My first Stihl saws

I took the carb apart and cleaned it but I didn't put a new kit on. It looked ok and wasn't stiff. I have a spare Walbro carb for it I am going to try first.
I did put a metal clamp on the intake over the plastic and put some permatex underneath.

I would have donated that 044 for the junkyard build if I would have got it.

I wouldn't have even looked at it. Gave him the money and put it in the truck!

 

I have done that with some

 

Update:
I checked the 260 out first. Checked the piston and there was some scoring but should run. The muffler is a 2 piece design and every muffler should be like this. The throttle linkage was also jammed up. Took apart the handle and went back together nicely. Cleaned the fuel tank out and put fresh mix in with sea foam. She fired on 4th pull and ran but stalled out at idle. Pulled the air filter off because it was all jammed up. Fired again and it ran pretty well. Cleaned air filter out, put it on and tried again. She ran and idled but very rough. Ordered a new fuel line, air filter, carb kit, fuel filter and piston today from Hl supply who had great Black Friday deals.

Checked the piston on the 290. It was trashed. Real bad. Deep scoring uniformly across the piston. Any ideas? I thought I would sell it and get my money back but I found a great deal on an aftermarket 390 top end. Also ordered air filter, plug, muffler gasket, fuel filter and carb kit.

Any problem areas for these saws with air leaks?
I'll let you know when I have more progress.

 

Did the 290 have gas it in it? Did it look like straight gas? I just rebuilt a 290 and I found the carb inlet screen was plugged up with saw dust.

 

It didn't have any fuel in the tank. The intake side of piston and cylinder look good from what I can see. I opened the carb up yesterday and it was a lot cleaner then I expected. The amount of damage to the exhaust side of piston looks like straight gas but wouldn't the intake side have damage also?

 

They drained the evidence I think what happens is the exhaust is hotter so the piston is more easily scarred on the exhaust side. The incoming fuel on the intake side helps keep things cooler. Stihl has a piston failure chart that shows several pistons and the cause of failure. I can't find it right now but if I do I'll post it or a link to it.

Here is a piston and cylinder that was straight gassed. (excuse the dirty hands)

Exhaust




Intake

 

94 hit it on the head. Exhaust scores first and seizes it or just causes it to run too bad before intake is damaged bad.

For any homeowner owned 290 to look that bad I am almost are it was straight gassed. the saw has only been around like 15 years in that incarnation, so unless they really used that thing all the time it shouldn't be worn out or close. And then the plastic would look like hell