Ego 20" CS2000 vs CSX5000 - compared, torture tested and reviewed. The best chainsaw isn't obvious

Testing the best Ego chainsaws currently available. I was surprised by some of the testing results. The CSX5000 is definitely more powerful, but it might not be my choice.
#battery
#cordless
#electricchainsaw

[@rickdavid1795]

Very informative, thank you

[@belement]

Hey @reuseful I don't know if you caught the Milwaukee pipeline show today but Milwaukee is gonna be releasing a M18 dual battery 20 inch chainsaw that's gonna be a 70cc equivalent. Supposedly with the Forge battery packs on it he should produce 5.8hp or around 4200watts. Just putting it on your radar since you've done a great job of showing off these battery chainsaws.

[@reusefull]

@belement I had heard rumors of its development. Love the 18v compatability 👍. Look forward to checking it out.

[@John-cj3ve]

Hahaha; I was just going to send this exact comment!

[@AdventuresInTheSky]

It’s like they’re forcing you to buy an extra 10ah battery, if that fits. Will be nice to have next gen batteries soon like dry electrode cells or even solid state and hopefully that helps with more power without overheating.

[@reusefull]

I agree... the saw is ahead of their battery technology

[@Geoff-hk4tt]

Awesome, thanks for doing this comparison! It's nice to see someone doing a chainsaw review that actually has used chainsaws before and has practical experience. Bonus points for being from my home state! I was thinking about getting the csx5000 but now the cs2000 is starting to look pretty good. When you take off the bar, how does everything under it compare? Do the parts look similar or does the csx have stronger components?

[@reusefull]

I think the CSX5000 is definitely a better saw, with more power and more ability to dissipate heat and handle the power, I just don't think the batteries are up to the task. I tried to cover it in the last couple minutes. I haven't run the tests yet, but I'm planning on doing some comparisons with a 7 tooth drive spur vs the 8 tooth it comes with. It will slow the saw down and hopefully make the motor have to work less. I did a video on doing the conversion, but I haven't really tested it yet.

[@scottyz]

@@reusefullI agree, in your endurance test of the CSX5000 the was the weak link. However, in real work cutting, would it be good enough?

[@reusefull]

@scottyz depends on how you're working I guess.

[@inlinesix1187]

Hopefully Ego incorporates some of the battery technology from Flex with their stacked lithium in the future

[@reusefull]

112v chainsaw?? That's some power!!

[@inlinesix1187]

@@reusefullthat would be awesome but I was referring to the Flex power tool brand that’s owned by the same parent company as Ego. Their using pouch cells instead of cylindrical cells which gives them more power, lower heat, and better cycle life.

[@reusefull]

@inlinesix1187 Ego definitely need to up their battery game to handle that saw, that would be great! I am not familiar with the Flex, but I'll check it out.

[@brandonswan9247]

How do they both do at oiling the chain? My ego 18 inch never oiled the chain enough. Also it looks like they fixed the startup. The 18 inch takes like 2 seconds to get the chain up to speed.

[@reusefull]

@brandonswan9247 The CSX5000 pushes plenty of oil, to be honest, I didn't really pay close attention to the CS2000, but I didn't notice it chattering or blueing.

[@markboggs746]

In the UK we apparently can't get the CSX5000 kit and have to buy the charger and battery separately. Thanks for your videos.

[@reusefull]

👍That's too bad... kits are a big savings. I wonder why Ego does that too its UK customers?

[@markboggs746]

@@reusefull They want us to go for the CS2000 at the moment I guess? Maybe they made more and need to sell them. idk. I did get the CSX5000 and it's more powerful than I thought it would be. I'm impressed. I think a key point with these saws for people to consider is weight tho. These things or a similar weight to a 90cc gas saw. The CSX5000 is also more quiet than I expected. It really does not sound like something of that power, it sounds like a typical smaller garden electric tool. For me sound is a real issue and is probably why I got this saw and it's great for that... I had to get the 7.5Ah battery which I hope will work ok. Are there any generic batteries which you recommend with these saws or do only the ego ones work? I saw you try one test which failed and wondered if you knew of anything out there which can do it? Thanks again for your videos, I have watched most of them! :P

[@reusefull]

@markboggs746 from what I've seen, for these really high draw, powerful tools, you can't get away with aftermarket batteries. If it was a weed trimmer or something, that's a different story, but for the CSX5000 even the Ego batteries aren't really enough. Maybe at some point they'll move to pouch barite or something that can handle more draw and then this batteries can provide the CSX5000 with the power it needs without overheating. The 12ah battery is better, but it makes the weight issue even worse.

