Stihl ms290 vs. ms280

Not sure, but for $120 more you might as well have a 361.

I went around and around on this........this that....J-red, Husky Stihl, Dolmar. My budget was less than $400.00 so the MS361 was out (my first choice) $649.00 18" bar jeeez I wish.
I went and looked at them all MS280, 290, 310. I found a Dolmar dealer less than 6 miles away ....Dolmar 5100s $379.00 (May 2008), now that 5100s is now $429.00 and still cheaper than the overrated MS280.
It's more money than the MS290....but you have to decide.


WB

Here are perfectly paired saws, STIHL.... Dolmar they all cut like ***** apes....

WB

290 stihl #1 seller 56cc and if your not cutting 20hrs a week evey week of the year its is a great saw, cant speak about the 280 havent ran one of those.....Big red right that 361 just ROCKS it will run a 20in. bar as well as any saw I have had including a 460..
but the 460 show up with a bigger bar.

Creek-Chub said:

Nah, I'm not buying one. Reason I ask, is that my old man got talked into a 280 by the dealer. I've used the saw quite a bit, and figure its about time to pony up some coin for my own saw. I'm leaning towards the 290 or a Dolmar, started looking at pricing, and thought ; What the hell? This thing is smaller than the 290, and isn't some fancy pro saw, so what gives?

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It's got a white handle which leads me to believe that if it's not a pro saw it's at least German made. . . I dunno.

WOODBUTCHER said:

I went around and around on this........this that....J-red, Husky Stihl, Dolmar. My budget was less than $400.00 so the MS361 was out (my first choice) $649.00 18" bar jeeez I wish.
I went and looked at them all MS280, 290, 310. I found a Dolmar dealer less than 6 miles away ....Dolmar 5100s $379.00 (May 2008), now that 5100s is now $429.00 and still cheaper than the overrated MS280.
It's more money than the MS290....but you have to decide.


WB

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This is a well beaten horse, but the 290 is a 56cc saw while the Dolmer 5100 is a 50cc. While discussing the porkyness of the 290 and the sveltness of the 5100 the fact that they are not in the same class never seems to come up.

Creek-Chub said:

Bigg_Redd said:

Creek-Chub said:

Nah, I'm not buying one. Reason I ask, is that my old man got talked into a 280 by the dealer. I've used the saw quite a bit, and figure its about time to pony up some coin for my own saw. I'm leaning towards the 290 or a Dolmar, started looking at pricing, and thought ; What the hell? This thing is smaller than the 290, and isn't some fancy pro saw, so what gives?

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It's got a white handle which leads me to believe that if it's not a pro saw it's at least German made. . . I dunno.

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Nah. Black handle.

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The 280 I saw at the dealer yesterday had a white handle, and so does the the one on the Stihl website http://stihlusa.com/chainsaws/MS280.html

Creek--I'm not sure if it's a rampant problem, but I've been finding more and more website posts about the 5100 'blowing up.' Not sure if it's one of those ratio things, where there are so many out there it's destined to be misused/mistreated or if it's one of those 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease,' but the same applies to the 290 (best-selling saw) and the only thing I've ever heard about that is weight vs. power. Now that I think about it, other than the 'porkiness' Redd mentioned, I'm not sure I've ever read a complaint.

S

I have had an 029-Super for about 5 years now and being essentially the same saw and the 290 I thought I'd chime in. I can not compare it to a 280 because I've never used one but I can comment on your suggestion that you might be in the market for the 290.

At the moment I have three saws (just bought a used one) two of which my (adult) son and I have been using to cut 10~20 cords of wood per year. The wood we cut is, in order of predominance, Elm, White Oak, Maple, Red Oak, then who knows what but no pine, no Poplar, no 'soft hard woods'. Size wise the wood we cut for firewood is rarely over about 20" in diameter and most of it is closer to a foot. We drop live trees and recent blow-overs.

The 029 is, in my opninion, underpowered for the 20" bar we often use on it but adequately powered for an 18" or 16" bar. This is with full chisel chain. As mentioned its is also a bulky saw but that isn't really a problem. Mine has been a dependible saw but not flawless. The saw has a preformed fuel line that is prone to cracking I am told and in fact mine broke last year killing the saw. The fix (by the dealer) was completed in 2 days for less than $20. Mine starts very easily and it is not objectionally loud. Its fuel and oil consumption are neither good nor bad, just about what you'd expect.

So overall its a pretty good saw. I wouldn't buy another one but I wouldn't tell anyone not to buy one either. Let me tell you a short story. Both my mid-30's son and I are about the same size and neither of us has ever weighed over 170 pounds in our lives. I'm stronger of course but that won't last much longer. For the last couple of years when we went to cut his Macho-butt headed straight for the shiney new big saw (029 with 20" bar) leaving me, the old man, with the old small saw (026-Pro with 18" bar). I never said a word. Then about a month ago he grabbed up "my" saw one afternoon and that was the last I've seen of it. See what I'm sayin'? I can't get that smaller saw out of the boy's hands and he's cutting more wood with it than he ever did with the larger saw.

