346xp vs 260 pro

[deezelman]

looking and new saws for work. looking at 260 pro and 346xp. can get the 346 bout $15 cheaper with 2 year warranty 260 just has 90 day. im a husky fan but gotta convince the boss whose more of a stihl guy.

 

[Woodcutteranon]

It is time for my classless posting of my Husqvarna Laser. I have never run a 260 Pro but I honestly don't think I need to. Buy this orange beast and you will need your grin surgically removed from your face. BTW welcome to AS.
WCA

 

[nmurph]

the general concesus is that the 346 is the class of that class. it is heavier by a few ounces, but is about .5hp stronger. it is also a snappy revver. there are the stihl die-hards that swear by the 260, but unbiased opinions lean strongly to the 346. i own stihl, husky and dolmar among others. i don't have a 346, but there is just too much positive input from those that do. i do own an 026 (essentially the same saw as a 260) and i am less than impressed.

 

[WoodChuck'r]

The 346xp is by far the superior saw.

Definitely more power, excellent air filtration, great antivibe, and better fuel economy. I've run both saws on numerous occasions and the 346xp will smoke a 260 Pro.

The 260 is a great saw, but for the price you'd be a silly guy not to buy the 346.

 

[mowoodchopper]

260 does not have the power stock, but they can be made to have alot .

The other thing is the 260 is the best saw I have ever ran as far as easy on my back.

also its built to last!

 

[lloyyd]

I had a 260 years ago. It was tougher than a 2 dollar steak but the 346 is a ripper & alot of fun to use.

 

[Bowtie]

God this topic has been done to death.....:deadhorse:

 

[mikefunaro]

I feel like the only argument you could possibly make for the 260 pro is the fact that it has the stihl logo on it and is a "tried" or tested design, as it's like 20+ years old, with maybe an edge in durability

 

[nmurph]

and weight and the ease of an inboard clutch, which is part of what makes the 346 handle so well.
and a 346 can be made to be everything a 260 can be ++++++.

 

[dingeryote]

Sell the Boss with the warranty and cost. It's a no brainer.

Then do a Muff Mod on one and have him run it.
All over but the twitchin' from there.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[jbighump]

opcorn:

 

[blsnelling]

god this topic has been done to death.....:deadhorse:

+10000000000000000000000000000000000

 

[wigglesworth]

God this topic has been done to death.....:deadhorse:

so what was the general consensus?? :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Slamm]

Port and muffler modd'd the 260 pulls a buried, 20" semi chisel full comp or skip without and problems.

I don't know nothing about the little husky, is it better than the 260 when both are modded????

Sam

 

[mowoodchopper]

Port and muffler modd'd the 260 pulls a buried, 20" semi chisel full comp or skip without and problems.

I don't know nothing about the little husky, is it better than the 260 when both are modded????

Sam

I have never ran a ported 260, have owned a 260 pro and now a 026. Didnt like the 260 much and traded it off for a nice 5100, the 5100 is a beast. But I kept thinking how nice that 260 felt in my hands. Now I traded the 5100 off and yes I hated to see it go but the 026 feels real nice. I worked on the muffler and it runs good, as good as my 5100 NO . But it feels smaller and since i dont use a 50cc saw much when I do its for trimming and over head work the 026 fills the bill!

 

[Slamm]

I just use my 260 as a skidder saw, like if something gets hung up in another tree or didn't get topped, and I have to do, it when I get to it, to drag it out. We cut mostly Oak and I have even dropped trees with the little thing. I have yet to run skip or full chisel on it, just full comp, semi chisel and it is very impressive, you can actually pull up on the handle (dog it in) and it won't loose much in RPM's.

For its little size, I am quite happy with it, but then I don't know what a stock one runs like.

I dropped it in a creek about a month ago and my saw builder is checking everything out. It gave me a chance to play with the 361 again, as it has been sitting idle what with the love of the 441 and the new 260 going on, LOL.

I haven't even started a 660 in quite awhile. I used the 084 to trim a Christmas tree, nothing like having to make up dumb excuses to start an engine, LOL.

