MS290 Performance

[peter399]

You dont know what you are talking about. For one, an ms 290 isnt that bad of a saw IF taken care of. Granted it aint a pro quality saw, but works for intended use. Two, 260/026 too old of a saw? Where the hell do you get that from??? 026 is one of the very best and easiest of saws to work on ever made!

Well, everthing "works" for intended usage if the requirements of "works" are low enough. For you it might work, for me it doesn't. I wrote: "that's what I think". For my work, the saw doesn't work.

Concerning the 260/026. I have a 026 myself and yes, it's a good saw. It has been a real work horse for me. Some problems with fuel caps, filters and a broken handle etc over the years but nothing serious. But I also have 353 Husky and I can tell you there is a difference between the two. But there are som years of development between the two also. The 260/026 is a good saw but time passes by and the 246/353 is a better saw. Would you buy an unused but 10 year older car for the same price as a 2007 model?

/Peter

 

[joatmon]

The MS361 is 5.6kg, 3.3kW (3.4kW in Europe).

The MS290 is 6.1kg, 2.8kW.

Those weights are from independent testing, not Stihls numbers.

...but more important are the totally different construction of those models, the 361 is a quite new pro design, while the 290 is an old consumer class design.

I wonder if the firewood that I cut with my "consumer" 029 would burn better/hotter/longer/etc. if I had cut it with a "pro" saw? Whatcha think?

 

[stihltech]

help

Tell you what, if you think that he is buying that bad of saw, then offer to replace it with a better one. At no extra cost, of course.

 

[ChuckinOhio]

Don't exceed the saws capacity

Buy what tickles your fancy the most.

If it will pull an 18 or 20, and you feel comfortable with the price, dealer support, or your ability to work on it yourself, then by all means buy it.
Use a B&C combination on it that dosen't exceed the saws capacity, and heat your house for nothing more than labor.

Chuck

 

[Lakeside53]

Open your muffler slightly (drill the exit holes with the muffler is OFF the saw), trim away the deflector nose slightly, and retune the carb...

Ignore the bashers - they'd all you like you to buy the 361, for nearly twice the price (they never do a price comparision on the two). Strange that the 029/290 is one so Stihl best selling saws... If you have the money, sure, buy a 361, but if you don't or choose not too, the 029/290 a fine saw.

I have a 361, and sure it will cut rings around an 029, but I've used the 029 a lot and it cuts just fine. In the hands of a typical "less than 5 cord a year" homeowner, it will outlast them!

 

[NYH1]

I agree with sawtroll. The MS290 is not a good saw, that's what I think.

What is a better saw then the MS290 for the same money? The MS290 with an 18" b&c go's for $349 in my area from a stocking and servicing dealer.


Edited to add- from a stocking and servicing dealer.

 

[timberwolf]

If I had to lug that 290 frame arround, I would at least want the 390 jug on it.

But it is near a crime that it is about $100 more for nothing much but a swaped out jug.

 

[mini kahuna]

I don't look at price as a benchmark for a saw,you just can't compare them only by price.
I don't know the exact price difference between a 290 and a 361,but it doesn't pay to "low ball" yourself when it comes to tools.
the 290 is not even close to a 361,the price difference will be forgotten when you stick the 361 in the first cut.

 

[sawinredneck]

What is a better saw then the MS290 for the same money? The MS290 with an 18" b&c go's for $349 in my area from a stocking and servicing dealer.


Edited to add- from a stocking and servicing dealer.

The only recomendtation I can give is a Dolmar 5100s, but the prices on those vary so much, I can't garuntee you can get one for that price.

If the 290 does what you want it to do, and you are happy with it, who cares what we think?
Run it and enjoy it!

 

[NYH1]

If I had to lug that 290 frame arround, I would at least want the 390 jug on it.

But it is near a crime that it is about $100 more for nothing much but a swaped out jug.

The price is one of the best things about the MS290. For the price it's a good saw. My local Stihl dealer said he would have to get out of the saw business if all he sold were "pro saws". He said 75% of the saws he sells are "occasional use" and "mid-range" saw. The MS290 is his best seller followed buy the MS250 and MS210..........but these saws are "junk". If Stihl didn't make and sell a lot of these "junk saws" there probably wouldn't be a Stihl at all. That's what some of these guys just don't understand. Not everyone is going to pay $600 plus for a chain saw. Especially if they're only going to use it a few times a year. I'm sure Husky is in the same boat as well!

 

[mini kahuna]

my friend,who is a stihl man,referred to the 290 as a cinder block with a chain.

 

[windthrown]

Pro vs consumer firewood...

I wonder if the firewood that I cut with my "consumer" 029 would burn better/hotter/longer/etc. if I had cut it with a "pro" saw? Whatcha think?

Yes, I have found that wood that I cut with the 361 'pro model saw' here is far more 'professional' than the wood that I cut with the plain old 290. It stacks better, looks better on the racks, dries faster and more completely, and well, its is better wood to burn. You need to be careful using professional firewood though. It burns hotter and faster and with less smoke than the other 'consumer' cut wood. It will also melt plain steel, and sometimes it will burst into flames before I can even get it into the boiler. I have to keep it separate from the other firewood around here, lest it become mistaken for the normal ordinary and everyday firewood. Can't have that now, can we?

