Is it worth it to big bore an MS311?

[RED-85-Z51]

Got an MS311, pulls a 25" bar alright, starts okay...piston looks alright. But, MS391 top end bolts on and it made more power. Just wondering if anyone has made that swap, and if it was worth doing for any gains?

Not sure what an OEM top end goes for, but im going up to the local stihl dealer tomorrow so ill ask. I know i can get a Hyway Nikasil with pop up piston and caber rings around 160.00 (cuinrearview's eye just twitched)..


Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[JustPlainJeff]

The recommended bar for a 311, is a 16". It's your saw, and you can put whatever bar on I that you want. But I'd never have a 25" bar on that saw. I also wouldn't spend any money on hopping it up when it's a plastic clamshell cased saw. Just the wrong tool for the job to me.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Easy enough to do- sell it and buy a 440.
But we all know you are not going to do that.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

The recommended bar for a 311, is a 16". It's your saw, and you can put whatever bar on I that you want. But I'd never have a 25" bar on that saw. I also wouldn't spend any money on hopping it up when it's a plastic clamshell cased saw. Just the wrong tool for the job to me.

Guy i got it from ran it commercially with the 25 for almost a year, it pulls it okay honestly.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Easy enough to do- sell it and buy a 440.
But we all know you are not going to do that.

440 is a great saw. They just dont pop up often around here for sale, when they do people want stupid money for a beat up saw

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[RED-85-Z51]

The recommended bar for a 311, is a 16". It's your saw, and you can put whatever bar on I that you want. But I'd never have a 25" bar on that saw. I also wouldn't spend any money on hopping it up when it's a plastic clamshell cased saw. Just the wrong tool for the job to me.

Stihl offers it with Bars between 16 and 25 here. I mean...its a shade under 60cc.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

440 is a great saw. They just dont pop up often around here for sale, when they do people want stupid money for a beat up saw

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Yep, because they are a proper grown ups chainsaw and can run a 25"bar and chain properly.
In my non-professional opinion, I agree with Jeff- a secondhand 311 is a 16"saw- 18"at best.

 

[JustPlainJeff]

They'll sell it equipped with a 25", but they recommend a 16". Shoot, they only recommend my 462 run a 25". I'm not bum wrapping your saw, just showing you what I've seen on Stihl's site.

 

[Matt Hogden]

Mate i have done a few 310/311 to 390/391 bigbores. Definitely worth it.
All of my customers have been very pleased with the power increase.
I have done oem and Meteor kits.
The meteor kits are really good value and quality for the money.
I have also done them using a Cross pop up piston. These piston seem to remove the 391 a nice boost as well.
Defiantly worth converting

Sent from my SM-A205YN using Tapatalk

 

[cuinrearview]

Hyway Nikasil

Your $160 might get you this:
Of course it also might get you this:
I don't pass along advice just to read my words. The Asian AM parts are a straight up roll of the dice. I got both of these dirt cheap to check them out. Ain't a chance in hell I'd even spend your $160 on this stuff.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Your $160 might get you this:View attachment 833109View attachment 833110
Of course it also might get you this:View attachment 833111View attachment 833112
I don't pass along advice just to read my words. The Asian AM parts are a straight up roll of the dice. I got both of these dirt cheap to check them out. Ain't a chance in hell I'd even spend your $160 on this stuff.

Those transfers look minty[emoji28]

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[RED-85-Z51]

I still have to pull the intake and see if its a 3 or 4 hole intake...looks like little coverage for a 4 hole exists.

This saw has been dogged, but its clean...runs good, i replaced the entire clutch, oiler, oil hose tomorrow, cleaned it up, found a 2pc muffler for it. Tsumura bar and Archer 3/8 full skip, full chisel chain. Its about the same weight as a 440 with a tick less power but it feels more responsive. May run it like it is. Just thought, if the kit exists and i can get more compression and displacement...why not. Hyway is generally regarded as a safe oem alternative.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[cuinrearview]

Hyway is generally regarded as a safe oem alternative.

Uhhhh..... those pics I posted ARE Hyway.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Uhhhh..... those pics I posted ARE Hyway.

Should be good to go then. Maybe give em a little more chamfer on the ports...

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Ill see what they get for oem...go from there

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Ill see what they get for oem...go from there

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

It's all downhill from there.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Its a 3 bolt..so that's good. Hard to see but 2 top and 1 bottom center.

I put on the biggest dogs i could find because i know yall love em

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[RED-85-Z51]

OEM MS-391 top end is $365.00

Really makes it hard to justify putting that kind of change into a mid tier saw.

Really wasnt expecting that kind of premium for a mid tier top end...do people actually have these saws rebuilt with oem parts?

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Yep they do, but not everyone goes the route of trying to get more out of a small platform- they just buy the size saw they were after.
Just do what you are going to do, put an AM top end on it and then list the OEM parts for sale here- someone serious will buy them for a realistic secondhand value.

 

[Justsaws]

OEM MS-391 top end is $365.00

Really makes it hard to justify putting that kind of change into a mid tier saw.

Really wasnt expecting that kind of premium for a mid tier top end...do people actually have these saws rebuilt with oem parts?

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Not very often. It is priced OEM high to put the saw in the disposable tool range. Fairly common junked saw, beware of used ones as they often have an AM cylinder set. Ask your dealer if that is $365.00 installed, warrantied? The 311 set was a good bit cheaper. Been awhile however I think the 311 was in the $240 ish range.