Sam

 

[super3]

I've read all the praise on the 346 for some time now. Been wanting to run one in stock form. Well a few weeks back another member on here offered to let me run his for a couple of weeks,(thanks Ross). Bone stock with around 2 gal of fuel run through it so far,perfect. I was highly disappointed, maybe I was expecting too much of a differance compared to the 260 from all the good i'd been reading on here.

I even put a stock muff cover back on the 260 to make it fair. No dice, the 260 was still just slightly quicker in smaller wood. 10" sassy

Muff mod the 346 and that smile that I'd been hearing about finally appeared. Now I'm getting better times in the same test wood than the 260, a lot better.

Better handling in the tops? Toss up in my book. Less vibes? Oh you bet, set the 346 down and pick up the 260 and that tells ya real quick just how smooth the Husky is. Bigger hardwood, 10-16", 346 really shines even b4 the muff mod, after the mod, well it's a pleasure to run.

Walks all over a 260? Not in stock form.


But then, this is just "my" opinion.

 

[blsnelling]

Howdy Mike. It was because of your findings with the 346 that I tested the 346 I just did in all the various stages. I wanted to see it for myself. I didn't realize how much a muffler mod did for the 346. Put a cat muffler on it, and you'll really find out just how anemic it can be. But mod that muffler and there's an animal inside that little beast. If you're running a cat, or even unmodded non-cat muffler, you really have NO idea the power your 346 should be making. Seriously.

 

[Brushwacker]

I have run many 026's most of them old and well used and noticed some run significantly better then others. Some may just been down enough on compression to feel less powerful but I think sometimes its mabe the carb or something else not fine tuning to the engine well, especially the carb not equipped with the high speed adjustment. Have quite a few hours on a couple oe 346's, run 1 some , frequently. The better o26's I ran and run do not feel power handicapped to the 346's I ran and run. They rev slower but feel a little stronger at lower rpms. Neither 1 feels fast enough or powerful enough for an all around production firewood saw to me. The 026 feels easiar on my back and fits my build more comfortably for manueverability. Others feel differant, so be it. 346 Yes ,less vibes,much better air cleaner system, but the 026 vibes aren't bad enough to cause me discomfort in average use. After owning a couple Huskies I gladly put up with servicing stihl airfilters. Its not that difficult or time consuming and I want the saws that fit my program and profit me the most. If I wanted a saw more powerful then the 026 I certainly would not consider an 346 a big step up. Little step up probably in most cases from the information I gather. An 034 is a big step up in power, has a great power to weight ratio and makes a much better all round limbing and bucking saw in my firewood business. If you want a limbing saw either of the 2 you mentioned have mostly a very good reputation and keep in mind service and parts availubility.

 

[mowoodchopper]

I have run many 026's most of them old and well used and noticed some run significantly better then others. Some may just been down enough on compression to feel less powerful but I think sometimes its mabe the carb or something else not fine tuning to the engine well, especially the carb not equipped with the high speed adjustment. Have quite a few hours on a couple oe 346's, run 1 some , frequently. The better o26's I ran and run do not feel power handicapped to the 346's I ran and run. They rev slower but feel a little stronger at lower rpms. Neither 1 feels fast enough or powerful enough for an all around production firewood saw to me. The 026 feels easiar on my back and fits my build more comfortably for manueverability. Others feel differant, so be it. 346 Yes ,less vibes,much better air cleaner system, but the 026 vibes aren't bad enough to cause me discomfort in average use. After owning a couple Huskies I gladly put up with servicing stihl airfilters. Its not that difficult or time consuming and I want the saws that fit my program and profit me the most. If I wanted a saw more powerful then the 026 I certainly would not consider an 346 a big step up. Little step up probably in most cases from the information I gather. An 034 is a big step up in power, has a great power to weight ratio and makes a much better all round limbing and bucking saw in my firewood business. If you want a limbing saw either of the 2 you mentioned have mostly a very good reputation and keep in mind service and parts availubility.

:agree2: 026 is super easy on the back! 034 is a great firewood saw !