Toro 60V Battery-Powered Pole Saw Rounds Out Battery-Powered Lineup
Rounding out Toro’s line of battery-powered lawn care tools, the Toro 60V cordless pole saw reaches out to get your attention. We’ve been using it for a variety of trimming to get an idea of how it compares to your other cordless options.
Pros
- Strong, smooth cutting performance
- Soft start
- Well-balanced and lightweight for its class
- Angled head design
Cons
- Chain tensioning screw is hard to access
- Shaft collapses but potentially puts strain on the wiring running through the shaft
Toro 60V Cordless Pole Saw Performance
We met up with our good friend Eli Mosley out at his ranch to trim up some low-hanging oak branches that were encroaching on his cow pens. The branches were between 2 and 4 inches thick, the perfect size for Toro’s 10-inch bar and brushless motor to show off their capabilities.
Like many other pole saws, the Toro 60V battery-powered pole saw uses an angled head design to give you a more aggressive angle of attack from the top. This lets you cut down on a branch instead of coming in from a side angle and offers a more predictable drop.
Toro’s chain smoothly sliced through the oak branches with ease and quickly cleared away wood chips and debris without clogging. While its performance is clearly above entry-level cordless options, it’s not quite reaching the same level as the top-tier residential models.
If pole sawing is a new chore to you, Toro’s smooth-cutting action is critical to doing the job safely. You want to control so you can guide the cut rather than use excessive downforce to push through it. Just keep that chain sharp and you won’t have any issues making your cuts with this saw.
Toro 60V Battery-Powered Pole Saw Design Notes
Weight
Toro’s 60V pole saw is on the lighter side compared to other cordless models on the market. With the bar and chain, the tool weighs 9.31 pounds and a 2.0Ah battery brings it up to 12.38 pounds—lighter than many gas-powered options.
While the battery creates a big jump in weight, it acts as a counterbalance making it a neutrally balanced saw.
Chain Tensioning
To adjust the chain tension, loosen the dial on the side to allow the bar to move then turn the tensioner screw located on the front of the motor housing with a flathead screwdriver to tighten the chain. Once you’ve made your adjustments, tighten the dial to secure the bar in place and you’re good to go.
While we don’t mind using a scrench for tension adjustments, the location of the tensioner screw on this particular model is just plain ol’ inconvenient. Since it’s right up against the bar, it’s somewhat difficult to manipulate with the kitted scrench. It’s a design element we’d like to see change in the next generation.
Automatic Oiler
This pole saw has a self-lubricating system similar to a regular chainsaw so there’s no need to stop working to apply oil. The reservoir holds a few ounces of your favorite bar oil and a translucent tank gauge makes it easy to see when it’s time to refill.
Tri-Fold Shaft
Toro’s 60V 10-inch pole saw features a three-piece collapsible shaft that houses the main power cord for the saw. The design reminds me of how a camping tent pole breaks down.
An advantage to this style is that you’ll never lose a segment of the pole, however, it only extends to one length with roughly 12 feet of total reach, depending on the height of the person using it.
We’re a little concerned that breaking down the shaft every use can put wear and tension on the inner wiring. If you have the space, we suggest storing the pole saw fully assembled to avoid any issues.
Grip and Trigger
The grip and two-finger trigger are very comfortable when the saw is in use. A thumb safety helps prevent unintentionally activating the motor during transport.
Additional Features
- Compatible with a shoulder strap
- Plastic bucking spikes
- Plastic branch hook
Toro 60V Cordless Pole Saw Price
Toro’s battery-powered 10-inch pole saw kit retails for $249 and comes with a single 2.0Ah battery and charger. It’s also available as a bare tool for $199. Both options have a 3-year warranty on both the tool and the battery.
The Bottom Line
In terms of performance, there’s no reason to shy away from Toro’s battery-powered pole saw—it does its job well. The chain tensioning and shaft designs may cause some hesitation, though. If those aren’t a concern for you, go with the kit configuration to get the best value and give your property a neatly-trimmed look without the noise, maintenance, and emissions of a gas saw.
Toro 60V Battery Powered 10-Inch Pole Saw Specifications
- Model: Toro 51870
- Power Supply: Flex-Force 60V Max power system
- Bar Length: 10 in.
- Motor Type: Brushless
- Chain Pitch: 3/8 in.
- Chain Gauge: .050 in.
- Max Pole Length: 8 ft.
- Price: $199 (bare tool), $249 (kit)
- Warranty: 3-year
