Anyone have experience with Echo chainsaws? I emailed the place that sold it to me but maybe I'm just missing something. I had trouble starting it last time I used it, only the second use. Today it won't start. I emptied the gas and replaced it and notice when it is on it's side as I fill it that a puddle of fuel leaks out somewhere near the front. Seemed when it wouldn't start and I took out the plug it was flooded. Maybe something not right?

Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

If its still a new saw, return it rather than trouble shoot it. You likely have a bad fuel line or a carb issue with it.

Sounds like the float is stuck or needle valve is wide open in the carb

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Originally posted by hairy2dawg:
Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

I have a Stihl Farmboss that doesn’t es the same thing. I took it in for service and they said there isn’t anything wrong with it. I guess it could be because of the oil on the bar when it’s running but what do I know.

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Originally posted by hairy2dawg:
Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

Every chainsaw I ever owned did this. I thought all chainsaws did.

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Originally posted by arfmel:

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Originally posted by hairy2dawg:
Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

Every chainsaw I ever owned did this. I thought all chainsaws did.

LOL My last Echo (only other chainsaw) always started on 2 pulls at most. That's why I chose Echo again. I'll check a few things but it's likely just going back for service. Not sure on warranty. I bought it before our house was built back in February (I knew I'd not have the money after we moved in).

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Originally posted by arfmel:

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Originally posted by hairy2dawg:
Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

Every chainsaw I ever owned did this. I thought all chainsaws did.

The Stihl chainsaws on our fire trucks don't leak like this one does. Neither does my Husky. We're not talking about a light film, this thing has leaked out half of the tank.

My Echo leaks a little bar oil, but, yeah, every chainsaw I’ve ever used did.

It does have a particular start process. Not following that gets you nowhere.

I don’t think I’ve observed the gas leak.

I finally got fed up with all the little nuances of gas chain saw care & feeding. Still heat with firewood, so a good tool is required.

Traded my last FarmBoss 290 in on a cordless battery powered model. Couple of small clean up jobs about the estate & a nearly 3/4 cord stack & it's time for a recharge. That's fine, because so am I.

I like the quiet, the clean, the actual WORK/CUTTING time doesn't require more lengthy incantations and heated Words of Power.

You may just have a split in your fuel line after it leaves the reservoir. I run an Echo 600P and haven't had any problems but my kid's brand new Stihl 170 has the newer screw on fuel cap and it leaks out of the vent.

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Traded my last FarmBoss 290 in on a cordless battery powered model. u

Battery powered may be the future... but I had good luck with the MS290. Even better with the MS 362.

Most chainsaws these days have two gas lines coming into the carb. You want to start with these in tracking down a leak. They crack pretty easily. Also check the primer bulb. The carb would be next. Lots of good videos on youtube.

Sounds like it's a new saw, I would return it to that dealer before digging in much deeper.

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Originally posted by chellim1:

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Traded my last FarmBoss 290 in on a cordless battery powered model. u

Battery powered may be the future... but I had good luck with the MS290. Even better with the MS 362.

Really hard to go wrong with Stihl. Never needed any incantations to start any of them. Huskies are great once you get them running, but I believe there is an incantation there and I am not fluent in it. We’ve got a couple of the echo pole pruners (17’ extendable models) and they are nice and start easily, but are maybe not as tough as would be ideal for typical labor. Great if a guy only runs it himself, but not “employee proof”. I suspect this is no different with any pole saw as being light is important and there is a lot going on in that little package...

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Originally posted by frayedends:

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Originally posted by arfmel:

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Originally posted by hairy2dawg:
Not fuel, but I bought one about a month ago and used it once. The other day I picked it up in the garage, and there was bar oil all underneath it. I plan to take it back next week. I expect better from Echo.

Every chainsaw I ever owned did this. I thought all chainsaws did.

LOL My last Echo (only other chainsaw) always started on 2 pulls at most. That's why I chose Echo again. I'll check a few things but it's likely just going back for service. Not sure on warranty. I bought it before our house was built back in February (I knew I'd not have the money after we moved in).

My Echo was purchased by my Dad is in the mid 80’s never more than two pulls to start. I think I’ve replaced the plug twice and not because it was not running well. Most reliable saw I’ve ever owned.

I think they make consumer grade and some pro grade models.
If you have a use for a chainsaw a couple of times a year or more, just buy a Stihl or Husqvarna and be done with it.
They will have parts available for decades and most likely be the last one you need to buy.
Life's too short to mess around with the others.

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Originally posted by Rightwire:
Sounds like the float is stuck or needle valve is wide open in the carb

Chainsaws have diaphragm type carbs .

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Originally posted by Bassamatic:
Most chainsaws these days have two gas lines coming into the carb. You want to start with these in tracking down a leak. They crack pretty easily.

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Originally posted by bustabuddy:
You may just have a split in your fuel line after it leaves the reservoir.

Yep. I had that on my couple-year-old leafblower last year. A few minutes installing some replacement fuel line, and I was back in business.

I've been around chainsaws my whole life. As a kid, we burned 10-12 cord of wood per year, all cut from our family's land. My Dad's Stihl 041AV (AV: anti-vibrabration my ass!) was a workhorse. Vibrated so bad that you couldn't put it down. Literally, your hand was stuck and you had to have your fingers pried off.

I now have a Stihl 029, Husqvarna 257, and a little Stihl MS170 pruner. The 257 is a Swedish-made saw, and screams quality all over. Never owned an Echo saw, but my brother is a fan. They seem like a prosumer saw, in the same field as the Stihl 029. Parts are a little harder to come by than the Stihl or Husky.

After all my experience with saws, I'm increasing leaning towards the belief that my needs would be better served with the new Milwaukee cordless. I am already heavily invested in their tools, have many batteries, and would have two 12ah and one 9ah batteries, plus a mess of 3,4,5ah batteries. I'm thinking I could cut every tree I own without ever needing to recharge.

I used to be opposed to cordless anything. Back when the Makita 9v drill ruled the world, I wouldn't give a cordless a second look. I'm afraid I've made the switch where I'm completely taken by cordless everything. Yesterday my son was trying to start my Echo string trimmer, and I said "Crap, I should just get a cordless one."

I've switched to the dark side. There is no longer any conflict within.

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Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
I used to be opposed to cordless anything. Back when the Makita 9v drill ruled the world, I wouldn't give a cordless a second look.

~25 years ago, all the cool dads on the block had one of those seafoam green Makita 9v drills, with the huge stick battery that you loaded into the bottom of the grip like a handgun magazine.