Ryobi 40V RY40530 Review
Pros: Good cutting power, has tabs on oil cap for leverage
Cons: Consumes an absurd amount of oil, no chain brake, awkward battery compartment location
Manufacturer: Ryobi
Our Verdict
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Ryobi 40V RY40530 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $240 List $167.71 at Amazon | $350 List $339.82 at Amazon | $400 List $360.49 at Amazon | $260 List | $250 List $199.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Good cutting power, has tabs on oil cap for leverage | Top-notch cutting performance, long-lasting battery, easy chain tensioning system, many other tools that use the same batteries | Excellent sawing power, good battery life, relatively inexpensive | Spectacular battery life, two chain speed settings, barely consumes bar and chain oil | Barely consumes oil, good performance, weather-resistant |
Cons | Consumes an absurd amount of oil, no chain brake, awkward battery compartment location | So-so wind-up time | Heavy, noisy, one battery size, limited line-up of other tools | Not the strongest cutting power, plastic chain tensioning system, electronic controls slow down sawing | Slow wind-up time, no battery level indicator, no bucking spikes |
Bottom Line | We don’t suggest that you buy this cordless chainsaw due to some glaring flaws | If you want an easy-to-use cordless electric chainsaw with a long-lasting battery and a long bar this is the one | We highly recommend this model if you are looking for the best you can get in a cordless chainsaw | For a reasonable price, this model performs well although it does not quite contend with the top-ranked models | With a high level of performance, this is not a bad choice for an efficient cordless chainsaw |
Rating Categories | Ryobi 40V RY40530 | EGO Power+ CS1800 | ECHO CCS-58V4AH | Husqvarna 120i | EGO Power+ CS1400 |
Saw Performance (35%) | |||||
Ease Of Use (30%) | |||||
Battery (25%) | |||||
Noise (10%) | |||||
Specs | Ryobi 40V RY40530 | EGO Power+ CS1800 | ECHO CCS-58V4AH | Husqvarna 120i | EGO Power+ CS1400 |
Model Number | RY40503 | CS1800 | CCS-58V4AH | 120i | CS1400 |
Bar Length | 14 inches | 18 inches | 16 inches | 14 inches | 14 inches |
Measured Weight w/ Battery | 11 lbs 8 oz | 12 lbs 4 oz | 14 lbs 4 oz | 10 lbs 11 oz | 11 lbs 10 oz |
Measured Battery Weight | 3 lbs 2 oz | 3 lbs 8 oz | 4 lbs | 2 lbs 12 oz | 2lbs 14 oz |
Included Battery Size | 4 Ah | 5 Ah | 4 Ah | 4.2 Ah | 2 Ah |
Nominal Voltage | 40V | 56V | 58V | 36V | 56V |
Measured Runtime | 24 minutes | 60 minutes | 34 minutes | 40 minutes | 24 minutes |
Measured Run Time Eco Mode | n/a | n/a | n/a | 54 mins | n/a |
Measured Battery Charge Time | 2.75 hr | 1.5 hr | 1 hr | 2 hrs | .75 hr |
Measured Average Cutting Time | 10.02 seconds | 5.876 seconds | 6.136 seconds | 13.486 seconds | 9.452 seconds |
Measured Wind Up Time | 2 seconds | 1.25 seconds | .5 seconds | .5 seconds | 2.5 seconds |
Measured Decibel Reading at 48in | 97.8 dBa | 88.8 dBa | 87.5 dBa | 85.9 dBa | 85.3 dBa |
Control Type | Thumb safety | Side safety w/ chain brake | Thumb safety w/ chain brake | Electronic button, side safety and brake | Side safety w/ chain brake |
Chain Replacement and Tensioning Type | Included Tool | Tool Free | Included Tool | Tool free | Tool free |
Metal Bucking Spikes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Oil Conservation | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Bar & Chain Tank Location and Type | Top | Side, Screen | Side | Side, flip-up | Side, Screen |
Measured Body Dimesions | 19.5x9x8 inches | 16x9x8 inches | 16x8x9 inches | 19x7x7 inches | 16x9x8 inches |
Our Analysis and Test Results
In the category of cordless chainsaws, the Ryobi is not the most impressive model.
Performance Comparison
Likes
It might make sense to buy this saw if you already own a Ryobi 40V battery in order to save some money. It did ok in our dimensional woodcutting test where we made several timed cuts through a set amount of wood.
Dislikes
Our main gripe with this saw is that it consumes oil at a rate that we have never seen. The Ryobi is a total pain because you have to stop and check the oil all of the time.
The Ryobi uses a wrench/screwdriver combo which we are a fan of, but the tool for this model is so small that it's difficult to use. The tool is also unusually challenging to remove from the handle.
The RY40530 has a less than average battery life, and it takes hours to charge. This can really hinder getting your project done in a timely manner. This saw has a very slow wind-up time, which further complicates issues regarding timeliness and efficiency.
During our sound meter testing the Ryobi put emitted a painful reading of 97.8 decibels at a distance of 48 inches. Although you should be wearing ear protection while using power tools, this is still a high level of noise for you while you're working.
Value
The Ryobi is very expensive for the performance that it offers. We recommend investing your money into a saw that does a better job.
Conclusion
This saw offers some decent cutting power, but it falls short in many other aspects. It doesn't have a chain brake, it does not have the best battery life, and its charge time is laughable. Worst of all it dumps bar and chain oil as fast as can be which makes it a very inefficient tool.
— Ross Patton