Experience with both MS290 and MS291 ?
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Philip Wheelock
Finis Origine Pendet
Local dealer stocks the ms271 and ms290; probably won't see an ms291 in the store until the 290's are NLA.
M
moody
Guest
If taken care of they are an OK home owner saw. For the power they're heavy. If you're set on buying a Stihl save up a little extra and buy a MS 261. I'm a Husqvarna fan myself the 455 Rancher has proven itself as a quality saw look into it. But if you decide to go the 261 route do yourself a favor and run other comparative saws such as but not limited to Husqvarna 346/550, Dolmar 5100,5105 Jonsered 2152,2255, 2153,2151 there are tons of options . Do some searching ask a dealer if you could test one. If you buy a saw buy it from a dealer. If you've got any questions I'll be more than happy to help.50cc saws are what I'm into most so I've run plenty and own a few.
missedbass
ArboristSite Operative
I've had my 271 for a year now andits been great.
mopar1rules
ArboristSite Guru
I've used my dads 290 a little and its kinda dogey. I never used a 291 before. My local dealer has them in stock. In my opinion I think you are better of with a used 034 for a hundred or so less and then you have a pro grade saw thats lighter, makes more power, and made in Germany.
Missedbass,
Thanks for the reply. The 271 and 291 should be nearly identical from the specs. What is your opinion of the "creature comforts" such as ease of starting,vibration etc. (I'm pushing 70yo)
Have you had any second thoughts or reason to criticize the 271 in any way? Any experience with the 290 or 270 for comparison?
Thanks
Tom
indiansprings
Firewood Purveyor
261/271/291 are virtually being built on close to the same chassis, the 261 being the split pro, handling them you really can't tell much of a difference beside a little extra weight on the 291. 291 is a stouter saw, just going by feel 15% they will use 20-25 less gas, much wider power band torqier more bottom end, better ergonomics, as a dealer I think the 271 is going to surprise everyone, going to be the working class 261.
The 291 is also is availble with ez start. There will be some price adjustments coming SOON, you can buy a 311 for less than 15.00 more than a 291 right now, rumor has it the 291 will drop in retail by 40-50 bucks by the end of March.
We are selling the fire out of the last 290's, we're down to about 4 and had brought in about 35, again it's personal perference, you want more power less fuel, almost 50 percent less emissions go with the 291. Want to save some cash, buy the worlds #1 selling saw with a 20+ year record then the 290 is a great saw for any non commercial user. Remember the 261 will be coming out with a CM model which will be an animal, then who knows what the line is doing in 2014, digital fuel injection and the "I" series saws will be coming out.
Despite the people who hate the 290 it has cut prolly more firewood in the last 10 years than any other model of saw, but the 291 is definetley an improvement, but wait on the price drop.
The 291 is also is availble with ez start. There will be some price adjustments coming SOON, you can buy a 311 for less than 15.00 more than a 291 right now, rumor has it the 291 will drop in retail by 40-50 bucks by the end of March.
We are selling the fire out of the last 290's, we're down to about 4 and had brought in about 35, again it's personal perference, you want more power less fuel, almost 50 percent less emissions go with the 291. Want to save some cash, buy the worlds #1 selling saw with a 20+ year record then the 290 is a great saw for any non commercial user. Remember the 261 will be coming out with a CM model which will be an animal, then who knows what the line is doing in 2014, digital fuel injection and the "I" series saws will be coming out.
Despite the people who hate the 290 it has cut prolly more firewood in the last 10 years than any other model of saw, but the 291 is definetley an improvement, but wait on the price drop.
SawTroll
Information Collector
Same tank assambly, and some external parts, but the case and most inside is different, as far as I know.
Anyway, the basic version of the 291 appears to be considereably lighter than the 290, if the specs are true (they are not on the 290).....
SawTroll
Information Collector
Forgot to say, if you buy anything but the basic version, the weight gains are considerable - for basically no good reason (for most users).
indiansprings
Firewood Purveyor
I forgot to mention they are lighter, which we both know the 290 needed to lose weight, I think you will even give the 271 and 291 there due, lot of good impovements, the only thing that irkes me is that the 251 is immedialtely coming out with the 261 filter and it might be a while on the 271/291 to get it although they are set up better than they were. I don't understand the 291 ez start though, I'll be perfectly honest, I hate them, most people who buy them are inexpierenced, don't hear them "pop" leave them on choke and crank the hell out of them until the case is full of gas and here they come to the dealer, remove the plug turn in upside down and use compressed air to blow two shot glasses of gas out of the case, we tell them no more than three pulls on choke and then move it to the non start position and we get better results. Most customer's that buy them are elderly or inexpierenced and either can't hear them or just don't know what to listen for.
indiansprings
Firewood Purveyor
Even as a stihl/echo deale I do not like to recommend the 270/280/ fragile antivibe systems, these were the two odd ducks, you can't pull or yank on a pinched 270/280, lots of intake boots torn, there are not any design similairities with the 270/271. The 271 is a much much better saw/design. 271/291 good anti-vibe smoother than the 290 design. Usually start on the second or third pull. At 70 I'd lean toward the 271.
SawTroll
Information Collector
The ez-start is basically what I wanted to warn against (just for the added weight) - but I didn't know that it also malfunctions.
I don't think the 271 is a good replacement for the 270, but believe the 291 is a very good replacement for the (bad excuse for a chainsaw) 290. Time will tell what the truth is....
Bashing the worlds #1 selling chain saw for 20+ years ?
HMMM; me thinks there some screws lose in Norway
cutforfun
Addicted to ArboristSite
Just becouse it the best selling chainsaw does not mean its the best saw, it should have been updated years ago and thats all sawtroll was saying.
Stihl saw. = Sawtroll neg comment ?
Sawtroll comment. = H2H panties in a bunch
:ah:
Stihl saw. = Sawtroll neg comment ?
Sawtroll comment. = H2H panties in a bunch
:ah:
I going to say something every time ST bashes a saw
I was warned about bashing and ST still bashes every time he is on the site what up with that ?
missedbass
ArboristSite Operative
No second thoughts at all. the 271 starts easy, easy on fuel, and has no vibration. have not used a 290 or 270 but have used an 026 and a 260. if price is not an issue, then I would go with a 261. Its lighter (11.6 vs. 12.3) and its a pro model. its also $120 more. If I cut every day I would have got the 261. For the amount of wood that I cut, the 271 is the saw for me.
Good luck with your purchase!
Bill
missedbass
ArboristSite Operative
any price drop rumors for the 261 or 271?
For sure the HP specs are inflated. Steve
SawTroll
Information Collector
The difference is that my posts aren't really bashing, as it is factual information!
It is just in the eyes of fanatic Stihl fans that it looks like bashing.
I have a friend with the ez-start on a MS 250. He does not hear well and has a bad time with cold starts. He doesn't hear the "pop". I finally convinced him to pull twice with the choke on, and no more. Then shift to hi idle and pull. Saw nearly always starts with 3or4 pulls total. Once its warm and the choke is not used it seems to work for him. (He is older than I am.) I'm also Danish.
I know about the added weight and don't need the ez-start. I just put a new p/c etc in my sons MS360 pro and with the cold saw at 10F I can start it without using the primer or deconpression feature. I'm just looking for a saw that will pull a 20in bar as a backup for the 360. It would be nice if the bars would be interchangeable between the new saw and the 360. The 360 has a 20in b/c and I could put a 16 on the new saw. A 16in will cover 95% of the firewood the tree service drops.
Indiansprings
I will wait to see if the price changes. I'm wondering why you would point me to the 271 rather tha the 291. Other than price the 291 seems to have slight advantages in both HP and weight .
Thanks
Tom
