kybaseball
ArboristSite Member
What are your thoughts on this purchase? I have a ms211 and ms290 now. Thought about selling the ms290 to get this,
Stihl MS391 with a 25 inch bar?
- Thread starter kybaseball
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rdtreewalker
arboristsite window licker
It would pull it but wouldn't be too happy about it. It totally depends on if you plan on running a 25"er on it all the time or occasionally. If occasionally it would probably be ok. If all the time I wouldn't go with anything less then a 441.
chainsawman2011
Addicted to ArboristSite
stihl ms 391 25" bar
Dont get the 391 if you want to run the 25" bar not nearly enough oil pump
to oil that long of a bar it will cook the bar. get a 362 or 441 more money, but are
pro saws and will far out last the 391
Dont get the 391 if you want to run the 25" bar not nearly enough oil pump
to oil that long of a bar it will cook the bar. get a 362 or 441 more money, but are
pro saws and will far out last the 391
roberte
Addicted to ArboristSite
I had a 039 that had a 25" bar it ran fine and oiled fine.
That said it all depends if it is ocassional use or everyday.
View attachment 282904
This saw with a 390 in it ran half a day the other day with a 25" b/c (cutting Birch and Alder) with no heating or oiling problems :msp_wink:
This saw with a 390 in it ran half a day the other day with a 25" b/c (cutting Birch and Alder) with no heating or oiling problems :msp_wink:
B Harrison
ArboristSite Guru
Not me, 20" is the most that saw will pull for my taste and then not in dead hard wood.
Thats just me though!
Thats just me though!
kybaseball
ArboristSite Member
Thanks for all the reply's. I will only use the 25 inch bar when I need to. I was going to get a 20 inch to use for most of the time. So if I put a 20 inch bar on it how much of a difference will it be verses a ms290 with a 20 inch bar?
HuskStihl
Chairin'em for the sound
Really depends what you are cutting. If you are cutting 12" softwood there will be a slight speed difference, if you have that 20" buried in oak all day, the extra cubes will be a welcome addition. Won't make as much difference as a properly sharpened chain however. Happy cutting
blumtn969
ArboristSite Member
ms 391
I got one no oiler issues, i run a 25 on it all time. What i hate is the air filter setup
I got one no oiler issues, i run a 25 on it all time. What i hate is the air filter setup
1dragon
ArboristSite Operative
I think if you MM'd the 390 and the oiler was good you wouldn't have ANY problems running it. Mine with an 8pin 18"(i know not 25 but is full comp chisel) in hard oak is a blast to run. So far I'm way more impressed with it then my MS660 28" skip 7 pin!
qbilder
ArboristSite Guru
My 25" 390 cuts & oils just fine. I modded the muffler & retuned carb, and it cuts every bit what I expect a 64cc saw to cut. I often read on this forum how those "junk consumer plastic heavy clam shell" won't last in real work and that if you're going to do anything besides trim your bushes then you need a pro saw. I have an 029 going on 20yrs old & that bugger won't die. Countless times I put it through the ringer & expected it to be the last, but it still starts & cuts on demand. I expect the 390 to be the same way. I have always taken great care of the saws, using good oil & good mix, sharp chains before every outing.
roostersgt
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have to say my experiences, even with AM cylinders, has been the 039's have performed well with a 25" bar, even in wet oak of 22"+. I just finished a 029 - 039 conversion (Chicom cylinder/piston) and am still convinced it works well enough. The one I just completed has only one tank of fuel, but seems to be more than capable of running that length bar with ease after a couple of cuts.
Jlhotstick3
ArboristSite Operative
I ran a 361 with a 25 inch bar for a while and with the oiler turned up it cooked the bar a little, It turns it but its way nose heavy and would bog down easily, I just bought a 441 mtronic to turn the 25 which it does very nicely, I would say to save some heartache go for a 441 IMO , 362 and the 391 are nice, but the 441 turns it way better and it's better ballenced with a 25 IMO .
roostersgt
Addicted to ArboristSite
Agreed. The saws are definately "bar heavy" and unbalanced with a 25"er, but the oilers have all been more than sufficient, at least as far as I'm concerned.
fearofpavement
Trying them all
I've run a 30" bar on an 039 (very occasionally) and there were no detrimental effects to the saw or bar. Did it do great? No, but it got through what I needed it to get through. Just took it easy. I normally run a 20" 3/8 on those and they do fine with it.
ROWDY
ArboristSite Operative
I myself don't get it. I wouldn't be scaired to use a 25" on a 391. I might not always bury all the 25" in a hard log.
Listed from Stihl
MS 391 4.4 BHP. 16" to 20" bar
MS 362 4.6 BHP. 16" to 25" bar
Why it takes .2 BHP to operate 5 more inches of bar...? I don't know. If oil on the B&C is the issue; pay attention to it.
Listed from Stihl
MS 391 4.4 BHP. 16" to 20" bar
MS 362 4.6 BHP. 16" to 25" bar
Why it takes .2 BHP to operate 5 more inches of bar...? I don't know. If oil on the B&C is the issue; pay attention to it.
Jlhotstick3
ArboristSite Operative
Haha yea good point Rowdy! I ended up keepin an 18 on my 361 and the 25 on my 441, I messed with the oiler on my 361 grinding the bolt on the oiler and it helped a lot.
roostersgt
Addicted to ArboristSite
Makes no sense to me either, especially if you MM the saw.
1dragon
ArboristSite Operative
I had oiler issues on mine as well. Almost ground on the screw but just bought a new oiler. Even though the old oiler seemed fine just not enough oil to me, the replacement oiler is great. I get plenty of oil now.
I really believe anybody who bad mouths a MM'd 390 has never actually run one. It definatley has nothing to be ashamed of running next to an 036 pro. I think one of the best kept secrets would be to buy a smoked 029 cheap and put the 390 kit in it, and MM it.
qbilder
ArboristSite Guru
I agree 100%. Nothing to knock. Of all mentioned, the point I relate to the most is front heaviness. Mine is front heavy with the 25" bar, but that only matters while not in a cut.
I'd love to convert an 029/290. That seems like a very cool tinker toy, and potentially a very nice saw for cheap if you can get the 29 cheap enough. My 029 won't die, or else it would be on the surgery table.
