Oleo Mac GSH 400 vs 510 vs 560: Which Chainsaw Should You Buy?
Posted on August 21 2026,
Start with the job, not the model number.
If you need a chainsaw for fallen branches, garden clearance and the occasional load of firewood, the smallest machine in the Oleo Mac GSH range may be all you need. If you cut firewood regularly or work with larger timber, the extra power of the GSH 510 or GSH 560 will make a noticeable difference.
Bigger is not always better. A longer bar and larger engine are useful when the work calls for them, but a lighter chainsaw is often easier to control and more comfortable to use.
The GSH range gives you three options: the 16-inch GSH 400, the 18-inch GSH 510 and the 20-inch GSH 560. Here is where each one fits.
Oleo Mac GSH 400: Light, Practical and Well Suited to Home Use
The Oleo Mac GSH 400 has a 38.9cc two-stroke engine producing 2.3hp and comes with a 16-inch guide bar. Its manufacturer-listed dry weight is 4.5kg without the bar and chain. At the time of writing, CLMS lists it at €249.
This is the one we would look at first for occasional work around the home. A 16-inch bar is enough for most branches, smaller logs and routine garden clearance, while the lower weight makes the saw easier to move and position.
That matters once you have been cutting and stacking timber for a while. A chainsaw that feels manageable for the first few cuts may become tiring over a longer session, particularly for someone who does not use one regularly.
Although it is the entry model, the GSH 400 is not short on useful features. It has a side-mounted chain tensioner, which makes adjustments easier while reducing the risk of contact with the chain. Its adjustable oil pump controls the supply of oil to the bar and chain, while the engine uses two piston rings, a forged steel crankshaft and a nickel-plated cylinder.
It is a good match for someone who wants a petrol chainsaw for:
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Clearing fallen branches
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Cutting smaller logs
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Preparing modest amounts of firewood
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General maintenance around a garden
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Occasional rather than intensive use
Where it begins to fall short is prolonged work on heavier timber. It will make those cuts, but if that is the type of work you expect to do regularly, one of the larger models will be faster and less strained.
Oleo Mac GSH 510: The One Most Regular Users Will Need
The Oleo Mac GSH 510 is a substantial step up. Its 50.9cc engine produces 3hp, and the version supplied by CLMS comes with an 18-inch bar. At the time of writing, it is priced at €349.
For regular firewood cutting, this is likely to be the best fit.
The larger engine has more in reserve when cutting thicker logs, and the 18-inch bar gives additional capacity without making the chainsaw unnecessarily long for general work. It suits larger gardens, farms and smallholdings where the saw will be used more often and asked to handle a wider variety of timber.
The GSH 510 also has an anti-vibration system, which makes a difference during longer sessions. Vibration is tiring, particularly through the hands and arms, so reducing it is not just about comfort. The filter cover can be opened without tools for access to the air filter and spark plug, while a primer helps with starting from cold or after the chainsaw has been left unused.
Compared with the GSH 400, it is a larger and heavier machine. That extra size makes sense when you will use the additional power, but it offers little benefit if the chainsaw will spend most of the year in the shed before being brought out to cut a few branches.
The GSH 510 suits someone who:
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Cuts firewood every year
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Regularly deals with medium-sized logs
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Maintains a farm, smallholding or large rural garden
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Wants one chainsaw to cover light and moderately heavy work
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Needs more than an occasional domestic saw but not a professional forestry machine
For that type of buyer, it is probably the strongest all-rounder of the three.
Oleo Mac GSH 560: Worth It When the Timber Gets Bigger
The Oleo Mac GSH 560 has an engine capacity of approximately 55cc, produces 3.5hp and is supplied by CLMS with a 20-inch bar. At the time of writing, it is priced at €379.
The price difference between the GSH 510 and GSH 560 is only €30. For that, the GSH 560 gives you more power and an additional two inches of bar length.
If you regularly cut larger logs, the GSH 560 is the better buy. It has more power available when the cut becomes demanding, and the longer bar gives additional reach and cutting capacity.
That does not mean everyone choosing between the two should automatically spend the additional €30.
Most domestic firewood can be handled comfortably with an 18-inch chainsaw. A 20-inch bar takes up more room, is less convenient in tight spaces and asks more of the operator. If the extra length will rarely be used, the GSH 510 remains the neater all-round machine.
