For pure longevity & wood harvesting, whats your choice of these 3?

[treeslayer2003]

I was thinkin of the 028, sorry.

 

[AKDoug]

Bottom line. A frigging 290 will cut HUNDREDS of cords of wood if properly maintained and you don't go after wood that is too big. If all you cut is 20" and under, and don't mind a slower speed than a big pro saw, then a 290 will last most folks a lifetime.

 

[SilverKing]

I never owned a 270,but did own the "improved' 271.Also owned a 280,which was same as 270.I agree the 270s/280s were a bit spongy feeling,but i was pretty happy with mine.My 290 has been thoroughly abused and just wont die.My biggest complaint with my 290 is the air filter requires alot of maintenance,where the 270 wont need cleaned as much.The 290 is a bit heavy for its power,but price wise and just being a good all around well built saw,I think its hard to beat.Id run a 16-18",and keep that chain sharp.

 

[SilverKing]

forgot to mention,my 290 has been going strong for 4 or 5 years now,i see it running another 4 or 5

 

[Spectre468]

My 029 Super is roughly 15 years old and has, realistically, 75-80 cords under its belt. Still runs great. I think it was worth every penny spent. I just finished a minor overhaul on it, replacing wear items like the bar, fuel pick up etc, and I think it will be good for another 15 years at least. Especially with the new MS 362 C-M around.

 

[treesmith]

Not saying anything bad about those saws as I've never used them but if I came on here and asked for a recommendation between a turd and a poop I'd hope you'd all tell me not to be daft and buy better, but then I'm not a weekend warrior so quality is important to me

 

[Big_Wood]

reggie, don't you have a 440 or a 460? i seem to remember you having one of those 2 saws. IMO i wouldn't even pay $40 for a used clamshell but to each there own. i might pay up to $100 if i was needing a saw that specific size badly. i have been known to diss the 029/290 saws in the highest order though. if i was forced to buy one of those 3 saws i'd probably take the one i could make the most money on in a flip

 

[SilverKing]

If memory serves me right,I bought my 290 new for $329.Maybe $349.I would guess it has cut at least 100 pick up loads of wood,probably more.Which to me equals out to around 5 grand.Plus all the brush,fence post,fence boards,and just everyday clean-up you might use a saw for,Id say its done $12,000 worth of cutting.I would also bet money I could put it on "the bay" right now and it would still bring around $200 .Like Westcoaster was saying ,whatever you can "flip".Anything with the Stihl name is gonna hold its value,and the 290s are the most popular saws you will find,at least where I live.A certified genuine Stihl that will turn a 20 inch "blade".

 

[ReggieT]

reggie, don't you have a 440 or a 460? i seem to remember you having one of those 2 saws. IMO i wouldn't even pay $40 for a used clamshell but to each there own. i might pay up to $100 if i was needing a saw that specific size badly. i have been known to diss the 029/290 saws in the highest order though. if i was forced to buy one of those 3 saws i'd probably take the one i could make the most money on in a flip

Nope, never got a 440 or 460. Came real close, but the area, conversation, and meeting places kept changing on those saws...especially when guys start calling and asking if you're the "Law & if you can meet em down by an abandoned mill late @ night!"...kinda decided I could live without em at the time!
Got a feller who has a non-running 064, but he won't sell it...says he doesn't need money...just wants to trade for other saws...

 

[Brushwacker]

I am pretty sure the 029 super is the same displacement as an ms 310. For bucking bigger wood with a 20" bar I would prefer it over the 290 for that reason and I prefer the old fuel caps. If the main duty of the saw was cutting down smaller trees and limbing the ms 270 with a 16" bar would be my choice. I have used them all and no they are not my first choice although I do like the 270 with a 16" bar for what I said.
You don't need a pro saw to make money with chainsaws. There is to many good reasons to use those models to list. If I were a logger cutting big timber, I'd want bigger and better. A lot of jobs those saws are a better investment for their return, more so for the average wood cutter, but even in business situations they often make good sense.

