Stihl ms 290

[greenthumb]

I need a new Stihl had a 290 worked it to death for the last 15 or so years. Was happy with it. Thinking of getting one with a 20 inch bar. The old had a 16 I still have it could switch but my question is will a 20 inch bar be too much for this machine. Most of cutting is downed trees for forte wood. Not. A lot of felling but a 20 in bar would be good on occasion.

 

[mattridessleds]

I have a 290 with an 18" bar. I use it for firewood and also for cutting logs for my bandsaw mill. I think a 20" would be pushing it for the saw in my opinion. I'm pretty happy with the 18".

 

[smstonypoint]

The Stihl literature lists 16", 18", or 20" bars for the MS290.

I bought one last year and it was fitted with a 20" bar off the shelf. The dealer said that most of his MS290 sales were with 20" bars. I don't do any sawing that would require a 20" bar, so in the interest of having a marginally lighter saw, I had the dealer switch the 20" bar for an 18" bar. So far, so good.

Steve

 

[gghb]

might want to try a skip tooth chain with longer bar done that for years to get more bbar on smaller saw

greg

 

[LD1]

I personally would not buy a MS290.

IMO there are far better saws for the money. My uncle had a MS290, and it was VERY slow for its displacemet and weight. Heavy and slow are not desirable in a saw:confused2: This was just my own personal experience. Maybe it was a lemon of a saw Maybe it was just the chain combo Who knows. But running a MS310 right beside it, the 310 was considerabally faster for not much more $$ and not a ton more power on paper.

If you are a die-hard stihl man, I'd look into the MS260. Pro-grade saw, with nearly the same power as the 290 (3.75 vs 3.80) in a much lighter package. Or consider jumping to the 361/362 if you are going to be needing a 20" bar most of the time.

If you are not a diehard stihl man, shop around. Performance wise, stihl is about the most $$$ per HP. Husky, Dolmar/makita, Echo...all make excellent products. Check out a dolmar 5105 or 6400, or a husky 357.

 

[xyz123]

The MS260 has been replaced with MS261.
The 357xp small mount is being replaced by 562xp large mount
290 replaced with 291
310 replaced by 311

Best money for the buck with auto carb tune for a homeowner with pro quality build husky 555 replaced the 359 in homeowner non xp saws.
The 555 is a small mount non xp saw like 560xp without the rev boost. Light and super fast cutting per a tester on Chainsawrepair. He said he sold the saw after all the testing for $475 shipped. 555 outcut the 357xp easily.

If you get another MS290 I seen they were on sale for $369 with so called free case. If you would do a simple 30min muffler mod and carb retune you will gain min 20% faster cutting speed with the stock rm? chain that comes with them. If you would slap on a stihl rsc chain you will gain about another 40% quicker cut. So you see it is easy to gain 60% quicker cuts for little time and good chain. Square file that rsc to a rslk and you gain another 10%. I seen 73% faster cut times with a stock MS290 I started with once after mod and changes.
I'm not a fan of a 290, but if your going to run one open it and make it run right, not the epa slitted muffler crap they sale you.

If you can find a MS361 new left over or used ($589 new, $300-$350 used) that was my favorite stihl in that range 59cc and cut circles around a 290 310. I would go used 361 all day over a new 290.

 

[Arky217]

The MS260 has been replaced with MS261.
The 357xp small mount is being replaced by 562xp large mount
290 replaced with 291
310 replaced by 311

Best money for the buck with auto carb tune for a homeowner with pro quality build husky 555 replaced the 359 in homeowner non xp saws.
The 555 is a small mount non xp saw like 560xp without the rev boost. Light and super fast cutting per a tester on Chainsawrepair. He said he sold the saw after all the testing for $475 shipped. 555 outcut the 357xp easily.

If you get another MS290 I seen they were on sale for $369 with so called free case. If you would do a simple 30min muffler mod and carb retune you will gain min 20% faster cutting speed with the stock rm? chain that comes with them. If you would slap on a stihl rsc chain you will gain about another 40% quicker cut. So you see it is easy to gain 60% quicker cuts for little time and good chain. Square file that rsc to a rslk and you gain another 10%. I seen 73% faster cut times with a stock MS290 I started with once after mod and changes.
I'm not a fan of a 290, but if your going to run one open it and make it run right, not the epa slitted muffler crap they sale you.

If you can find a MS361 new left over or used ($589 new, $300-$350 used) that was my favorite stihl in that range 59cc and cut circles around a 290 310. I would go used 361 all day over a new 290.

Right on about that muffler mod.
I've had a 290 for about 10 years. Several years ago I modded the muffler. What a difference !

I also have a Husky 395XP for my Logosol mill. I modded the muffler on it as well about the same time. Talk about a beast !

(As a side note; if you didn't wear ear protection before, after the muffler mod, you will surely want to.)

(Another side note; no matter what brand or size saw you have, the one thing that you can do that will make a tremendous difference is KEEP THAT CHAIN SHARP !)

