You might not be familiar with the Echo brand. It isn’t a household name and doesn’t spark the high expectations you might have come to expect from larger brand names.
I wasn’t all that familiar with it either, but upon use and inspection during my Echo chainsaw reviews, I can say that this manufacturer does contend with some of the more well-known ones.
The Echo CS 590 Timber Wolf will likely make you rethink your top choice when it comes to quality and design. This model is professional-grade with several unique, high-quality features.
The design was clearly created by actual chainsaw users. The features are simple and easy to use, and there are no fancy, unnecessary specifications. Instead, you get a useful, heavy-duty tool that will last a long time.
While there is a full line of chainsaws available from Echo, this model stands out for a few reasons. The features are a bit higher-level, and they can be used for a variety of tasks around the yard and house, including the most demanding chores.
Contents
Echo CS 590 Timber Wolf Chainsaw Features
The Echo CS 590 doesn’t have any frivolous or unnecessary features. Instead, everything that is built into it is useful, with practical applications, such as safety and ease of use.
The most noteworthy features are listed here:
- Air shutter
- Dual-post chain brake
- 59.8 cc 2-stroke professional-grade engine
- Bars and chains can range from 16″ to 27″
- Decompression device
- Digital ignition
- Anti-vibration system
- Adjustable oiler
- Two-piece mesh filter
- Tool-less access to the air filter
- Bar tip safety guard
- Spark arrestor muffler
- See-through fuel tank
- Five-year consumer warranty
- One-year commercial warranty
- Weight: 13.2 pounds without cutting equipment or fuel
- Fuel tank capacity: 21.8 fl. oz.
- Chain oil capacity: 10.1 fl. oz.
- CARB compliant
Many of these features help to enhance safety. For example, the bar tip safety guard helps to prevent kickback, and the spark arrestor muffler makes it so that hot sparks don’t leave the muffler.
While the safety features are obviously of the highest level of importance, there are also several specifications that make this chainsaw convenient to use. This just makes life easier.
For example, the see-through fuel tank is just a nice feature that makes it convenient to check the fuel level.
Of course, that isn’t a necessity, but it does make fuel checks easier. Another example is the tool-less access to the air filter, which makes maintenance less complicated and quicker to perform.
Performance
The Echo CS 590 offers a good amount of power with a 59.8cc professional-grade engine. Its top speed is 13,000 RPM, which is quite powerful, even for larger jobs.
The two-stroke engine requires a fuel that is a mix of gas and oil, and it’s recommended to use a ratio of 50:1, using at least 89-octane unleaded gas and two-stroke oil.
The chain is also professional-grade and is 20 inches with a 3/8-inch pitch and 0.050-inch gauge. It has a corrosion-resistant coating as well as square corner chisel cutters. This chain tends to come out on top in chainsaw reviews.
This chainsaw weighs a comfortable 13.2 pounds. It’s not so light that your arms are doing all the work, but it’s not so heavy that you’ll get fatigued easily.
However, it really isn’t suited for jobs that will take a very long time to finish, as the weight is just enough to wear on you over time.
Design
In our Echo CS 590 Timber Wolf review, we quickly realized this chainsaw was designed with convenience and ease of use in mind. The features are simple enough to be useful, without introducing unnecessary, frivolous or impractical specifications.
For example, the fuel and oil caps are attached with plastic. So, there is no nylon rope to contend with when you are looking for the caps. That rope, which is found on several other chainsaws, never seems to stand up over time. The plastic is far more durable.
Another convenient feature in terms of design is the access to the filter, which is simple and straightforward. There is just one nut on the back of the product, below which is the filter. You can’t lose the nut since it’s affixed and you don’t have to go through multiple steps to get to the filter.
Finally, the transparent fuel tank is a great feature for ease of use. You don’t have to go into the tank to see how much fuel you have left.
Instead, just take a peek and you’ll know when you need to top it off. This seems like such a simple design characteristic, but it is very helpful when you’re in the middle of a job.
Safety
Safety is always of the utmost importance when handling a chainsaw. Without some standard features to keep users safe, chainsaws can be dangerous to operate. Thankfully, there are several built-in safety features provided with this model. Many of these are not necessarily unique, but instead are pretty much the standard now when it comes to chainsaws.
The dual-post chain break is perhaps the most noteworthy safety feature. It stops the chain in the case of kickback through inertia from the movement of the saw blade or flipping the front hand guard-forward.
There is also a removable safety tip for the bar. This serves as a kind of shield for the place that is most likely to cause kickback. Other key safety features include vibration damping, which helps to lessen the vibrations you typically feel when holding chainsaw handles, and the chain catcher, which protects against a broken chain.
Maintenance
The Echo CS 590 doesn’t require any unusual maintenance. Instead, you should follow what you would typically expect a maintenance schedule to look like, and you can of course double-check the manual if you are not sure.
You will want to keep the product clean and make sure to avoid a buildup of sawdust. Particular areas of interest when it comes to buildup are the chain oiler and the air filter, so it makes sense to check those frequently.
Another area to check is the chain, which you want to make sure keeps the right sharpness and tension. Without those performance markers, the chainsaw isn’t particularly useful.
What We Like:
- Easy and quick maintenance
- Powerful enough for tough jobs
- Very easy to get started
- Safety features for added protection such as the safety tip and chain break
- Reliable vibration damping system
- Five-year warranty
- Solid customer service
What We Didn’t Like:
- Problems getting the chainsaw to start
- Scabbard is not of the highest quality
Frequently Asked Questions
How Easy Is This to Start?
There is no primer bulb with this chainsaw, which is fairly unusual with a top-end model. Instead, this start is incredibly reliable, given the digital ignition. Usually, you can get this chainsaw started with just two to three pulls, even with a cold tool.
What Warranty Is Available?
There are great warranties that come standard with Echo products. If you purchase this model of chainsaw for regular residential use, your warranty lasts five years when you use the product for regular residential purposes. If you are using it for commercial business purposes, or to produce an income, the warranty is one year.
What Is the G-Force Cleaning System?
One of the reasons this product requires such little cleaning and maintenance is the G-Force cleaning system. It removes the larger-sized dirt from the airbox before it ever makes it to the air filter. This system means that you don’t have to change the air filter nearly as often as you would with other chainsaws.
Conclusion
This is a great chainsaw, and it would be a solid choice for any homeowner who wants ease and convenience when performing heavy-duty yard chores.
Keep in mind that this is a durable, strong chainsaw and is not necessarily for someone just looking for a chainsaw for easy jobs. This is a working machine, with the ability to complete larger jobs.
The convenience factor cannot be overlooked.
The chainsaw requires minimal maintenance, and it is simple enough to use that even beginners can use it with very little guidance. Finally, the durability puts it at the top of my list. It is rugged and can stand up to even the hardest jobs.
I have performed over 20 chainsaw reviews and still feel confident in recommending this product. If you are looking for an easy-to-use and low-maintenance chainsaw to help you get some larger jobs completed around the house, this might be the product for you.
