Echo 50cc saw bar length

[Saw-sick Steve]

Looking for a new 50cc saw and down to a choice between Husky 550xp and Echo 501sx. Would ideally like a 13'' bar as mainly doing small hardwoods coppicing and hedge laying but my local Echo dealer informs me that the smallest bar supplied with the Echo is 16'' - seems a bit odd when both the 550xp and Stihl 261 are available with shorter bars. Any ideas?

[gand]

Echo only seem to send bars in the box with the saws. Even their own website only states 18". I know Sugihara do a 13" bar for it, which is what the 16" will be anyway. If you get the bar and chain separately at least you'll have a spare longer set up if needed 

[doobin]

Change it to picco whilst you’re at it ??

[coppicer]

1 hour ago, doobin said:

Change it to picco whilst you’re at it ??

Does that involve changing the sprocket as well?

[doobin]

4 hours ago, coppicer said:

Does that involve changing the sprocket as well?

Yes but it’s just a rim sprocket

[Echo]

The 501 would be the lightest and most suitable for the work

you mention and the bar size you want to use.

I had Two of them, one was accidentally fitted with a 15 inch

bar, that would suit you fine, it’s much less meaty than the 16,

quite a difference, I changed it over for the 16 for my work.

 

If you want to save money, the next size down echo would do

your job no problem.

 

Theres also the Stihl MS261, lighter than the Husqvarna 550xp mk2.

 

Edited October 23, 2020 by Echo

[Stere]

I tried a 13" for coppicing  but prefered a 15"

[Stubby]

3 hours ago, Stere said:

I tried a 13" for coppicing  but prefered a 15"

its a trade off between light weight and bending your back all day .

[Saw-sick Steve]

Well, my local Echo dealer doesn't seem too bothered about making a sale as they haven't got back to me so looks like it's going to be a sale for Husqvarna? Saw will be worked hard for 6 months of the year but not a lot outside of that. Heard various things about the auto tune on the 550, what's the general consensus? 

[Stubby]

2 minutes ago, Saw-sick Steve said:

Well, my local Echo dealer doesn't seem too bothered about making a sale as they haven't got back to me so looks like it's going to be a sale for Husqvarna? Saw will be worked hard for 6 months of the year but not a lot outside of that. Heard various things about the auto tune on the 550, what's the general consensus? 

Not used a 550MK2  as I have a Spud ported 346 but all who I have spoken to/read about rate them very highly .  My 2011 560 is reliable still .