Firewood Showdown: MAC 10-10 A vs. STIHL MS290

[cpr]

Saws are for cutting logs, not turning dynos to abstract peaks or for keeping scales from wandering around benchtops. The original post was about which gets work done faster, but this thread has reached the usual internet level of reductio ad absurdam, complete with footnotes and references.

I'm done with it...

 

[Michigan Muscle]

Where are you getting your info from? Its way off. BTW I have no doubt a good 10-10 would hand a 290 its hind end back to it.

Look closely at the scales, the Mac is 13.1 lbs while the 290 is 13lb 8oz so that makes the 10-10 quite a bit lighter.

Below is the exact 10-10 that broke the creamsicle's back (even included a pic of the original MAC Flatback carb - which WILL be getting swapped out with a Tilly). I had NO idea that this post would turn into such a nerve-bender (not saying I haven't enjoyed it...haha), but next time I do any "racing" against a Stihl - I'll most definitely be sure to get it on video. But, as I said before - the Stihl humpers will then say "The chain was dull, it wasn't set up properly, the 10-10 got a head start, the guy with the Stihl doesn't know how to cut...etc etc etc, boo hoo hoo", so we'll just keep buying up the MACs for pennies on the dollar, and let them keep shelling out $425 for a 56.5cc saw with zero torque, or better yet - $950 for the 76.5cc's in a 460 (I paid $200 for my MAC 250, and it has 80 cc's, and PLENTY o' torque).

On that same note - I saw another posting by a guy out here calling us MAC lovers "cheapskates" for buying up "old junkers", and not having the guts to shell out money for a new saw. Tell ya what, big guy - bring your brand-new, show-room shined Ferrari over to my place and park it in front of my beater a** Chevy, or my Big Horn - and we'll see who can run over who. How much is it worth, now?

 

[roostersgt]

A good bantering is good for all and helps us semi-retired guys pass some time. I noticed you have a 290 in your herd. It run as bad against your 10-10 as your BIL's? BTW, I thoroughly enjoy seeing project Macs being "restored" on this site. I wouldn't own another one, but sure don't dislike them, or think poorly of those who prefer them.:msp_smile:

 

[Michigan Muscle]

A good bantering is good for all and helps us semi-retired guys pass some time. I noticed you have a 290 in your herd. It run as bad against your 10-10 as your BIL's? BTW, I thoroughly enjoy seeing project Macs being "restored" on this site. I wouldn't own another one, but sure don't dislike them, or think poorly of those who prefer them.:msp_smile:

Absolutely - gotta pass the time! As for my own 290 - no. I have never put my own 290 up against my 10-10, but I would imagine it would be close to the same outcome (perhaps a video dem is in order the next time Johnny boy comes over?? lol). One thing I do know is that with the 10-10, I can lean on that sucker just about as much as I want (and I'm a good 230 lbs), and it will NOT bog down in a cut. I can't lean much on the 290, because it will not only bog down - it will stop right in mid-cut. After spending $400+ on this thing - it really pi**es me off!! LOL!

My buddy knows what he's doing (25 years in the biz now), and he was so intrigued - he had to see it twice. As a matter of fact, he said he's searching for a 10-10 now. Apparently he had a SP125 back about 10 years ago, and wishes he had never sold it. Like I said before - I like Stihls. This was just a case of old beating new - nothing more. I run Stihl Bar oil through ALL my saws, HP Ultra 2-cycle, I dig their chisel chains a LOT (they stay sharp for friggin' days), I use their chain files, and I even sport some of their shirts, gloves, etc. They make great stuff, and I'm a fan. But, from my OWN personal experience, when it comes time to perform for 6, 8, 10 hours a day - MACs and some of the larger Huskys (like the 2100 XP's) are just bred to keep working. They're just animals! I'm sure there are exceptions to any rule, and I'm sure there are some 10-10 and 250 horror stories out there - but after 15 years - I have yet to come across one of my own.

