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This review is in regards to new Stihl Chain saw purchased 2 weeks ago. (Model MS-390) The saw is advertised as the number 1 chain saw in performance and value. Chain saw documentation was read, and recommended service procedures have been followed. (such as fueling mixtures, daily chain tensioning, and manufacturer recommended oils used. Usage has been medium duty at most.

The chainsaw appears to be underpowered, whereas it bogs down with relative ease, and has significant difficulty cutting through logs of around 10 inch diameter. In fairness, the power is advertised to increase after the first 15 chain tightenings. ( 7 tightenings, so far)

My most significant disappointment with the product is the non-robust operating, in particular, the extremely difficult start up. (after the saw has been run, and shut down for 5 minutes) It is almost impossible to start in the scenario.

Location: Waterford Township, Michigan

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Guest

Sounds like something could be wrong when u say it bogs down. I have a ms390 with 25" bar and i have cut trees that use the entire bar and never bogged down.

I think it has plenty of power. But its always been hard to start. Usually six pulls.

Three with choke three without then it runs. My old stihl with a settable carb starts in two pulls everytime.

Guest

Just because you put candy crush down for an hour and bought a saw, doesn't mean you know how to run one. I suggest you either take it in and get it tuned (they need tweaked as they break in) or learn how to do it yourself.

You probably could have learned in half the time it took you to lip off it in this review board.

Guest

The guy doesn't have a clue. I've ran stihl for 20 years they all start the same.

Choke them when there cold till they fire then back it off to half choke. If you shut it off for 5 minutes choke it again it will fire right up.

Guest

My 390 is a great saw! Ive had it for about 4 years and have never been disappointed!

i cut at least 30 cords with it a year and 4 feet wide trees.

i love it. great saw!!

Guest

OP i dont mean to sound condescending as i only recently learned about regular chains and "low kickback" chains. I have to ask are you using the former or latter?

My wife picked me up the low kickback kinds for months and then one day i went into tractor supply and bought a regular chain and i swear it was like night and day.

Just a thought.

Guest

My MS390 runs excellently, cuts big rounds like butter, takes my abuse without making me pay, and starts every time (I have the easy starting version with the compression valve.) Once I used bad fuel and started hard until I changed it. But otherwise this saw is a champ.

If you really have a bad saw then you should go back to Stihl and ask for help. Their engineering tops any I have seen - including Husqvarna (not trying to start trouble, just pointing out that Stihl really thinks through use and maintenance issues.)

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-671437

lol

Guest

I have an MS-390 and I have to say she bucks! I have had this saw for 4 years and cut probably over 150 full cord of wood with it.

Now I will say that at first it did start hard.You can thank the carbon footprint freaks for that. The saws today are leaned out so much to meet standards that you have to have Arnolds arm to start them. My advice is to scrap the NGK plug that comes in it as well as the spark screen in the exhaust, Which are for city folk and California wild fire areas. "unless you must have it by law".

Of course this is after the break in period.

93 octane and Stihl oil. Your hardwoods will shake with fear!!!Trust me

Guest

I worked for a home builder for a few years and ran both the MS390 and the newer MS361, both with 20" bars (don't remember what chain) The 390 quit one summer just before i took over the job and at the time the 361 was the "best" they bought one that day. The next year I took over beam cutting and ran into problems with the 361 heating up (lean) and grabbed the 390 adjusted the car and ran it for the day.

Friday came, while cleaning them I hogged out the 390's muffler and retuned again, it became my saw, that 361 couldn't touch it...

Anyone else was instructed to use the 361.

The 390 is a great saw, always starts and runs, biggest thing is that they always seem to be tuned lean after coming back from the yearly visit to the shop.

Guest

I have a stihl ms391 which starts second pull when motor is cold but when i go to refuel it is impossible to start.any ideas?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-568053

Don't run it dry. This will solve your problem.

Guest

This saw kicks ***... tons of power and cuts like a knife through cake.

If your chain is new or sharp, this saw is tough to beat. Ninety percent of the loggers in the pacific NW only use Stihl saws for a reason,

and this is one of the finest I have ever used...

Guest

Had my saw for about 4 yrs now. Bought it new, ran it about 2 yrs stock then after the warranty was up hogged the muffler out and retuned and runs like a raped ape till it Runs the tank dry.

Run a 25" full skip square 3/8! cuts great!

Guest

stilh ms 391 sat over the winter now wont start. new gas, plug sparks, still wont start.

put a shot of starter fluid in it and it caught for a second, so I guess it's not getting gas.

pulled it 100 times.

Only 2 years old. shouldn't have problem but it does.

Guest

I have found that the air filter clogs very rapidly and when it is clogged the saw is almost impossible to start. I now clean the air filter every time I go to use the saw, which is only occasionally. It has plenty of power and it starts to big down when it is either low on fuel or the air filter is starting to clog up.

Guest

This saw sucks compared to the cheap McCullough I had for 14 years.

Heavy, very hard to start after warmed. Low power. Anyone want to buy it!

Guest

Funny there are people whinin' about this saw here because if you don't like it, go to the depot or blowes and get some mass produced garbage there and see how it runs for you. 390 with good chain a tune and new gas has plenty of muscle and flat out rips and it'll bench most other saws in it's class.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-474589

WELL SAID !

Guest

I have a 390 for over 10 years maybe almost 20 years and it still works like new. The correct chain is very important.

I have used every brand of chain saw but nothing compares to the stihl. Stihl saws are the best i used mine without a clip to hold the sprocket and it cuts just fine.

Guest

I had a tremendous amount of down or dead trees in my 9 acre yard that I will never completely clear (I just work around the house). The MS-390 is my 4th saw and without a doubt the best.

Folks might complain about anything, but to write it is underpowered is completely false as far as I am concerned. With a sharp chain you can cut just about anything, including a wide variety of thick, hard, old oak. I have NEVER thought it was underpowered, in fact, it is a monster that demands respect. The fact of the matter is that the chain will dull and I will tire while the saw keeps cranking out huge gobs of power.

Maybe the author did not have it adjusted correctly or that particular saw had an issue.

Put it another way. How much power do you want?

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