Thinking of moving up from a Stihl 029 Farm Boss...

After reading about all of this modification stuff maybe I will try it on my husky. Is there a good source of info on what to do and how to do it? Without a dyno I guess it would just be guestimation about how well any one mod worked. I just don't want to ruin a perfectly good saw in search of making it better.

cmonSTART you wouldn't work in Milford now would you?

Yesterday I purchased a 460 to replace my 290. After running the saw for 2 hours last night before it got dark all I can say is WOW. I bucked some large hemlock and I can honestly say I think the 460 is at LEAST 3X as fast as my 290. Granted I've only run the saw for a couple of hours but I couldn't be happier. I can really see how this saw could change the way I cut wood.

Now I need to decide whether to keep the 290 for limbing or go with something even smaller/lighter.......

Y

burntime,

From reading your posts I'm quite sure that a moded muffler is not going to be enough to satisfy your need for more power. But I can also understand your reluctance to pay down a bunch of money until you're sure what you really want. While I've had other saws, my first Stihl was a 029 and I ran it for 11 years until I ran it to death. I was also wanting more & when I replaced the 029 I made sure I stepped up enough that I'd be satisfied. As I'd had the chance to run my FIL MS 036 Stihl comparing it to my 029 I knew it was not the step up I wanted, though it's more than you may think due to the 036''s higher rpm rate.

That's when I bought my MS 460 & like youngster above posted it's a huge step up, I'd say more than 3X but you get the idea. But it's also no limbing saw, so I later bought a MS 260 which is a very good limber.
Then I recently got a chance to buy a Dolmar 5100s, for only 2/3 normal retail, so I bought iit.

Based on comparing the 260 vs 5100, which are 46.5/51cc saws respectively and I like the Dolmar even better than the Stihl.

All 3 of these saws are pro grade saws, and let me tell you, I'll never go back to a homeowner grade saw again. The pro saws pull much better rpms, have much better weight to power ratios, but they do usually cost more.

I'd suggest you should take a very, VERY close look at Dolmar saws, most of all the 7900 model, and here's why I think that. The differance in cost/weight/power ratio of the Dolmar 7900 vs Stihl MS 460.

Stihl MS 460 power head weighs 14.6 lbs has 6 hp & costs $789.00 at Amick's web site.

Dolmar 7900 power head weighs 13.6 lbs (about what your 029 weighs) has 6.3 hp and costs $679.00 at Amick's site ($10.00 LESS than the MS 361 costs at Amick's).

The Dolmar 5100s/6400/7300/7900 saws have only been available in the US market for a few years, Dolmar still needs more dealers & just now starting to get known. A superior product matched with aggressive pricing is the classic way for a company to gain market share, most of all in a market with respected & well established competitors such as Husky & Stihl. You're lucky to be in the market at this time with the chance to get a great pro grade saw like the 7900 at such a great price.

Burntime, reading the above few threads is exactly what I am trying to tell you. I am not trying to tell you to buy the 361 because I have one, I just dont want you to spend hard earned money on something that you really dont need, when you could spend less and have something just as capable if not more useful due to weight than some of the logging monsters. I could have bought a 390 at 4.3 HP. but I chose to buy the 361 at 4.4 HP. only .1 HP more. At a difference of about $150 is almost does not make sense. But after spending the money and being able to run and use the thing I learned two very important things. First, a pro saw "in the stihl line anyway"; turns the chain much faster than a mid range saw does no matter what the HP rating is. At least it sure feels like it for sure. So with a sharp chain it cuts wood faster. Second, after using my Husky 162 all those years and not knowing any different, the WEIGHT makes a difference. At 12.3 LBS. (361) VS 13 LBS (290) or the 14.8 LBS (441) I will take the 12 or 13 LBS thank you. My time is very valuable to me, and I am bucking fire wood not cutting down red wood trees. And I know how many hours are spent in cutting up a tri-axle load of wood and the extra weight does not help. I wish I could drive you over to my house so you could take my 361 for a test drive and you would see for yourself what I am trying to state. Unless its at least a little about "my saw is bigger than yours" (which I can understand LOL) dont waste your money.

I just bought a Dolmar 7900 to replace a husky 359 and that is a big jump in power and I am very happy with the saw. People who own tree trimming businesses have said their 460 Stihls have trouble keeping up with this saw. That being said I wouldn't have bought this saw if I was a one saw owner, the 359 was a better choice. Why? The 359 was easier to handle and lighter. When I bought my stihl 180 I was specifically looking for something lighter than the 359. I was surprised at how many times I would grab the little stihl 180 when I was going to cut just because I didn't want to lug around the 359. The difference in speed cutting rounds up to 12" was barely noticable, the light weight of the saw was felt immediately. When you own only one saw you are better off with a mid sized saw especially if you are cutting down trees and not just bucking logs. When you have two saws you can go big for bucking and small for limbing. Also gotta say this THE DOLMAR ROCKS! I am a total convert, Stihl and Husky do not offer anything that compares to the 7900 especially for $639, the price I paid.

youngstr said:

cmonSTART you wouldn't work in Milford now would you?

Yesterday I purchased a 460 to replace my 290. After running the saw for 2 hours last night before it got dark all I can say is WOW. I bucked some large hemlock and I can honestly say I think the 460 is at LEAST 3X as fast as my 290. Granted I've only run the saw for a couple of hours but I couldn't be happier. I can really see how this saw could change the way I cut wood.

Now I need to decide whether to keep the 290 for limbing or go with something even smaller/lighter.......

Y

Click to expand...

I've been exposed! Ya, that's me. Glad you are enjoying the saw!

Seems to me like you have all the information you need and have answered your questions, now it is up to you to make the decision.

The 361 is a step up from the 390 no matter what anyone tells you. As you have stated it will suit you just fine. A very good all-around saw that will be able to run a 20" bar no problem. Will it give you the 'WOW' factor in oak?? Probably not, if that is what you are after definately go with the 440/441. BUT you WILL feel the weight of the larger saw.

I have an 034 and a 440. I ran the 034 for a couple of years and it worked great for what I needed(5 cords/yr, mostly red oak) I picked up a 440 on ebay, because once you start reading these forums you can't have just one saw . It makes me say 'wow' every time I run it and I have a 28" bar on it.

If it were me, I would keep the 029 and be looking for a 440/441.

If I were in the market for a new saw, I, also, would be 'settling' for an MS361.