Echo rear handle recommendation

[Mowerr]

Next weekend I'm looking to buy a rear handle echo bc echo is cheap and I like my dealer and the warranty.
So I haven't used any of their rear handle saws before, I just own their 355t and 2511t and a weed wacker. I'm wondering if anyone can give me a recommendation on a good rear handle sAw that can pull an 18"-20" bar that will mostly be used for notching and cutting up wood on the ground but also is not too heavy for making some cuts off the ground too.
I really appreciate any help you guys can give me and my dealer also sells stihls too and I would also travel elsewhere to get a husky.
I know of a couple models that stihl and husky make that I would love but I just don't do that much side work right now to really justify spending the extra $$$ they cost. So of the models my dealer has on stock of the echos, I know I can afford those and am ready to buy one next weekend and use it on a side job I'm doing then.

 

[Serf Life]

501p (ported/muff mod sounds like the ticket), 620p has surprisingly good power and screams with 20” which is the better quality oiler port bar.

 

[kludge]

We like the 620p with a 20” bar. Run it stock and like it a lot for smaller felling and bucking from the ground. Have also run it with a 36” on occasion when our 800 is down.

 

[Serf Life]

Wow, must be slow going with a 36! Put a 24” full skip which sings in softwood but a bit doggy in oak. I’m planning on a 501 in the future as my 550xp regularly annoys me.

 

[kludge]

Wow, must be slow going with a 36! Put a 24” full skip which sings in softwood but a bit doggy in oak. I’m planning on a 501 in the future as my 550xp regularly annoys me.

Did not say it was great. We still prefer to run our 800’s for the 36”.

 

[OasisTree]

Wow, must be slow going with a 36! Put a 24” full skip which sings in softwood but a bit doggy in oak. I’m planning on a 501 in the future as my 550xp regularly annoys me.

We had the opposite experience. I ran the 501s quite a while, but the Husky 550 is simply a better built saw as far as performance, durability, and air filtering. It does start a little harder though.

 

[Mowerr]

I like them 550s too but find them to have hard starts too

 

[dsptech]

The 620p is a great saw.
I run a 20", 24", and a 28" on it.
I would go full skip on the 28" though.
Pulls the 24" no problem.
I haven't modded mine yet but I bet it would benefit from one.

I think the 800p is so so.
You could do better.
I was in the market for one but got a great deal on a used Husqvarna 390xp.
With just a muffler mod on the husky the thing is a beast, sounds like a freaking Harley at idle and rev.
I jun ran a 42" bar with full skip on it a couple of weeks ago on a huge 45" dbh oak and it did the job.

 

[Serf Life]

I was surprised with the power on the 620 and definitely a better build and bar vs 590. Bought mine on sale for $440 with the 20” bar and guard! Starts up super easy and doesn’t need messing with vs the husky after it sits a few.

 

[kludge]

but also is not too heavy for making some cuts off the ground too.

Sorry, missed this requirement when I answered before. A 490 with a 20” bar is the saw we use for ground plus cuts in the tree. Runs alright stock, but could run better modded.

We used a 620p occasionally, in the tree (mostly for chunking out), but it is heavy for that compared with the 490. We use the 490 for smaller felling and brushing out. It is a little to light for heavy bucking.

 

[dsptech]

I was surprised with the power on the 620 and definitely a better build and bar vs 590. Bought mine on sale for $440 with the 20” bar and guard! Starts up super easy and doesn’t need messing with vs the husky after it sits a few.

The decompression valve on it makes it so much easier to start when in the tree.

 

[TCtreeswinger]

The 620p is a great saw.
I run a 20", 24", and a 28" on it.
I would go full skip on the 28" though.
Pulls the 24" no problem.
I haven't modded mine yet but I bet it would benefit from one.

I think the 800p is so so.
You could do better.
I was in the market for one but got a great deal on a used Husqvarna 390xp.
With just a muffler mod on the husky the thing is a beast, sounds like a freaking Harley at idle and rev.
I jun ran a 42" bar with full skip on it a couple of weeks ago on a huge 45" dbh oak and it did the job.

Whats wrong with the 800p? Havent heard/seen an honest review of one

 

[dsptech]

I'm not saying that it's not a good saw but it struck me that the 800p was their most powerful saw and really not updated to have the features of their other saws.
They don't make a saw over 80cc, why?

Felt more comfortable spending my big saw money on a saw made by a company that has more experience making more powerful saws.
I have 7 saws (who doesn't?) all are echo except for a stihl 193t and husqvarna 390xp 88cc.
Love my Echo saws but the 800p was a pass for me.

 

[kludge]

Whats wrong with the 800p? Havent heard/seen an honest review of one

I can't give a very good review because I don't have enough experience with other makes of larger saws to compare it to.

It does seem more primitive in its design and construction than some of Echo's smaller saws.

We have had consistent problems with a couple of 800's leaking gas (was fixed under warranty) and the chain brake breaking. Since more than one saw has had these problems, may be design issues.

We generally run it with a 36" for larger felling and bucking. It does occasionally feel a bit under powered on the harder woods, like oak, running that length bar, but it does the job.

We do like the manual oiler. And as a saw the 800p is pretty reliable.

Overall I would say the 800p does what it should: it cuts wood for ~$800.

 

[Mowerr]

Thank you so much guys, this is all so helpful. If anyone else has anything to add please keep it coming....I really appreciate this a lot.

 

[Mowerr]

So what saws do the 800, 620 and 490 saws feel most alike to that husky and Stihl make?

 

[Redmech]

I just purchased a Husky 445 saw. It’s not a pro saw, but not the el cheapo homeowner class. A friend that cuts quite a bit has been running his for 8 years now and has had good luck. Mine has only seen a days worth of use, so no long term review from me. Seems like older 445 are 45 cc and the new ones spec says they are 50cc. I was looking hard at the 50cc pro saw from Echo, but I don’t have a dealer close by for parts or service.

 

[27RMT0N]

On that note, I bought a Husky 450 three years ago because I wanted a saw that size, I could buy it online and it was half the price of a 261... Ran it in my business with zero problems the whole time. Overall I was very pleased with it, though I did finally get a new 261 last week.

 

[dsptech]

I just purchased a Husky 445 saw. It’s not a pro saw, but not the el cheapo homeowner class. A friend that cuts quite a bit has been running his for 8 years now and has had good luck. Mine has only seen a days worth of use, so no long term review from me. Seems like older 445 are 45 cc and the new ones spec says they are 50cc. I was looking hard at the 50cc pro saw from Echo, but I don’t have a dealer close by for parts or service.

I didn't think I had a dealer nearby either till I used Echo's dealer search from their website.
If not in a hurry I just order parts online as the cost is usually less.

 

[Redmech]

The 450 was the saw I was gonna get but they had just sold the last one, and my buddy was heavily recommending the 445, the one day I used it, it was flying thru Elm with the 18” bar. Elm isn’t any tough test for a saw by any means