[@markboggs746]

@@reusefull Thank you, your advice is very welcome. I was considering getting a non Ego battery and now I will not. I guess I will get a 12aH better as they apparently have less overheating issues. I wonder when the new Greenworks will come out and if it will be much better? I suspect that they are struggling to make their new product better than their old one (which was almost as good as the CSX5000) as perhaps the limit is battery tech rather than saw tech and they don't make the batteries...

[@reusefull]

@markboggs746 I'm no tech, but based on what we've seen, I'm sure you're correct and the batteries are the limitation they're trying to work through.

[@John-cj3ve]

I just did a little digging; the 20" Milwaukee saw is 7400 rpm, with a chain speed of 14.3 m/s

[@reusefull]

@John-cj3ve I saw that the chain speed was a bit slow, but if that 9.5nm torque is really accurate, that's a huge number. I heard from some folks involved with beta testing and if it's the same saw, they were really impressed. Milwaukee (fuel) has a pretty good track record, so I expect it to be fully vetted. I'm looking forward to trying that saw out. Very impressive that it still runs on M18 batteries. I think that will come out around the same time as the Greenworks H.O.G. saw which will be using pouch cell lithium ion batteries that can provide higher current to the tools. Whenever Ego comes up with that, it should greatly change the usability of the CSX5000.

[@John-cj3ve]

I'm not conversant on the 'torque' thing. Does more torque mean you can lean on the saw with more pressure before it will stall?

[@reusefull]

@@John-cj3ve that's the way I would take it

[@reusefull]

I just did a little digging and I found battery specs for Ego on their EU website. Apparently ALL the large batteries including the backpack are rated for 60amp continuous output (@ 50.4 volts ~ 3000ish watts) EXCEPT the 10ah battery, which is rated for an 80 amp continuous output. (4000ish watts) I must acquire and test one of these batteries against the 8ah battery.

[@John-cj3ve]

​@@reusefullThanks for the digging. I will put a couple of them on my short list. VERY intriguing 🤔

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

I have the CSX5000. Really disappointed. Overheats batteries and overheats the motor. It's OK if cutting up small diameter logs, but cutting 18" logs repeatedly and the batteries (10ah) overheat and start flashing red after a couple of cuts. They need to have a fan built in to cool motor and battery.

[@reusefull]

@NaughtyGoatFarm bummer... I just ordered a 10ah battery to see if that would solve the overheating with the 8 and 12 ah battery. The gen 3 10 is supposed to be able to handle more current.

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

@@reusefull I just got a brand new 10ah battery under warranty as the chainsaw killed it with overheating. Honestly that battery only had maybe 50 cycles on it with a line trimmer and blower, and the chainsaw killed it after about 3 cycles. Was it coincidence or did the chainsaw kill it? The new 10ah battery is acting the same way, overheats before it is flat, so I am not holding out much hope for it. I have ordered a 28ah backpack battery (BAX1500) so will see how that holds up. I figure if the draw is spread over more cells then perhaps there will be less chance of overheating the battery. I still think the batteries need internal fans.

[@reusefull]

@NaughtyGoatFarm I am very curious to see if the backpack holds up. I know with the Greenworks chainsaw, the battery capacity made a large difference in performance and overheating from 4 to 5 to 8 ah, but I haven't noticed that difference with the Ego between the 8 and 12ah. Hopefully Ego comes out with a pouch cell battery soon, and that will maybe solve the problems with the current lineup.

[@AdventuresInTheSky]

@@NaughtyGoatFarmbattery back plugged into the saw is smart. is on your back on not your hands, I like it.

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

​@@AdventuresInTheSkyI received the 28ah backpack battery. It is terrible. The saw only runs at 2 out of 3 power bars and bogs down and stops like it is overloaded where a 7ah or 10ah battery won't bog and stop. I'm seriously unimpressed.

[@John-cj3ve]

I have a favor to ask. With the chains mostly snugged up; please measure the distance from the center of the sprocket; to the tip of the bar on both saws. As I have the 24" bar on my CSX5000; and am considering acquiring a CS2000; I am wondering if I can put the .325 bar from the 5000 on the 2000. I have quite a few .325 chains laying around that I WAS going to use. I still have the .325 sprocket from the 5000; so I was hoping it would be a simple switch.

