Replacement Chainsaw

[Tentman]

Hello Guys

My Echo CS4500 saw is currently in surgery for the first time in the 18 years I've owned it (and I got it used, abeit only a small amount I think) - really its the first time I have had to have it in for service. Obviously I look after it but nothing special apart from a few plugs and several bars and heaps of chains.

I really liked this saw, somehow (I don't recall now) I ended up with it after a long run of Stihl's - all smaller models. Seems like there is no replacement for this model from Echo.

We use the saw for firewooding (about 30-40 hours a year) and almost weekly for general work such as building and fencing.

Anyhow without starting the usual Stihl versus Husky thing, is anyone familiar enough with the CS4500 to suggest an alternative that will handle the same and have the same sort of power/weight/chain speed etc. I'd love to buy another saw that will go 18 years without seeing the inside of a shop but won't be holding my breath.

Cheers - Foster

 

[Clem2009]

Personally, I've had nothing but the best of luck with my Husky....
I did have sticker shock... (probably 3~4 times what I was used to spending on a cheap saw)... But...
Worth every penny day in day out...
It will take you a minute to get used to the higher rev's... but let those rev's work for you and you'll get 5 times as much done....
Have your chains kept sharp, and you will love it (and brag about it) for so many years to come!!!!

 

[Greyhorse]

I don't know what size your saw is/was but I wouldn't be afraid of any of the Husky, Stihl or Echo models that are the professional models..... not the Huskys at Home Depot or TSC. I have a Husky 365 Special for my big saw and a 170 Stihl for my small saw, both work flawlessly.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I just picked up a new Red Max. Really like it so far.

 

[JDemaris]

Since you like your Echo, why not just buy a new Echo CS-450? Same size as the older 4500. It's still is professional-grade with a metal crankcase, ball-bearing supported crank, etc. unlike many of the newer Huskys.

I've got several small Echos and love them. Also still have several older Stihls from the early 70s that work fine. But with big saws, I would not buy another Stihl. I ran my 045 for 30 years before it crapped out, which is pretty impressive. Ran my 056 for 25 years without even changing a spark plug. But that is a HD saw with very little plastic in it. I worked for a Homelite dealer in the 60s. We took on Stihl and Echo in the early 70s, and both were excellent. Echo (Kioritz Corp.) started out with backpack leaf blowers and the saws came later.

Just recently, when my ignition module died in my Stihl 056, and Stihl no longers sells new parts for it, I went saw shopping. I almost bought a Husky, but the models without plastic for crankcases were priced too high. I wound up buying a Sachs-Dolmar, under the Makita name-brand. Very rugged saw. Time will tell how long it's going to last.

Later, I got searching on the Internet for parts to fix my 056 Stihl, and found out that the new parts are still sold in Germany. Just not sold here in the USA. So, I got a new module on the German Ebay, and now it's fine.