Small Echo's

[Big T]

To be honest it's prob running ok now, it's unfair on the saw to compare it to an ms260!

[si0797]

i have been using a top handled one for years and never had a problem with it,been a great saw and used everyday!still in use now and only cost me £100

[Coletti]

I have a cs280 wes and overall I'm pleased with it! It does cut very slow compared to my ms260 but to be fair it's a different league of saw. Put a smaller bar on mine, think it's a 10" or 12" from chains direct. Makes it cut a little faster. Still have an issue of it not wanting to "rev out" though, despite being tuned by an echo dealer, it always feels like it needs to clear it's throat! Overall a nice light saw and ideal for the smaller stuff, I climb with mine and it's fine if you consider it to be a powered silky!

 

I have the top handle version of this and have put a quarter pitch sprocket on it and modded a stihl ms150 to fit it...It flies to say the least, seriously impressive for the size of saw

[Big T]

I have the top handle version of this and have put a quarter pitch sprocket on it and modded a stihl ms150 to fit it...It flies to say the least, seriously impressive for the size of saw

 

Sounds interesting mate! Where did you get the sprocket and what size bar?

[Coletti]

10"bar atm but considering a 12" next time and got the sprocket from forest and arb

[Coletti]

I'll try and explain the bar mod. I lined up the front of the mount groves on both bars then drilled through the echo bar into the stihl bar wit a drill bit the size of the tentioner/oiler holes on the echo bar. Next you'll need to set the stihl bar in a vice and using a slit disc on a grinder you'll need to carefully grind between the rails and above the holes you have just drilled until you meet and open up a small hole between the rails and holes you have just drilled. Hope this makes sense

[Big T]

I'll try and explain the bar mod. I lined up the front of the mount groves on both bars then drilled through the echo bar into the stihl bar wit a drill bit the size of the tentioner/oiler holes on the echo bar. Next you'll need to set the stihl bar in a vice and using a slit disc on a grinder you'll need to carefully grind between the rails and above the holes you have just drilled until you meet and open up a small hole between the rails and holes you have just drilled. Hope this makes sense

 

Yeah makes sence mate! Does it run faster or slower with the sprocket mod?

[Coletti]

Not sure about chain speed but due to less power draw from the smaller chain, the chain holds a higher speed making for a much faster cut

[Big T]

Fair one mate, makes sence! Will have a look at modding mine sometime as it has potential to be a really usefull little saw!

[billpierce]

I'll try and explain the bar mod. I lined up the front of the mount groves on both bars then drilled through the echo bar into the stihl bar wit a drill bit the size of the tentioner/oiler holes on the echo bar. Next you'll need to set the stihl bar in a vice and using a slit disc on a grinder you'll need to carefully grind between the rails and above the holes you have just drilled until you meet and open up a small hole between the rails and holes you have just drilled. Hope this makes sense

 

have done the same with a makita 230t and stihl 1.1 1/4 12'' stihl mini E bar. excellent and worth doing, and same bar mod, though i think with 2 extra drive links it wouldn;t have needed extra tensioner holes, but would still need the a hole cutting through from the centre of the rails to the tensioner hole for oil.

 

there was a thread about doing this with ms200's a while ago also.