I've got both a 20 yr old echo 310 & a 10 yr old MS170. I bought the Stihl because everyone was telling me how Great they are. Both start great, but once a Stihl gets hot don't fight it just retire it for a few hours. The Echo on the other hand it starts every time. All Day long. 2nd. Stihl dulls chains quickly, you best sharpen it every tank of gas. Echo you can get a full day of cutting. I use them to cut firewood so I'm dropping large trees with 20in plus trunks, not just trimming branches around the house. After 10 yrs I'm selling the Stihl. Started cutting on a large trunk it lasted about 20 min before it got hot and started bogging down. Fired up the echo finished slicing that trunk & did 2 more. 30 min later the Stihl still would not start. Echo all the way from here on.

i bought the ECHO CS310 at my local home depot.. my 1st gas chainsaw amazing from day one... no complaints 4 years in still fires up like new and no problems

One huge advantage of the Echo is the purge bulb. It get's fuel thru the carb and makes a cold saw much easier to start. For some reason Stihl doesn't use purge bulbs and if you store your saw dry, restarting can take lots of pulls before you get a pop.

Echo parts are made in Japan! So are Hondas.

27+ years in tree work have used about every saw out there the stihls under 025 just junk imo , small huskys are just rebadged poulans , shindaiwa 360 always a go to climb saw light and powerful , echo great saws run forever any echo i have ever ran just loved it just my 2 cents worth

I have a Echo CS- 310 ES, a Stihl MS 180 ,a Ms 311 i have had for 12 years & love my Stihls & a few Huskys . I appreciate your opinion . But would choose my Echo CS310 over the Stihl MS 180 every day of the week. Cheers 👍

Jim,what type of wood are you bucking down in New Brunswick and what diameter? I like the raised spigot on the echo saw gas cap.I keeps chips and dust out of the tank.

Just bought a stihl ms171 it's great I noticed it has high an low carb adjustment and the chain tension is already on the side an I think its 31cc instead of 30 lol any how I'm ordering thebucking spikes an should be a great saw for me I'm 21 an it's my first good saw

Had an Echo 310 4 years now - it gets absolute hell daily - I have no idea how it sticks the amount of work it is asked to do. Never given me an issue & you get the hang of the air filter - you cheat & lever it forward. Regarding power, for the 14" bar, it has heaps. Loads. Plenty. I would give it a straight 9 out of 10 & dick off the 1 point for the bucking teeth not existing - which I agree, is a flaw. However, it's a 14" saw that does the work of an 18" one.. so I can live with the lack of teeth.

Depends on what you need it for. I purchased a cs310 for clearing of storm damage and tree trimming in my oun yard. I considered the 170 also but chose the cs310 because I wanted the 14-inch bar plus the echo came with a 5 year warranty, and the stihl did not.

Never owned a CS310 but I have a MS 170, 171 180 and 181. Like all four of them. They are light, crank easy, stay running an will cut anything you can wrap the bar around. I updated the tensioner to a side adjust and put steel bucking spikes on it. I do run Echo Power Blend Gold in all my saws with PNE gas at 50:1 and Echo Premium Bar Oil because it is an all season oil and costs less than Stihl bar oil.

I recently purchased the Echo 310 over the MS 170-180 for several reasons. (1) if you need to remove the carb on the stihl you have to remove snap in control lever in front of the carb. This thing is mounted on an incredibly long thing and fragile plastic arm. If you break it your saw is toast. (2) reported hard starting with the Stihl. (3) reported fragility of the " easy" pull start system. I have not even used the Echo yet, but one thing I noticed that I don't like is the weird assed screws that it is put together with. Looks like it will be as big a pain in the ass to work on tool wise as my Harley..... What I loved about Yamaha outboards, a 10mm does everything.

I have both of those chainsaws! They are both my little go to size. When I'm in the woodyard I bring them both!

In addition, 170 needs a good sealing element filter.

I have the little 170, its an older model with the lever on the air filter cover like the bigger stihl saws .. I wore out the 16" bar and chain and replaced them with a 14" .050 and chain...bigger cutting teeth so now the saw cuts faster and more aggressive, I use it mainly for keeping trees trimmed up and downed limbs after a storm...looking at a bigger saw for bigger work Im leaning between stihl and echo, I have a echo trimmer and backpack blower and they run great...never an issue with them either

the ms170 top cover was not on properly . I dislike how the air filter works on the stihl, well most of the time it dont work

Both good lemming saws! Great for cleaning woodland trails.

I quit Stihl chainsaws after I bought a few echo saws 590 490 3510 and 400 and honest I love them all but for a small saw that 3510 is my bitch!! I take that saw everywhere..not the 310..3510. I have never felt such an attachment to a chainsaw before..lol I'm kind of serious though I can't even express how much I love that saw.

