Check the fuel line before anything else. They are very nearly always problematic unless they have gotten attention in the past. Those saws are at least 15 years old. The 029 Super became the MS290 sometime around 2000-2001. Whatever dealer told you that it could be the reed valves certainly does not work on much in the way of modern two-stroke equipment. Stihl did away with reed valves at least thirty-some years ago.
