290 bar work on a 460?

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nate379

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I bought a used 460 online that's got a 28" bar. I have no need 99.999% of the time for that big of a bar. My 290 has an 18" bar on it. I have tons of chains for it, (3/8" chains of course, not that feline crap ;lol)

Are the bars swapable or is the 18" for a 460 different size/bolt pattern?
 
I bought a used 460 online that's got a 28" bar. I have no need 99.999% of the time for that big of a bar. My 290 has an 18" bar on it. I have tons of chains for it, (3/8" chains of course, not that feline crap ;lol)

Are the bars swapable or is the 18" for a 460 different size/bolt pattern?

If its 3/8" and the gauge for both is the same (.050)? Then it should?

Try it? All my 036 stuff fits my 460....
 
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A 460 with an 18" bar/chain. YEEE hawww. That sucker is gonna snort. Heck, take a chain or two and knock the rakers off and throw rabbit bedding size chips.==c
 
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Like Dex said, make sure your 290 bar is the same pitch as your 460. Oh, and hold onto that saw. Its gonna cut like a rabid sumbeech!!
 
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A 460 with an 18" bar/chain. YEEE hawww. That sucker is gonna snort. Heck, take a chain or two and knock the rakers off and throw rabbit bedding size chips.==c

I have ran mine with a 16inch:)
 
The 3/8 bars are swappable. The 290 has the same large format bar mount as the other large format Stihl saws. Just make sure that the 290 does not have a 325 bar and sprocket on it. The .325 B&C and rim are common on 290 and 260 saws. I run the same bars on my 066 as my 310 (bigger engine than the 290, but otherwise exactly the same saw).

FYI, all of these Stihl saws (and others not listed) all have the same large format bar mounts: 024/240, 026/260, 261, 029/290, 291, 310, 311, 380, 390, 391, 340, 341, 036/360, 361, 362, 044/440, 441, 046/460, 065/650, 066/660. You can swap 3/8 std bars from one to the other.

Note: if you are going to run an 18 inch bar on a 460 (I did that once on the 460 that I had) swap out the 7 slot rim for an 8 slot rim drive. Reason being that you have so much torque with a bar that size it is just going to waste. Swap torque for chain speed and you will rip though wood that much faster. Also you should re-tune your carb changing bars that are that much different. Your max RPM is going to climb at WOT with less drag.

Also of note: you can run either 0.050 or 0.063 gauge 3/8 B&C on the same rim or spur sprockets, and run either on the large format Stihl saws. Just do not run one gauge bar with the other gauge chain.

Also note that you can swap the crummy 3/8 stock spur sprocket on a 290 with a rim drive drum from a 360. They are the same clutch and brake, so you can order the 360 rim drive kit and pop it on any 290/310/390. I have one on my 310 and it is a sweet setup. Chains last longer and rims are far cheaper to replace than spur sprockets.
 
It's 3/8" for sure, I spec'd it out with such when I bought it.

My brother runs a 460 as well and I think a 16 or 18" bar. Says it runs great.

The 290 with the 18" bar isn't bad though I have to nurse it along in the bigger stuff. I want to be able to just slice like a knife in butter. Time is money and all.

The 3/8 bars are swappable. The 290 has the same large format bar mount as the other large format Stihl saws. Just make sure that the 290 does not have a 325 bar and sprocket on it. The .325 B&C and rim are common on 290 and 260 saws. I run the same bars on my 066 as my 310 (bigger engine than the 290, but otherwise exactly the same saw).

FYI, all of these Stihl saws (and others not listed) all have the same large format bar mounts: 024/240, 026/260, 261, 029/290, 291, 310, 311, 380, 390, 391, 340, 341, 036/360, 361, 362, 044/440, 441, 046/460, 065/650, 066/660. You can swap 3/8 std bars from one to the other.

Note: if you are going to run an 18 inch bar on a 460 (I did that once on the 460 that I had) swap out the 7 slot rim for an 8 slot rim drive. Reason being that you have so much torque with a bar that size it is just going to waste. Swap torque for chain speed and you will rip though wood that much faster. Also you should re-tune your carb changing bars that are that much different. Your max RPM is going to climb at WOT with less drag.

Also of note: you can run either 0.050 or 0.063 gauge 3/8 B&C on the same rim or spur sprockets, and run either on the large format Stihl saws. Just do not run one gauge bar with the other gauge chain.

Also note that you can swap the crummy 3/8 stock spur sprocket on a 290 with a rim drive drum from a 360. They are the same clutch and brake, so you can order the 360 rim drive kit and pop it on any 290/310/390. I have one on my 310 and it is a sweet setup. Chains last longer and rims are far cheaper to replace than spur sprockets.
 
