Stihl, ms290 opinions wanted

[Tig]

The McCullough Mac Cat is having problems scratching it's way through my wood pile. It's just not the right tool for the job. I'm about to go out and buy a Stihl ms290
Intended use is to cut a few trees each year and a truckload of wood every two years.
Any thoughts or opinions on the Stihl would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I have the MS250 model and am very happy with it. I am looking to get a bigger saw to go along with this one and Stihl will be at the top of my list. Other than normal maintenance I have never had a problem with it. Just had it out last week due to the wind storm, it set since last fall and It started up in 5 pulls! I didn't think that was too bad.

 

[Tig]

Thanks JD. I appreciate the reply.
By the way Stihls are on "sale" here. Although when I do the math on the exchange rate, a Canadian sale price equals a US suggested retail price.

 

[kennyd]

I've had my MS290 FB/18" for 5 years now, And it's served me well. I don't think you could go wrong with ant of the Stihl products.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

you'll be pleased with any stihl after being use to a mucullough.....

we've had good muculloughs, homelites, poulans, etc...

but when you go to echo, stihl, tanaka, husqvarna, etc.......just a different level....

but each come with a price.....

 

[studor]

I bought my MS290 on sale about five years ago (I also have a Mc Cullough 510 I inherited). The 290 is a great saw---, starts, cuts, all the things a chainsaw should do. I have an 18" bar on mine and a healthy supply of spare chains. The only criticism I might have is that it does get heavy after a day of cutting. The sale deal then was a hat (absolutely required), a case, a case of six oil and a spare chain for about $450 CDN -- probably about the same today. I looked at the Husky 455 which is pretty comparable but found I liked the Stihl dealer better -- some dealers around here sell both. The other comparable saw would be a Jonsared ( RONA has them). Last summer you could have gotten a great deal on a "cross border shopping trip" but with recent exchange it is back to about the same. Happy shopping
regards
Steve

 

[YesDeere]

Stihl is the only way to go if you don't mind the extra money up front. But it will pay off when it lasts three times as long. I've got an ms 250 thats three years old and i love it. Much lighter than the dinosaurs that I still run. One is a mid 70's 020 av and it sill atarts on three pulls. The other is an early 80's 041 wich is just nasty

 

[NuBota]

I bought my MS460 2 years ago - had a 25" bar - before that I only had a 16" craftsman (i.e. Poulan). Would never buy anything else now

I had four 60+ foot oaks (~4 cord yield) that died near the house. Had 'em dropped (by a pro) and figured to save money I would buck the trees. Figured I would take my time with the Craftsman. Started on the first tree, 20 mins in on one cut I said forget it - off to the dealer - sold both Husky and Stihl. Told him my situation (complete noob) and he pointed me to the MS290 and I said Ok - he went to get the paperwork and I noticed the 460 - said "how about that one?". Everyone in the shop kinda smiled - you know - "the fool has more money that brains" and "he'll probably kill himself" - smile
One was a customer picking up his big Husky (25") from the service dept - comparable to the 460. Chatted a bit - he could use the wood (he sold it for a living), i couldn't, offered to buy it from me, told him come get for nothing, and he said he would come help me.

Got my new toy - fired it up - and it scared they daylights outta me - power is unbelievable. Guy shows up - each took two trees - all four limbed and bucked in an hour (he was waiting on me of course)

What struck me was he was really eyeballing and complimenting my saw - let him use it - he really liked it. That eased the buyers remorse I had. His Husky was old, but every bit as capable - but I felt real good about my choice.

Poor little craftsman still gets used if wood is real dirty and/or small enough. But, bottom line, the time that saw saves me cutting has completely justified the expense in my mind - no more buyers remorse (after 20-30 hours) at all - but it has cost me a little more in protective gear - the sheer power and efficiency still makes me nervous.

 

[dirt ditch]

I have a 361, 250, 180 and a poulan. The 290 weighs more than the 361 which gets realy heavy after awhile. My personal favorite is my 250 with a 16" bar. It is not a pro saw but it will hold its own against my 361 every time. If I don't need the 20" bar of my 361 to cut down a large tree or cut rounds, I leave it at home. At the wood pile the 180 with a 14" bar cuts great for a small saw and is easy on the back, but the gas tank is small so it has to be refilled more often than the 250 or 361. If I had it to do over again I would have bought just the 250, or stepped up to the 260 pro. My $.02

 

[thatguy]

there was a good post about Stihl chainsaws a while back that listed the pros and cons of all the different saws and what each person like.. IIRC it was titled "stihls are not expensive" or something similar..

Good luck
b