My 290-390 conversion thread

[STOVE]

A friend of mine texted me a photo of a ms290 he found cleaning out his parents house after they passed. I was gracious to have any saw to work on and accepted.

Decided to order the 390 jug and pop up from Sawsalvage. I plan to do some light grinding work. My first time doing that as well as my first complete tear down. The entire saw needs a deep cleaning while chasing before any reassembly

Many members have given me great advice thus far. I wanted to chronicle my build for any others tearing down the 1127 series.

So far the hardest part of teardown has been the rubber mount holding the handle to the case. I have slowly torn it down, placing parts and their screws in ziplocs with sharpie labels.

 

[STOVE]

More photos of filth

 

[hacskaroly]

More photos of filth

Yup, I have worked on many saws that looked like that, need to be an archeologist to dig the saw out of the dirt encasing it.

I have slowly torn it down, placing parts and their screws in ziplocs with sharpie labels.

Smart man!!

 

[STOVE]

Updates. Got some of the parts clean, top end and crank removed. Had to soak the jug bolts in PB overnight.

Ran into our first fiasco. Going to have to run a die over the bar stud to attempt the double nut removal trick. Other than that things are progressing fine.

Going to clean up the muffler and give it some breathing holes. Will do some light grinding on the jug this week. Hoping to have everything ready to reassemble by the weekend.

Also does anyone have a creative name for the oil/dirt/sawdust crud that ends up all over saws?

 

[STOVE]

Case and tanks will be getting a cleaning once the stud is removed.

 

[legdelimber]

Chain Flocked ? Usually nice to see some shiny (old) paint after the cleanup though.

 

[STOVE]

Finally got the bar stud out today. Had to cut new threads on the top half.

I will start grinding in the top end, and finish the muffler mod soon. Assembly will begin Friday night

A side note, a member of the forum has been super helpful via email. His name is Herman. He is going through cancer treatments and has been communicating with me despite it all. OPE name is @fearofpavement

I cannot thank him enough for his help.

 

[STOVE]

Took the leap tonight into grinding the jug. Fell asleep in my daughter’s room putting her down. Walked downstairs around 11:20. Phone call from the wife at 12:10
“what are you doing”
“Working on that saw”
“It’s midnight”
“Yep”

all went pretty well. I will take some nail files and try to soften the upper edge. I got as much as I felt comfortable doing. The sharpie lines are 33mm

Used a dremel with flex attachment, cheap amazon burrs and 1/4 sanding drums

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Chain Flocked ? Usually nice to see some shiny (old) paint after the cleanup though.

Paint? It’s a plastic saw : p

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Updates. Got some of the parts clean, top end and crank removed. Had to soak the jug bolts in PB overnight.

Ran into our first fiasco. Going to have to run a die over the bar stud to attempt the double nut removal trick. Other than that things are progressing fine.

Going to clean up the muffler and give it some breathing holes. Will do some light grinding on the jug this week. Hoping to have everything ready to reassemble by the weekend.

Also does anyone have a creative name for the oil/dirt/sawdust crud that ends up all over saws?

Uh…gunk?

 

[legdelimber]

uhm, would y'all believe me if I claimed a senior moment combined with a bit nostalgiazation?

Paint? It’s a plastic saw : p

 

[jacob j.]

Finally got the bar stud out today. Had to cut new threads on the top half.

I will start grinding in the top end, and finish the muffler mod soon. Assembly will begin Friday night

A side note, a member of the forum has been super helpful via email. His name is Herman. He is going through cancer treatments and has been communicating with me despite it all. OPE name is @fearofpavement

I cannot thank him enough for his help.

@fearofpavement is one of the good old boys for sure.

 

[STOVE]

Got the exhaust done tonight, tried my best not to touch the op or bottom much if at all.

Then came the big hang up. I cannot get this crank and piston into the top end. Taking a break from it now. Kicking myself for applying gasket to both halves ahead of time. Will have to clean both and retry later this evening. Was discouraged enough to backcheck my Dukes order to be sure I didn’t order a 290/310 jug by mistake

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Got the exhaust done tonight, tried my best not to touch the op or bottom much if at all.

Then came the big hang up. I cannot get this crank and piston into the top end. Taking a break from it now. Kicking myself for applying gasket to both halves ahead of time. Will have to clean both and retry later this evening. Was discouraged enough to backcheck my Dukes order to be sure I didn’t order a 290/310 jug by mistakeView attachment 479967View attachment 479968

There is a ring compression gizmo you need for those. Pretty cheap on eBay.

 

[hacskaroly]

There is a ring compression gizmo you need for those. Pretty cheap on eBay.

This be it? If so, it is very handy, I use mine all the time!!

 

[STOVE]

This be it? If so, it is very handy, I use mine all the time!!

View attachment 479981

No, I looked it up. It’s a black Stihl branded one specifically for these clamshells

 

[EFSM]

This be it? If so, it is very handy, I use mine all the time!!

View attachment 479981

That’s not gonna work for reaching up inside the cylinder. Some clamshell cylinders have a really nice taper at the bottom that compresses the rings,

 

[STOVE]

Still waiting on my 1127 ring compressor to arrive and I had a thought.

I’m constantly running my fingers over the inside of the ports to convince myself they are beveled enough. Would putting a ring in the jug and pushing it up be a solid test?

 

[singinwoodwackr]

This be it? If so, it is very handy, I use mine all the time!!

View attachment 479981

Nope

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Finally got the bar stud out today. Had to cut new threads on the top half.

I will start grinding in the top end, and finish the muffler mod soon. Assembly will begin Friday night

A side note, a member of the forum has been super helpful via email. His name is Herman. He is going through cancer treatments and has been communicating with me despite it all. OPE name is @fearofpavement

I cannot thank him enough for his help.

Hang in there Herman...blessings & swift healing your way brother!