25" Bar on a MS290?

this guy has a 25" on his MS290, did not think that saw would pull that
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/2463454196.html

Thats why its still in great shape! %-P

Yeah there is NO way. I have an 18" bar on mine and it maybe could run a 20" bar ok, but I'd say that's it.

It'll do fine... as long as he's cutting 8" wood

But Adios, if cutting that size he certainly did not need a longer bar! I run mine with a 16" and it does fine. Yes, I could run a longer bar but simply do not need it nor do I need the extra weight.

I was just being my typical sarcastic jerk self!

I realized that and that is why I shot back at you. ;-)

I have a 20" on my own MS290 and I'd give a guess that it is about the biggest the saw can safely handle. Hope that helps.

Yep, that is how they sell them out here at the dealership. 20" bar 3/8 pitch .050 gauge

It can pull it. Not as well as a bigger saw. What I worry about is the oiler.

The 290 usually comes with a 16-18" .325, .063 bar & chain here. The 20" bar doesn't do well buried in eastern hardwoods.

Cutting hardwoods I feel like an 18" bar on my MS310 is the absolute max. I borrow my brothers man-sized Husky with a 24" and 30+" bar if I need to go bigger.

Cutting red oak this spring made me want more hp's on my 18" bar even with full chisel chain. Can't justify a new saw just yet...

I run a 20" full chisel on my 029. It works for me whether I am blasting through 6" or 8" small stuff or I have the nose buried in a 30" Red Oak. It just isn't as fast as a pro saw would be. I would not go any bigger that the Stihl recommended 20" though. Maybe the a bigger bar would be OK in Western softwoods, if like me, you are OK with a somewhat slower cutting and more affordable farm saw rather than a pro saw.