I agree with the primer bulbs. Hate them but I have discovered, that echo red armor oil and non ethanol fuel cures that brittle primer bulb issue and the brittle fuel line issues. I also think cheap saws like that aren't really worth the money unless you're only using them for storm clean and occasional trimming. I've ran almost all brands as I repair them on the side. I will say I would rather run a 50cc with a light bar any day over a cheap trim saw. I like the speed, power, and chain options of the 50cc and up saws. I do have a small top handle that is almost 30 years old and it's an echo. Air filtration access sucks but it never fails and always starts. Probably my favorite saw for trimming. I also picked the cs590 and I'd put that against a 361 all day. That one has been the best saw I've ever owned hands down. I still love my old husky 55 too. But most of my stihls I've sold because the parts are so damned overpriced and I was constantly working on them. Just mt experience. No bashing on anyone's favorite brands.

Notice the echo is the one he has been using. Never used the 310 but the 170 won't take heavy work, should have got the 3510.😢😢

The air filter on the stihl is a joke. Everything I own is stihl, so there is no bias.

I had Stihl's and I own Echo's. I'll never own that Stihl crap again.

Greetings Jim! I like your videos, and decided to Subscribe, in hopes it will help you get some better equipment, free up both hands? 🙂 I can understand your frustration on the filter, but I think Stihl dropped the ball on that crappy felt filter. I just purchased a MS180, simply because it is so darned light, and that’s what I wanted. Echo and Husky comparable models are heavier. I bought it from a Dealer I Know and trust, and purchased the oil to get the extended warranty. I figured it works out to about $10.00/ month, if she lasts the two years?! And it was a cheap way to try out and see what Stihl saws are about, as it is my first Stihl. I have my other bigger saws for heavy duty cutting, but after having around 130 trees go down last year, in a bad Ice storm, I needed something to cut out all the small branches, and briars, and do light limbing duties. I have to cut on a slope, and everything is crossed up and tensioned. I’ve only run a few tanks, but I think I will like it. It is a cheaper saw, built to a price point, and that is what people seem to not get? I’ve had easier saws to start, and harder saws to start, than the Stihl. I think a lot of people are either not properly starting them, or are misinformed, whatever? She will usually fire up within total of 5 -6 pulls. It will fire up with one pull, when it’s warm, or has heat soaked for a short while. I am not happy about the lack of adjustments to the carb, and the crappy little filter that just ‘lies’ on top of the air opening to the carb. Time will tell. It was ‘assembled in USA, with foreign and domestic parts, at their VA Beach facility. I spoke with a Tech, that toured the facility, and Stihl makes all the parts there, including the plastics, and such. He could not verify the source of the carbs, and that is where the ‘China’ parts play into it all. It is my understanding a lot of the carbs are sourced from China? The one thing about Stihl is the fact they make their own bars and chains, and that is important. If you get a good dealer, that is another point, and what someone should think about if choosing Stihl. I am a BIG fan of Husqvarna, and most all the saws made by Stihl, Echo, and Husky, are fine. They all will have the occasional lemon. Please wear more PPE when cutting, and stay safe and healthy! 👍👍👍✌😊

I do like echo for some things, but when it comes to saws, you can’t beat a Stihl. Also, Stihl makes their own bar and chain, which I’m pretty sure can’t be said about other brands, including Echo. I believe Oregon makes their bar and chain.

It's a micro chain. I love my little ms 170. It's my workhorse. The chain tensioner isn't a big deal. My ms 462 has one on the side. It really makes no difference. I got mine for $170.

I read the text on the label in the front of your Stihl. It says "MADE BY STIHL IN CHINA". Just saying...

👍😃✌️🇺🇸

There is a adjustment for the chaintension. I have that on my 170, very cheap, but very usefull.

Scored my echo cs310 for $50 bucks

I had a 170 for years. There a great saw but there a shil so don't count on it starting when you need it. I'll take a saw with a purge bulb any day. Also if what your referring to as a micro saw is a 043 gauge the sprocket will go on it one of these days. And the echo is made from mainly Japanese parts.

Echo sempre al top

you can buy conversion piece for chain tensioner (ms170) they are cheap. run a fleet of 170& 171 hard, daily great little saws, looking to try out echo see if it can keep up.

My 310 hasn't given me any trouble ever! The air filter design is terrible, but manageable!..from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 👋🤠

my 170 starts when it wants. When i get my bulldoozer running i'll make a video of me smashing it. You ain't even wore the paint off the bar. Kinda a milque toast test. I believe if you used the 170 for a while you wouldn't give it a 9 out of 10 rating. Thank for the video and sorry for taking my dislike of this saw out on your video.

Anything go wrong with an MS170 is user error. Mine has had the ring caned out of it (literally) for 10 years on Australian hardwoods (Which is all we have.) 3 bars and dozens of .050 chains, but it still starts first pull, And theyre only $250 brand new.

Your only negative was a primer bulb? Lol, Keep that Chinese saw

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

This was quite the biased review

Pretty much biased towards stihl so the comparison was kinda useless

Stihl fanboy I see. It is your opinion only

Front adjustment chain tension makes Stihl a distant second place.

I have a addiction to stihl products now I first got a ms170 then bought an ms311 then got an sr200 looking to get that 200t and a pole saw next🫡