 

[mountainlake]

I have not run across a single site listing a 290 as having anything less than 3.8 BHP, or weighing more or less than 13 lbs, or a Mac 10-10 series saw weighing less than 15.6 pounds (PHO) for any of the models in the series. Didn't "cherrypick" anything to try to bolster or support my point. If you've found anything different, please share the website by attaching a link. People's opinions regarding a saws power are not a substitute for readily available information. That a company still lists there rated power after the Honda et al,,, lawsuit attests their rating must be accurate, or they'd be easy prey for a costly and embarrassing lawsuit themselves.

Explain to me why the 346xp, MS261, dolmar 5100 and my Echo CS520 all cut a lot faster than a 029 or MS290 that claims to have the same or a bit more HP. This is fact not BS and I should add a MAC 1010 to the list but I've never run one. Far as weight I'll believe Marks scale, Acres site is wrong quite often. Get over your 290, it's overweight and under powered. Steve

 

[roostersgt]

Different bore / stroke, bigger carb venturis, larger crankcase volume, pro saws that cost $200+ more? Different class of saw altogether. Your guess is as good as mine. Using your logic, perhaps they purposefully rated them lower to impress you? I know my 260 pro will not out perform any of my clams and none of my saws are modded. 028's will but only because they're running shorter bars. All my saw chains are new out of the box Carltos or Stihl RSC, if I recall correctly.

 

[Eccentric]

M/M, your 10-10A carb isn't a bullfrog/flatback. It's a Walbro SDC. Don't swap that out.

Today I shipped a 10-10A identical to your "MS290 Beater" (LOL). Complete saw with a solid ( not laminated) 16" McCulloch hardnose and a new loop of Oregon 72LGX. Tightly packed with foam and packing paper in a LARGE box. Could have squeezed two saws in there. Whole thing was 20 pounds, 2.6 ounces according to the USPS scale. Box and packaging had to be near five pounds by itself. That saw is MUCH stronger than any MS290/029 I've ever ran. I'm sure this info will be discounted as "feelings for a much heavier, slower saw" just like everything else including Mark's scale pics...

Here's what shipped.

 

[roostersgt]

M/M, your 10-10A carb isn't a bullfrog/flatback. It's a Walbro SDC. Don't swap that out.

Today I shipped a 10-10A identical to your "MS290 Beater" (LOL). Complete saw with a solid ( not laminated) 16" McCulloch hardnose and a new loop of Oregon 72LGX. Tightly packed with foam and packing paper in a LARGE box. Could have squeezed two saws in there. Whole thing was 20 pounds, 2.6 ounces according to the USPS scale. Box and packaging had to be near five pounds by itself. That saw is MUCH stronger than any MS290/029 I've ever ran. I'm sure this info will be discounted as "feelings for a much heavier, slower saw" just like everything else including Mark's scale pics...

What? No pic of it being bucket loaded into the 18 wheeler? LOL

 

[mountainlake]

Different bore / stroke, bigger carb venturis, larger crankcase volume, pro saws that cost $200+ more? Different class of saw altogether. Your guess is as good as mine. Using your logic, perhaps they purposefully rated them lower to impress you? I know my 260 pro will not out perform any of my clams and none of my saws are modded. 028's will but only because they're running shorter bars. All my saw chains are new out of the box Carltos or Stihl RSC, if I recall correctly.