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Ray Bennett]

For your intended use the 290 is fine, I started selling firewood years ago with just an 029 then as things took off I got a 290. Some years I did over 50 cords with my saws and they are still running strong. I did open up the muffler's removed the limiter caps and opened up the carb and that will wake the saw right up. Way more than you will need for 10 cords a year.

I have to admidt that I did eventualy upgrade to a 360 and 440 because of the the amount of wood I was cutting but to this day I still use my modded 029 and 290 espically for cutting tree tops into firewood.

I will probaly get banished from this site for saying this but in your situation which I was once in, If I had 600 bucks to spend I would get two 290's instead of one 361. Ok now let me have it boys.

 

[Ray Bennett]

Yes, I have found that wood that I cut with the 361 'pro model saw' here is far more 'professional' than the wood that I cut with the plain old 290. It stacks better, looks better on the racks, dries faster and more completely, and well, its is better wood to burn. You need to be careful using professional firewood though. It burns hotter and faster and with less smoke than the other 'consumer' cut wood. It will also melt plain steel, and sometimes it will burst into flames before I can even get it into the boiler. I have to keep it separate from the other firewood around here, lest it become mistaken for the normal ordinary and everyday firewood. Can't have that now, can we?

I forgot, wood I cut with my 029 goes for 120 a cord delivered and stacked and wood I cut with my 360 pro goes for 180 a cord dumped in the road infront of your driveway as I drive by:bang:

 

[nisse]

Isn't this thread, and many other,all about how you value your time?

If saw A saves you 2days/year over saw B, how much extra are you willing to spend?
Or, if you cut4fun, how much less ?

/Nisse

 

[computeruser]

I will probaly get banished from this site for saying this but in your situation which I was once in, If I had 600 bucks to spend I would get two 290's instead of one 361. Ok now let me have it boys.

Very good advice. You got some +rep for that one.

 

[Bowtie]

Well, everthing "works" for intended usage if the requirements of "works" are low enough. For you it might work, for me it doesn't. I wrote: "that's what I think". For my work, the saw doesn't work.

Concerning the 260/026. I have a 026 myself and yes, it's a good saw. It has been a real work horse for me. Some problems with fuel caps, filters and a broken handle etc over the years but nothing serious. But I also have 353 Husky and I can tell you there is a difference between the two. But there are som years of development between the two also. The 260/026 is a good saw but time passes by and the 246/353 is a better saw. Would you buy an unused but 10 year older car for the same price as a 2007 model?

/Peter

I do agree that Husky has made and is making good saws in the same cc and class as the 026. However, in my opinion, sometimes when you have a good design like the 026, changing the design is foolish. Keep in mind I understand human nature's constant urge to improve on everything. And, technology is inevitable. As far as the 290 argument, Im done, that topic has been beat to death a hundred times on this site.

 

[goof008]

To all the guys bashing the 290-390...if you want to buy me a new 361 feel free, I'll give you my address and you can ship it right over. I have a 290 and the muffler mod does help, it might be a little heavier than other saws, but if it's to heavy for you, you might want to hit the gym more often, or take up quilting and leave the chainsaw work to the men who don't notice an extra pound or two. I'd love a 361, but I already have saw that does the job, but anyone that thinks I need a new $600 saw, send it over!

 

[troutfisher]

For your intended use the 290 is fine, I started selling firewood years ago with just an 029 then as things took off I got a 290. Some years I did over 50 cords with my saws and they are still running strong. I did open up the muffler's removed the limiter caps and opened up the carb and that will wake the saw right up. Way more than you will need for 10 cords a year.

I have to admidt that I did eventualy upgrade to a 360 and 440 because of the the amount of wood I was cutting but to this day I still use my modded 029 and 290 espically for cutting tree tops into firewood.

I will probaly get banished from this site for saying this but in your situation which I was once in, If I had 600 bucks to spend I would get two 290's instead of one 361. Ok now let me have it boys.

Way to go!!

 

[dadouthat]

It's interesting to read the debates over 361 vs the non pro saws such as the 290. I burn wood as primary heat (in a chilly area) but have a small place and don't burn that much. I am now using a 280 and like it. I chose the 280 for a variety of reasons and would do the same again, especially since learning more about both the 361 and the 280. Since I am not a pro, it is interesting to see what the local guys are using who are cutting and hauling logs for sale and also for heating their extended family households. In brief, they cut a lot of wood ,mostly spruce and trees rarely exceed 2' in diameter. The two persons supplying me with 8' logs are using a 270 and a 290 and those saws are keeping a lot of houses warm.

To complete the picture a little bit, at the moment it is -23 F and dropping with a predicted low of -45 F for the next couple of nights. Hauling out of the woods is done with snogos. The snogos are not large either, often a Tundra. The tow sleds are high tech though and essentially a 10' tub of HDPE. Very low friction, easy to pull, and very stable.