sthil ms 390 chainsaw

[superduke]

Just picked up a stihl ms390 saw to replace my cooked husqvarna 281xp. The stihl is about 13 lb's as compared to 18 for the old husky. I've used it to cut a few branches from the hawthorn and apple trees as well as cut up two stumps from an old cottonwood. So far I am happy with the performance of the saw. It may not have as much power as the husky but it is lighter and easier to use.
Any body heard of anything about this particular saw? life expectancy etc?

 

[Shaun]

I also have the same saw and have no complaints. I took down approximately 30 oak and ash trees in my back yard last summer. The saw cut through those tree like a knife through butter. As long as you keep the chain sharp, you should have no problems with it.

 

[mtarbert]

Greetings,
Just bought a new 390 today and it went thru some 20" white oak logs like the butter knife.Afterall it is a Sthil
Mike

 

[HeatsTwice]

Hi,

I know this thread is old. A year ago, I bought an MS 390 also an am very happy with it. It cuts rings around my old MacCat 18". But the guys over at the other sites can stand these saws. They don't really give reason other than opinion. But I love mine.

 

[smokinj]

Hi,

I know this thread is old. A year ago, I bought an MS 390 also an am very happy with it. It cuts rings around my old MacCat 18". But the guys over at the other sites can stand these saws. They don't really give reason other than opinion. But I love mine.

Its not a pro saw thats why. but dont know why anyone would over look it lots of power and saw that size needs to be in the cut and not just walking around looking pretty.Should last a life time just dont drop a big tree on it. lol
most people go with the dolmar 7900 for the price of a ms 390 imo both good saws. I dont think the dolmars have a decompression valve.

 

[superduke]

I now have cut many cords with my ms390, The only problem so far was a very hard starting issue after a hot soak (ran out of fuel, left saw in hot sun after refueling than could not start for the life of me. After keeping it in the shade for some time went back and pulled starter, fired right up and is still running fine. I don't know what happened but could never duplicate the problem.

 

[smokinj]

I now have cut many cords with my ms390, The only problem so far was a very hard starting issue after a hot soak (ran out of fuel, left saw in hot sun after refueling than could not start for the life of me. After keeping it in the shade for some time went back and pulled starter, fired right up and is still running fine. I don't know what happened but could never duplicate the problem.

if you choke it by mistake when restarting when its hot that can make any saw hard to start even more so in hot sunny day

 

[LLigetfa]

I now have cut many cords with my ms390, The only problem so far was a very hard starting issue after a hot soak (ran out of fuel, left saw in hot sun after refueling than could not start for the life of me. After keeping it in the shade for some time went back and pulled starter, fired right up and is still running fine. I don't know what happened but could never duplicate the problem.

if you choke it by mistake when restarting when its hot that can make any saw hard to start even more so in hot sunny day

I never let my saw run out of gas. I'll kill the engine on the first sputter half way through a cut to avoid hard starts after refueling.

 

[smokinj]

I now have cut many cords with my ms390, The only problem so far was a very hard starting issue after a hot soak (ran out of fuel, left saw in hot sun after refueling than could not start for the life of me. After keeping it in the shade for some time went back and pulled starter, fired right up and is still running fine. I don't know what happened but could never duplicate the problem.

if you choke it by mistake when restarting when its hot that can make any saw hard to start even more so in hot sunny day

I never let my saw run out of gas. I'll kill the engine on the first sputter half way through a cut to avoid hard starts after refueling.

my saw when you hear that first sputter its to late its a thirsty one!(gallon and ahalf to two gallons in a day par) fire's right back up no problem unless you choke it then you better sit it down in the shade for an hour. (only did that once)

 

[wendell]

most people go with the dolmar 7900 for the price of a ms 390 imo both good saws. I dont think the dolmars have a decompression valve.

Oh, yes they do!

 

[smokinj]

most people go with the dolmar 7900 for the price of a ms 390 imo both good saws. I dont think the dolmars have a decompression valve.

Oh, yes they do!

how about the older ones? I was reading a thread on racesaw about not raising the compresson because of no decompression valve

 

[Bigg_Redd]

The Dolmer people don't like the 290/310/390 because they are super reliable, super durable, reasonably priced, and have the best dealer network in North America.

 

[HeatsTwice]

Well, that had a lot to do with my decision to got with the MS390. That is, the fact that my dealer is about 4 blocks from my house. I already have a professional leaf blower and weed eater from the same dealership.

The guy a the dealer is a real jerk though. But after I figured out how to "out jerk the jerk" I have developed a respect for him. Maybe he just doesn't like working with non professionals. I would get sick of ditsy house wives, and arm chair know it all husbands too if I had to work with them everyday. I live in a fairly populous area with a lot of new construction, people with new money and the like. Most of these types wouldn't know there arse from a hole in the ground if it wasn't for YouTube.

Btw, another influence to my buying the Stihl is that I work with Germans in Germany everyday and have done so for almost 15 years. While they often make mistakes, are never wrong, always right and even when they're wrong they're right, they work their butts off to make a good product - the one my company sells (Electronic Test Equipment) and I figure the guys over at the Stihl factory are the same way as a cultural thing.

Being half Swedish, I should be ashamed at not even considering the Husky.

 

[smokinj]

The Dolmer people don't like the 290/310/390 because they are super reliable, super durable, reasonably priced, and have the best dealer network in North America.

I dont know about the dolmer people,but sure is why I went stihl and at almost 2 x the price of that 390. now big red quite sugar coating it! lol

 

[wendell]

The Dolmer people don't like the 290/310/390 because they are super reliable, super durable, reasonably priced, and have the best dealer network in North America.

It must be paying a lot extra for a heavier saw that makes them think that. ;-)

 

[smokinj]

The Dolmer people don't like the 290/310/390 because they are super reliable, super durable, reasonably priced, and have the best dealer network in North America.

It must be paying a lot extra for a heavier saw that makes them think that. ;-)

500.00 bucks for a brand new 390 65 cc saw with dealer support not bad.Ican see it on the short list for sure!