Need help with first saw! New ms290 or Used 046

[mcshaner2k]

Hey guys first post! I've been silently reading threads on here for some time. I'm buying my first saw and have a few questions. I'm basically using the saw for my own personal use (Firewood). I have a limited budget under 400.

I'm looking at a new Stihl ms290.

I also found a used 046 locally for the around the same price. I know the 046 is a much bigger saw. It's used and I dont know the history. I havent seen it yet but the guy says it runs great. I'm looking for some opinions.

Would you go for the bigger used pro saw that might need wrenching or the new warranted ms290?? Thanks!

 

[outdoorlivin247]

For just an all around good firewood saw for a new user, I would suggest the MS290...

Flame on guys...

 

[blsnelling]

Are you mechanically inclined, such that you can do your own chainsaw repairs? If so, you might want to look at the 046. It's one of the best saws Stihl ever made. At least pull the spark plug and use a flashlight to look at the cylinder wall. Make sure that it starts, revs, and idles properly. Test cut with it if at all possible. If all that leaves your head spinning, then by all means, go buy the new MS290. Good luck with your choice

 

[mcshaner2k]

Are you mechanically inclined, such that you can do your own chainsaw repairs? If so, you might want to look at the 046. It's one of the best saws Stihl ever made. At least pull the spark plug and use a flashlight to look at the cylinder wall. Make sure that it starts, revs, and idles properly. Test cut with it if at all possible.

Thanks for the quick replies guys

Im a machinist so fixing is no problem at all. I really want a pro saw and dont mind working on it. I didn't know how good of a saw the 046's are.

Some guys i know are telling me not to buy a used saw...

 

[timberwolf]

290... Or get a 390, same frame, same weight, bigger displacment and more power but obviously priced accordingly. Tell me why it would cost nothing more to build a 390 but they have no trouble bill the customer an extra hundred bucks or so.

LOL marketing.

 

[mcshaner2k]

290... Or get a 390, same frame, same weight, bigger displacment and more power but obviously priced accordingly. Tell me why it would cost nothing more to build a 390 but they have no trouble bill the customer an extra hundred bucks or so.

LOL marketing.

My dealer wants $369 for the ms290. Is the 390 around $469 then?

Are these saws really harder to work on compared to the pro saws?

 

[redfire312]

046 should last a loooooong time if it's maintained, I have no experience with a 290 tho

 

[mcshaner2k]

I felt like the MS290 had alot of plastic going on. I dont know if all the saws are like that now. It just felt like it might break easy... People seem to like tho.

I've always used older saws that had mostly all metal parts.

 

[outdoorlivin247]

Buy the 290 and forget this place ever exsisted...It will save you money and time...

 

[Mastermind]

I know several guys who have the 290 and I've cut with them and like the saw just fine. Issues I've seen with the saw...they seem to break easily at the rear handle, I'm seen two broken here and replaced the handle assembly on one of those. Hard to work on? Not to me, after taking a few of this design apart they aren't hard at all.

The 046 is a great saw, but has the one in question been rode hard? Several years old vs a new saw with a warranty? How good is dealer support in your area?

I guess I've just added more for you to think about...but that is how my mind works.

 

[timberwolf]

The 290/390 is a good bit slower to change a cylinder or piston on than say a 046/460, but that would not be a deciding factor to me. To me the 290 is a lot of weight for the power and beyond a muffler mod or an expensive conversion into a 390there arn't not a lot of easy ways to improve it much.

Botom line on performance hp/lb

290

5.9kg ---13.0lb
3.0kw ---4.1hp
0.31 hp/lb

390

5.9kg ---13.0lb
3.4kw ---4.6hp
0.36 hp/lb

046/460

6.5kg ---14.3lb
4.4kw ---6.0hp
0.42 hp/lb

046 is just a 10% weight penalty to gain a 47% hp advantage over a 290.

The 390 $$$ per Hp works out not so well. 27% more money for 13% more power. WHat a rip when it should cost the same to build.

