I also have the 290, but only run an 18" bar.

Mike

As do I, absolutely trouble free.

Osky

I dont have a stihl chainsaw but i did buy a new stihl weedeater just a couple years ago. Its a cold natured thing but its a beast and i havent had to do any work to it yet, knock on wood. I have used it pretty hardcore even with the sawblade attachment. It should have died by now, but i just got got done using it this afternoon. SO even though the newer stuff aint made like the old stuff, i still like stihl. I have a new jonsered chainsaw and I absolutely love it. Its a fine saw.

I have an 015 and an 028 that I bought new in the 70s. Do not know about the newer ones but the 2 I have are tough as nails. Chain, bar, spark plug and starter rope is all I have changed over the years. I do not run ethanol gas in them though.

I have wanted a top handle saw for a while....I will try to be careful.

Appreciate the advice.

I have eight stitches on my middle finger from a one handle ms200t! Still like that saw LOL. Don't like the side exhaust, but it is a trim saw after all. Oh nicked the tendon, got lucky! Snagged a canvas back leather glove. Also have a ms441 that eats wood fast! And a 032av I believe had that saw for 40 years still runs good.

A local firewood guy started a big stihl up while holding it with one hand....almost cut his foot in half.

They have the boot he cut in half on display at the local stihl dealer...

I have a 009 that i have had for almost 20 years

I have a cheap little 181 that is used for brushing at deer camp. It gets used and abused every year now for 4 years running. I love it. It’s so light and easy to use. The only problem was the screen in the muffler carboning up. Easy to fix.

Stihl chainsaw and weed eater here...........no problems

Normally I would agree with this, but I don't feel offensive tonight.




The stihl top handles are decent saws. So are the smaller home owners saws, (up to the 251) after that they just make a lot of noise. My apologies to some of you who use a 660 with a 16 inch bar for cutting firewood.

I like and have Stihl chainsaws, but they seem overly heavy to me to.

Keith

Have a 019 for 15 yrs. It's been a hard starter, floods and often difficult to get to run full power sometimes in winter(power cuts out when needed). Got a Husq 445(similar size) and it cuts at twice the speed with a sharpen blade(they seem to dull faster as they are micro toothed) and starts and runs even. Just my experience. Had a Poulan (big box store model) burned up in two years.

I got a new 261 model last year and have ran about 5 tanks of gas through it. No issues so far. It has electronic choke system that takes a few seconds to idle out and self adjust. It can also be plugged in and diagnostics run on it....seriously.

That's crazy. You mean we have come so far to take a simple chainsaw and complicated it enough it needs a built in diagnostic system.

Somethings I don't understand. Lol

I worked at a Stihl dealer for years selling and servicing saws when Stihl made CHAINSAWS, not the eco saws they make today. The older saws are easy to work on, need very little maintenance speaking only of the saw it self, bar and chain must be maintained regularly of course.

I still buy them from time to time and rebuild them to sell. The new Stihl's I've seen did not impress me at all. If I was going to buy a brand new saw for cutting firewood on a regular basis I would buy a Husqvarna. If buying a new saw my advise would be to pick out the size of saw you want and then buy the next size bigger, you will not be sorry you did.

JMO
B

I run a 441mag, an old 026, and an old 290 Farm Boss. Anybody who says they would be better served as a boat anchor has never cut many trees.

Zim

Is the wrap around handle aluminum or plastic (or fiber something)? I broke one of the plastic handles just pulling a pinched bar out of a tree a few years back.

If you had a pair of 029 Farm Boss saws the only worry you would have is keeping the chains sharpened. 028, 029 and 034 was some the best saws Stihl ever made.


B

My 028AV came with a 20" bar but I had it swapped out for an 18". Have cut a bunch of wood with it and it still cranks easy and runs great.