By the way, just to show that the old man ain't no fool: Now that I got him hooked on the 026 I'm going to sell the 029 because yesterday I bought myself a 361, and once again I'm not going to say a word. We'll see how long it takes the lad to figure this one out.

You are a perceptive young man. You will go far. Hopefully you will do so as the owner of a 361. Don't overlook the 260 either.

thinkxingu said:

Creek--I'm not sure if it's a rampant problem, but I've been finding more and more website posts about the 5100 'blowing up.' Not sure if it's one of those ratio things, where there are so many out there it's destined to be misused/mistreated or if it's one of those 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease,' but the same applies to the 290 (best-selling saw) and the only thing I've ever heard about that is weight vs. power. Now that I think about it, other than the 'porkiness' Redd mentioned, I'm not sure I've ever read a complaint.

S

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They stopped carrying the Dolmars up hear after one year at the dealer. Blown engines and broken plastic parts. Fuel tank leaks etc... such a deal. :smirk: To good to be true Id say. Must of been the pine trees letting them over-rev.

north of 60 said:

thinkxingu said:

Creek--I'm not sure if it's a rampant problem, but I've been finding more and more website posts about the 5100 'blowing up.' Not sure if it's one of those ratio things, where there are so many out there it's destined to be misused/mistreated or if it's one of those 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease,' but the same applies to the 290 (best-selling saw) and the only thing I've ever heard about that is weight vs. power. Now that I think about it, other than the 'porkiness' Redd mentioned, I'm not sure I've ever read a complaint.

S

Click to expand...

They stopped carrying the Dolmars up hear after one year at the dealer. Blown engines and broken plastic parts. Fuel tank leaks etc... such a deal. :smirk: To good to be true Id say. Must have been the pine trees letting them over-rev.

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BWAAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


dolmer

You can't compare the 260 or 361 to the 290. Look at the handle color and the price tag, those are pro saws and the 290 is not. While the 5100s is a pro saw as well, the mere fact that they cost the same as the 290 puts them in the same "class" for me. The pro-ness of the 5100 is a feature I'd say.

This is like the diesel vs. gas truck debate when you're only towing a small trailer. Sure the diesel does it better and will last longer, but it costs more than a gas truck and the gas truck will last just as long doing the work you have to do.

We'll tell you if you NEED a pro saw, help you decide. Until then, save your money and buy the 290. Dolmar local support sucks in my area so the choice was easy.

Highbeam said:

You can't compare the 260 or 361 to the 290. Look at the handle color and the price tag, those are pro saws and the 290 is not. While the 5100s is a pro saw as well, the mere fact that they cost the same as the 290 puts them in the same "class" for me. The pro-ness of the 5100 is a feature I'd say.

This is like the diesel vs. gas truck debate when you're only towing a small trailer. Sure the diesel does it better and will last longer, but it costs more than a gas truck and the gas truck will last just as long doing the work you have to do.

We'll tell you if you NEED a pro saw, help you decide. Until then, save your money and buy the 290. Dolmar local support sucks.

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Agreed, but the 280 (and the 270, I think) have white handles and cost quite a bit more than the 290 yet Stihl refers to them as "mid-grade" saws.

Anyone?

Bigg_Redd said:

Highbeam said:

You can't compare the 260 or 361 to the 290. Look at the handle color and the price tag, those are pro saws and the 290 is not. While the 5100s is a pro saw as well, the mere fact that they cost the same as the 290 puts them in the same "class" for me. The pro-ness of the 5100 is a feature I'd say.

This is like the diesel vs. gas truck debate when you're only towing a small trailer. Sure the diesel does it better and will last longer, but it costs more than a gas truck and the gas truck will last just as long doing the work you have to do.

We'll tell you if you NEED a pro saw, help you decide. Until then, save your money and buy the 290. Dolmar local support sucks.

Click to expand...

Agreed, but the 280 (and the 270, I think) have white handles and cost quite a bit more than the 290 yet Stihl refers to them as "mid-grade" saws.

Anyone?

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there running the Intelligent Engine Management Iike the pro saw guess there just stepping it up a bit

Creek-Chub said:

Highbeam said:

Until then, save your money and buy the 290. Dolmar local support sucks in my area so the choice was easy.

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Boy, I'd love to. Unfortunately, instead of sticking to my guns with the 290 I started thinking about "what if" I could track down a 361 in nice shape, and... I can't go back now. Just found another one in better shape for about the same money. 5 tanks of gas through it, supposed to be in perfect condition. We'll see how it shapes up...

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that would be sweet I love the 361

Okay, you are past needs and on to wants. I would love to have a 361 instead of a tree hugger 362. You might not be able to get a 361 pretty soon so now's your chance. If you can afford it then there is no harm in a pro grade saw, lots of fun to be had. Be sure that you know what to look for in a used saw. Those 5 tanks of gas might have been straight gas.

"Those 5 tanks of gas might have been straight gas."

I am sad to report from personal stupidity that an otherwise good running Stihl will survive just under one single tank full of straight gas. The only defense I can give for myself in this embarassed state is that sooner or later everybody makes a mistake.