Need Ideas on MS391

[terry2tmd]

Not long ago my husqvarna 288xp had a brutal accident, I still haven't figured out why, maybe the look in my eyes, the wife allowed me to purchase a new saw. I bought a brand new Stihl MS 391, I been chasing Husky's, but the prices and what my Husky dealer were needless to say quite disappointing. I liked the Stihl Dealers attitude, come on in and see if you find something you like, and lets talk, and talk we did. I walked out of his shop with a brand new saw complete with a 28" bar and two 3/8 .050 semi chisel skiptooth chains. They refused to let me leave until the saw was completely tuned and running, I was pretty impressed.
I brought the saw home and have been happy with it to this point, I have a couple projects to attack, some pinion I need to go get, and a maple in a friends front yard whose base has completely split, That needs to be removed. I have a Stihl 034 that pretty much started my love affair with chainsaws, I love the 034, and hope to have the same luck with my 391.
I came on here trying to find info on my new saw and so far all I have heard is how inferior it is to the 362, hold on guys I know this is a new design, and change is scary, but let's be brave. I haven't run this saw alot yet, but I purchased it because it is rated as reasonably close to the 372, with out the rediculious price. Change is good remember electronic fuel injection.
O.K. Lets forget that the 362 is supposed to be a better saw,And concentrate on the 391, I need ideas on a muffler mod, and would appreciate info on porting this thing, also would a 441 p/c bolt on. Hey I like the saw I just have to hot rod it if possible! Please help me out here guy's.

 

[TreePointer]

You can spend time, money, effort to hotrod your 391, or just return it and get a Dolmar 7900. :greenchainsaw:

(Sorry, I couldn't resist. I haven't touched a 391 yet.)

 

[blsnelling]

A 391 is no 372, sorry. You're comparing a mid-grade 60cc class saw as to a pro-grade 70cc class saw. That's not a fair comparison. 28" is too long of a bar for regular use on that saw. That would be pushing the limits on the 372, at least in hardwood. Your dealer may be nice, but I think he steered you in the wrong direction if you need to regularly pull a 28" B&C. I'm also hoping it wasn't him that tried to compare it to a 372. That's just not reality.

 

[Muffler Bearing]

The 391 should have a 20" bar.

The 391 = 6 cyl Mustang
The 362 = Turbo V-8 GT

Repair time on the 391 will take 2+ X's longer.

The 391 is more in the husky 460 class.

 

[blsnelling]

Don't get me wrong, the 391 is a nice enough saw, but not what I think you're expecting or have been led to believe.

 

[les-or-more]

Is the 391 a strato saw?

 

[WoodChuck'r]

Yep. Strato saw.

 

[terry2tmd]

A 391 is no 372, sorry. You're comparing a mid-grade 60cc class saw as to a pro-grade 70cc class saw. That's not a fair comparison. 28" is too long of a bar for regular use on that saw. That would be pushing the limits on the 372, at least in hardwood. Your dealer may be nice, but I think he steered you in the wrong direction if you need to regularly pull a 28" B&C. I'm also hoping it wasn't him that tried to compare it to a 372. That's just not reality.

Ever run a 391 or are you going on just what you have been told? Because I checked the literature the MS 391 is sold by Stihl with a 28" bar, not the dealer, and I have run it back to back with a 372, guess what they run together. So talk trash all you want, I have owned several saws, know how to tune and run them, been playing this game since I could carry a gas can, I am here to tell you your 372 aren't what they are cracked up to be this 391 revs with 2 372 xp's and pulls right with them. You want pro grade How about a 2100 cd that spins all of 13,500 and never slows down. The way I see it I am talking about what I see you guys are talking about what's on paper and what you been told. If this is the attitude, don't need it.

 

[terry2tmd]

Ever run a 391 or are you going on just what you have been told? Because I checked the literature the MS 391 is sold by Stihl with a 28" bar, not the dealer, and I have run it back to back with a 372, guess what they run together. So talk trash all you want, I have owned several saws, know how to tune and run them, been playing this game since I could carry a gas can, I am here to tell you your 372 aren't what they are cracked up to be this 391 revs with 2 372 xp's and pulls right with them. You want pro grade How about a 2100 cd that spins all of 13,500 and never slows down. The way I see it I am talking about what I see you guys are talking about what's on paper and what you been told. If this is the attitude, don't need it.

By the way I am no idiot I am comparing a 64.1 cc saw to a 72 cc saw that's a difference of 8cc it ain't that big a jump, I have seen small block chevys eat big blocks, where the displacement was a lot larger. Problem as I see it is you don't want to admit you got screwed out of money for a over priced saw, when you could have bought something else, and got better performance. Don't presume I am stupid I did my home work, I don't like following everyone elses lead. All I wanted was to see If someone had had the courage to try something new, I am pretty disappointed.

 

[GASoline71]

Terry... relax mang...

Brad is correct... and I doubt Stihl is letting them go from the "factory" with a 28" bar on them. That is 70cc and bigger territory, even out here in the PNW. That's a lot of bar for a 60cc saw.

Lots of things can determine what saw will run good against another saw. Chain sharpness, wood, and most of all, the operator.

A 372XP is a professional timber fallin' saw. The 391 is the largest "midrange" (i.e. homeowner) saw Stihl makes.

Gary

 

[les-or-more]

By the way I am no idiot I am comparing a 64.1 cc saw to a 72 cc saw that's a difference of 8cc it ain't that big a jump, I have seen small block chevys eat big blocks, where the displacement was a lot larger. Problem as I see it is you don't want to admit you got screwed out of money for a over priced saw, when you could have bought something else, and got better performance. Don't presume I am stupid I did my home work, I don't like following everyone elses lead. All I wanted was to see If someone had had the courage to try something new, I am pretty disappointed.