 

[ReggieT]

I am pretty sure the 029 super is the same displacement as an ms 310. For bucking bigger wood with a 20" bar I would prefer it over the 290 for that reason and I prefer the old fuel caps. If the main duty of the saw was cutting down smaller trees and limbing the ms 270 with a 16" bar would be my choice. I have used them all and no they are not my first choice although I do like the 270 with a 16" bar for what I said.
You don't need a pro saw to make money with chainsaws. There is to many good reasons to use those models to list. If I were a logger cutting big timber, I'd want bigger and better. A lot of jobs those saws are a better investment for their return, more so for the average wood cutter, but even in business situations they often make good sense.

Excellent feedback! BRAVO!

 

[anlrolfe]

You will be able to find parts for a 1127 series 029 / MS290 till the cows come home. The 270 is about 1Lb lighter and with slightly smaller engine. So its up to you if the price is close. Weight vs power?? What size trees are you typically cutting may help answer the question.

For the "Pro crowd", if every cord you cut got cut into 18" pieces then we could compare apples to apples. When its just dropped and limbed then snatched by the skidder you've only done a fraction of the work per tree, doesn't that skew the perspective a bit? I'm not saying that the welterweight boxer can go toe-to-toe with the heavy weight.

 

[treesmith]

I'm a climber and virtually every tree I've ever done was cut into firewood for the HO or the HO's brother/sister/uncle or neighbour, if I managed to keep any I cut it up for my fire. Now I'm in oz it is usually cut up into firewood and left roadside. There have been so very few jobs where I didn't have to cut a tree into fire sized pieces

 

[nmurph]

Guys, he asked for opinions between three specific saws. Why do we always have to ignore what people are asking for?

Yep, when a question is asked and the answers are specified, then the answer should be one of the choices submitted.

Bossy little prick, aren't you?

Hey Bob!

I am pretty sure the 029 super is the same displacement as an ms 310. For bucking bigger wood with a 20" bar I would prefer it over the 290 for that reason and I prefer the old fuel caps. If the main duty of the saw was cutting down smaller trees and limbing the ms 270 with a 16" bar would be my choice. I have used them all and no they are not my first choice although I do like the 270 with a 16" bar for what I said.
You don't need a pro saw to make money with chainsaws. There is to many good reasons to use those models to list. If I were a logger cutting big timber, I'd want bigger and better. A lot of jobs those saws are a better investment for their return, more so for the average wood cutter, but even in business situations they often make good sense.

Pretty good except that an 029S and a 310 are not the same displacement, the 029S is very close to the 310 in terms of performance.

Bottom line. A frigging 290 will cut HUNDREDS of cords of wood if properly maintained and you don't go after wood that is too big. If all you cut is 20" and under, and don't mind a slower speed than a big pro saw, then a 290 will last most folks a lifetime.

Yep.

 

[blsnelling]

029 Super = MS290. The standard 029 had slightly less displacement.

 

[Jrapp]

I have a 029 super. It is a good saw. The only reason I'm selling it is I have a big itch for newer saw. I understand that people don't like them. But for the money invested and minimal maintence I think they are worth it. Especially if you are buying used and it has been taken care of, but as with anything you get out what you put in. If any saw is not maintained they will not last. I kinda look at the 029 like my jeep wrangler. It may not be the bell of the ball but it still gets the job done.

 

[nmurph]

029 Super = MS290. The standard 029 had slightly less displacement.

The 029S than the 290 has better timing according to some.

 

[jughead500]

Hey OP What is your Budget? Are you strickly a Stihl man?

 

[cre10]

Just tired of seeing the same ******** half-wit pack mentality reign supreme when a guy asks a simple, but specific question and gets noise in return. Happens way too often here and doesn't help anyone...

You don't have to come here...

 

[anlrolfe]

Budget?
Sometimes you've got to make a decision and strike when the iron is hot. Kind of like asking a girl to dance.
You may never get that opportunity again.
Any info on the previous owner concerning maintenance? What are you cutting(size) and how/how often will you be using this??
Price point ?? is the 029super $ the MS270 $$$ and the MS290 $$$$
The 029super and MS290 are exact listed weight 13Lb and Hp 3.8. The MS 270 is 11.7Lb and 3.4 Hp.
Depending on what you are cutting(if small??) you may not notice or need the HP but you sure as heck will feel the weight. That why I love my old 026.
Hope this hasn't gotten all to muddled around.