[Climbers] Any reasons to hold-off (or reconsider) buying an Echo 2511T?

eyehearttrees

eyehearttrees

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tl;dr -- IF you're a climber looking for a climbsaw, what reasons should give you pause from running to the Echo 2511t?

~~~~~~~~~~~

I loved my 25cc default/go-to climbsaw but it died recently, didn't replace it and was gonna do so w/ a 2511t but, loving my 355t (18") so much, I just began using that (probably being frugal/cheap too), anyways on a job yesterday the 355t went down, didn't start again today so it's not flooded (I'd re-filled mid job so figured I just flooded it), they want $70 for a coil...nope, just on principle I don't care if I have to wait months to find a used one, or if it's better to part-out my unit and buy a new 355t - it is still my fave 'top tier' climbsaw - heck maybe I could justify doing the PITA install on a climbsaw by treating it to a porting job....hmmmm...

But yeah at any rate I need a new climbsaw yesterday, the 2511 was my "1st pick" but honestly don't even have a good 2nd pic (except "355t" now lol but that's not same type of climbsaw), so far as I can see Stihl has the 151 which is more $ and not as nice, Husqy and the rest don't offer competition.....would consider foreign orders like efco/zenoah if any recommendations? (I LOVED my zenoah g2500/husqy t425 clone that just died on me, thing was AMAZING, maybe 20% larger&heavier than the freakishly-small 2511t but an awesome, reliable lil machine!!)

Thanks for any advice, oh also am seeking powerhead-only (any reco's for retailers?), based on the thought "I have enough 10", 12" 14" 16" etc bars" lol so am guessing that's fine IE there's no "quarter-pitch 2511's for sale" w/o paying some crazy fee to buy some international model right? Have seen those Japanese 2511t's w/ OEM Sugi dime-tip bars, droooool :p

(ps/ninja-edit: I'm a realllly small guy, like height & weight, even w/ outstanding position &anchorage I struggle to start the 590 aloft and if anything that's got a raised exhaust-roof so should be easier to start, no unusually high compression or anything, so yeah the 2511t certainly has appeal there, my shoulders are just on FIRE from using my 32cc pig-saw climbsaw, and 590, to finish-out the job I was doing while the 355t failed, honestly if I finished earlier today I may've checked my local dealer for a 2511t today but he usually won't sell just a powerhead :/ )
 
Tldr.




The stock bar and chain blow. Panther or Stihl, depending on who you ask, are good replacements.

There is a guy on a different forum who builds killer 2511t's, I am told by a reputable member.

If the builder can buy and build, or you buy and have it delivered to him to build, it will save time and shipping costs 1 way.


I run mine unmodded, dealing in softwood, mostly.
I've also got a stock 193t and 200t that lounge in the truck almost always, since the 2511t came around.
 
Makita XCU06T - very small Battery saw that rips for its size. I'm also a featherweight guy and it's a dream having something this light that will blaze through even 6" limbs. And I haven't even done a Panther bar and chain upgrade yet.
I leave my Husqy Li 536t (also battery but 2x the weight) on the ground unless I'm doing a removal.
*I've only used it a few times before getting injured, but Makita bought Dolmar, so I have good expectations long-term.
 
Last edited:
southsoundtree said:
Tldr.




The stock bar and chain blow. Panther or Stihl, depending on who you ask, are good replacements.

There is a guy on a different forum who builds killer 2511t's, I am told by a reputable member.

If the builder can buy and build, or you buy and have it delivered to him to build, it will save time and shipping costs 1 way.


I run mine unmodded, dealing in softwood, mostly.
I've also got a stock 193t and 200t that lounge in the truck almost always, since the 2511t came around.
Click to expand...
Sorry, ADHD + passion = rambly sometimes, thankfully your post MORE THAN answered what I needed (just got one this afternoon, had to pay nearly $500 with tax, seems the entire lineup has jumped-price recently even the 590 was $40, IE 10% more expensive, than what I was charged like ~3-4mo ago!)

Thanks for replying, your last sentence, just how you wrote it, answered both of my biggest concerns IE:
- Am I going to constantly be needing to swap-up, to the point the 2511's really only a limbing saw, at best? and
- Just how appealing is this <1.5HP machine
Way you wrote that last sentence hits home because I love my 355t which is nearly exact specs as a 20*t, and I have & dislike 32cc/"mid-range' climbsaws.

My lengthy post was to ask that, as well as just "anything to look-out for w/ the 2511's?", because now w/ this new unit & 2 units down it's:
25cc 2511t,
32cc pig-saw top-handle 8.5lbs,
36cc 355t broken ignition-module (at just-past 1.5yrs, 1st echo-fail I've ever had, and they want >$70...so am not buying that new!!)
60cc cs590 (ported twice, thumper w/ 20" bar and xl dogs)
some ~90-105cc chinesium 660's (25" & 32", big bore etc)

SO --- that "gap" from 2511t, to the 590 (13lbs//4HP), that gap is too large isn't it? If your 200t broke, and your next-smallest unit was some ~60cc Stihl, would you feel a need to get a saw for in-between?
 
Re my 355t, I am still very interested in hearing thoughts on what's better:
- throw it on the bench, have it apart / port it / power it up, and - in that time - find a used ignition coil (or buy one for $70, if/when I have a "hot-ish 355t" except its coil :P ) Or,