[@reusefull]

Both measure 23.3125 inches (2-5/16)

[@John-cj3ve]

@@reusefull It should be a simple switch then. NEXT is to see if I can transplant the bar and chain from the 2000 to the 1800!😁

[@John-cj3ve]

NOW you need to compare the CS2000 to the Greenworks 82CS34; and/or their 60v pro 20" model.

[@reusefull]

That's a great idea, but unfortunately, I won't be able to run that comparison because I don't have the 60v Greenworks pro and I won't be keeping the CS2000. I'm not sponsored by anyone, so I have to sell stuff to buy more. I can tell you from running them all at different times, my feel is that the 60v Greenworks would be a strong winner. It's really my favorite of all the saws I have tried. It will run a battery out without overheating it and it has almost as much power... I mean really really close as the 82CS34. I would have kept that as my go to saw, but I'm already married to the 80v/82v lineup.

[@John-cj3ve]

Thx

[@jean-marcbriane7283]

I use the CSX5000 with the 5ah and 25m/s battery because it is lighter. I mainly cut dry chestnut for heating. All you have to do is try the Stihl MSA300 and compare?👍

[@reusefull]

So much money!!!😅

[@John-cj3ve]

​@@reusefullI'll bet it would cost over 1500.00 to get one running.

[@CA34562]

Will the 3/8 bar and chain from the CS2000 easily swap over onto the commercial csx5000? If I need a bigger sprocket to make the conversion, do you know what sort? I’d assume if you don’t already own a cs2000 then you’d need to get the sprocket from either stihl or husqvarna?

[@reusefull]

@CA34562 I didn't try, but I believe they would swap pretty easily. I did a couple of videos on swapping a CSX5000 to 3/8 drive... I used a 24 inch bar, but everything applies similarly to a 20 inch.

[@CA34562]

@@reusefull if you get the chance. Would you be able to check and see? Specifically if the sprocket you used for the 24inch 3/8 Husqvarna bar on the CXS5000 is the same as the cs2000 sprocket?

[@reusefull]

@@CA34562 I apologize, but I don't have the CS2000 anymore. I do all this stuff on my own dime, so I get rid of stuff to get more.

[@CA34562]

@@reusefull all good, I appreciate your videos 👍

[@John-cj3ve]

Hello again; YIPPEE YAAAAAYYY YAHOOOOOO! My CS2005 arrived today! I've already noticed something curious: I have several standard chargers, and a couple of rapids. When batteries are charged on either of those; they are relatively cool to the touch. I've charged two different batteries on the charger that comes with the 2000; and both of them were almost hot to the touch! Help me understand why that would be.

[@reusefull]

@@John-cj3ve 👍👍 Idk about the charger, but that doesn't sound right.

[@John-cj3ve]

I suppose I should put in ANOTHER call to EGO 😢

[@John-cj3ve]

​@@reusefullI just got off the phone with EGO; they are sending me a new charger! Pretty fabulous customer service!

[@reusefull]

@@John-cj3ve that's always a plus. Good to know they take care of people.

[@John-cj3ve]

​@reusefull my replacement charger just arrived today; and it just so happens that I've been saving an exhausted battery for it. I am happy to report that the original charger IS defective. I stayed by the charger watching KZbin videos during the entire cycle time so that I could get an accurate assessment of the temperature of the battery when finished; and it was just a little warm; like when they come off the Rapid charger. EGO/Chervon are good trusting people. I think we all regard ourselves as family.

[@John-cj3ve]

I am more concerned about the bar; as I want to transplant it on my 1800; which ONLY gets oil through the unused tensioning hole.

[@GeorgeBower-m2b]

Can I use a 18 inch bar with the CS2000

[@John-cj3ve]

Another question. Does the CS2000 get oil from the conventional oil hole in the bar AND the tensioning hole too; like the CSX5000?

[@reusefull]

I can't remember, I'm pretty sure it has the dogleg oiling set up

[@morgancoldfirecoldfire8256]

Great review subscribe

[@reusefull]

Awesome! Glad you found it useful 👍

[@John-cj3ve]

You are correct about the odd number of drive links being 69. I couldn't find any on Amazon. So my question is; is there enough adjustment for a 70 drive link chain to be used; which seems to be more readily available?

[@reusefull]

@@John-cj3ve I don't know, but I would guess not

[@John-cj3ve]

@@reusefull I just checked; and one link of 3/8 is 3/4"; so I guess it would be kinda iffy.

[@John-cj3ve]

​@reusefull what do you think about the physical size of the bar of the 2000 accounting for the odd number of drive links,? The bar seems awfully narrow top to bottom. If the 2000 was fitted with a 'regular' profile bar; like the 20" Husqvarna bar you purchased for your CSX5000; do you think the 2000 then would take a more conventional number of links; like 70, or72?

