Toro 51850 60V MAX 16-inch Brushless Chainsaw
The Toro 51850 60V MAX 16-inch Brushless Chainsaw is a versatile cordless tool designed for homeowners who need reliable cutting power without the hassle of gas, and it’s best suited for trimming, pruning, storm cleanup, and firewood cutting of small to medium branches and logs. With its 16-inch bar and chain, a brushless motor, and Toro’s Flex-Force 60V battery platform, it can comfortably handle branches up to 8–10 inches in diameter, and in testing it delivers up to 50 cuts through 6x6 timber on a single 2.5Ah battery, making it well matched for yard maintenance and occasional heavier jobs. For best performance, keep the chain sharp, tensioned properly, and well lubricated with bar and chain oil; the automatic oiler helps here, but always check the oil reservoir before use. If the saw doesn’t start, make sure the battery is fully charged and properly seated, the safety interlock is engaged, and the chain brake is off; if cutting performance is weak, it’s often due to a dull chain, low charge, or excessive force on the cut. Should the chain derail or loosen, simply readjust and retighten before resuming work. To avoid battery drain and overheating, let the saw cut at its own pace instead of forcing it through thick wood, take breaks on big jobs, and rotate or swap batteries if possible. Cleaning out sawdust and debris from the sprocket, bar groove, and housing after each use will extend motor and battery life, while storing both saw and battery in a cool, dry place helps preserve long-term performance. With proper maintenance and efficient cutting practices, the Toro 51850 offers a strong balance of power, convenience, and runtime, giving homeowners a dependable solution for handling medium-duty woodcutting tasks around the property.
Specs & What Wood / Branch Sizes It Can Handle
The Toro 51850 is a mid-range cordless chainsaw built for homeowner use, with these key specs:
- It uses a 16-inch bar and chain.
- Chain pitch is 3/8" low profile, gauge .043", with 56 drive links (Toro part 88614 is the replacement chain)
- It has a brushless motor and uses the Flex-Force 60V battery platform.
- With the included 2.5 Ah battery (L135), Toro claims it can make up to 50 cuts in 6" × 6" timber on a single charge (this is lab testing; real world performance will vary)
- Charge time (for that battery) is ~ 64 minutes.
- It also includes features like electric chain brake/kickback guard, automatic chain oiler, and pro-style (tooled) tensioning, with the tensioning tool stored onboard.
Given those specs, here’s what you can reasonably expect to handle:
- Ideal for trimming, pruning, storm cleanup, cutting fallen branches, and moderately sized firewood.
- It can handle branches and logs up to perhaps 8–10 inches in diameter in favorable conditions, especially if the wood is not extremely dense. For very hard or large logs, you might need to make partial cuts or work gradually.
- For continuous cutting of thicker hardwoods, the battery may drain quickly, or the saw may slow down.
- The “50 cuts of 6×6 timber” figure is useful as a benchmark: if your job involves similar dimensions, that gives you a ballpark for how much cutting you can expect per battery charge.
- For very large trees or very thick logs, this is not a “professional” saw, so you may find its limits; in those cases, either a more powerful saw or multiple battery changes will be necessary.
Common Troubleshooting Tips
Here are frequent problems users face with this saw (or similar battery chainsaws) and how to fix or diagnose them:
| Symptom | Likely Cause(s) | Steps to Diagnose / Fix |
|---|
| Saw won’t run or won’t start | Battery discharged or not seated, safety interlock, chain brake engaged, internal wiring or switch issue | Charge battery fully. Remove and reinsert battery ensuring good contact. Verify chain brake is disengaged. Try a different battery if available. Check that any safety switches are enabled. |
| Chain does not spin even when trigger pulled | Chain brake still on, defective motor or wiring, broken drive mechanism | Confirm chain brake is off. Disconnect battery, inspect internal drive / sprocket area for damage. Check wiring between trigger switch and motor (if accessible). |
| Saw works but cuts slowly or bogs down | Battery voltage sag (low capacity), dull chain, too much load / trying to force a cut, tight chain tension | Use a fresh or fully charged battery. Sharpen or replace chain. Let the saw cut at its own pace rather than forcing it. Loosen chain slightly if too tight. |
| Chain oil not feeding / chain not lubricated | Oil tank empty, oil port clogged, oil pump or tubing issue | Check and refill chain/bar oil. Clean bar oil holes. Inspect oil delivery lines, check oil pump function. |
| Chain loosens during operation | Inadequate tensioning, vibration, worn tensioning parts | Before use, tension chain properly (neither too tight nor too loose). Re-check tension periodically during use. Replace worn parts like nuts, tensioner, or bar if needed. |
| Excessive vibration, noise, or odd sounds | Bent bar, bent or damaged chain, debris lodged in mechanism, loose hardware | Turn it off and remove battery. Inspect bar and chain for bends or damage. Clear any debris. Tighten bolts, screws, covers. Replace damaged components. |
| Battery drains too quickly | Heavy cutting patterns, continuous use at max load, battery is aging | Use moderate settings where possible, allow breaks, rotate batteries (if more than one), avoid pushing far past battery’s comfortable limit. |
| Chain comes off or derails | Improper tensioning, damaged bar groove or chain guide, hitting obstruction mid-cut | Stop using, re-tension the chain appropriately. Inspect bar groove and chain guide. Avoid sudden side contact or twist cuts. |
Always remove the battery before performing any inspection, cleaning, or repairs to prevent accidental startup. Use gloves and safety gear when inspecting chain and bar.
Tips for Best Efficiency & Longevity
Here are strategies to get maximum performance, battery life, and tool life from your 51850:
- Keep the chain sharp. A sharp chain reduces load, cuts faster, and saves battery. Dull chains are the biggest drain on power.
- Use the correct lubrication. Keep your bar & chain oil topped up and make sure oiling is working. Friction costs your battery and wear.
- Proper chain tension. Too tight increases friction and drag, too loose risks derailment. After a few cuts, stop and recheck tension.
- Let the saw cut, don’t force it. Don’t push too hard; let the chain and motor do the work. For big logs, take shallow cuts progressively.
- Plan your cuts. For thicker logs, make plunge cuts or partial cuts to relieve pressure, then finish the cut. That avoids binding and overtaxing the saw.
- Rotate batteries. If you have more than one, use them alternately so one cools down, and avoid over-stress on a single battery.
- Avoid fully depleting battery if possible. While lithium-ion technology is resilient, not abusing the battery with deep discharges can prolong its service life.
- Give the tool rest periods. In heavy cutting sessions, let the saw and battery cool down intermittently, especially under heavy load.
- Inspect and clean regularly. Remove sawdust, resin, chips, bark from around the sprocket, housing, bar groove, and oil passages. Dirt increases friction and heat.
- Store properly. Keep the battery and chainsaw in cool, dry environments. Avoid extremes of heat or cold, which degrade battery chemistry.
- Use quality parts and chains. Don’t use mismatched or worn chain or bar parts; always replace with compatible, good-quality parts (e.g. the correct 16 in / 3/8 pitch / .043-gauge chain)
- Pretest small cuts. Before tackling big logs, do a few test cuts on smaller wood to see how the saw/battery responds, so you understand how quickly the battery drains under load.
- Avoid sudden side loads or twist binding. When cutting, avoid forcing the chain off balance or twisting the bar inside the cut; that causes drag and potential derailment.
- Check for clearance and safety. Keep bystanders and limbs clear; avoid cutting too close to the ground or hitting the chain on the ground, rocks, or other hard surfaces.
