I helped a cousin replace his 290 engine shortblock with a 390 shortblock. Says it's never run better. After over 15 years of hard use by him, the 290 engine finally gave up the ghost. No compression. So we ordered a 390 AM engine off of the internet and it's honestly run great. After break-in, just raw power. He later bought a 311, but kept going back to the 290 which had the 390 shortblock in it.
Some pretty unique arborist techniques used in this video. I like that holding the truck down trick. The tree looks like a cottonwood or aspen. Not the best btu but lots of it.
I have a ms441 and a ms290 and love them both. I have lots of other saws as well but they aren’t into production. Friend owns a tree service and he went from a ms441 (which I bought) to a ms661 with a 30” bar. I bought my ms290 used from a pawn shop a few years ago and I’ve thrown it, dropped it and never had a problem. It is now starting to get a bit tired but it’s a nice saw. Same friend also has a ms261c and that saw will keep up to my ms441.
We cut wood with saws about the same. I use my MS 461 for wood about 14” and larger. Cutting limbs I use a 23 year old Husky 55 Rancher. If you have a little mechanical ability I’m sure you could find a new piston and cylinder for the 290 if it is worn. There are a lot of aftermarket parts out there. I wouldn’t go for the cheapest ones.
Your mistaken on that being a silver, hybrid polar all day with that one. Tell the bucket guy it doesn't pay to gamble. Mistakes can be costly so take the time to do it safely. Lotta work right there.
Definitely recommend the newer 261C with the M Tronic I would save up for a few more months if you need to and buy a new one If someone is selling that saw most likely there is a problem with it as it will last you forever if you take care of it Absolute best power to weight ratio and it is a pro saw as you know you cannot go wrong with it
I would be wary of buying a used saw, but then I bought my backup MS251 used and it's fine. I looked for one that a homeowner bought to do one or two trees and then rarely used it again. If you know a good saw man, maybe breathing some new life into the 290 is the way to go.
I have an old 028 super that rips it's a 50 cc saw and as for the 261 I never ran one I have a 026 witch is compatible and that saw pulls a 20 inch bar nicely
Hi Ben!!😀😀 A ms261 is a really nice saw .I've had one for several years and run a 20 inch bar on it. The ms290 is just a homeowner grade saw that wasn't made for doing hard work day after day. I really like the ms261 and would recommend it to anyone. If you could find a used 028 super in nice shape grab it. There where several on Ebay in really nice shape for a really good price just last week. That wasn't silver maple you were cutting. That was hybrid popular. It is just a junk wood. But it will burn in your stove and make heat. I call it gofer wood. Because when you put it in it burns so fast that you have to go for more. Good seeing you buddy!! Logger Al
I had a MS290 like yours that pretty old but still running, a friend of mine has it. For a 50cc saw you might want to look at a Husky 450, fairly cheap used. I really like mine compared to the 290.
Mini excavator definitely the way to go loading bigger logs. Getting saw stuck is something have done more than want to. Use average 3 saws when cutting. Trim saw, medium (50cc) and larger (70+cc).
Hey Ben. The 261 is a great saw. I've had one for a couple of years now with not one complaint. I would however try to get a new one and avoid buying someone else's problem. It's a good saw but coming from another person and not knowing how the treated it. Just my two cents brother.
Great video Ben! Although I'm not so certain that a silver maple. Looks more like birch or sycamore by the leaves. I could be wrong but I'm just guessing. The 261 saw has by far the best saw that I own. I have five others and the 261 is my go-to
I really like my 261. I have an 18 inch bar on it, and performs very well as a firewood saw. I don't care to noodle with it, but other then that its rock solid.
@@survivingcountrylife7069 it will do it, but just not something I care to do with it. I typically will just those rounds up with a sledgehammer and wedges.
Hi Ben. You have a great pair of smaller and mid-range size saws. Keep them both. Each is designed to cut wood to their capacity. A guy can do a bit larger occasionally, but it's easier on them, and you if they're kept to their intended limitations. Keep those chains razor sharp. Have spare chains. Switch them when needed. I've found that shopping for used saws can be frustrating. A guy telling you he's only getting rid of his saw because it's too much for him to handle, or he just doesn't use it are rarely the actual reason. Be very careful!!! In my tree business I have a decent selection of saws ranging from in- tree little buggers up to the Stihl 880. Each has a purpose and a place it fits in. I would advise saving for the big dog and buy new. If you decide on used, let caution in the extreme be your gide. Best wishes!!
@@survivingcountrylife7069 I run a 50" Cannon bar on it and I use on everything bigger than my 660 with a 36" Stihl bar easily handles. I do a lot of big Cottonwood for three counties around sw MN. They regrade and slope the farm drainage ditches here every10-20 years . I also do a lot of private tree cutting. My midrange saws are an 044 magnum with a 28" bar and a 391 with a 24".
