Stihl MS290 problem

[jgh]

20060604

Just to add, my MS 360 and MS 191T are really flood prone no matter how careful I am, so I carry the plug wrench everywhere. I've also had a run of bad luck with chains lately which it seems may be because I was cutting too close to the ground, dirt & grit, etc.

My dealer blames the quirkiness of Stihl carbs on EPA mandates.

Wonder when the latest "hybrid" 4/2 stroke engine technology will come to Chain saws? We have a Shindaiwa 2510 trimmer head with attachments that is a powerhouse, quieter than any trimmer I have heard, starts like a champ and does not smoke NEARLY as much.

Jim

 

[jgh]

20060604

Just to add, my MS 360 and MS 191T are really flood prone no matter how careful I am, so I carry the plug wrench everywhere. I've also had a run of bad luck with chains lately which it seems may be because I was cutting too close to the ground, dirt & grit, etc.

My dealer blames the quirkiness of Stihl carbs on EPA mandates.

Wonder when the latest "hybrid" 4/2 stroke engine technology will come to Chain saws? We have a Shindaiwa 2510 trimmer head with attachments that is a powerhouse, quieter than any trimmer I have heard, starts like a champ and does not smoke NEARLY as much.

Jim

 

[anthony witowsky]

Anthony- I have had an MS290 for 10 years, the first year was a NIGHTMARE. It intermittantly would not start, and it frequently burned up chains due to poor oiling (I used Stihl bar and chain oil) Had it back to the dealer with no results. Finally the chain release lever (orange) broke. It was days out of warrantee, and I was ready to crush it, and send it back to Stihl. So, I calmed down, and took it apart. Seems when they molded the 2 fuel and oil tank halves, and then fused them together, they never checked for slag (plastic that is) The pieces eventually broke off inside the 2 tanks and floated around, intermittantly clogging the pick-ups of both the oil, and gas tanks. I removed the loose plastic, and it has been fine ever since. Part that bothered me was paying $28 for a new release, and then Stihl would not cover it.

When older saws are hard to start, check the fuel hoses, or just change them, fuel hoses do leak, and get brittle, a 2 cycle is touchy, if any of the engine assembly screws loosen up, they could cause a vacuum loss, and may leak fuel. If you find any loose screws, take them out one at a time and put loctite on them before reinstalling.