Chainsaw Repair

In my experience with the MS 290, it best suited for a 16 or 18 inch bar. It is or rather was Stihl's best selling saw.
Check the 290 and the older 029's out on eBay. They bring a nice price!
The 290's weakness as well as the MS 310 and MS 390 or rather the whole family of these popular series of Stihl saws are the main bearings. They have "plastic" races!
I rebuilt another 290 this afternoon. Bought it on eBay. Scored cylinder and piston. Very clean and low hour saw but the previous owner must have run it with the chain too tight. The crank bearing on the clutch side was damaged enough causing the crank seal to leak....burned up the cylinder and piston.
Replaced the cylinder and piston and the crank bearings/seals with after market parts offered on eBay. Note...the after market bearings have steel races! Go figure???
The saw now runs fine.....I hope to turn a profit on this saw but to do so....my time would have to be worth Chinese wages but Stihl saws are my hobby! 

Dave