No knowledge of Echo pole pruners, but they have been cutting corners...which is why I am buying only Stihl products from now on. Echo makes more money off of Home Depot products than their dealer units. It's really sad.

 

No knowledge of Echo pole pruners, but they have been cutting corners...which is why I am buying only Stihl products from now on. Echo makes more money off of Home Depot products than their dealer units. It's really sad.

That whole statement is a bunch of crap with no susbstance at all so anyways........ to answer your question.

The differences are this...

Price is the same...

has the 265, which is thier new 26cc powerhead. Users say seems like more power at the same cc size as before.

The shaft where the engine connects too is beafed up over the older unit. The throttle is a little more stream lined and less likely to break then before in my opinion. Shaft design and gearbox design apprears the same. Seeing I think this is actually a better unit then the older version, not quite sure where you want to point out the "cut corners". oh yeah, plus, this , like most of the stuff, is not sold at home depot.......haha.

 

My "cut corners" comment was not based on anything other than I found a couple internet prices that seemed to about $50 cheaper for the 265 than what was typical for the 260 a few months ago. Reason for the post is that I'm considering buying and can still buy the 260 if the 265 was trimmed down to meet a lessor price point.

 

I know 100% that Echo built a $50 cheaper backpack blower this year with the same 79cc motor that the bp9010 has but with a smaller tube & fan for the price point reason. I still bought the new Redmax EBZ-9000 since Redmax had an initial 15% off for the 1st month out. I'm not a Husqvarna fan these days since the cheapened their products and don't have good customer service skills or warranty these days. After the 2nd frame broke on my 2019 LGT-2654 and they replaced the 1st one 2 years earlier, they now say I'm out of warranty . How can their most expensive "big box" garden tractor break 2 frames simply mowing grass and not stand behind it is beyond me but the Redmax won with a coin toss

 

I have found internet prices are always cheaper then local dealers. I bought a 261T trimmer and is was 40 bucks less online then at my dealer. I bought it from the dealer so I didnt have to worry about shipping and all that crap. My dealer recomended the older 260 series equipment over the new 265 equipment. Price was the same on both.

 

The price is not any cheaper on the 265. It has the Power Boost Vortex engine, which replaced the Tornado engine. It's alot more powerful and efficient. I've never had the 260 as we started carrying Echo this year, but from the pictures, it looks like the 260 didn't have all the anti-vibration stuff the 265 has.

This year Echo really started stepping it up and making their stuff nicer than ever before. Many items in their lineup have plastic handles with rubber overmolds and anti-vibration sleeves over various parts, as well as much larger handles to make it easier to use the equipment with gloves on. They're also easier to start than ever before with the new engines and the I-30 technology. :weightlifter:

 

I have found internet prices are always cheaper then local dealers. I bought a 261T trimmer and is was 40 bucks less online then at my dealer. I bought it from the dealer so I didnt have to worry about shipping and all that crap. My dealer recomended the older 260 series equipment over the new 265 equipment. Price was the same on both.

The $40 difference was worth buying at the dealer. You will, after all, need somebody to service it sooner or later.

 

So your telling me there is a difference between my SRM210 trimmer I bought at my dealer and one bought at HomeDepot? So what your saying is, Echo sells two different trimmers under the same model number? Your nuts.

 

Echo is working on the home owner market now. That doesn't mean they cheaped out on their product, all it means is they want their product #1 in the industry. I'll be glad to help them achieve that.

 

My dealer recomended the older 260 series equipment over the new 265 equipment. Price was the same on both.

Did your dealer offer any comments on why he recommends the 260 over the 265?

 

Yes actually he did, but honestly it was over 3 months ago and I can't remember. So apparently it wasn't that big of a deal. Sorry for the lack of help. I'm sure if you ask your dealer he will know the differences.

 

These Stihl guys who admit they have no knowledge of the product and then go on to say ECHO is cutting corners and pushing Home Depot sales more than their independent dealer sales are full of crap. Where do they get their information?

Any respectable corporation is going to get sales increases from wherever they can and does not favor one customer over another. You have to increase sales if you are going to increase profits and keep the shareholders happy. If the shareholders are not happy, people lose their jobs.

