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what are your opinions about me changing my ms290 from a .325 bar, chain and sprocket to a 3/8 setup?
is it worth it, is there advantages or disadvantages??
Thanks
In the NW they sell MS290s with 20" bar and 3/8" chain. That's how I bought mine 1.5 years ago and I don't regret it a bit. This is a 57cc saw, not some sort of poulan. I like the bigger teeth for ease of sharpening and a bigger cutting edge. There's just more metal out there and that must be good.
Your saw's ability to run the chain really has more to do with bar length than with gauge.
The standard in my region is .325, .063 on an eight tooth (8t) spur sprocket for the MS290. Running a 20" bar in hardwoods is okay until you bury it and it bogs down a little too much for my taste (running sharp RSC chain).
I always wanted to try 3/8" pitch on my 290, and I'd probably swap out the 8t spur for a new 7t rim (and drum). I'm thinking I might run a 16-18" bar, too.