chainsaw stihl MS290 vs echo cs400??

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

Hey folks,
I 've got a stihl ms250 saw and was looking for something a little bigger for some wood that I'll be getting this fall up to 20 inch but average 16 inch hard and soft wood (about 3 cord). Was thinking of the stihl farm boss, but ran across an echo cs400 at a home depot price difference wasn't a lot but enough to consider. Which do you think would be the best bet? I have a local stihl dealer which probably answers my own question, but is the echo any better?

Thanks,

Dave

Nancy Howell · May 21, 2009

Can"t tell you anything about the Echo, but we"ve been very pleased with the Stihl"s.

Having a local dealer that is knowledgeable and has a repair facility is important.

The best advice I can give is never, never, never buy a Cub Cadet chain saw. We bought a big one, cost over $400 several years ago. Its a dog, can"t keep it running for more than about an hour at a time. Worthless, absolutely worthless. One of the many times it was in was in the shop for repair, it took over 6 months to get a part for it.

TomTex · May 21, 2009

For only 3 cords of wood, shy not just get anew bar, sproket, couple of chains, and use the saw you have? Also, experts are on ToolTalk below. Tom

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

I have a Stihl, but my neighbor has a Sachs-Dolmar which I really like. I would go with the reputation of the dealer.

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

(quoted from post at 05:33:17 05/21/09) For only 3 cords of wood, shy not just get anew bar, sproket, couple of chains, and use the saw you have? Also, experts are on ToolTalk below. Tom

Think it would handle it? I'll be getting quite a bit of wood but most will be 5-8 " , bigger stuff will be around 3 cubic meters (not 3 cords). That would save a chunk money. I like my stihl real well. Strange enough, the German brands are awful pricey in Germany, I have to have someone buy and mail it to me.

Thanks, Dave

Brokenwrench · May 21, 2009

We have a little stihl with a 14 inch bar. Great saw. Brother in law has a Husqvarna 20 inch, I was using it a couple of weeks ago and really like how smooth it was. Still seems our go to saws are a couple of old olympics with 16 inch bars. Both have been around for years and just tough and dependable as heck. Come to think of it we have a near new Johnsrud that we have only used a couple times, it vibrates more and is lunkier than the olympics.

We do have a big Echo weed/brush trimmer. It s about 10 yrs old and has never given us a bit of trouble either. It has a ton of hours on it between dads lawn business and me using it on fencelines.

I know nothing about the echo saws, but I would stick with the stihl or even look at a husqvarna, just cause they tend to have local dealers.

Rootsy · May 21, 2009

There is no competition... Stihl is the winner by an avalanche... Just try to buy parts and service for that echo when it needs it...

have had an MS310 20" for about 4 years now... fell, buck, cut and split about 15 cord of firewood a year... has never failed to start or run... Just getting broken in... take care of the Stihl and it'll outlast you... Even the consumer grade saws... like those we are discussing (250 290 310, etc).

RodinNS · May 21, 2009

I can't really see buying another slightly larger saw for that amount of work. The 290 isn't appreciably more than the 250...
I don't know how big that echo is... but I know that it's a cheap, consumer line saw.
All the same, your 250 is a consumer grade saw...
If I was doing much with wood that size I'd go with a mimimum of an MS361 and preferably an MS441. Both of them are pro saws.

Rod

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

Thanks folks! Guess I'll stick with what I have. Easier to swap the big wood for smaller from someone that has a bigger saw (pretty easy to do).

Thanks again.

Dave

200cs · May 21, 2009

I have a Farm Boss and have been real happy with it. I prefer Jonsereds but there are not really any dealers in this area so I have to get parts on-line if I need them. When my 3.0 inch Jonsereds finally gave it up I replaced it with the Farm Boss with an 18 inch bar. I use that as my small saw. My big one is a Jonsereds 2095 turbo with a 24 inch and 34 inch bar. It has some where around 95cc or just under 6.0 inch. That thing will eat a tree up!

I also have Stihl weedeater and blower due to the same reason. Local dealer in town has all the parts I need when I need them. BTW, Stihl has the best chain on the market. I use it on my Jonsereds......

DoubleR · May 21, 2009

GET THE STIHL!!! You will always get parts and service after the sale. I have a saw, blower,trimmer, and a new rototiller. They are all dependable and relayable and I have a bunch of local dealers that will be more than happy to service them and get me parts.

Nancy Howell · May 21, 2009

Yup. We figured that out, too. The Stihl chains are actually a little cheaper than the Oregon chains and last a lot longer.

Jeff-oh · May 21, 2009

I got a Stihl Wood Boss it is 1 size smaller than the Farm Boss and I love it. Before I had a McCullah.

Call around to the various Stihl dealers in your area. None would budge on price for me... But One had a free case special the others did not. And when asked why I should buy from dealer A vs. Dealer B.... I got the shop to Provide me a gal. of bar oil and a tune-up and sharpening certificate good for a year.

Each shop is different try to talk to the owner of the small shops. Particularly now $$$ talks and Business-as-usual Walks.

greenmachineman · May 21, 2009

I have had 3 stihl farm bosses that are all 5+ years old, never had to do anything but clean the air filters, change/sharpen chains. Can't beat them.

just another old geezer · May 21, 2009

Always had homelite. good saw, but parts unaviable. bought a little stihl to try one out. there will never be another Stihl on this place. Got 2 Huskvarnia 455 ranchers. LOVE them. For Sale: Two of the last XL Homelites made, and 1 stihl, to give away

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

we have sold all 3 and after you leave husky get an axe it is faster and awhole lot cheaper --plus easier to get parts for

Anonymous-0 · May 21, 2009

I'll pay to have that free stihl shipped to my door! I'll even give ya $10 for it. What size?

Nubian · May 22, 2009

Goota agree with Geezer - There'll never be another Stihl on this place.

cjk · May 23, 2009

I cut all our wood for 2 years with a MS210. Worked fine, just a
little slow.

The 250 should do just fine if you are not in a hurry.

If you just have to spend some cash, MS361 all the way.

Anonymous-0 · May 24, 2009

The cs 400 is a good reliable quality built saw but it will not keep up with a Stihl farmboss I happen to own a cs 400 and with great regret sold a Stihl farm boss although the cs 400 is good for limbing it falls short when bucking anything greater than 16" diameter the Stihl has much more power and can handle bigger jobs faster. they are both great saws but if I had to do it over again I would opt for the Stihl ms290

chainsaw stihl MS290 vs echo cs400??

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads