Saw I

[windthrown]

Hey, I have an Echo 3400 14 in. that is on its last legs. Been through 3 bars and who knows how many chains, pull ropes and plugs. A real good saw, light and easy to use, runs under all conditions. Takes a beating. Great for limbing and brush work, fencing, as well as small trees and logs. Good saw for the girlfriend to help cut trees with. Thinking of updating it, and maybe reserving it in the 'retired' shelf as a backup saw.

Is there a new Echo equivalent model? Other favorite 14 in. saws out there to look at? Other options in small saw category? :biggrinbounce2:

 

[windthrown]

Saw III, the sequel

I have a Stihl MS 290 with a 20 in. bar that works OK. Seems to be the most popular Stihl out there. Runs good in most conditions (tends to not wanna start when hot in summer, can be tempramental in variable conditions). Saw II is a keeper tho.

Saw III is dead. Burned up the electronic ignition yesterday while Saw II was in the shop (gas line broken). It is an odd saw, older model Olympic 25 in. bar, made in Italy, has 20:1 gasil mix so I have to have a separate mixed gas can (everything else here takes 50:1). Not really worth messing with to fix. Saw IV is an old Mac from another era, early 1960's model. More suitable for a museum. Hard to start, bulky, heavy, not really usable. Sits on the shelf.

So I am looking for a good saw in the 28-30 in. bar range to replace the 25 and 36 in. saws. Any favorites?

 

[Just Mow]

Look at the STIHL MS192T, a lot of power for under seven pounds. Had my two for 2 years with no problems to speak of.

 

[ray benson]

The equivalent on the Echo website is a CS-341. That CS-360t may be my next.

 

[computeruser]

If you were pleased with the Echo, buy another one. You can't get them new from dealers anymore, but you can on eBay. You just have to be patient. I picked up a brand new 3400 a couple months ago for $200 shipped. That way you'll have two identical saws and, in a pinch, you can scavenge for parts off the old one.

Otherwise, the new Dolmar top handle sounds like a good saw at a fair price. The new Echos just don't feel right in my hands (330, 360). If you're not set on a top-handle, you can still get the rear-handle Echo 346 at Home Depot ($280) or on eBay ($165, new in box).

As for a 28-30" saw, I think that your choices will be limited to stuff like Stihl's 460 and 660, Husqvarna's 372 and 385 (and 575, I guess), or Dolmar's 7900 or 9010. Echo and John Deere/Efco/whatever also make 80cc saws that are solid designs, though not quite in the same league in terms of power-to-weight.

I run a Dolmar 7900 and a Stihl 066 and both are capable of running a 28" bar with authority, though the Dolmar is happiest with a 7pin sprocket whereas the Stihl competently runs an 8pin. By way of comparison, the Stihl clearly benefits from its extra 13cc of displacement over the Dolmar when it comes to grunt, but the Dolmar also weighs three or four pounds less and costs $400 less than a Stihl MS660. Also, if you're going to be carrying the saws around a lot, it has been my experience that the Stihl has more or less neutral balance with a 28", whereas the Dolmar is decidedly bar-heavy with a 28" bar.

Dolmar 7900/28":

Stihl 066/28":