Top handle chainsaws

[Treedude1987]

Alright people, I'm buying a new top handle.

Which do you think is the better saw, I'm tempted in Stihl ms-151 and Echo CS-2511tes. I know the Stihl is 23.6cc.

Echo is 25cc, I do like the look of the echo. But how reliable are they compared to the Stihl?.

I'd be glad for feedback 😃.

Cheers

 

Ben

[Ferguson system]

I have both and use them mostly for pruning. Bought the 151T not too long ago. Echo is smaller in size, the plastic and overrall build seems more flimsy in my opinion. Rear half of the side cover (exhaust side) is prone to cracking with the result of ruined protective gear/harness 🤬.. When it comes to power, they feel similar and the same can be said for handling. 151T is larger in dimensions, but I don't find it cumbersome in use vs the 2511t. Air filter on the Stihl doesn't pack up as quickly as the Echo does.

 

Both of mine run 1/4", 1.1mm.

 

 

[Treedude1987]

Thanks for the quick feedback bro. Sounds very positive. I'm guessing your leading me towards the 151T.

[Ferguson system]

Both are good saws overrall and a joy to use, especially when compared to a handsaw & larger top handle. It also depends on if you have a dealer nearby or not. If I had to choose one, I'd take the Stihl.

[maybelateron]

I had a MS 190T in the past, never had 150T, but a mate has one. He loves it, but did have the metal loop you attached the strop to fail once. I have the Echo 2511 and I love it. Yes the plastic mentioned can fail, and the air filter does not like heavy rain. I have just converted it to the Panther bar and slimline chain. The performance is amazing for such a small saw.

[Dan Maynard]

I've got a 150T with exhaust mod, I think good little saw and boringly reliable. There are a lot more 'how to tune a 2511' threads on arbtalk than for the 150 by a mile, seems 2511 is great but can get unstable and annoying when worn.

[Joe Newton]

The 2511 dicks all over the stihl. Plastics are fine, any top handle will break its exhaust cover,  nature of the the beast.

 

The echo is better designed, has a way better air filter, is lighter smaller and noticeably more power. 

 

The downside is that to get the best out of it you have to replace the bar and chain with the stihl version straight away. 

 

The earlier models had a few teething issues, the newer ones are bang on.

 

Any saw will only be as good as the maintenance that goes into it though.

[Joe Newton]

Also the echo doesn't vibrate its engine mount bolts loose causing premature death of the saw, so there's that. 

[josharb87]

I liked the stihl, even brought a second when the first died, then when the 2nd died I got the echo

 

 

fantastic saw! 
 

 

it’s what stihl should have produced.

 

get the tesc model and it’ll come with a narrow bar and chain, which as joe said is a must.
 99%sure it’s just a rebranded sugihara bar. 

[Joe Newton]

11 minutes ago, josharb87 said:

I liked the stihl, even brought a second when the first died, then when the 2nd died I got the echo

 

 

fantastic saw! 
 

 

it’s what stihl should have produced.

 

get the tesc model and it’ll come with a narrow bar and chain, which as joe said is a must.
 99%sure it’s just a rebranded sugihara bar. 

I think you might actually be wrong there, its a rebranded Tsumara i think, which a) is potentially better & b) definitely makes me a virgin for knowing it, if true.