There isn't any reason to get your feathers ruffled. people are just going by their experience's. I havn't ran a 391, but i had a 390 and my brother had one just like it, i traded for a 440 and there was a huge jump in power. My brother promptly traded for a 441 because of it.I would think that a 372 would be tit for tat with a 440 so they must have really improved the 391 over the 390.

 

[Muffler Bearing]

Terry,
If Your The Expert Why Did You Ask Us?

 

[huskystihl]

I'm not disagreeing that the391 is a nice saw but I demoed a 362 for a day and it couldn't cut with my 372, not even close. I'm sure it is stronger than the 390 but the 390 was maxed out with a 20". This may come off a little troll like but the 391 I handled at the dealer felt like a real pig, 80cc's in a 64 cc body, if you wanna do all these upgrades why not just get the 441? Price will end up being close when all said and done.

 

[huskystihl]

There isn't any reason to get your feathers ruffled. people are just going by their experience's. I havn't ran a 391, but i had a 390 and my brother had one just like it, i traded for a 440 and there was a huge jump in power. My brother promptly traded for a 441 because of it.I would think that a 372 would be tit for tat with a 440 so they must have really improved the 391 over the 390.

372 and 441 are neck and neck. I like a 25" on the stihl for the torque and a 20" on my husky cause it feels like a 60 cc blockin trees.

 

[huskystihl]

Not long ago my husqvarna 288xp had a brutal accident, I still haven't figured out why, maybe the look in my eyes, the wife allowed me to purchase a new saw. I bought a brand new Stihl MS 391, I been chasing Husky's, but the prices and what my Husky dealer were needless to say quite disappointing. I liked the Stihl Dealers attitude, come on in and see if you find something you like, and lets talk, and talk we did. I walked out of his shop with a brand new saw complete with a 28" bar and two 3/8 .050 semi chisel skiptooth chains. They refused to let me leave until the saw was completely tuned and running, I was pretty impressed.
I brought the saw home and have been happy with it to this point, I have a couple projects to attack, some pinion I need to go get, and a maple in a friends front yard whose base has completely split, That needs to be removed. I have a Stihl 034 that pretty much started my love affair with chainsaws, I love the 034, and hope to have the same luck with my 391.
I came on here trying to find info on my new saw and so far all I have heard is how inferior it is to the 362, hold on guys I know this is a new design, and change is scary, but let's be brave. I haven't run this saw alot yet, but I purchased it because it is rated as reasonably close to the 372, with out the rediculious price. Change is good remember electronic fuel injection.
O.K. Lets forget that the 362 is supposed to be a better saw,And concentrate on the 391, I need ideas on a muffler mod, and would appreciate info on porting this thing, also would a 441 p/c bolt on. Hey I like the saw I just have to hot rod it if possible! Please help me out here guy's.

Sorry dude but the 288 is an all time powerhouse so I can't beleive the 391 scratches that itch

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

Hell guys I've got a bunch of tree guys running 36" bars with .404 chain full comp. chain on their 044's.

But back on track, if you're happy with that saw w/ a 28" bar I'm not one to tell you're wrong.
Brad did some work on a 362 of mine last fall and he may be willing to share some info with you.
Design wise the 391 and 362 mufflers are the same except the 362 is stainless steel, and mine made a nice growl, opened up.

 

[gandrimp]

Not long ago my husqvarna 288xp had a brutal accident, I still haven't figured out why, maybe the look in my eyes, the wife allowed me to purchase a new saw. I bought a brand new Stihl MS 391, I been chasing Husky's, but the prices and what my Husky dealer were needless to say quite disappointing. I liked the Stihl Dealers attitude, come on in and see if you find something you like, and lets talk, and talk we did. I walked out of his shop with a brand new saw complete with a 28" bar and two 3/8 .050 semi chisel skiptooth chains. They refused to let me leave until the saw was completely tuned and running, I was pretty impressed.
I brought the saw home and have been happy with it to this point, I have a couple projects to attack, some pinion I need to go get, and a maple in a friends front yard whose base has completely split, That needs to be removed. I have a Stihl 034 that pretty much started my love affair with chainsaws, I love the 034, and hope to have the same luck with my 391.
I came on here trying to find info on my new saw and so far all I have heard is how inferior it is to the 362, hold on guys I know this is a new design, and change is scary, but let's be brave. I haven't run this saw alot yet, but I purchased it because it is rated as reasonably close to the 372, with out the rediculious price. Change is good remember electronic fuel injection.
O.K. Lets forget that the 362 is supposed to be a better saw,And concentrate on the 391, I need ideas on a muffler mod, and would appreciate info on porting this thing, also would a 441 p/c bolt on. Hey I like the saw I just have to hot rod it if possible! Please help me out here guy's.

You must have forgotten who asked the question. You asked for help. I wouldnt know Snelling if he was sitting next to me, but from all the post that I have read that he has responded to he's always been spot on.
I have to ask if the saw runs so good why ya wanting to mod it already?

 

[les-or-more]

372 and 441 are neck and neck. I like a 25" on the stihl for the torque and a 20" on my husky cause it feels like a 60 cc blockin trees.

Well i've never ran a 372 but i figured it and a 440 would be evenly matched. The 441 is a smooth saw and i gave my brothers a slight edge against my 440, but a 7900 is waaaay more saw for the weight.

 

[Muffler Bearing]

Who The Hell Are You Blood?









Just Kiddin":monkey:

 

[lemonjello]

need ideas on 391 stihl

Terry Relax, GASoline71 (gary) gives solid advice, others here are well informed and offer help....