Echo CS-400, CS-490 & CS-590 Timber Wolf Chain Size Guide
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Echo's CS-400, CS-490 and CS-590 Timber Wolf are three of the most popular Echo saws in Australia, and they all take different chains. Same brand, three different specs, and a chain that fits one won't go anywhere near the other two.
Here are the exact pitch, gauge and drive link numbers for each model and every common bar length. Everything below is stocked in our chainsaw chains and bars range in standard steel and tungsten carbide. And if your Echo isn't one of these three, our Echo chainsaw chains guide covers the whole range, from the small CS-310 right up to the CS-800P.
Quick Answer: All Three Models at a Glance
| Model | Engine | Pitch | Gauge | Bar lengths | Drive links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS-400 | 40cc | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 16", 18" | 57, 62 |
| CS-490 | 50cc | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 15", 18", 20" | 64, 72, 80 |
| CS-590 Timber Wolf | 59cc | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 16", 18", 20", 24" | 60, 64, 72, 84 |
Three saws, three completely different chains. The CS-400 runs a low-profile 3/8" LP chain in .050" gauge (1.3 mm). The CS-490 steps up to .325" pitch in .058" gauge (1.5 mm). The CS-590 Timber Wolf runs full 3/8" pitch, also in .058" (1.5 mm).
If any of those terms are new to you, our plain-English guide to chainsaw chain sizes — pitch, gauge and drive links breaks down what each number actually means. The short version: all three numbers have to match your bar, or the chain won't fit.
Echo CS-400 Chain Size
The CS-400 is Echo's 40cc mid-range saw — a solid step up from the homeowner models, usually sold with a 16" bar in Australia, sometimes an 18".
| Bar length | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links | Chain type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16" | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 57 | Low profile |
| 18" | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 62 | Low profile |
Watch the "LP"
The CS-400 runs 3/8" LP that's low profile. It is not the same chain as the full 3/8" the CS-590 runs, even though both get called "3/8" on the shelf. Low-profile chain has smaller cutters and a lower stance, built for lighter saws. Put it this way: if you own a CS-400 and a CS-590, the chains are not interchangeable in either direction.
Echo CS-490 Chain Size
The CS-490 is the 50cc mid-range workhorse — firewood, fence lines, storm clean-up. It runs .325" pitch chain in .058" gauge (1.5 mm), and Echo sells it with anything from a 15" to a 20" bar.
| Bar length | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links | Chain type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 64 | Semi chisel |
| 18" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 72 | Semi chisel |
| 20" | .325" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 80 | Semi chisel |
The factory chain type is semi chisel, which holds its edge longer in dry, dusty Aussie timber. You can find all the common sizes in our .325" pitch chainsaw chains collection.
CS-490 vs CS-590 — don't mix them up
These two get confused constantly because the model numbers are one digit apart. They take completely different chains: the CS-490 is .325" pitch, the CS-590 is full 3/8" pitch. Both run .058" gauge (1.5 mm), which makes the mix-up easy to miss until the chain won't seat on the sprocket. Check your model number on the side of the saw before ordering.
Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf Chain Size
The CS-590 is Echo's 59cc farm-class saw and probably the best-known Echo in the country. It runs full 3/8" pitch chain in .058" gauge (1.5 mm) the same gauge family Husqvarna uses on its farm saws, which is handy to know when you're standing in front of a shelf of chains.
| Bar length | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links | Chain type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 60 | Full chisel |
| 18" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 64 | Full chisel |
| 20" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 72 | Full chisel |
| 24" | 3/8" | .058" (1.5 mm) | 84 | Full chisel |
The factory fit is full chisel square-cornered cutters that rip through clean wood fast. If you're cutting dirty or dry hardwood and want an edge that lasts longer between sharpens, semi chisel is worth considering; our semi chisel vs full chisel guide covers when each style makes sense. Browse the full range of 3/8" pitch chainsaw chains for every CS-590 bar length.
What does "Timber Wolf" actually mean?
Nothing technical it's just Echo's marketing name for the CS-590, the same way Stihl calls the MS 271 a "Farm Boss". You'll see it written as Timber Wolf or Timberwolf; either way it's the same 59cc saw, and the chain specs above apply. If you're searching for an "Echo Timberwolf chain", what you need is a 3/8" pitch, .058" gauge (1.5 mm) chain with the drive link count that matches your bar length.
Why "an 18 inch Echo chain" isn't a real thing
Here's the trap with these three saws: all of them can wear an 18" bar, and all three 18" chains are different.
- CS-400 with an 18" bar: 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 62 drive links
- CS-490 with an 18" bar: .325", .058" (1.5 mm), 72 drive links
- CS-590 with an 18" bar: 3/8", .058" (1.5 mm), 64 drive links
Bar length alone tells you almost nothing. You need pitch, gauge and drive link count and that's true across every brand, not just Echo. Our 18 inch chainsaw chain guide lays out the same comparison for every brand sold in Australia.