ECHO continues to always strive to build a better product, putting tons of money into research and development, that is why all their machines have the highest durability rating you can get from the EPA (category C / 300 hours). Their philosophy is if you build it they will come. Stihl builds an ok product, but they have many products with the lowest durability rating of category C (50 hours), like Husqvarna. Just look at the label on the units. Stihl spends a ton of money on advertising, just like Husqvarna. When is the last time you saw an ad for ECHO? The cost of all those ads is in the price of the product.

The new PPT-265 is a little shorter (about 7 inches) than the old PPT-260, making it a little easier to fit in the back of trucks and trailers. If you take the bar and chain off the new PPT-265 (which takes a couple minutes), it will fit in the back of a standard sized pickup now.

Also, the new PPT-265 has the Power Boost Vortex engine, which puts out 10% more power than the old engine on the PPT-260. The shaft has be re-engineered to make them easier to service. As far as the price goes, that is up to the dealer.

 

just go buy one. I bought a ppt260 like 5 years ago and it is one of the best pieces of echo equipment I ever bought. my only complaint is the chain oil filler hole is not big enough.

i love stihl chain saws just as much as the next guy and do swear by them.

they both are expensive, just pick one, and buy it and go make some money with it.....wont take long for it to make you a killing...

 

Guys thanks alot, I am picking up the 260 from Home Depot today. Paying $250.00 from their tool rental department. It's used, but I find that HD takes pretty good care of the tools they rent out.

Once again thanks for the feed back.

 

No knowledge of Echo pole pruners, but they have been cutting corners...which is why I am buying only Stihl products from now on. Echo makes more money off of Home Depot products than their dealer units. It's really sad.

What's really sad is when the OP asks for an expert opinion about Echo and you base your comment off of your own personal experience of buying Echo's entry-level models. Going from an Echo SRM-210 to a Stihl FS-90 and using that to base your judgment off of is simply comparing apples to oranges.

To the OP, online prices are always going to be a little cheaper. I think you'll make a great choice picking up that rental unit. I've been an Echo user for the past eight years and don't see any reason to switch brands.

 

I think you'll make a great choice picking up that rental unit. I've been an Echo user for the past eight years and don't see any reason to switch brands.

Thanks LALawnboy, I have picked it up and just got 2 contracts for tree pruning :usflag: these two jobs, pretty much paid for the pruner, now I can start making money from it.

 

Yep the PPT-260 is pretty amazing.

 

I have the 265. I like it. Not much choice out there for real commercial extendable pole saws. Echo and Husky. Thats it for 2 stroke.

 

I have the 265. I like it. Not much choice out there for real commercial extendable pole saws. Echo and Husky. Thats it for 2 stroke.

yeah, I picked on up from Home Depot, padie $250.00 for it, its already paid itself off. I wish I had this pole saw awhile ago. It's great isn't it.

 

My dealer recomended the older 260 series equipment over the new 265 equipment. Price was the same on both.

And how does this dealer get these old model that I thought was taken out of the market 3 years ago? Could this be a bunch of stuff he bought up from other dealers and is trying to dump them?
By the way the only advantage the 260 has is lighter and if it doesn't have the carb with adjustment needles it isn't worth very much.

 

And how does this dealer get these old model that I thought was taken out of the market 3 years ago? Could this be a bunch of stuff he bought up from other dealers and is trying to dump them?
By the way the only advantage the 260 has is lighter and if it doesn't have the carb with adjustment needles it isn't worth very much.

Hess,

How can you tell if your model has the adjustment needles?

 

Shame this thread is so old.
I have only just found it and joined to give my opinion.
I have owned both.
The PPT260 was a blood mess and all sorts of things kept going wrong.
Lucky Echo sorted all these out and the PPT265 and now the PPT266 are a great tool to use.
I have used these for over 10yrs and I can only say I would never, never own a PPT260. Even if you gave me one I would sell it and go buy a new model.
As for the carb issue i think they have sorted it out. I am one of those who rated the Walbro carbs as a great easy carb to play with. These new ones are not so easy to tune.

 

what was wrong with it ? I must be crazy i am building a ppt 260