Spent the day helping my new neighbor clean up around his house. Lots of tractor bucket work and a good bit of chainsaw use - the Stihl MS250 and my evil Echo pole saw. As expected, the pole saw was more trouble than a teenage daughter, but we kept it running off and on and did finally get the work done. I want a new pole saw for Christmas. It’s time. The question is...what to buy. Research suggests that the new Stihl gear has gearing durability problems. Research suggests that the Echo PPT-2620 would be a good choice.

I don’t want a Stihl/Echo fight. I would like to hear user opinions from gas pole saw owners (not battery). And I want an extendable unit.

Another thing I did today was to unscrew the chain issues on the neighbor’s Poulan and sharpen the chain. Took a while to get it right. I am reminded why I don’t ever want another Poulan chainsaw.

I’ve had good luck with my Stihl. Had it a few years, it has paid for its self.

I have a big Stihl gas powered pole saw that extends out to 16' I believe. I've had it for some time and it has been used a LOT! Have never had any trouble out of it, starts easy and runs like a champ. It does get kind of heavy after a while though. I don't have any experience with Echo saws.

Have had a Stihl gas trimmer, with multiple attachments for about 4 years. It's been a boss and I've been very pleased with it. My parents have Echo. I've helped them with their yard and have been impressed with it too. The one thing I liked about the Echo is it lighter than my Sithl. If I was going to be using it for multiple hours I would prefer the weight of the Echo. I don't think you can go wrong either way. But I like that we have two Stihl dealers here with service just incase I do have an issue. We don't have an Echo service center

I borrowed a friend's pole saw one time, Stihl, I can't remember the exact model, weight was manageable, and ran very well.

Now brushing sawdust out of my hair. Beat me to it. I got tired of trimming the ligustrum shrub, which became a became a tree near my house. Was planning to start a thread asking how much is too much. I picked up a pole saw attachment to my current Ryodi, string trimmer which has served me well for a couple of years. Home Depot has poll saw attachments to several cordless string trimmers for around $100. Comes with a free bottle of bar and chain oil.




I didn't study about any service locations. I can buy any attachment for a few dollars when the two year warranty expires.

just got a ryobi battery pole saw, so far it is awesome for the small stuff when putting in stands.

quiet is why I got the battery version, got the stihl chainsaw for heavy stuff I can reach.

for about 125.00 total I have no complaints

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...mwOlEAQYASABEgIBGvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have the precursor to that model, an ECHO PAS-266. I've had the Power Pruner attachment for over 15 years without any problems and I used to do a lot of tree work with it, and still do some. I don't think you can go wrong with either the Echo or the Stihl, but if you have reservations about the Stihl's gearing I think you've made your choice.

Bill, how old is that thing? Its definitely tall as heck

They all have the ex-pand-it feature as did my Kobalt 40 volt which I gave my neighbor.

I mean your bushy tree

I see what you did there.

I have the Ryobi also....have cut down dozens of 6-8" trees and limbs with it. Going on 3 years or so and works like a champ. Just have to have a few batteries if you are doing a lot of trimming.

I have two batteries.

Looks like a choice between Stihl HT131 and the Echo PPT 2620. About the same weight and max extension. The Stihl is more expensive. Both get good user reviews. Neither is anywhere near cheap.

Do you currently have any heads for a string trimmer?

Go pick up both them and see how they handle for you. I used both a Stihl and Echo on a ranch from 2008-2010 to trim limbs. The Stihl was quite a bit heavier and unbalanced when I used it..the Echo was much more user friendly. The Stihl always seemed to where your back and arms out at the end of an 8 hour day due to not being balanced for me. Both were cutting machines and pricey.

I’ll handle them both before I plunk down money. I’d say I’m a Stihl guy, but blind loyalty won’t be the deciding factor. I’m leaning slightly toward the Echo.

Bill, why ask if I’ve got extra heads for a string trimmer? This will be an extendable chain saw not an extendable weed eater.

or call the man! lol, or pedro, jesus, juan! the list goes on

I didn't fully understand. I've only seen the ones that extended from the trimmer head. It seems to me that it would be a lot of weight at the saw end the other way around.

Yup, it’s a lot of weight. They are heavy and not that well balanced. About 17#. The one I have now, the troublesome one, is about 13#. And the one I have has an 8’ reach, and I need more reach.

You are looking at the best of the best. Personal preference at this point Sir and unfortunately it will cost you a few.

I do that when I have more than I can handle. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment to get a little sawdust in my hair at times.

I have my trees so high that a pole saw can't cut them, they have to harness up and climb the trees to get them looking like the plains of the Serengeti