After many hours of research,I'm getting a.....

[surviverguy]

I'd sell the 290 at a profit and buy a better saw. A chainsaw will give you many years of service and then can be resold if you wish. Buy an 036 (for example) with the proceeds from the 290 sale if cost is an issue....Or buy the new 362- 20" at $600 new - resale after 20 years ( estimated $200) = $400 / 20 years of service= a low cost of 20 bucks a year to own....

 

[surviverguy]

Buy the 362 before you change your mind!

 

[Flatbedford]

For years of occasional use- 1995-2003 I thought my 029 was a very good saw.
One day I stumbled on a super deal for an 034 with low hours. I snached it up of course.
It only took me a few minutes to realize that the 034 was stronger and much faster cutting while at the same time -weighing..... significantly less.
That's when I stopped using the trusty 029.

I loved my 029 from 1996-2011, but once I tried a friend's 036 I was ruined. I bought the 036 from him for a ridiculously cheap $110 and sold the 029 for $260 a few months later. The 029/MS290 is a great all around saw and until you try a pro saw, you will be very happy with it for many years.

 

[MasterMech]

He could probably sell the 029 and buy an 036 for < $50.

 

[surviverguy]

He could probably sell the 029 and buy an 036 for < $50.

It's an ms290. He could put 50 bucks in his pocket after swapping the ms290 for an 036.
He'll keep both bars and the six chains and ditch the flippy caps! (LOL)

 

[surviverguy]

I dunno about those saws, but I can tell you that a 440 feels like the exact perfect amount of overkill

 

[MasterMech]

Well if the 029 has .325 cutting gear then he's better off bundling it all in the sale and starting fresh with whatever he upgrades to.

 

[surviverguy]

Mastermech I agree 100 percent. A quick look at the numbers on those bars would be smart. I didn't think about that. When I bought my 029 new from the dealer, they had it set up right with 3/8" pitch sprocket. The bar didn't say "Farm Boss" on it either. I didn't know the difference between 3/8 and .325 at that time. It sure is nice now to have a kit that's all compatible (all 3/8").