ms 290 bar and chain

hey guys first time posting in this room but i was wondering about my ms 290. i bought it new with a 16 inch bar and chain. everything i get around northern vt is between 10-24 inches so the bar does just fine plenty of power with the saw i was wondering if i can put a 3/8 full chisel chain on it. do i need a different bar on the saw or is it just not going to work. i have a stihl dealer close but sometimes i wonder about him havent aske or anything just want to see what you guys say. thanks for the response ahead of time

You can. You'll need a new 3/8" sprocket, bar and chain.

I think I'd just buy a chisel chain that will fit the existing equipment. In fact, I did just that. I spent the money saved on other stuff.

Matt

The answer is a big fat... depends. You can spec out a new saw with several different lengths of bar and also a couple of different gauges or whatever the 3/8 refers to. You choose either 3/8 or .325 when you buy the saw. So you need to find out what you have on your saw now. You may have a 3/8" chain on your 16" bar. I bought mine new with a 3/8 chain on a 20" bar, the normal spec in the NW, and it has been great. I use the OEM safety chain plus the stihl chisel skip chain.

The MS290 does very well with a 16" bar and .325 chain if you already have the .325 bar setup. Just pick up a loop of 26RSC-67. If your bar is already 3/8" then the chain your after is 33RSC-60.

Got a saw shop near you? Stihl dealer? Oregon dealer?
Take the saw in & they will match you up a chisel chain for it.

They love this stuff & helping guys run saws.

If you are dead set in changing to a new 3/8 bar, sprocket & chain. (Am guessing you have a .325)
They can set you up with that too. Spare chain nice to have in the saw tool box too
Give you pointers & answer your questions , show you how to replace the sprocket.

A fun place to go visit & kick the tires on other wood cutting stuff. Look at the saws & other tools

Keep us posted on which way you end up going

RSF is the skip version of stihl chisel chain. I love me a skip chain. RSC is the non-skip so double the amount of teeth to sharpen and in my experience, same chain life.