motownbrowne
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2013
- Messages
- 2,613
- Location
- river falls, wi
- Tractor
- Kubota mx4700 HST, New Holland TC-29D
Power listed the same....the 291 lists 3/4# lighter. So I stand corrected.
Just assumed the 291 was a slight facelift and more EPA stuff vs the 290.
I cannot recall now weather it was the 290 or 291 that I tested. Was not impressed. Cut more like a 3 HP saw instead of pushing 4 HP. And heft in the hand felt closer to a 5 HP saw. So my conclusion was bulk / weight of a 5hp but performance of a 3hp. Not impressed.
You're right about the power to weight of that series of saws. I've never been much impressed with them either. Now, I've never ran a 291, maybe that's different. I do know that if I was spending $450 on a saw, it wouldn't be a farm boss.
On the other hand, though, those saws sure have cut a lot of wood for a lot of happy owners. They can definitely take some abuse and keep ticking. If someone gave me a burned up 029, I wouldn't mind throwing a high quality aftermarket 039 top end on it and having a little sleeper saw. That and a 16" 3/8 bar would be a fine little firewood saw.