[@reusefull]

@John-cj3ve Maybe. The other 20 inch cordless saws are .325 instead of 3/8, so it's hard to make the comparison, but they all seem to use a "normal" number of 78dl on their 20 inch bars. If you can get a normal profile bar on though, it makes sense that it would take a little more length. (Watch it be 71🤦‍♂️😂)

[@scottyz]

Great review and I was considering each of these. I have Four 10Ah batteries from my snowblower I could use and would likely be a good match for the CSX5000. However, I think the reduced weight of the CS2000 with the 6Ah battery is the way I will go. The performance was close enough for me. I have an Ego 16” today and it is much nicer to use with 5Ah battery it came with Vs 10Ah.

[@John-cj3ve]

The thumbs down I gave your comment wasn't meant to be mean or anything; it's just that I disagree with you. Among my many saws; I have a couple of CS1800s; and I prefer using a 7.5ah battery instead of the 5ah it comes with. That being said; I also have a 12ah battery for my CSX5000; and I wouldn't consider using it on my 1800s; because of the weight. So, my apologies; not having a 10ah battery; I guess I really can't comment. I don't know if the handling of the 10ah would be closer to the 7.5 or the 12.

[@reusefull]

I think the CS2000 is easier to use right now. Once Ego comes out with the pouch cells, I think the CSX5000 will be the way to go.

[@John-cj3ve]

I agree with @reusefull; the 5000 is more powerful; but it's runtime before overheating is much shorter than the 2000. Plus the lighter weight of the 2000 is a big factor.

[@scottyz]

@@John-cj3ve I have a CS1800 also and I love using with the 5Ah that came with it. Much better than with a 2.5Ah that lowers the performance or a 10Ah that gets heavy.

[@John-cj3ve]

I apologize for not remembering if you've already done this; but I don't think you have... Specifically; have you/WILL you; run a all around comparison performance test of the EGO 8, 10, and 12ah batteries; as far as strength, runtime; and especially; tendency to overheat?

[@reusefull]

I don't have a 10, but I will compare the 8 and 12 at some point.

[@reusefull]

I just remembered... I may be able to get my hands on a 10, I seem to remember a comment somewhere saying that the 10 ah battery was set up for current and the 12 ah was set up for runtime, so who knows what could be discovered. I'll have to wait between each test to make sure the saw is starting from the same point. It was unfortunate that I messed up on the video, because I ran 2 batteries through the CS2000 with no problem. The batteries were still the limiting factor, but not as badly because the saw is less powerful than the CSX5000.

[@John-cj3ve]

Thanks. The reason I'm asking is because I'd like to know about the 10ah performance before making a decision on a future battery purchase.

[@John-cj3ve]

Given all the recent talk about the inevitability of the availability of the new technology batteries; I am going to hold off on any future purchases until they come out; and have been proven to be superior.

[@John-cj3ve]

Visa/MasterCard debit cards are too easy to use; especially on payday. Hi, my name's John; and I have collector's disease... As someone with TWO CS1800s, and a 24" CSX5000; I did NOT 'need' the CS2005 that I just ordered! 😂😢😳

[@reusefull]

Have you been finding the CS2000 better to use?

[@John-cj3ve]

YES! It's just like you said; the 2000; while not as powerful as the 5000; will run for a lot longer before the battery overheats. And I haven't had the 2000 itself overheat yet.

[@reusefull]

@@John-cj3ve glad the results are confirmed 👍

[@robertlee4809]

You call that "torture testing"? 😂😂you didn't run anything until it failed....except batteries 😂😂

[@reusefull]

🤷‍♂️batteries kept being the first point of failure... finger on the trigger until it stopped each time

[@John-cj3ve]

I 100% disagree with robertlee's comment. In real world testing; the earliest point of failure IS the battery. Shame on robertlee! @reusefull's tests are VERY helpful for those of us who actually use this equipment; and we should all be grateful for the time and expense and hassle he goes through to bring us this content!

[@benjaminleslie3155]

So... Milwaukee just uh.. yeah. So. Yeah you know what to do 🫵😉

[@reusefull]

@benjaminleslie3155 it looks like it will be released around the same time as the HOG saw. Just got some Intel on the Greenworks batteries coming out. "Core 300 400 and 530" From what I can see, Milwaukee will be using a low profile/thin kerf guide bar and chain, which is probably to help get the most out of the amp-hr capacity.