used Echo CS 520 or new Husky 460

[motofishman]

Total noob here, I've got a new part time job (12 hours a week) clearing a heavily forested 11 acres (oaks, pines, firs). Most trees are 6-10 inches. Largest 30 inches, maybe 20 trees total are close to this size. Woodlot owner will provide me with used in very good condition Echo 520 or new from Lowes Husky 460. Only one, also will be using my Stihl 009 and a Craftsman 18". Got alot of trees to cut, which saw Echo or Husky is better for the long run? and why? I appreciate any help, got to tell him this weekend, thanks Tom

 

[zogger]

New saw

take the freebie box store saw, pay outta your pocket at the nearest husky dealer to have it adjusted before you cut with it, few tanks later, take it back, do it again. It's a larger saw, plus new, meaning you can be careful with it and make it last. Sharp chains rule.....as soon as the chips change size and you notice you are struggling, time for a few strokes or a chain swap. Then eventually you'll sense *before* that happens and sharpen or swap then. I have to cut a ton of little trees all the time, murder on chains cutting close to the ground all the time.

Heat kills saws, end of story. 11 acres, a lot of trees....take your time do it right don't kill your saws. The smaller ones you have will suffice for all the little trimming and dinky trees.

man, that's a lot of work by yourself, what will you do with all the downed wood? You get to keep it/sell it? That would be a nice added bonus...and what about all the stumps?? ?Still sounds like fun, I am trying to get permission here to clear a 3-4 acre piece for eventual market gardening. gonna do it slow though, in my "spare" time. Milk it out, every single even possible stick of firewood or pulp or even some timber, scratch every nickle out first before the dozer goes in. I *hates* cutting after dozers, tangled dirty muddy mess.

 

[mikefunaro]

Get the 460. It will be better in the big trees for sure, and you've got small saws if you need them.

 

[K.C.]

First off, welcome to the forums! Lots of good info on here for sure.
Regarding your question - is the landowner going to give you the saw when you are done?
I can't speak about the Husky personally but from what I have read it is a "clamshell" bottom end case and has alot of plastic. Not that there's anything wrong with that - I'm sure it is a decent 60cc consumer saw. They certainly sell a ton of them!

I do have an echo CS520 and I don't have any complaints about it. Strong 50cc engine, responds well to a muffler mod and has a "split-case" bottom end. I am not certain but I believe it is considered a "pro" saw as opposed to "consumer" or "pro-sumer" saw. Easy to work on and runs like a champ.

Either saw will cut what you are talking about cutting and both I'm sure are decent saws. If the saw will become yours at the end of the job, I recommend you use the search function here for the Echo 520 and the Husky "Rancher" and read up and make your choice. If you don't get the saw, what's the diff?

 

[motofishman]

The saw will be mine, most of the wood will be cut/split for firewood. Larger stuff for lumber. We split the profits 75/25

 

[mountainlake]

Get the 520 , it's 2# lighter, built better and with a muff modd will cut about the same. In saw reviews I'd heard about quite a few oiler problems with that series Husky and they are spendy to fix. The Echo has metal drive gears. Steve

 

[weimedog]

My humble opinion..and this is just that, an opinion:

Get the 460. Bigger saw. I have the smaller 455 and its been the main saw around the farm for a couple of years now. (Note I have a few choices) It grows on you as its easy to live with. The 455 went through some teething issues and the 460 gets the benefits. Learn the starting procedure from the decals and it starts really consistently summer and winter. Also if the 460 is an option get it with an 18inch bar, not the 20 or 22! The reason is the longer bars seem to be more prone to toss the chain in brush than the short ones...on all my small mount saws. And as has been said before, have it tuned by a dealer first and than again after break in. My 455 came really lean with factory settings. Even after retuning mine, it is easy on the fuel. A benefit of that strato design I believe. I rarely have to clean the air filter as the Husqvarna air filtration system was ahead of all (except Jonsereds) until the new generation Stihl's caught the idea and now have done their own. Much is said in a negative sense about the plastic homeowners saws..one thing is they are less prone to corrosion! I haven't had any bad experiences with mine..it just cuts and cuts. So 460..18inch Bar&Chain, get GOOD Oregon brand chisel chain, not that saftey stuff and if you take that route just know it most likely will be lean from the factory & therefore a little cold blooded stock...a good dealer will set it right for you.

A pic of mine a few years back doing the typical around here:

 

[mountainlake]

Type in Husky 455 oiler in your web search before you get that series Husky. Steve

 

[motofishman]

things have changed alot!!!

Got a brand new 346 husky with 18" chain, and an old (in excellent shape) husky 266se with 22" bar on it. Things are lookin up! thanks for all the reply's, I feel welcome here already

 

[sunfish]

Got a brand new 346 husky with 18" chain, and an old (in excellent shape) husky 266se with 22" bar on it. Things are lookin up! thanks for all the reply's, I feel welcome here already

Much, Much Better Choice!!!

 

[pjwoolw]

Real good choice!

 

[Chris J.]

Got a brand new 346 husky with 18" chain, and an old (in excellent shape) husky 266se with 22" bar on it. Things are lookin up! thanks for all the reply's, I feel welcome here already

Nice saws! How'd that change come about?

 

[motofishman]

I threw in the extra for 346, my mother in-law gave me the 266 (father in-law died two years ago), saw hasn't run in 3-4 years it started on 3rd pull.

 

[user 186843]

I am a Firefighter andi personally on a ECHO CS520, Bought it in 2006 with a lifetime warranty on the ignition and always starts easy no matter how long it sits. I have seen Huskies being hard to start right and left after sitting on a Firetruck for months. A storm hits and downed trees across roads and hiways need to be cleared fast. I get on scene Firefighters are pulling on the Huskies until they are wore out and taking turns. I reach behind my driver's seat pull out my ECHO CS 520 and one pull with the choke on then 2nd pull without the choke and its running. ½ the weight and I'm clearing trees off the roads. All I have had to do is replace air filter, chain oil, replace,chain and mixed gas since 2006. I use to be a Husky fan until I saw how much trouble our Fire dept has with them. I have seen the Huskies get replaced 3 times in 15yrs. My 2006 ECHO is still starting easy and running great. James FF530.

 

[J D]

This thread is almost as old as your saw
No doubt the CS520 is a great saw, but if your colleagues are having that many issues with the Husky's I'm picking either the saws need a good tune up or some remedial training on the start up process is required

 

[user 186843]

Thank you for your reply, the problem is when the Huskies sit for long periods of time. I think some stablelizer would cure the hard starting.

 

[jellyroll]

Thank you for your reply, the problem is when the Huskies sit for long periods of time. I think some stablelizer would cure the hard starting.

Our fire department switched to tru fuel / moto mix years ago and the problems went away.

 

[user 186843]

Thanks, I will check into that.