Junkwrencher
Junkwrencher AKA 2Bears AKA Missedshot
How do they compare, all things equal, all are fresh with 20" .325 bars.
Stihl 026, 028 Super, MS290 performance
- Thread starter Junkwrencher
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Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
In decent sized wood... in reverse order to what you posted... but there more to it than just "cutting speed"...
take it away gang...
take it away gang...
davefr
Addicted to ArboristSite
The 290 will outcut the other two but it has a poor power/weight ratio and isn't a professional saw.
The 026 and 028 are built like tanks and easy to work on. They both have wonderful reputations. The 028 is an old classic while the 026 is a fairly new classic. They won't outcut a 290 though.
I'd take the 026 unless you want to maximize cutting performance and don't care about the weight in which case I'd choose the 290 if I had to stick with the three you mentioned.
GASoline71
Mr. Nice Guy
An 028 might not "outcut" a 290... but it will be cuttin' a lot longer than a 290...
Gary
Gary
I haven't used the 290 enough for much comment on it. I believe the 028 has stiffer av mounts which support a 20 inch bar better then the 026. The 026 did ok for me with the 20 but I prefer stiffer suspension . It holds an 18 inch much better. I used an 028 with 20 inch .325 with a 7 tooth rim. It had plenty of grunt but I would go with an 8 tooth rim or 3/8 7 tooth in any of those saws because they seem to run out of fuel to quickly with the 7 .325.
ShoerFast
Tree Freak
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20" is a stretch with the 026 , 028 Supers is in my all time fav list, 029's seem silly on the shelf next to 310's and 390's .
windthrown
361 Junkie
I do not like running the .325 bars on the 290. I much prefer the "real" 3/8 bars and chains on that one. A 20 inch on the 290 is pushing it, but I use it on mine a lot. I have 16/18/20 inch 3/8 bars for it that I can swap with the 361.
I am not very familiar with the 028/280. Seems like more metal in that saw, semi-pro, semi-homeowner. As for that and the 260, a 20 inch bar is probably too long for them. I have .325 16/18 inch bars for the 025/026. Of thes two bars, the 16 inch gets used on both the most.
I am not very familiar with the 028/280. Seems like more metal in that saw, semi-pro, semi-homeowner. As for that and the 260, a 20 inch bar is probably too long for them. I have .325 16/18 inch bars for the 025/026. Of thes two bars, the 16 inch gets used on both the most.
GASoline71
Mr. Nice Guy
The 028 and the 280 are 2 differnt animals...
Gary
Gary
buck futter
ArboristSite Guru
I only hefted a 028 once, I can't imagine it is much lighter than the 290.
The 026 is the all around winner in this group.
The 026 is the all around winner in this group.
RiverRat2
Serio Tree Freak
reachtreeservi
Addicted to ArboristSite
+1
I run a .325 16 in. bar on my 260, definitely wouldn't run anything longer on it.
Of all the saws listed , I'd go for the 260. It's light , nimble, and as powerful as a limbing saw needs to be.
And has a unbeatable reputation.
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The 028s will sthil be running when you are asking Grande Dog if he has piston/cyl assy for the other two..........
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
Na.. the 026 will last just as long, or longer... I like the 026 much more than the 28..
bcorradi
Arboristsite.com Sponsor
The 026/MS260 has to have surpassed the 028 in production years hasn't it?
SawTroll
Information Collector
+2, no doubt!!
.....but 20" is a stretch on the 026, and imo on the others as well.
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