Careful, I said the same thing about my 029 super when my tree guy started dropping off bigger logs. These guys quickly talked me into a 660. And then the 029 seemed like a lame turd and this is the result.
Here we go, all bucked up and a pile of chips. Part of the reason I had to get the logs cut up is that there is more coming. My neighbor is getting this red oak taken down this week. His tree service is accessing it through my backyard. The wood will be left in my yard. I can't count my cordwood till it is stacked, but if this tree isn't hollow it will have quite a bit of wood in it. I am guessing there is some about half the crown died out in the past two years. 37" DBH and about 32 feet to the crotch. The crown is probably 40' more and has some pretty significant wood in it also.
Are they cutting that up for you? 37" of red oak is a tall order for a 290 without nitrous. If they are, then I would be on hand with the paint and measuring stick.
Deal is that they are to turn it into rounds, and yes it will take supervision to make sure they are cut on the 16" mark. The 029 desperately needs to be ported. It has served me for 20 years but I have always thought it was heavy when cutting up smaller wood, where it actually could perform. So I got the Schindy, which has good power and I can carry through the woods by the rear handle without dragging the nose. I never paid any attention to modding saws until. Recently and only just now put 2+2 together that the 029 is underpowered for its weight.
Porting a 029 is gonna be a tricky affair with that clamshell engine. Whatcha really want is to find an 039/MS390 that has a good piston/cylinder and go from there. The only major difference between an 029 and the 039 is the bore of the cylinder. All parts are interchangeable.