Just have yours rebuilt I think the last another 20 years is worth it it is worth it and it's a lot cheaper you can order a head a piston you can order a head a piston and a connecting rod for pretty cheap for pretty cheap but it's totally up to I have A260I have A261 hermit range and I love it each and I love it so I wouldn't when saying I also have A271 Both of them are extremely heavy duty saws for what I use them for but I but I would just rebuild yours it's worth the time it's worth the time and you know what condition you've kept it it shouldn't you've kept it James teen North Carolina James teen North Carolina superwood Hound
I really liked my MS 261 but it didn’t last 2 years, probably because I was letting one of my block suppliers use it, who knows what gas he was putting into it?
Awesome firewood cutting video. I noticed that you talked a lot about chainsaw, wood cutting on your channel, Are you up for a collaboration? Hipa supplies parts for small engines and maybe we would work together to share some tips on chainsaw using and maintenance and help more chainsaw users in the community.
Big tree. Big load. Good job.
Beautiful! !!!!!!👍👍👍Nice.😆 mate
I helped a cousin replace his 290 engine shortblock with a 390 shortblock. Says it's never run better. After over 15 years of hard use by him, the 290 engine finally gave up the ghost. No compression. So we ordered a 390 AM engine off of the internet and it's honestly run great. After break-in, just raw power. He later bought a 311, but kept going back to the 290 which had the 390 shortblock in it.
Quite a gong show.
Some pretty unique arborist techniques used in this video. I like that holding the truck down trick. The tree looks like a cottonwood or aspen. Not the best btu but lots of it.
I have a ms441 and a ms290 and love them both. I have lots of other saws as well but they aren’t into production. Friend owns a tree service and he went from a ms441 (which I bought) to a ms661 with a 30” bar. I bought my ms290 used from a pawn shop a few years ago and I’ve thrown it, dropped it and never had a problem. It is now starting to get a bit tired but it’s a nice saw. Same friend also has a ms261c and that saw will keep up to my ms441.
That's a European white popular .great video sir.
Perfect swing loading that first log on the trailer! Great job.
We cut wood with saws about the same. I use my MS 461 for wood about 14” and larger. Cutting limbs I use a 23 year old Husky 55 Rancher. If you have a little mechanical ability I’m sure you could find a new piston and cylinder for the 290 if it is worn. There are a lot of aftermarket parts out there. I wouldn’t go for the cheapest ones.
Becareful out there
That tree is a Big Toothed Aspen Sir!
Definitely NOT silver maple
What kind of tree is it do u think. Is it what old man Fred above says
@@survivingcountrylife7069,
Take my word, I have lots of them on the East side of my far forty!
Your mistaken on that being a silver, hybrid polar all day with that one. Tell the bucket guy it doesn't pay to gamble. Mistakes can be costly so take the time to do it safely. Lotta work right there.
Definitely recommend the newer 261C with the M Tronic
I would save up for a few more months if you need to and buy a new one
If someone is selling that saw most likely there is a problem with it as it will last you forever if you take care of it
Absolute best power to weight ratio and it is a pro saw as you know
you cannot go wrong with it
Good job! Huge tree! 🚜🪵👍🏼🇱🇷
I would be wary of buying a used saw, but then I bought my backup MS251 used and it's fine. I looked for one that a homeowner bought to do one or two trees and then rarely used it again. If you know a good saw man, maybe breathing some new life into the 290 is the way to go.
hope you`re ok man
Have 2* 261 and a 290. 261 never bogs down and has so much power and fuel economy over the 290
I’ve never seen Silver maple look like that. Looked like Birch to me. Either way that was one big mama jama!! Nice work Ben👍🏻👍🏻
Looks like a monster silver birch to us down here in VA. Nice video.
@@virginia2762 you could be right. I just went by what gordy said
Thank ya sir
Actually it would be called a silver poplar.
@@ronknutson2181 👍🏻 I wasn’t sure but I didn’t think it was maple
I have an old 028 super that rips it's a 50 cc saw and as for the 261 I never ran one I have a 026 witch is compatible and that saw pulls a 20 inch bar nicely
Hi Ben!!😀😀
A ms261 is a really nice saw .I've had one for several years and run a 20 inch bar on it. The ms290 is just a homeowner grade saw that wasn't made for doing hard work day after day. I really like the ms261 and would recommend it to anyone. If you could find a used 028 super in nice shape grab it. There where several on Ebay in really nice shape for a really good price just last week.
That wasn't silver maple you were cutting. That was hybrid popular. It is just a junk wood. But it will burn in your stove and make heat. I call it gofer wood. Because when you put it in it burns so fast that you have to go for more.
Good seeing you buddy!!
Logger Al
What ever tree it was will burn just fine and produce heat in the boiler just fine..
Good video Ben. See you on the next one..