- "Part it out", I mean honestly if I could recoup like $200 from what I just spent on the 2511t I'd be stoked, but what happens when the 2511t isn't enough, and the cs590 is too large?
That's all I was getting at before ;) I think I probably do need an "in-between", if only because my small size makes starting the 590 aloft exceedingly difficult (probably could stand to tweak the carb a bit!!)



SeanRuel said:
Also didn't read the whole thing. hold off if there's any chance you want a battery top Handle in the near future. Supposed to be a 2511 battery equivalent coming out this year
Click to expand...
Would love to, am "team echo" if any team, but have heard nothing good Re their Li gear, and also seems their electric 2511 is a different battery pack than the rest of the gear....


LOVE lithium, the quoted-post below this sentence sounds VERY promising, sadly I couldn't justify the #'s when I tried several months back, even the >$1k Husqy 540i is still heavy as heck, I just got a ryobi trio and LOVE them, spent <$500 and the 3 batteries have never required me to re-charge on a job site even if lithium is my main power that day (though I have the 4Ah batteries..)


Ob2 said:
Makita XCU06T - very small Battery saw that rips for its size. I'm also a featherweight guy and it's a dream having something this light that will blaze through even 6" limbs. And I haven't even done a Panther bar and chain upgrade yet.
I leave my Husqy Li 536t (also battery but 2x the weight) on the ground unless I'm doing a removal.
*I've only used it a few times before getting injured, but Makita bought Dolmar, so I have good expectations long-term.
Click to expand...
It's insane how much difference/improvement there is in each iteration of lithium gear, at this point it's effectively replaced 25cc for most things (except top-handles, unless someone knows one that out-spec's a 2511t...), but last time I was at H.Depot I saw my "best" model of 40V blower was already usurped by another new&improved, and mine was 1 of 3 options when I bought it!
Figure the Ryobi gear will last a while and, when dead/dying, I'll swap to a pro/real brand (though I've used Ryobi for 18V for many years, always impressed / never complaints!)
 
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the weak points of a 2511 is the stock bar and chain, air filter, and carb doesnt hold a tune very well.... That and a generation ago the primer bulb had a recall. it's a great saw and I use it most often. my top handle line up is a t540i, ms020 (and I love this saw), ms 150t. The echo is the saw with the lanyard always attached. It's nothing to use it until I need the 261 with a 18" bar.
 
I'm done with gas powered top handled saws. For removals I usually use a rear handled saw (MS241) for the power and ergonomics. For pruning I use the battery powered Husky top handle. Lithium powered saws are the future in my opinion and any option to move away from two stroke motors I will likely pursue.

So is there something inherently wrong with that Echo saw? Probably not. But are there other options that are appealing for certain reasons? Definitely.
 
southsoundtree said:
Tldr.




The stock bar and chain blow. Panther or Stihl, depending on who you ask, are good replacements.

There is a guy on a different forum who builds killer 2511t's, I am told by a reputable member.

If the builder can buy and build, or you buy and have it delivered to him to build, it will save time and shipping costs 1 way.


I run mine unmodded, dealing in softwood, mostly.
I've also got a stock 193t and 200t that lounge in the truck almost always, since the 2511t came around.
Click to expand...
To add what Sean said I have two of the builders( Nutball) 2511’s love them both. One has about two years of use and the other a month or two. You could give me a built brand new 200t and I would choose a modded 2511 over it. Removals and trimming.
 
I had a moment of pause, as I went outside to limb some stuff at home, and the battery saw (Makita 36v) wouldn't cut in the cold!!
I couldn't have that happen on a job..

A friends Dad gave me an echo 330t, usually it's the ground saw, but I tuned it up a little bit and used it on a removal the other day. It's okay, but way heavier; main difference I noticed is it would continue in the cut a slight bit better. Makita 36v can stop-and-go a bit in a 14" log.

Been using all battery (98% let's say, sometimes borrow a ms194 or such) and had yet to see a need for a gas saw. That cold effect got me thinking more about it. [Maybe if the battery doesn't work, I shouldn't either!! nahhh, it was about 19 degrees, not crazy]

I am interested in the 1/4" sprocket. Havent' made the move yet. The mini tiny Makita 18v is a little beast too. Only weighs 7 odd pounds with the battery, and it's small. Easy to fit through unions with ya.

Thanks for pointing out that ms241 @RyanCafferky . I am currently jumping from the Makita XCU08 to a husky 562, it's quite a leap. A good in between saw like that may be a better choice than looking to a gas top-handle right now. I can keep that old Echo roaring in case of frigid days.
 
dspacio said:
I had a moment of pause, as I went outside to limb some stuff at home, and the battery saw (Makita 36v) wouldn't cut in the cold!!
Click to expand...
Were the batteries stored in the cold? if stored in warm area shouldn’t be a problem.
Chris Schultz said:
Anyone on this thread have a respectable condition 200t collecting dust?
Click to expand...
Collecting dust, feeding mice, and occasionally creating sawdust.
 
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