How to Confirm Your Chain Size
If you bought the saw second-hand, or someone's swapped the bar at some point, don't trust the tables blindly confirm what's actually on the saw.
Check the bar stamping
Flip the saw over and look at the guide bar near the tail end, where it bolts into the saw body. The pitch, gauge and drive link count are usually stamped or printed there. One thing to watch: the gauge is often stamped in millimetres, not inches. So 1.3 mm means .050", and 1.5 mm means .058". Same measurement, two ways of writing it.
Count the drive links
If the stamping has worn off, count the drive links on your old chain. They're the tabs on the underside of the chain that run in the bar groove not the cutters on top. Lay the chain flat, mark your starting link with a dab of paint or chalk, and count your way around until you're back at the mark. A 16" CS-590 chain should come up at 60; a 16" CS-400 chain at 57.
Still not sure?
Send us a photo of the bar stamping or your old chain and we can usually work it out pretty quickly. There's also a step-by-step in our guide on how to choose the right chainsaw chain for your saw.
Common Mistakes Echo Owners Make
Mixing gauges
The big one. The CS-400 runs .050" (1.3 mm); the CS-490 and CS-590 run .058" (1.5 mm). A .050" chain in a .058" bar groove flops sideways and cuts crooked; a .058" chain won't seat in a .050" groove at all. Always check the gauge in both inches and millimetres plenty of chains and bars are marked only in mm.
Treating 3/8" LP and full 3/8" as the same chain
Both are nominally 3/8" pitch, but low profile and standard are different chains with different cutters. The CS-400 takes LP; the CS-590 takes standard. A retailer who only asks "what pitch?" can hand you the wrong one.
Buying by bar length alone
As above an "18 inch Echo chain" could be any of three different chains. Match all three numbers every time.
Guessing the model from the bar
A CS-490 and CS-590 look similar from a few steps away. The model number is on the starter housing thirty seconds of checking saves a return trip.
Standard vs Tungsten Carbide for Your Echo
Every size in the tables above comes in two versions: standard steel chain and tungsten carbide tipped chain. The fitment specs are identical same pitch, same gauge, same drive link count so a carbide chain drops straight onto your Echo with no changes to the bar or sprocket.
The difference is the cutting teeth. Tungsten carbide tipped chains hold their edge up to 10x longer than standard chain, which matters most in exactly the conditions these saws get used in: dry Australian hardwood, dusty paddock timber, storm-fall that's been sitting in the dirt. Instead of stopping to sharpen every tank or two, you keep cutting.
Standard chain is cheaper up front and easy to touch up with a round file. Carbide costs more per chain but you buy far fewer of them, and you're not losing daylight to sharpening. For a CS-590 doing regular firewood duty, it's the upgrade most owners don't go back from. Have a look at the GoldStrike tungsten carbide chainsaw chains range just match the pitch, gauge and drive links from your table above.
FAQ
What chain size does the Echo CS-400 take?
With the standard 16" bar: 3/8" LP pitch, .050" gauge (1.3 mm), 57 drive links. With an 18" bar: same pitch and gauge, 62 drive links. It's a low-profile chain don't substitute full 3/8".
What chain does the Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf use?
Full 3/8" pitch, .058" gauge (1.5 mm). Drive links depend on the bar: 60 for a 16", 64 for an 18", 72 for a 20", 84 for a 24".
Is the Timber Wolf a different saw to the CS-590?
No — same saw. Timber Wolf is just Echo's name for the CS-590. Whether the listing says CS-590, Timber Wolf or Timberwolf, the chain specs are identical.
Can I run a CS-590 chain on my CS-490?
No. The CS-490 runs .325" pitch and the CS-590 runs 3/8" pitch, so the chain won't mesh with the sprocket. They share the same .058" (1.5 mm) gauge, which is exactly why this mistake catches people out.
Will a tungsten carbide chain fit my Echo?
Yes. Carbide chains are made in the same pitch, gauge and drive link combinations as standard chain, so anything in the tables above has a carbide equivalent. Same fit, up to 10x the edge life.
TL;DR Quick Reference
- CS-400 (40cc): 3/8" LP pitch, .050" gauge (1.3 mm) 16" bar = 57 DL, 18" bar = 62 DL
- CS-490 (50cc): .325" pitch, .058" gauge (1.5 mm) 15" = 64 DL, 18" = 72 DL, 20" = 80 DL
- CS-590 Timber Wolf (59cc): 3/8" pitch, .058" gauge (1.5 mm) 16" = 60 DL, 18" = 64 DL, 20" = 72 DL, 24" = 84 DL
- All three take different chains — match pitch, gauge AND drive links, never just bar length
- Gauge in mm: 1.3 mm = .050", 1.5 mm = .058"
Not sure which one fits? Send us your saw model, a photo of the bar stamping, or your old chain call 0431 183 421 or email farmandacreco@gmail.com and we'll point you in the right direction. Or browse the full chainsaw chains and bars range every Echo size above, in standard and tungsten carbide.