Echo CS-490 Review (Professional Grade Chainsaw) 2023

The Echo Cs-490 Professional-grade Chainsaw is One of Echo’s Finest Saws at This Time. It is a Mid-range Chainsaw That is Ergonomically Designed for Your Comfort

What We Like

Magnesium crankcase
G-force engine
50.2 cc professional-grade 2-cycle engine
Dual post chain
Ergonomic design
Easy starter and air filter
Bar length of 16, 18 and 20 inches
Rim Sprocket

What We Don’t Like

Expensive
Petrol-powered

Bottom Line

Our Echo CS-490 review extensively covers all you need to know about the Echo CS-490 chain saw. The product, which comes with about 5 years consumer warranty, 2 years warranty for those who buy the saw for commercial purposes and 90-day warranty for retailers.

These warranty plans are impressive for a hardware manufacturing company. It proves that they know exactly what they are selling. All the features of the Echo CS-490 saw are commendable except that it is petrol-powered and costs a lot more than others with the same features.

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Echo CS-490 Chainsaw Review Introduction

Thanks to the advancement of technology over the years, woodwork and other forms of construction have evolved significantly. Power tools make things easier and faster in the workplace.

However, most of these power tools have to be used with extreme caution as the risk of operational hazard is usually high. The chainsaw has remained in the market despite the increasing competition because using it comes with less risk than many other power tools.

This Echo CS-490 article is about one of the latest chainsaws in the market. The Echo CS-490 chain saw is indeed a professional chainsaw with many useful features. What we intend to help you find out is if the product is worth your money.

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Features of the Echo CS-490 Professional Grade Chainsaw

Mid-range Weight

The Echo cs 490 weighs about 18.7 pounds which is relatively lighter than many other saws in the market. Most of the weight comes from the powerhead, chain brake, and bar which cumulatively weigh about 10.6 pounds.

If this was a circular saw 18.7 pounds would have been considered heavy. For a chainsaw, however, it falls under the midrange size category. The average chain saw weighs between 10 to 15 pounds.

Some heavy chain saws weigh between 20 to 30 pounds. The heavier saws usually have bigger bar and chain and more power but they are primarily used by professionals.

For those who don’t have prior experience with using chainsaws, light to midweight saw like the Echo CS-490 will be just fine. There is hardly any type of cutting that you’ll be unable to make with the CS-490, especially when you don’t want to use it commercially.

Chain Tension Adjustments

The Echo CS-490 professional-grade chainsaw has a completely modern design. Like many other modern chain saws, the lever for adjusting chain tension is located at the side of the chain in an obvious position.

This makes it easy to use and you can make the necessary adjustments quickly and easily. This makes it much better than saws that have levers for chain adjustment located at the front of the machine and even those near the left side of the 20 bar.

Apart from the chain tension adjustment option, the choke control and on/off switches are also collected in strategy parts of the chainsaw. All these features make using the saw easy.

Related article: Poulan Pro 18-Inch Chainsaw

Ergonomic Design and Magnesium Crankcase

These days, if a power tool isn’t ergonomically designed, it’s going to be difficult to sell it to clients who love comfort. This is why manufacturers now do everything they can to ensure that all their power tools are built with the comfort of the user in view.

The Echo CS-490 is one chain saw that ensures your comfort whether you’re felling a tree, cutting wood for furniture or building a fence in your garden. Even after extended use, your fingers aren’t going to be strained or put under unnecessary pressure.

The handle is designed in such a way that the chances of your hand touching the blade during use is close to impossible. The Magnesium Crankcase secures the device and increases its productivity. Also, if the chain saw wasn’t made of magnesium, it would have weighed more than 18 pounds.

Fuel Capacity

The Echo CS-490 chain saw is powered with petrol and the fuel efficiency is commendable. The fuel tank is about 16.9 ounces and the chain saw is energy efficient. The more stress it handles, the more fuel it requires.

However, the Echo CS-490 does a pretty decent job with what it gets. Keep in mind that the device will function more effectively with pre-mixed fuel since it is a 2 cycle gas-powered equipment. Using pre-mixed fuel is going to offer several performance benefits to the machine.

Using the same fuel you use for your car on this chain saw isn’t a good idea, especially when you don’t empty the engine after each use. Clear fuel can damage the internal parts of the Echo CS-490 chainsaw if it is left in the tank for long.

However, you’re not going to have this problem when you’re using pre-mixed fuel. Also, because it burns cleaner than clear fuel, it is more friendly to the environment.

Extra Features and Tools

Many other extra features come with the Echo CS-490 and they include a rim sprocket, air filter, extra chain, bar wrench, spark plug, etc. One of the key benefits of the rim sprocket is that it can be replaced easily without replacing the entire clutch drum if there is damage.

The same cannot be said for saws that have the spur style option. You will save a lot of money on this. The spark plug and filter can be accessed easily from a black knob at the side. The saw comes with a tool carrier for storing it and all your extra tools.

Echo CS-490 Review The Final Verdict

Our Echo CS 490 review has highlighted many great features of this fuel-powered chain saw. However, we still would have preferred if the saw was powered by electricity instead of fuel.

Electricity powered chain saws are relatively safer than petrol-powered saws. The price of the Echo cs 490 Professional-Grade Chainsaw is also on the high side costing around $300 to $400 per saw.