 

[RavensRoost]

The MS260 has been replaced with MS261.
If you can find a MS361 new left over or used ($589 new, $300-$350 used) that was my favorite stihl in that range 59cc and cut circles around a 290 310. I would go used 361 all day over a new 290.

I do not have a 361 (I have a 357XP and an 044), but from what I read the 361 is far far better than the 290. But of course it costs more.

 

[trook]

I researched this very topic in great detail about 2 years ago. I went with the 361 with a 20" bar and rsc chain. This is a professional grade saw that, while about the same weight as the 290, has MUCH more power and MUCH less vibration.

I am very happy with my choice and recommend the 361/362 for all but the largest jobs. :thumbsup:

 

[xyz123]

I do not have a 361 (I have a 357XP and an 044), but from what I read the 361 is far far better than the 290. But of course it costs more.

I had both a woods ported 357xp and a stock muffler modded MS361. To wake up the animal inside a 361, do a simple muffler mod too and carb richen afterwords. Totally different saw then.
PHO only weight they both weigh less then 290 by almost half pound.

Husqvarna 357xp pop up domed piston woods ported testing - YouTube

weighed as used full of fluids and 16" b+c

 

[turnkey4099]

Love that 361 but...Anyone else have a problem with the bar nuts coming loose? Mine regularly comes in missing one. Today I was cutting a Locust, did 6 rounds (20" +) finished the last one and as I pulled the saw up out of the log the bar cover, bar and chain all fell off. No biggee as I carry spare bar nuts.

Harry K

 

[xyz123]

Love that 361 but...Anyone else have a problem with the bar nuts coming loose? Mine regularly comes in missing one. Today I was cutting a Locust, did 6 rounds (20" +) finished the last one and as I pulled the saw up out of the log the bar cover, bar and chain all fell off. No biggee as I carry spare bar nuts.

Harry K

Never a problem on the 361 with bar nuts. I did have one saw this seemed to be a problem on though. Think it was Partner designed saw.

You dont happen to be using full skip chain and maybe causing a little extra vibration in the cuts somehow?
Never heard of a 361 with bar nut problems. Guess this would be a good case for those new captive bar nuts on the new saws like 261.

 

[sw03]

I have a MS290 and love it. Going to do the muffler mod and port it. I am gonna pick up a 036 for a toy and play with it.

Problem with Huskys are they are all not the same. HD has cheaper parts then other stores.

 

[LD1]

I have a MS290 and love it. Going to do the muffler mod and port it. I am gonna pick up a 036 for a toy and play with it.

Problem with Huskys are they are all not the same. HD has cheaper parts then other stores.

Once you get (IF you get) an 036, I dont think you will use the 290 much. Maybe only when you yet the 036 pinched

And I am not sure what you mean by that last statement

If you mean that HD (home depot) has cheaper parts for husky saws than other stores.....

Well HD doesnt carry any parts for PRO husky saws NOR do they sell PRO saws. None of the box stores do (TSC, Lowes). While the huskys you see on the shelves in those stores say husky, they are nothing like pro huskys. But husky isnt the only one that makes lower end saws for the average joe homeowner. Stihl does too.

 

[sw03]

Once you get (IF you get) an 036, I dont think you will use the 290 much. Maybe only when you yet the 036 pinched

And I am not sure what you mean by that last statement

If you mean that HD (home depot) has cheaper parts for husky saws than other stores.....

Well HD doesnt carry any parts for PRO husky saws NOR do they sell PRO saws. None of the box stores do (TSC, Lowes). While the huskys you see on the shelves in those stores say husky, they are nothing like pro huskys. But husky isnt the only one that makes lower end saws for the average joe homeowner. Stihl does too.

I might agree...have to see... I know a few friends that have the 290 ported and MM and it smoke a 036 stock...the things are scary after mods.

Yes, a husky XXX at HD is not the same as a husky XXX at a huksy dealer. I know a few co-workers that boughts saw at HD and husky would not get the parts for them...strange..

 

[DNC]

Purchased ms290 2 weeks ago for $344 plus free case......love it.

 

[sentrymechanic]

I bought a new 290 about a month ago and after I adjusted the idle a little bit, I proceeded to work the living crap out of it cleaning up old ice storm damage in pecan and oak trees. Saw stayed right with me all day and not a problem using it in a 40ft cherry picker.

 

[stihlman]

As another poster said, open the muffler up, re-adjust the carb and keep a sharp RSC Stihl chain on it. The 290 is probably Stihl's best selling saw and they make a great homeowner's firewood tool. I don't have one but have used many and they are fine. Do yourself a favor and don't run a pro model Stihl, they are lighter, more power/cc displacement, vibrate less, and much more expensive. Someone once called the 290 the Dodge Intrepid of chainsaws, not flashy, not high performance, just a good dependable everyday driver.

Steve

 

[sentrymechanic]

Yeah I just tuned mine a little bit ago... gonna have some more wood to stick it in pretty soon. Going to hold off on the muffler mod for now though since its under warranty

 

[DieselMonk]

I have a Stihl 034 that I bought new in summer 1997. I put a new sword, a carburator kit and one spark plug on it in 15 years, besides chains. That was it. I plan on to work her until she quits.