In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

The saw we all love to hate.....

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by MasterMech, Oct 26, 2014.

  1. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    The Stihl MS390. Overweight, underpowered, homeowner turd, it's been called every one of those things. So what's a guy to do if he stumbles on one for a good deal? Ignore it? Heck no! What if the top end turns out to be trashed? Are those aftermarket cylinders any good?

    You tell me.



    That's a 20" bar in some variety of maple.
     
  2. Rains

    Rains

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    145
    Likes Received:
    384
    Location:
    N.Illinois
    Nice !!!
     
  3. BuckthornBonnie

    BuckthornBonnie

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    963
    Likes Received:
    3,134
    Location:
    Penn Yan, NY
    Which AM top end did you use? I just rebuilt an 029Super with a Huztl. So far, so good. Well done!
     
  4. FredRed

    FredRed

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2014
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    426
    Location:
    NW Connecticut
    That thing looks pretty healthy to me!
     
  5. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    It was a HyWay top end, more details/pics coming. Hint: this was not a bolt on install.
     
    Hedgerow, concretegrazer and Chvymn99 like this.
  6. cgraham1

    cgraham1

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2014
    Messages:
    840
    Likes Received:
    3,209
    Location:
    Nor Cal
    I had an all stock 029 Super for many years... It never gave me any trouble. I ran it on junk oil and ethanol gas @ 50:1, and it pulled a 25" bar for at least a few years. I guess I didn't know any better! :p
     
    Chvymn99 and BuckthornBonnie like this.
  7. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,624
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    That thing is running pretty good!!

    I wouldn't throw a 290/310/390 out of my garage. They are some of the most popular saws out there! And for good reason!

    Looking forward to the "rest of the story"!!
     
    cgraham1 and Chvymn99 like this.
  8. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,278
    Likes Received:
    48,415
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    Whoa!!!!:cool::cool::cool::saw::saw::saw: Thats Sweet!:dex:
     
    Chvymn99 likes this.
  9. Cut4fun

    Cut4fun

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2014
    Messages:
    1,941
    Likes Received:
    3,570
    Location:
    OHIO Redneck
    390 is only one in that series that goes with the weight for cc of the saw IMO. The others are heavy for cc, like 290.
     
  10. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    IMG_1103.JPG

    So here is what a normal cylinder off of a MS290/310/390 looks like right?

    IMG_1104.JPG

    And this is what I got out of the box with the HyWay kit. Little different configuration right? Note the large "button" in the transfer ports. They were also present in the intake and exhaust ports. I ground them off and cleaned up the rough casting inside of the intake/exhaust ports.

    IMG_1123.JPG IMG_1122.JPG

    Note that I did not alter the timing or width of the intake/exhaust ports at all. Just cleaned up all the extra material HyWay left in them.

    One other thing, in this particular case, the cylinder had plating sprayed in EVERYWHERE. Cheap grinding burs need not apply.
     
  11. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    19,207
    Likes Received:
    98,393
    Location:
    KC Metro
    That thing sounds as good as it cuts! :yes:
     
    WeldrDave, cgraham1 and MasterMech like this.
  12. DexterDay

    DexterDay Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    31,624
    Location:
    Northeast Oh
    Looks good bud!!

    I was curious about the comment you made yesterday :) This explains a lot!!
     
    WeldrDave likes this.
  13. MightyWhitey

    MightyWhitey

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    1,745
    Likes Received:
    6,295
    Location:
    5 miles South of the "cheddar curtain".

    'Splain please!!???:confused:o_O
     
  14. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    The muffler mod is a bit extreme. I guess I don't have a pic but the internal baffle has been completely bypassed and the deflector opened up as much as I dared. Any more and it would look like crap.
     
    Chvymn99 likes this.
  15. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    The 029, 029 Super, 039, MS290, MS310 and MS390 (Collectively referred to as the 1127 Series.) all weigh in pretty much at the same weight, give or take an ounce or two. So do you want a 14lb 56 cc saw or a 14lb 64 cc saw?
     
  16. MightyWhitey

    MightyWhitey

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    1,745
    Likes Received:
    6,295
    Location:
    5 miles South of the "cheddar curtain".

    Thanks!!!!
     
  17. 94BULLITT

    94BULLITT

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2014
    Messages:
    2,446
    Likes Received:
    7,181
    Location:
    Frederick County, VA
    Sounds good.
     
    MasterMech likes this.
  18. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,170
    Likes Received:
    11,885
    Location:
    In The Hills
    Looks and sounds good!:thumbs: Great job!
    I will still take my MS 460 or 357XP though ;)
     
    Chvymn99, MasterMech and DexterDay like this.
  19. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    That 460 was a real nice runner. You send that thing to TN yet? ;)

    I wish 390's ran this good from the factory. To be clear, I think the OEM cylinder would run even better but for about $100 less, this is a realistic alternative if you have the ability to smooth it out. I didn't use anything fancier than a dremel with a flex shaft and a few tungsten carbide grinding burs.

    Oh yeah, if any of you have one of these 1127 series saws and have not modified the muffler, you are missing out. They are very choked up from the factory. They are easy to open up and they don't have to be as loud as this one is either.
     
    Chvymn99, cgraham1 and Certified106 like this.
  20. Certified106

    Certified106

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    4,170
    Likes Received:
    11,885
    Location:
    In The Hills
    No it hasn't made its way to Tennessee yet but hopefully it happens this winter. I did use it a heck of a lot this past weekend though :yes:.

    You did a great job putting that saw together and the cleanup looks great! You planning on keeping it or selling it?