BobbyDee

Need input/comment/criticisms etc. on this splitter please. Intended use is domestic not professional. I can currently still, for now, manually chop/split OK with my Fiskars X27 however I could do with help with the awkward pieces. Log size around a max of 300-350 mm length. This unit looks like it should do the job and last awhile, it's not the cheapest (they seem to start at £200 for a very basic and probably useless unit) at around £469 but I'm unfamiliar with electric splitters and I'm getting older (67) by the minute and the aches last a while.

Lawn is on a slope and I am 65 years old....that's why I want one, also I just fancy driving one around in my skivvies singing 'Delilah' at some volume. Lawnflite is one that pops up now and again, any good?

Fair enough. Would be needed for a medium sized lawn of around a half acre or so. Size of cut I guess would be around 28" ish. I've been looking at 2nd hand but so far they seem expensive to me for the condition in general so new, up to £2k is probably the way for me. I did consider the Husky TS 138 but the only reviews I could find were not good at all. There are a couple of Mountfield and also Westwood makes in the pot but I have absolutely no experience of either.

Probably not quite the right place but I'm looking for reviews etc on ride on mowers. Are there any discussions on this subject within Arbtalk? If not do any members here have any suggestions/recommendations?

Thanks for this comment. I haven't been able to put my helmet on without laughing since you mentioned it. I may well buy one of these just for the crack!

What was the problem with the Echo 2510?

Thanks for the input. Have tweaked the L screw as suggested and it seems to have done the trick.

Hitachi(Tanaka) CS45EL with Walbro WT-497A carb.

Have now got my shiny new Echo CS501SX and have had a chance to put it through it's paces. The balance is just super (with the 16" bar) and it cuts like a goodun but I shall keep my CS620SX as the difference in grunt (and weight) is quite pronounced and will still be needed for the big stuff.

Had my Great Wall Steed for over 2 years now. I like it. Yes it's not that fast, but I don't need fast. It's not apparently cool, I don't need cool. Drives well with a full load on, in fact it's better than when unloaded. I get 30-35mpg, how many of the competition get near that? My biggest gripe is with the wipers, they either squeak or creak, not exactly a deal-killer. The Kumho tyres it came with were crap so I've replaced them with Coopers which are great. Give Great Wall a chance and save a bundle up front.

My saw starts then dies as soon as I touch the throttle. It'll do this until I can rev the bejabers out of it for a second or 2 and then it behaves itself mostly, but I don't particularly like to rev it high when it's cold so is this a too lean mixture problem which I can sort myself?

Very useful little saw. I have had one for around a year now, it's not easy to sharpen properly and chain oiling pump seems to struggle a bit but overall I like it and use it more than any of my 5 saws. I like the sound of the Echo 2510 though which was not available then.

Have now ordered the Echo CS501sx from Radmore & Tucker @ £470. I'll post my impressions soon.

So are they any good?

Thanks to everyone for the contributions. Food for thought however I am leaning towards the Echo CS 501 with a weight reduction of 1.5 kilos which is significant coupled with a reduction in power of 0.75 kW which theoretically is still enough grunt for my needs. Radmore and Tucker which is local to me doesn't list it for some reason, Forest and Arb does.

I've today reached the age of 65 and can draw my state pension (hooray) but I'm finding my 18" Echo 620SX a tad heavy now (boo). I used it on Monday this week to slice and dice a big fallen ash and it took me until Wednesday to lose my aching shoulders as I normally use my Hitachi CS45EL which is also 18" but only 4-point something kilos against 6+ of the Echo but there's no way it could have coped with this particular size of tree. The Echo is a super saw in my opinion, seems to cut through anything I throw at it, starts without problem etc but it is just becoming a bit heavy for me now. Any recommendations please on what I could possibly replace it with? I would still like as much grunt as poss but not necessarily quite as much as the 620SX and definitely a bit less weight, within reason. I would prefer another Echo but don't really know much about the smaller ones, however I'm open to suggestions regarding other makes.

Firstly, thanks to those who have responded positively to what I consider to be a fair and straightforward inquiry. To you Richard, in answer to your stupid and argumentative question, I had a fall from a tree 6 years ago when I was at the age of 58. I fractured both L3 and L4 lumbar vertebrae. Recovery was slow and prolonged and resulted in restricted mobility and weakened back muscles. I do have the time to undo laces thanks, what I don't have is the flexibility particularly when I'm at the end of the day, hence my thread. I can and will go to my local supplier of forestry equipment but thought I'd post here and get positive input before doing so.

Groundwork only, too old for climbing...

Just noticed my current boots have worn to the point where replacements are needed. They are the high lace-up steel toecap variety and to be honest they have been fine except that they take so long to put on and worse, as I'm usually fair knackered, to take off at the end of the day. Yukon II have caught my eye as they seem well-priced in comparison to the more 'normal' type of superdooper chainsaw boot and look as though they can be put on and taken off quicker. Can anyone advise me as to whether this type of boot, which looks more like a reinforced wellington, is worthy of consideration? Are there any negatives? Is there any ankle support?

Yes both sprockets greased regularly and yes they are jammed with chains removed. After lubing and cleaning they run free as a bird until the saws are used again and they last for less than a tank of fuel before jamming. Time to bite the bullet and replace both bars then?

I have 2 Hitachi chainsaws in my collection, CS40EK and CS45EL both around 4 years old. They have served me well and have been looked after, however both have started to jam on me (engine still runs but chain does not move) during use. After much swearing and faffing I find that the bar nose sprockets on both seem to be locking up, that is unmovable until bashed with the end of a screwdriver, cleared of debris and then lubed which frees them up, but only temporarily. Scuse my ignorance but can I assume that both bars have now reached their best before dates and need replacing? I have been known to occasionally 'pinch' the bars during use and I'm wondering if that hasn't helped. I can of course replace both bars but it is not cheap to do so and would appreciate any input from more experienced users before I do so. Thanks in advance for any suggestions/tips..

Now done. Took me around 4 hours in all. Hardest bit was deciding which bolts to leave alone. Some reluctance to start when reassembled which is hardly surprising - a quick squirt of ether based stuff did the trick. Feeling quite pleased with myself.