MS290 Oiler Issues

[user 122190]

I thought you did a bigbore on your 290, sorry

I bought it, but it is still on the shelf. The ms290 is built to tough. I was going to do the big bore prematurely, but decided that was crazy. I have recently moved from an 3/8 18" B&C to a 20", and this spring 2020 if that combo is to much I might forge ahead and do the big bore.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

A friend and I both have roughly the same conclusion from similar builds, except hes a bit more of a saw mechanic and his saw is being used.

The extra power is nice, but the fuel consumption makes the saw a chore to use, and is better done by a full frame saw with an appropriately sized fuel tank. Which kind of blows my mind a little, because the same engine was offered in that saw in the 390. But it becomes more of a showpiece than a workhorse. Verdict is out on mine yet.

My last 290 that was stolen was a 20" 3/8 and it pulled it fine.

 

[user 122190]

My last 290 that was stolen was a 20" 3/8 and it pulled it fine.

Good to hear. I gave the 290 its post season complete cleaning and before putting it away I mounted the 20" and only fired it up. Without cutting wood, seems fine, seems the same. The 290 is most definitely under powered compared to the ms461, so I am use to it being the underdog. The 18" was 66DL and I guess that is an odd size, so I had to have the shop make me chains, and I paid a premium for them. With the 20" I am now at 72DL and I can get chains about anywhere, and at a substantial discount (Stihl 66DL was $23.xx vs Husky 72DL is $18 and the Oregon 72DL is $15).

And if the 290 doesn't pull the 20" to my satisfaction then I will use the 20 on the 461. That will be a hoot. The 461 is a maniac with the 24" B&C, so I can easily imagine the 461 becoming a maniac on designer steroids.