Author Topic: Stihl Ms290  (Read 944 times)

0 Members and 12 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Giles

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Karma: 12
  • Location: Florence Alabama

  • Total Badges: 19
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 4 100 Posts Avatar
Stihl Ms290
« on: March 30, 2015, 04:47:49 pm »
I have a friend that wants to sell me an MS290 Stihl. I know nothing about the saw except it is a clamshell design with 56cc.
Reading some reviews, some say  a 20" bar is too big.
Really??? I have a 52cc Makita that uses a 20" bar with no problems.
Is this an unpopular model?

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline 660magnum

  • Global Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 6437
  • Karma: 249
  • For The Love Of Chainsaws
  • Location: NCO

  • Total Badges: 39
    Badges: (View All)
    Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary 5000 Posts Third year Anniversary
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2015, 06:36:54 pm »
The Stihl 029 & MS290 are probably Stihl's most popular model
We should share what we know... someone may learn...
That knowledge can live after us... and that "Pays It Forward".
Be all that you can be . . .

Offline RoyM

  • Gas Hotsaw
  • ******
  • Posts: 502
  • Karma: 45
  • Location: Surrey British Columbia

  • Total Badges: 21
    Badges: (View All)
    Level 5 500 Posts Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Karma Good Level 4
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2015, 10:23:34 pm »
It is a very popular farm/ranch/weekend warrior saw. It will run a 20" bar and .325 chain comfortably, not quite enough oomph for 3/8. IMHO, a little heavy for it's size.
Old age and treachery always overcome youth and enthusiasm

Offline 660magnum

  • Global Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 6437
  • Karma: 249
  • For The Love Of Chainsaws
  • Location: NCO

  • Total Badges: 39
    Badges: (View All)
    Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary 5000 Posts Third year Anniversary
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2015, 10:34:15 pm »
If the engines goes bad, people usually convert them to a MS390 with a new cylinder and piston assembly.
We should share what we know... someone may learn...
That knowledge can live after us... and that "Pays It Forward".
Be all that you can be . . .

Offline 67L36Driver

  • 5 cube
  • ***
  • Posts: 111
  • Karma: 23

  • Total Badges: 12
    Badges: (View All)
    Apple User Mobile User Combination Topic Starter Level 2 50 Posts
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2015, 08:24:05 am »
Like this:

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23708
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2015, 03:43:22 pm »
I had a like new 290 that a dealer couldnt figure out and out of warranty. I bought it for $100 from the guy that got it from new  original owner. 

After figuring out it was just a carb issue. The diaphragm with flaps ( cant think of name of it right now  :-[ )  had slits wore in it where it should have been blocking off.   I did a muffler mod and carb retune and seen 23% quicker cuts with the 325 chain.

I had in mind giving it to my dad the whole time.  Few months later he told me to take the  :o ( weight wise for 56cc ) back home with me that he didnt like it and preferred his poulan 3300 54cc he bought new in late 80's.

I put it on CL with 16" and bunch of 063 chains and sold for $225.

Offline Eccentric

  • Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 2117
  • Karma: 217
  • Magnesium and Iron.
  • Location: Northwestern Wyoming

  • Total Badges: 37
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Eighth year Anniversary Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2015, 06:31:04 pm »
I had a like new 290 that a dealer couldnt figure out and out of warranty. I bought it for $100 from the guy that got it from new  original owner. 

After figuring out it was just a carb issue. The diaphragm with flaps ( cant think of name of it right now  :-[ )  had slits wore in it where it should have been blocking off.   I did a muffler mod and carb retune and seen 23% quicker cuts with the 325 chain.

I had in mind giving it to my dad the whole time.  Few months later he told me to take the  :o ( weight wise for 56cc ) back home with me that he didnt like it and preferred his poulan 3300 54cc he bought new in late 80's.

I put it on CL with 16" and bunch of 063 chains and sold for $225.

Pump diaphragm. 8)
Like Like x 1 View List

Offline Giles

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Karma: 12
  • Location: Florence Alabama

  • Total Badges: 19
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 4 100 Posts Avatar
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2015, 05:47:29 pm »
My friend brought the saw over. I agreed to tear it down and find the problem.  Ruined piston and cylinder but not locked up. Worst I have ever seen that wasn't locked.
I might also add that I thought a Dolmar PS34 was a difficult saw to work on until I did this 290!

Offline 660magnum

  • Global Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 6437
  • Karma: 249
  • For The Love Of Chainsaws
  • Location: NCO

  • Total Badges: 39
    Badges: (View All)
    Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary 5000 Posts Third year Anniversary
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2015, 06:35:34 pm »
By the time you get it repaired and learn the tricks, you'll think it not so much harder than any other brand.

Time to put a Chinese cylinder and piston in it?  Make it a 390? Doesn't cost any more.
We should share what we know... someone may learn...
That knowledge can live after us... and that "Pays It Forward".
Be all that you can be . . .

Offline Giles

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 157
  • Karma: 12
  • Location: Florence Alabama

  • Total Badges: 19
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Fourth year Anniversary Third year Anniversary Level 4 100 Posts Avatar
Re: Stihl Ms290
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2015, 06:48:23 pm »
Wonder how much longer that will take--Been rebuilding chainsaws for over FIFTY YEARS. LOL
What's hard for me, may be easy for you or vice versa.

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
MS290 MM

Started by Kenskip1 Stihl

6 Replies
767 Views
Last post December 24, 2011, 05:38:54 am
by Al Smith
2 Replies
761 Views
Last post August 10, 2012, 04:17:28 pm
by mweba
2 Replies
459 Views
Last post April 24, 2013, 09:55:29 pm
by Adirondackstihl
ms290

Started by gunrac « 1 2 3 » Stihl

28 Replies
1346 Views
Last post February 24, 2014, 01:39:48 pm
by Cut4fun
Stihl MS290

Started by Buddy Stihl

8 Replies
646 Views
Last post March 25, 2014, 05:27:17 pm
by Buddy
MS290 won't run slow

Started by jvh24521 « 1 2 3 » Stihl

25 Replies
1185 Views
Last post March 11, 2014, 03:29:25 pm
by jvh24521
1 Replies
355 Views
Last post March 22, 2014, 02:33:52 pm
by gunrac
6 Replies
305 Views
Last post March 23, 2018, 08:00:40 pm
by ray benson
5 Replies
2378 Views
Last post December 08, 2014, 10:19:14 pm
by farmboy
5 Replies
532 Views
Last post May 10, 2022, 11:29:50 am
by 3000 FPS