Sthil MS250 advice

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Kevoo_11

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Hey all,

I'm not an avid poster here, nor do I spend most of my days with a saw in my hands, but I am an Arborist...so that should count for something!

Anyway - I'm looking at an MS250 that's been semi-disassembled and according to the guy it runs okay just needs a carb adjustment. It looks to be well used and an older model with an 18" bar. He wants $60 bucks for it....WHAT DO I DO?!
 
Yeah, I'm decently mechanical and have any tool I could need to reassemble. I thought the same thing, and as with many online posts the seller isn't exactly long winded in explaining what's going on. This would be for home use...Right now I've got a small Homelite that's done what I need it to, but having a bit bigger saw may come in handy down the road.
 
I'm far from a used saw expert, but if I was thinking about this one I'd give it a good looking over for general condition. I'd want to pull the muffler and make sure the piston and cylinder look ok.

It becomes something of a gamble......Stihl parts can be expensive if needed. Comparable use saws can be bought in the $300 +/- range new. Really boils down to condition, value you put on your time and how much of a gambler you are. The MS250 is a decent saw.

If you take the plunge let us know. IPL and service manual are available which will help.
 
I own an MS 250 and wouldn't buy another one. I say it's worth the extra $ to buy a Farm Boss quality saw instead of a homeowner's saw.

Offer him $25. Hard to believe it'll be worth the stress and time trying to reassemble and get it running.

On the other hand, somebody once gave me an MS 290 for free because they could never get it to start. Actually it only needed fresh mix, a clean air filter and new spark plug. I've cut down a butt load of trees with that saw! lol

Best luck!
 
For the needs you describe a 025/MS250 would be plenty. Light and good power/weight ratio. I run a 16" bar with 3/8 LP on mine. As noted above, why would it be semi-disassembled if it just needed a carb adjustment? I assume you have access to the saw, so pull the muffler and look at the piston. If it's not scored you probably won't need to disassemble further. Clean up the carb and put it back together. Since it's not together, that's your cue to offer a lower price. I don't know if a MS170 would be enough saw, but if so, they were recently going for $150 brand new.
 
You already have a saw, so why not be a bit more selective, as yarbro2 mentioned? It's not that consumer saws are bad, but better saws are just better. You might find something like a 260 (if sthil) for less than this gamble may cost. Good luck either way.
 
If you're comfortable getting it back together (seems odd it just needs a carb adjustment but is semi-disassembled) then it's probably a decent deal.

Is the saw for you or for a business?

I have to agree here with being odd that it is disassembled but only needs adjusted. There are a lot of people out there that think they can fix things, then tear them apart and then either can't remember how to put it back together, or find out that it is actually something more than they can handle... Then just decide to sell it to the first person interested in it. My point is, how does this guy know it needs adjusted-- it's obvious that it hasn't been started since he tore it apart, so if it was actually just an adjustment why then is it torn apart in the first place? I can see this as a pricey gamble... Piston/cylinder/rings- there's a hundred... Coil/flywheel--- there's 50.. carburetor/fuel lines-- another 50, you replace all of that stuff that could potentially be the problem, you are 260 dollars into a 250-300 dollar saw, and may or may not have fixed it.
 
It all depends on how comfortable you are with putting it all together. Parts are very cheap for this saw, pennies on the dollar for Chinesium. A MS250 is probably not worth OEM parts. Do you have the time and desire to fool with it? If not, a working used saw might be a better choice.

If we are going to bring the chinesium avenue into this discussion... I can build an ms250 for around 130 bucks... So again, 60 bucks is half that for a saw that doesn't run
 
I have owned a bout a dozen 1123 saws (210-230-250). They are a royal PITA to work on. They have clam shell engines and are plastic through and through. If you are an arborist, you do not want this saw. I bought an 026 and never looked back. I replaced all of my 1123 saws with 026/260 saws. No comparison. I would pass on this deal. Especially if it is in parts, and "all it needs is a carb adjustment". Yeah... I heard that one before. Many saws I have bought only needed a carb adjustment. But some were scored. Some had fried bearings. One had a busted crank. One had broken rings.
 
If we are going to bring the chinesium avenue into this discussion... I can build an ms250 for around 130 bucks... So again, 60 bucks is half that for a saw that doesn't run

Quite true, but the $60 saw is OEM Stihl and it would take probably much less than $60 to make it run. Not to mention that it could most likely be had for less with a little haggling. Again it gets back to your comfort level in saw rebuilding.
 
Wow, thanks for all of the responses. The dude wanted $100, I offered $60 and he said okay. I told him where and when to meet me, but he decided he wanted $75 so I passed. It's good to know how much input you're all willing to give here though. I'll find another saw that suits my needs and ask you guys about it then.

As far as comfort rebuilding...I'm pretty certain youtube and I can tackle whatever I need to, but I'd rather get something that runs.
 
Wow, thanks for all of the responses. The dude wanted $100, I offered $60 and he said okay. I told him where and when to meet me, but he decided he wanted $75 so I passed. It's good to know how much input you're all willing to give here though. I'll find another saw that suits my needs and ask you guys about it then.

As far as comfort rebuilding...I'm pretty certain youtube and I can tackle whatever I need to, but I'd rather get something that runs.

Sounds like your as well off without it....especially if he wouldn't honor the deal he agreed to. Don't know exactly what you're looking for but there are some good deals on Echo's which are well regarded. CS400, CS490 and CS590. Some of the smaller ones are good to (CS370 or CS352)
 
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