 

[mcshaner2k]

Thanks for the advice guys

The dealer support is really good and he's 5min away. Would it make sense to buy the 290 use it, then maybe upgrade the the piston or whatever to make it a 390 next year??

Thats messed up that's its basically the same saw but 100 more!

 

[timberwolf]

Though being a first saw a 460 is a handful, others to look at are a 361 (lighter than a 390 with at least as much power and a lot smoother running), might find a used one in the price range. 260s are also solid fire wood saws and I would run one of those before dragging the extra 2.5 lb of a 290 around.

price of upgrading a 290 to a 390 is likely close to $300, not at all worth it.

 

[outdoorlivin247]

Thanks for the advice guys

The dealer support is really good and he's 5min away. Would it make sense to buy the 290 use it, then maybe upgrade the the piston or whatever to make it a 390 next year??

Thats messed up that's its basically the same saw but 100 more!

That P/C cost over $200 from the dealer, so I would say not a good upgrade unless the saw failed...

 

[Taxmantoo]

Are these saws really harder to work on compared to the pro saws?

Not if you're a pro mechanic who works on them every day:
http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=133453

Maybe you could ask Tom how much money he wants for the 290/390 saw he built?

 

[mcshaner2k]

Again I appreciate all the advise.

I've done alot of cutting with my fathers saws over the years so I have experience, although they were all smaller saws. The 046 sounds like a real beast hp to wieght ratio. I really like the 361 too just cant find a used one around. I need to pick something up soon and don't really have the time to wait for an ebay deal and such.

The saws going to be a keeper for a long time. It seems that the parts are relatively inexpensive and plentiful for the 046.

The smart part of me is telling me to buy a brand new 290 but the dumb side says to buy the beast. Dumb side usually wins.

 

[olyeller]

What's the price differential between the 290 and 390 at your local dealership? I know it would stretch your budget, but maybe that power upgrade will give you a saw you'll be happier with in the long run. My first new saw was a 390 specifically because I figured it was the most displacement for the money from Stihl. It seemed like a cheap factory hop-up to go from the 290 to 390--compared to the price of motorcycle hop-ups, that is. If you're only cutting firewood the 390 should last you a long time and you have warranty backing for a year while you learn the ropes. If you keep reading threads here on AS, you'll end up wishing you bought that 046--assuming it's in very good shape.

I suggest you pony up the extra dollars, buy a MS 390, then never log on to AS again. If you keep hanging around with these unsavory characters, you'll end up with a bunch of saws and wonder how it is you got infected with such a strange disease as CAD.

Olyeller

 

[mcshaner2k]

What's the price differential between the 290 and 390 at your local dealership? I know it would stretch your budget, but maybe that power upgrade will give you a saw you'll be happier with in the long run. My first new saw was a 390 specifically because I figured it was the most displacement for the money from Stihl. It seemed like a cheap factory hop-up to go from the 290 to 390--compared to the price of motorcycle hop-ups, that is. If you're only cutting firewood the 390 should last you a long time and you have warranty backing for a year while you learn the ropes. If you keep reading threads here on AS, you'll end up wishing you bought that 046--assuming it's in very good shape.

I suggest you pony up the extra dollars, buy a MS 390, then never log on to AS again. If you keep hanging around with these unsavory characters, you'll end up with a bunch of saws and wonder how it is you got infected with such a strange disease as CAD.

Olyeller

Haha you said it!! Thats the problem I have a terrible little devil that makes me get way into everything overboard... I'm beginning to like what I'm reading on here!

 

[blsnelling]

There's a very nice 361 in our Tradin Post here.

 

[kyle1!]

cutting what wood?

What type and size of wood will you be cutting? Oak/Locust or softwood? My vote is for the 046. A firewood ripper with a 20" and if you have larger pieces a longer bar can be fitted. More weight yes but your speed of cutting will allow more breaks

Brian