My thoughts on the MS 290 Stihl Farm Boss on loan

[NDtreehugger]

5 White Ash and 3 American elm today cut with the MS 290 farm boss,
To start there is no compression release, really don’t need one but it is a bit easier on the saw with one, and with all the plastic parts on today’s saws the compression release will allow the parts to last a bit longer.

Weight and balance is ok a bit sluggish when first started and when cutting 18” trunks but did a fine job.

Limbing and cutting 16”ers the saw is a pleasure to use, after the eight trees were cut, split and stacked I found myself wanting to go back and cut some more,,,,,,,? At 49 that makes me a sick sick man.

The 2 things I would change would be to dump the spur sprocket for the drum and rim then move down to the narrow kerf chain.

But if it’s all I had, I would not be disappointed at all, nor would I be looking forward to spend more money on a replacement saw, it gets the job done and done well.

I retract my disappointment posted yesterday :monkey:

 

[rx7145]

Glad to see you came around!

 

[pacman]

The ms290 is my first saw. I love it! The best money I ever spent for my self. Oh yeah that and my log splitter. That saw works just as hard as I do or harder. I never had the chance to work with a bigger saw but I am pretty sure it will be a lot harder to work with than the 290.

 

[yo2001]

Still on the safety chain?

 

[NDtreehugger]

I use them,

and like them, I use one on my mac ms1850 and it out cuts the stihl 361 & 441, In defence of the 441 it has a carbide chain.

 

[yo2001]

I've never seen or heard of anyone who like the safety chain but I do used it just so I can spend more time with my chain saw. (talk about sickness). I have been dropping the raker down to get a bigger chips. It really doesn't do too bad, nothing like RSC chain though.

 

[NDtreehugger]

I cut it down as well

I like it becuse its takes thinner chips, cuts just as deep just not as wide

 

[Rookie1]

Ive never run a 029 or 290 but it looks like guys either love them or hate them. I dont know of another saw that does that to people.

 

[Patrick62]

Eventually...

I am going to be in the process of bringing a 029 back from the grave.

When I get it going I am looking forward to seeing how it is gonna run.
I am putting it together for a buddy who is kinda hard on saws. The test is to see if a 029 can hold up. It will, I am quite sure.

-Pat

 

[oneoldbanjo]

I think most of the complaining on this site about the 029/290 comes from people that have never owned one.....but somehow have developed a very strong opinion (hate) for them.

I owned one for 12 years and it worked well for my needs as a farm owner. I sold it when I got a woodburner and moved up to a 361. Cutting up a 30" Shagbark Hickory convinced me I was going to need a bigger saw if I was cutting for heat.

 

[b1rdman]

I think most of the complaining on this site about the 029/290 comes from people that have never owned one.....but somehow have developed a very strong opinion (hate) for them.

Indeed...and the most vocal of them all has never even run one.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

I'm mixed on my 290...1 1/2 yr. old, 18" factory bar...seems doggy when cutting larger diameter wood. I see rx7145 runs a 20" hardnose on his. No mods done yet, think I'm doing the muffler first...is that the secret? Just got a sweet 036 last week with 20" bar, chisel chain, cuts rinf=gs around the 290. It's a decent saw, dunno if I would ever buy another.

 

[A. Stanton]

The Farm Boss was my first Stihl; and after 10 years it is still going strong. For $300 and change, I would recommend this saw to any average guy. Here's a pic of mine on the ground next to my 361; the 440 gets to ride on top.

 

[rx7145]

I see rx7145 runs a 20" hardnose on his.

I use square chisel skip tooth on the 20" bar. Works good.

 

[Rookie1]

The Farm Boss was my first Stihl; and after 10 years it is still going strong. For $300 and change, I would recommend this saw to any average guy. Here's a pic of mine on the ground next to my 361; the 440 gets to ride on top.

Nice rig there.

 

[Jkebxjunke]

I was wondering... I think I have been here too long... wasnt there some sort of warning about if you hang around too much you might start buying more saws?
well I have one main saw now... a MS 250... I was thinking of getting another one... I was wondering what recommendations on the 'next' step up would be?
the main diets of the saws would be red oak, wild cherry ( like a weed) , gum, maple. bases of the trees would be in the 16"-24" range... I have done some with the MS250 at the 24" but had to cut on each side.. not fun but the saw took it no problem.
I was kinda looking at the MS 361 and one time I was looking at the MS 440...
any suggestions?

 

[NDtreehugger]

I would think if your cutting in the 18" and smaller

the 361 will be more then enough, but if your cutting in the 18" and above 440 is the way to go

 

[Brushwacker]

I was wondering... I think I have been here too long... wasnt there some sort of warning about if you hang around too much you might start buying more saws?
well I have one main saw now... a MS 250... I was thinking of getting another one... I was wondering what recommendations on the 'next' step up would be?
the main diets of the saws would be red oak, wild cherry ( like a weed) , gum, maple. bases of the trees would be in the 16"-24" range... I have done some with the MS250 at the 24" but had to cut on each side.. not fun but the saw took it no problem.
I was kinda looking at the MS 361 and one time I was looking at the MS 440...
any suggestions?

If your keeping the 250 , I'd suggest a 440 and you have the 250 to go to for limbing or taking a break from the bigger saw. If you feel comfortable with the weight of a 440 it would be a great all around saw. If your more weight consensus over power and speed in cutting larger wood the 361 is a very comfortable saw to run. In very hard wood the 361 will slow down in larger diameters sooner then a 440.

 

[Peacock]

Go 70cc. The 361 isn't powerful enough to use as a big saw. You need something that can pull a 28" bar if needed.

If it must be Stihl, I'd go with 440(if around still), 441 or 460.

Any of these will make a 361 feel like a real turd.

 

[Jkebxjunke]

I have seen people say to get the 460 over the 440 or 441... I have read that the weight is similar but more power .. power is always nice... I have never been is a situation where I said.. "I wish I had less power" I don't think it is in a guys vocabulary.. LOL I think Tim Allen said is best... "MORE POWER... ARRHH ARRHHH!!"
:chainsawguy: