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Opinions needed! Echo VS Husqvarna….

Quickstep | Posted in General Discussion on June 11, 2004 03:19am

I’m looking to buy a long reach hedge trimmer. Sort of a weedwhacker on steroids. I’m looking at a Husqvarna and an Echo. Anybody got an opinion on Echo VS Husqvarna?

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  1. User avater
    bobl | Jun 11, 2004 04:00pm | #1

    have u comsidered Sthil?

    bought one last year and am happy.

    bobl          Volo, non valeo

  2. shedhappens | Jun 11, 2004 04:02pm | #2

    I bought 2 overgrown acres a couple years ago.  I burned out an echo chainsaw in about five days.  I replaced it with a Stihl and it's been kicking butt ever since. 

    I was so satisfied with it that I also bought Stihl weed wacker and gas blower.

    they are serious tools.  don't waste your time or money on that plastic crap.

  3. OneofmanyBobs | Jun 11, 2004 04:14pm | #3

    Echo is not good.  I have a Husqvarna that ran two seasons and died.  Was hard to start from day one.  Stihl is good.  I have one of their chainsaws.  Starts first time, every time.  No swearing and throwing it across the yard like my old Poulan.

  4. MGMaxwell | Jun 11, 2004 04:37pm | #4

    Stihl. I've got their chainsaw and gas powered trimmer. Both have lasted years with long periods of inactivity between uses. Probably the toughest thing an engine can be asked to do. No problems.

  5. JRuss | Jun 11, 2004 04:58pm | #5

    Sthil is a very good product and about as important, you can get service & parts. I have an 046 that has run me in the ground repeatedly for 3 years with no sign of giving up. Great product.

    Never serious, but always right.
    1. mitch | Jun 11, 2004 06:27pm | #6

      i have extremely limited direct experience but have a few friends with a lot:  the general consensus is that there are stihls, huskies, and "CSO's" (chainsaw-shaped objects).

      m

  6. Quickstep | Jun 12, 2004 05:02am | #7

    Thanks everybody. This was just the info I needed....

    1. caseyr | Jun 12, 2004 06:38am | #8

      I have an Echo hedge trimmer, and I think its great.  I also have an Echo pruning saw, two string trimmers, and a pole saw.  I think they are all great.  All of them except the pole saw were purchased used, but they have not given me any problems and will start on a couple of pulls after sitting all winter full of gasoline. 

      I also have a medium sized Stihl chain saw that I purchased new.  It wouldn't start after I refilled it the first time.  I took it in for to a repair shop and they guy said that I had to use Stihl oil, so he emptied the tank and refilled it and off it went.  Actually, it appears that it is very particular in the gas that is put in it, rather than the oil.  I do now use the Stihl oil, but I find it would not run if I used the California gas that had the additive in it to reduce smog.  If I only put 76 gasoline in it along with Stihl oil, it runs fine - it is harder to start than any of Echos, however.   My Echos don't seem to care much what kind of gas I run through them, including all the stuff that the Stihl won't run on as well as stuff I had sitting in the corner for over a year... 

      1. rwj47 | Jun 12, 2004 07:37am | #9

        I inheirited my dad's Stihl 031 AV chainsaw that I used to spend Sunday afternoons in the winter cutting stove wood with back in the mid to late 70's.  That saw cut a lot of hedge wood back in those days and it always started and ran fine.  Now almost 30 years later it still starts and runs fine,  only now it seems to have gained weight because I don't remember it being so heavy!  I bought a Stihl MS 170  (8.6 lbs.) to prune and limb the light work with, but for the larger cuts the 031 still gets it done!  I run Shindaiwa string trimmers on my 10 acres and so far I am pleased with them.  I have had more than one small engine person tell me not to run the gas/oil ratio at 50 to 1 like the owners manual says.  So for the Stihl saws I use PREMIUM 91 Octane unleaded and 4 oz. of their best Premium oil for a mix of 32 to 1.  For the Shindaiwa's I use the same gas and 4 oz. of Amsoil Saber synthetic oil per gal of gas.  I think alot of the high fuel to oil ratios are being driven by the manufacturers trying to get the exhaust emisions down so that they will pass the new regulations.  Amsoil claims that you can mix at 100 to 1 with their oil,  however I will never try it,  quality small engines are too expensive for that.  I have some Echo engines and have had good luck with them,  however I always use them with the 32 to 1 mix.  I have heard a lot of good about the Huskies but have no first hand experiance with them.  Good luck!

  7. DavidThomas | Jun 12, 2004 08:12am | #10

    Whatever the brand, where are the parts and service, how close?

    A real shop, not Home Depot.

    Let that be the deciding factor.

    David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska

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