Shindaiwa 493 vs Shindaiwa 591
Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.
What owners like and complain about
Shindaiwa 493
- 50.2cc with .325 chain on bars from 16 to 20 inches covers limbing through firewood bucking
- 11.1 lb powerhead is light for the displacement and matches Echo's CS-4920 exactly
- Reduced-effort starting system plus a purge bulb for quicker cold starts
- Automatic, adjustable clutch-driven oiler feeds oil only while the chain turns
- 5-year consumer warranty, serviced through Shindaiwa's dealer network
- No public owner record for this model — everything here is from the spec sheet, not from use
- Dealer-only: no big-box availability and no retailer review aggregate to check
- Priced level with Echo's CS-4920, which is the same platform with a long track record
- Replaced the 492, so parts and advice found online may refer to the older model
- Capped at a 20-inch bar
Shindaiwa 591
- 59.8cc for $469.99 — the same money as Echo's CS-590 Timber Wolf, with a decompression valve added
- Decompression valve directly addresses the extra cold-start pulls the CS-590 is known for
- Professional-grade aluminium body rather than the CS-590's plastic case
- G-Force engine air pre-cleaner and tool-less two-piece air filter stretch maintenance intervals
- Translucent fuel tank for quick level checks, and an automatic adjustable clutch-driven oiler
- Owners report buying a second one after regular firewood service on the first
- 13.2 lb powerhead gets tiring on long cutting days, as owners note directly
- Shindaiwa lists only a 20-inch bar for this model — the Echo CS-590 offers 18, 20 and 24
- Dealer-only sales and service, with no retail review aggregate to check
- No purge bulb, unlike the smaller 335S and 493
- Standard recoil starting rather than the reduced-effort system on Shindaiwa's smaller saws