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Put an 8 pin rim on the 460 with the 18 inch bar with a full chisel chain, round filed, and go to town. It will rip through anything, except crud and grit, in which case run it with semi-chisel chain.

Here is my (then) 460 with a 20 inch bar on it. I dropped this 30 inch DBH doug fir like it was not there. That is the factory 20 inch 'Farm Boss' 3/8 std Stihl bar from a 290 I had. Note the multi-chunk wedge I took out of it... I am more used to dropping those size trees with longer bars and not having to cut from both sides. For me shorter bars means longer cutting time. A 28 or 32 bar fits that saw a lot better.

460 20 inch.jpg
 
Most of the wood I have been cutting has been under 18" diameter. A few closer to 24" or so, but it's not a big deal to cut from both sides.
The 28" bar on the saw I really don't think I will need. It's more weight and more teeth to sharpen! I'll probably run it for a bit to see if I like it, maybe I'll change my mind then.

Paid $560 for the saw in near new shape so I think I got a decent deal. The local place had price tag of close to $1100 after taxes and all for a new one.
 
Most of the wood I have been cutting has been under 18" diameter. A few closer to 24" or so, but it's not a big deal to cut from both sides.
The 28" bar on the saw I really don't think I will need. It's more weight and more teeth to sharpen! I'll probably run it for a bit to see if I like it, maybe I'll change my mind then.

Paid $560 for the saw in near new shape so I think I got a decent deal. The local place had price tag of close to $1100 after taxes and all for a new one.

With a 20" on mine, it was $960 out the door. But I worked the dealer a little (took almost $100 off).

I ran mine with the 25" (24"?) For a bit. But find the weight balance is much better with the 20"....

Your gonna love it. Like going from a V6 Mustang to a Supercharged Cobra ;)

Any pics?
 
I think you are on the the right track with wanting the smaller bar. Less to keep out of the dirt, cheaper chains/bars, faster to sharpen, and that saw will SCREAM. I run a 20" on my 441 and it cuts like butter.
 
Got the saw today from the post office. The 28" bar makes it a hell of a saw! One of my neighbors came over to see even hahaha.

Probably will get the dual dog kit and maybe an 8 tooth rim sprocket.

My brother has the same saw with an 18" bar on it. I used it a fair amount when I was up in Maine visiting. Honestly I think an 18-20" bar is just about right for the 460. I don't think it could pull a 28" bar with a full chain (vs skip) in hardwood.
 
Depending on your height and arm length, a 20" bar may be just right for cutting logs on the ground standing upright without sticking the bar tip in the dirt. That's why I really like the 20" bar length on ANY saw when bucking. Secondary to this is the balance of the saw, it's really nice to be able to pick up the saw from the top handle with a loose grip and not have the powerhead spin one way or the other.
 
Most of the wood I have been cutting has been under 18" diameter. A few closer to 24" or so, but it's not a big deal to cut from both sides.
The 28" bar on the saw I really don't think I will need. It's more weight and more teeth to sharpen! I'll probably run it for a bit to see if I like it, maybe I'll change my mind then.

Paid $560 for the saw in near new shape so I think I got a decent deal. The local place had price tag of close to $1100 after taxes and all for a new one.


Good price and the 28inch is just about perfect. imo for the 460. (460 gets heavy leaning over all the time with a 20 inch) Unless you like working on your knees. Somedays I feel its the way to go if the ground dry.
 
Unless you like working on your knees. Somedays I feel its the way to go if the ground dry.

Ha! I have been doing the same thing when my back starts feeling tired. First I take my left hand off of the top handle and place that palm on the log to take the weight off my back. Then, when I really get tired, it's down on my knees. Tough part is that when on your knees you end up sucking way more exhaust.
 
Ha! I have been doing the same thing when my back starts feeling tired. First I take my left hand off of the top handle and place that palm on the log to take the weight off my back. Then, when I really get tired, it's down on my knees. Tough part is that when on your knees you end up sucking way more exhaust.

Its a trade off and if you ever mod the muff its a big detail on what way to point it. I get rolling much over 4 hours stright you can count on me setting. (At this point I will have some one else doing my pit stops) The old Dennis create comes to mind aswell!~:)
 
The problem with a long bar is you can't use the dogs on the saw when cutting in a pile unless you want to make all sorts of cuts in the other logs.
 
The problem with a long bar is you can't use the dogs on the saw when cutting in a pile unless you want to make all sorts of cuts in the other logs.

With that saw, cut 2 or 3 birch logs at a time :)
Speed sawing ;)
 
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