It's more like the 029 - 290 are over rated to increase sales of a saw that Stihl has a good profit margin on, why do you think they try and pust this saw on everyone that walks in the door. The 290 puts out maybe 3.2 or 3.3 hp when the average Joe gets one. In timed cuts my 40cc Echo was 1 second behind a good running 029 I had, how many HP does that Echo have. 13# vs 17-3/4 # ready to cut. Steve

 

[roostersgt]

It's more like the 029 - 290 are over rated to increase sales of a saw that Stihl has a good profit margin on, why do you think they try and pust this saw on everyone that walks in the door. The 290 puts out maybe 3.2 or 3.3 hp when the average Joe gets one. In timed cuts my 40cc Echo was 1 second behind a good running 029 I had, how many HP does that Echo have. 13# vs 17-3/4 # ready to cut. Steve

I don't have the saws you've mentioned, but I have a boatload of saws rated 3.2 bhp, they include the ms260 and all the 028's. None of them will be my 290 or 029 in the same wood. I've run them all pretty extensively just to break them in. All mine are stock and tuned with tach by expert Stihl saw tech to factory specs. Personally, timed cuts don't mean too much to me. I'm never in a hurry to finish wood cutting. It's as much for recreation and exercise as it is to provide a heat source for my cabin. With the exception of a 290 I bought new, all the other clams have cost less than $200 each to completely go through. I wouldn't be overly happy if I had spent $379 each.

 

[ridgerunner97]

I work in a stihl shop......guess what my go too saws aren't.... :msp_biggrin: Only Stihl's I have are a pair of 024's I paid 25 bucks for and turned one into an 026, wouldn't buy a new one or even a used newer one. My big wood saw is my 288xp or the Homie 770G, followed by the Poulan 5400. Words to live by for those that might be a bit confused and or mildly retarded...Horsepower is for show, torque gets the job done, and weight don't mean #### :msp_w00t:

 

[roostersgt]

Friend has owned Stihl dealership for more than 4 decades and doesn't have any personal Stihl. He prefers Pioneer / Partner and his cache of Homelites from his days working in their Sacto headquarters. Weight has its limits with me and I draw the limit at about 13 pounds for a PHO.

 

[Eccentric]

What? No pic of it being bucket loaded into the 18 wheeler? LOL

Don't think the thought hadn't crossed my mind to take a pic of the box on the scale. I thought the USPS folks might have me detained however. I DO have the recipt with the weight on it. Maybe I should scan it....

 

[Modifiedmark]

Dang, ya'll still squaking over this?

I shouldnt post this picture as I'll probably never live it down, but this shows that I have owned some Stihls, including a 029 Super.

This was the last time I owned it as well and it was gone shortly afterwords as I then bought my first brand new Husqvarna.

 

[barneyrb]

Dang, ya'll still squaking over this?

I shouldnt post this picture as I'll probably never live it down, but this shows that I have owned some Stihls, including a 029 Super.

This was the last time I owned it as well and it was gone shortly afterwords as I then bought my first brand new Husqvarna.

Hey Mark, if he thinks that 10-10 spanked that Big Bad 290, he should jump on him a good running 245A. >12 pounds and more power.

 

[3000 FPS]

Wow 9 pages now all because a Mac 10-10 can whoop up on a Stihl 290. It just is what it is.:msp_thumbup:

 

[roostersgt]

Wow 9 pages now all because a Mac 10-10 can whoop up on a Stihl 290. It just is what it is.:msp_thumbup:

Heck, this is nothing. The box store Poulan 5020 lovefest thread got 40% more (14 pages). I'm staying out of that one for sure ,unless of course, someone starts racing it against a 290!

 

[Vibes]

Keep squalking about your Macs and Stihls and stay clear of those Poulan 3000's and 3300's. I think they are really dogs and heavy too.

Those 950/945 Olympyks are crap too. Don't even know the specs or weight on any of them, but if you find any junker orange saws that you don't know what they are, let me know.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Heck, this is nothing. The box store Poulan 5020 lovefest thread got 40% more (14 pages). I'm staying out of that one for sure ,unless of course, someone starts racing it against a 290!

Too bad I run out of time this last weekend or thats just exactly what I had planned to do. But alas, the 290 went back to its owner today. Easy fix, it just needed one of those $15 proprietary Stihl fuel lines.

Probably would have been a good run as the 290 had that goofy safety chain on it.

 

[Warped5]

Geezopeets guys .... this p*ss*ng contest is waaay outta control.

I'm outta here ....