260-261 / 270-280 / 190-291 same or similar chasis?!??
**title has a typo: it's 290-291**
What's goin' on guys? What did I miss?
Did STIHL ditch the clam-shell design on the 290 to make the 291??
Please - where the person who got a 291 disassembled - please come forward - I'm curious too.
All I know - they might have joined the newer 271 to the family of the updated series of 291 & 391 after I saw the 1st two share one instruction manual (
http://www.stihlusa.com/WebContent/...als/MS271_291_291CBEQ_Manual.pdf#search="291" )
I didn't search enough about the 291 , that I admit.
But worth mentioning that until someone takes one of them apart (someone please?) - the older MS270 and 280 were and still are "farm owner's" saws built on professional aluminum crankcase platform..
So,
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm all ears (eyes).
290 + 310 +390 are same
exact platform.
Clam-Shell engine block in a sturdy plastic casing, shrouds etc'.. (
025 / MS250 is their smaller 'sis', I have both).
My own proof is that I have just installed an
MS390 P&C Nikasil set on an
MS290. Runs like a beast. Heavy (formerly) sluggish 56cc is now about 64cc beast in virtually the same weight..
Vibration is a whole different story.
Getting a project
MS240 for rebuild proved me that this family (024 through MS260; 42cc to 50cc) sport a
fantastically smooth AV system and needless to say more about the build - aluminum/alloy case that I'm a fan of. More robust IMO, plus I'd rather replace a P&C for those
So - although it's still the old rubber AV mounts - they seem to work
better than those on the 025 / 250 / 290 etc'..
Last family of saws to mention, though I never owned (but used) one - are the
270/280 (can't say about the
271 since what I mentioned at the beginning) .. - they were the 1st (as far as I know) family of mid-sized STIHL chainsaws to sport the smooth heavier-duty steel springs for the main AV mounts. Again - correct me please , if I'm wrong (and I know the little 192T has springs too, they're far from this discussion.. lol). So far I have only read good reviews of their AV system.
Ever since - you could notice/see STIHL incorporating
spring AV mounts to more and more chainsaws.. the 441 , the 271 through 391 , and even the 461 (I think..) - maybe it's for a good reason.
Hope it's needless to say that Husqvarna / Jonsered have been using springs way back.. maybe that has something to do with STIHL's delay on that..
Bottom line:
If you want a chainsaw for farm use that's around 50cc, not too heavy , runs VERY smooth, but still built on a professional platform - a used 270/280 might be a nice affordable deal. I'd get one for a good price, I just haven't come across one, so I mess around with the 240.. lol
Note that a good used 260 is also a fantastic deal. When I finish the 240 - I'm gonna find me a 260
very popular - plenty of parts out there for this family!
Is you have more money, and you have a way higher reserve for this next purchase -- well -- then it's quite a different story.. get yourself what has been
proven to serve tasks/usage such as yours - and that has good AV system
Just my opinion..
Jo.