🪵🪵🪵👍👏😎
MS 261 is a great saw……but a MS 500i does it all 😏😎
I had a MS290 like yours that pretty old but still running, a friend of mine has it. For a 50cc saw you might want to look at a Husky 450, fairly cheap used. I really like mine compared to the 290.
Mini excavator definitely the way to go loading bigger logs. Getting saw stuck is something have done more than want to. Use average 3 saws when cutting. Trim saw, medium (50cc) and larger (70+cc).
yea stihl ms261 or a husky 550 xp or 562xp all great limb saws, be safe. thanks for michigan--Andy
Hey Ben. The 261 is a great saw. I've had one for a couple of years now with not one complaint. I would however try to get a new one and avoid buying someone else's problem. It's a good saw but coming from another person and not knowing how the treated it.
Just my two cents brother.
That sounds like good advice for sure
Thats a big tree but that Siler maple in your last video was bigger
Hey old boy where are you been ?? Hope everything is OK
Great video Ben! Although I'm not so certain that a silver maple. Looks more like birch or sycamore by the leaves. I could be wrong but I'm just guessing. The 261 saw has by far the best saw that I own. I have five others and the 261 is my go-to
Does your 290 still have good compression? You can put the 390 top end in it if the one in it is bad also
That is a big tree .lots of btus right there
I really like my 261. I have an 18 inch bar on it, and performs very well as a firewood saw. I don't care to noodle with it, but other then that its rock solid.
Is it short on power for noodling ?
@@survivingcountrylife7069 it will do it, but just not something I care to do with it. I typically will just those rounds up with a sledgehammer and wedges.
I think this is a Silver Poplar, not a Maple.
Happy Holidays.
I love my 261 it perfect weight and power everything except big logs. I would just get a new one tho, chainsaw is one thing i like to buy new.
I've heard really good things about a 261
I try to cut smaller pieces and place them under when the tree is held off the ground, less saw pinching. I don’t have a Mini though.
Landscaping species of white birch, most definitely not a maple of any sort
Hi Ben. You have a great pair of smaller and mid-range size saws. Keep them both. Each is designed to cut wood to their capacity. A guy can do a bit larger occasionally, but it's easier on them, and you if they're kept to their intended limitations. Keep those chains razor sharp. Have spare chains. Switch them when needed.
I've found that shopping for used saws can be frustrating. A guy telling you he's only getting rid of his saw because it's too much for him to handle, or he just doesn't use it are rarely the actual reason. Be very careful!!!
In my tree business I have a decent selection of saws ranging from in- tree little buggers up to the Stihl 880. Each has a purpose and a place it fits in.
I would advise saving for the big dog and buy new. If you decide on used, let caution in the extreme be your gide.
Best wishes!!
I would love to have a 661 someday. How big of stumps do you cut with your 880 and how big of a bar do ya run. Thnx
@@survivingcountrylife7069 I run a 50" Cannon bar on it and I use on everything bigger than my 660 with a 36" Stihl bar easily handles. I do a lot of big Cottonwood for three counties around sw MN. They regrade and slope the farm drainage ditches here every10-20 years . I also do a lot of private tree cutting.
My midrange saws are an 044 magnum with a 28" bar and a 391 with a 24".
Just have yours rebuilt I think the last another 20 years is worth it it is worth it and it's a lot cheaper you can order a head a piston you can order a head a piston and a connecting rod for pretty cheap for pretty cheap but it's totally up to I have A260I have A261 hermit range and I love it each and I love it so I wouldn't when saying I also have A271 Both of them are extremely heavy duty saws for what I use them for but I but I would just rebuild yours it's worth the time it's worth the time and you know what condition you've kept it it shouldn't you've kept it James teen North Carolina James teen North Carolina superwood Hound
I really liked my MS 261 but it didn’t last 2 years, probably because I was letting one of my block suppliers use it, who knows what gas he was putting into it?
That’s a white poplar
U know silver maple is still a hard wood just softer right
Correct
Risk taking will get someone hurt. Tree work is very dangerous, as you know Ben.
What happened to the videos did u stop I like what u post miss the videos
I tend to think this is a European White Poplar.
That bark or leaves 🍃 don’t look like silver maple 🍁to me? Looks like some sort of poplar tree.
Did the 4 people who said that before you have any influence on your opinion?
Ummm, I'm no expert, but that is NOT silver maple. Pretty sure it is birch
That's not no silver maple looks like a aspen tree of some kind.
That's what another guy is saying. He says it's a big toothed aspen ?
@@survivingcountrylife7069 it all burns for heat so free wood good wood.
Amateur hour.No sink cut on the top removal."Gordy is risk taker" enough said.
that's not a silver maple
Awesome firewood cutting video. I noticed that you talked a lot about chainsaw, wood cutting on your channel, Are you up for a collaboration? Hipa supplies parts for small engines
and maybe we would work together to share some tips on chainsaw using and maintenance and help more chainsaw users in the community.