowed it down to a couple different saws. Either the Echo 590 (around $450), or the Husky 550X Mark II (around $690).......unless there is something else you guys would suggest I should look at. I've heard the 550 is an awesome saw.....but is it worth the extra $200+ that it's going to cost me? After I cut up this oak tree....honestly, the saw probably won't get used much. My little Echo 352 is what I use most of the time, it's an awesome little saw (after a muffler mod).

From what I've read online....the 590 is a great saw, but heavier than the 550....and the 550 probably makes more power than the 590, and is lighter. But am I just throwing away $200+ buying the 550?

Any suggestions or advice on these two saws would be great.

Thanks!

neither. 20", tops on those. The 620P will pull a 24, however, with skip.
Start looking at 70cc saws for what you propose.

 

[toppers]

Echo 7310p is at home with a 24" bar, the others you listed will be struggling. Like others said, it's 70cc territory.

 

[coffeebrk]

If it's me I'm buying a Stihl MS400.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Not the 2 listed in 50cc for a 24"

I'd be looking at 65cc and up saws to run 24" all the time. Heck the 550 mkII weighs 12lbs 3oz PHO dry.

If you want light too look at stihl 462 72cc https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/professional-saws/ms462cm/

462 PHO dry weight

If think you can do with smaller cc 66.7cc stihl 400 very light too.

362 PHO dry weight and 400 list at 6oz more then shown for 362.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Out of those definitely the echo 590 but even that isn’t enough saw for a 24” bar buried in oak. As everyone else has said, 70cc plus territory in your flavor would be preferred. If you want the 590 it will no doubt do it albeit painfully slow.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

If looking a echo 590 and can afford the extra 150 look at their 620. Stock stronger saw then 590.


Echo 590 pho weight dry. 620 be about same. 59cc

 

[telecasterfool]

A lot of what has been said here is correct. For 30" oak, 66-UP cc saw would be best. However, it sounds as if that would be overkill for you. I own and run a CS-590 with some mild mods. I run a full comp 3/8 24" chain on it. You could use it for the tree in question, if you don't push it. You may be better off running the cs-590 with a 20" bar, full comp, since you can't make the full cut with a 24" anyway. 24" bar with skip chain would also lessen the load on the 590. I also run a CS-600P with a 24" bar and full comp .325 chain, but that's a weird combo I doubt anyone is interested in. Ask any follow up questions if you want. Hope it helps.

 

[irhunter]

I own and run a CS-590 with some mild mods. I run a full comp 3/8 24" chain on it. You could use it for the tree in question, if you don't push it. You may be better off running the cs-590 with a 20" bar

+1 for this ^^^^^^^^^^

I have one more observation. The vary best solution to a one-tree problem is always a buddy-with-a-big-saw. Any friends or family who would come over, and for the price of a burger and beer, buck that tree up for you?

There is, right now, a $500 MS460 on CL in SW Missouri. But, I still like Fool's, and my, solutions better.

Roy

 

[IQRaceworks]

What about the Echo 7310? Dealer has them on sale for under $950 here in a few weeks?

 

[FXJenkins]

OP, how tall are you?

 

[Woodtroll]

I use a 590 with a 20" bar for most of the work on my place, but of course I don't even need the full 20" most of the time because I'm usually doing cleanup work, firewood cutting, and light logging occasionally. For the rare times I need it, I have a 24" bar with skip chain for the 590. I'm happy with the job it does for the few times I need it, although I would not cut BIG dry white oak or locust with it with any expectations of efficient work speed. On everything else, including dead red oak, it meets my needs, again because I don't need a 24" bar often enough to pay the cost of a much bigger saw, and a few extra seconds per cut doesn't matter to me since I'm not a pro. The skip chain keeps the chain speed up without bogging down the saw.

If you just need a big bar for this one tree, consider the 590 with a 20" bar and a 24" bar with skip chain. The 20" bar will be much more handy than using the 24" all the time.

I'm certainly not arguing with the pros here or disputing their advice, just offering my experience with the 590 for farm and firewood use. But, of course, if you need an excuse to spend a few hundred more to get a big saw that you really want, then go for it!