Some new saw guidance request..

[EchoShindaiwaMakitaDolmar]

I'd definitely get the Echo cs590 Timber Wolf- the average U.S. street price is about $450-480 depending on bar size chosen ($730 CD = about $504 USD) They haven't been $400 saws, avg. US street price, in 4-6 years.

 

[Valpen]

Not sure if @djmercer1 is quoting CAD$ or USD$ with his prices....

 

[djmercer1]

To clarify a couple comments:
1) $$$ quoted are CAD
2) I did a bit of online checking - another big box store offering free delivery (but not to remote areas) has Echo 620 for $990. what scares me about brands other than Stihl is a lack of support in the region
3) spares are for 170s and 362 - being collected in Goose Bay and air freighted but weather delay has set me back
4) for fuel - no AV, only AV is for airline and there is some drums around for helicopter companies but not for sale. The fuel issue i fear is that the tank farm is 30 100kl tanks of varying ages - so depending on which bulk tank it comes from quality can be variable. I will filter the fuel and let settle before decanting to try and limit contamination as best as possible. Granted I havent personally had issues, but everyone here does at some point.
5) the saws available locally are 271 and 162 - all else flown in. there are some 250s(family saws i can borrow) and 1 291 i know of - 291 is largest in community.
6) i wont be able to demo both unless i make a trip south to his shop - once fueled the saws are then dangerous goods and they cant come out until June sealift, even though my dealer is a buddy, he isnt that good.
7) for my saws coming on sea lift - i got 42cc, 78cc and 89cc - granted a bit dated, none are long in the tooth and will provide good service and i have parts and ability to rebuild any of them
8) typical trip wooding will be a 170 for support and the 362 as the workhorse. my plan is to put all on the ground into 8' sticks and tandem sled back to town for processing.

I appreciated all the help on this.... This might'n seem like a big decision (and wouldn't normally be to me), but the logistics/location of a not running saw(or sled for that matter) make this a bigger decision...

 

[EchoShindaiwaMakitaDolmar]

Tough decision based on the logistics and other considerations you mentioned... You could buy two Echo 590s so you'll have spare saw/parts on hand...

 

[holeycow]

Don't get carried away. The echo is in no way, shape, or form a proper pro saw. It handles like a cinder block, its air filtration is marginal and the filter gets filthy fast, it needs the limiters pulled so it can be properly tuned, the muffler needs a little mod, it is a finicky thing to tune at times, the antivibe is average, and it has no top end. I have an original edition ms362 and an echo cs590 and an oe 262xp in the 60cc class. At this point I rarely run the echo.

That being said, the echo is probably the best "farm" saw out there. Oh, and by the way, Echo by their own admission calls their 590 a farm saw. The 620 is a mild upgrade, as I understand it...