The GSH 560 makes most sense for:
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Larger logs and heavier firewood
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Regular work around farms and rural properties
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Buyers who know they need a 20-inch bar
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More experienced users comfortable handling a larger chainsaw
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Jobs that would leave a smaller engine working hard for long periods
It is the most capable of the three GSH models, but it is still aimed at intensive domestic, smallholding and farmer use rather than continuous professional forestry.
What Size Chainsaw Bar Should You Choose?
Bar length is one of the first specifications people compare, but it should not be considered on its own.
A 16-inch bar is easier to manoeuvre and will handle a wide range of domestic work. It is a sensible size for branches, smaller logs and occasional firewood.
An 18-inch bar gives more capacity while remaining practical for general use. This is often the most useful size for someone who cuts firewood regularly.
A 20-inch bar is intended for consistently larger timber. It should be chosen because you need that capacity, not because it appears better on a list of specifications.
Engine power matters alongside bar length. A longer chain requires more power to pull it through timber effectively, which is why the GSH 560 combines its 20-inch bar with the largest engine in the range.
Our View: Which GSH Chainsaw Should You Buy?
Buy the GSH 400 if you need a petrol chainsaw for occasional garden jobs and lighter firewood. It is the least expensive, the easiest to handle and probably enough machine for many homes.
Buy the GSH 510 if cutting firewood is a regular job. It offers the best balance of power, bar length and price for most farms, smallholdings and larger rural gardens.
Buy the GSH 560 if larger timber is a normal part of the work. The extra power and 20-inch bar are useful when they are needed, and the small price increase over the GSH 510 makes it good value for heavier use.
Try not to buy for the largest log you might encounter once. Choose for the timber you will cut week after week or season after season.
Safe Use and Proper Maintenance
A chainsaw needs more than fuel and a sharp chain. Anyone using one should know how to start, hold and control it safely and understand how kickback happens.
Chainsaw-protective trousers or leg protection, safety boots, gloves and a helmet with eye and hearing protection should be worn. Before starting, check the chain brake, chain tension and chain-oil level and make sure the chain is sharp.
A sharp chain should cut without being forced. If you have to press heavily on the saw, stop and check it. Continuing with a blunt or badly tensioned chain makes the work slower and less safe.
The GSH 400, GSH 510 and GSH 560 all use two-stroke petrol engines. They require the correct petrol-and-oil mixture, as well as separate chain oil for the bar and chain. Follow the manual or ask CLMS for advice rather than guessing the mixture.
More complex work calls for more than a larger chainsaw. Standing trees, hung-up branches and storm-damaged timber can behave unpredictably and should be handled by someone with the appropriate training. Tree felling in Ireland may also require a licence unless the work falls within an exemption.
Buy Oleo Mac GSH Chainsaws Online from CLMS
All three Oleo Mac GSH chainsaws are available online from CLMS:
You can also view the complete chainsaw range available from CLMS.
If you are still between two models, contact the team in Carlow and tell us what you intend to cut, how often you will use the saw and the usual size of the timber. We can help you choose the machine that fits the work rather than selling you more chainsaw than you need.
CLMS also provides chainsaw servicing and repairs, so you have somewhere to bring the machine when it needs maintenance or attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Oleo Mac chainsaw is best for domestic use?
For occasional work around a home or garden, the GSH 400 is usually the best fit. Its 16-inch bar will handle most branches, smaller logs and light firewood, while its lower weight makes it easier to manage.
Is the Oleo Mac GSH 510 suitable for firewood?
Yes. Its 50.9cc engine, 3hp output and 18-inch bar make it well suited to regular firewood cutting. It is the best all-round choice in the GSH range for most domestic and smallholding users.
Is the GSH 560 worth buying instead of the GSH 510?
It is worth the additional cost if you regularly cut larger timber or need a 20-inch bar. If most of your work is comfortably handled by an 18-inch chainsaw, the GSH 510 may be more convenient.
Do Oleo Mac GSH chainsaws use straight petrol?
No. These are two-stroke engines and require the correct petrol-and-oil mixture. They also need separate chain oil to lubricate the guide bar and chain.