My $50 Stihl 026

hrhunter · Jun 21, 2012

I had been wanting to get a 026 to complement my 036 Pro. A friend of mine is a Stihl dealer close by. As it happened he posted a Craigslist ad on Tuesday with about 30-50 saws in various states of disrepair for sale. I texted him and didn't hear a response until after someone had bought the whole works for about $600. He happened to find another 026 under a workbench and asked me if I wanted it for $50.00. This was supposedly "complete" with an 18" bar and chain on it. It is filthy as it has been sitting around for some time. Well, I pulled the air filter off and no carburetor. I pulled the muffler off and the piston looks like new. So that is good news. It looks to have a new clutch cover and ring type sprocket on it. Now I need to find a good carb and probably some new gas lines and impulse line for starters. It appears to have good compression. What else do I need to look for? Pictures will follow tomorrow.

3000 FPS · Jun 21, 2012

Just make sure the fly wheel is there along with the coil. I would also make sure it has the correct spark plug.

w8ye · Jun 21, 2012

Get your WT-194 on it and the new impulse and fuel lines and lets see what else turns up?

PLMCRZY · Jun 21, 2012

Do a vaccum test , the recoil sides seal likes to go out.

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hrhunter · Jun 21, 2012

w8ye said:
Get your WT-194 on it and the new impulse and fuel lines and lets see what else turns up?

I was wondering what was the desirable carb to buy for it. Thanks

bcorradi · Jun 22, 2012

Sounds like a great deal...i've rebuilt 1-200 of them so post some pics and we'll help you out. I look forward to seeing some pics of your new saw.
take care

hrhunter · Jun 22, 2012

Well, I talked to my friend today. He found the missing carb, hopefully he has a kit for it and some gas and impulse lines.

watsonr · Jun 22, 2012

And you should have talked to him about dumping 20-50 saws on you.:cool2:

Good luck with the 026, great saw!

Guido Salvage · Jun 22, 2012

Congratulations, this is my $45.00 026...

hrhunter · Jun 22, 2012

Here are some pictures of it:

View attachment 242738

View attachment 242739

View attachment 242740

hrhunter · Jun 22, 2012

Another day and more questions. I picked up the carburetor, gas line, impulse line and an air filter. The carb turned out to be a WT 493A. It only has the low adjustment. I expressed the desire to have a fully adjustable carb and was asked why I needed to adjust the high side anyway. :bang: He also gave me the later style gas line. It is bigger than the old style and to use that I would have to drill out the hole. The hole is far enough back that it will be very hard to do that. I think I am going to return that for the correct one. Has any of you drill out the hole for the gas line? The hole in a newer style tank measures .4 of an inch. I tried to slip the carb on the two mounting bolts and it looks like there is so little room that you would almost have to take the top of the handle off to get it on. I am starting to have second thoughts about all this to be honest.

Arrowhead · Jun 22, 2012

Don't get discouraged!! It will all come together. Get the Walbro 194. It's fully adjustable. The pics of your saw looks like it will clean up like new.
The proper carb will fit on without removing the handle.

hrhunter · Jun 22, 2012

Arrowhead said:
Don't get discouraged!! It will all come together. Get the Walbro 194. It's fully adjustable. The pics of your saw looks like it will clean up like new.
The proper carb will fit on without removing the handle.

Thanks for the encouragement. Any good sources for a Walbro Wt 194?

Arrowhead · Jun 23, 2012

hrhunter said:
Thanks for the encouragement. Any good sources for a Walbro Wt 194?

I hope you don't mind, I made a post in the Swap Meet thread for ya. Lots of great folks there willing to help.
Post # 18913 http://www.arboristsite.com/stickies/80509-1261.htm#post3712679

cowroy · Jun 23, 2012

Pretty sure I have you a fully adjustable wt194. I will look in the morning.

hrhunter · Jun 23, 2012

Let me know!

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Zippy · Jun 23, 2012

Carb removal

hrhunter said:
Another day and more questions. I picked up the carburetor, gas line, impulse line and an air filter. The carb turned out to be a WT 493A. It only has the low adjustment. I expressed the desire to have a fully adjustable carb and was asked why I needed to adjust the high side anyway. :bang: He also gave me the later style gas line. It is bigger than the old style and to use that I would have to drill out the hole. The hole is far enough back that it will be very hard to do that. I think I am going to return that for the correct one. Has any of you drill out the hole for the gas line? The hole in a newer style tank measures .4 of an inch. I tried to slip the carb on the two mounting bolts and it looks like there is so little room that you would almost have to take the top of the handle off to get it on. I am starting to have second thoughts about all this to be honest.

I take the top of the rear handle off (1 screw at the back you get at from underneath) so you can un-hook the throttle linkage. Then the carb slides back and up. If you don't un-hook the throttle linkage from the trigger you have to un-hook it from the carb and that's really fiddly.

I've just rebuilt a spares/repairs 026. The case gasket was leaking - I think it's been made from two un-matched halves. I couldn't get it to seal with just the gasket so have used dirkoHT as well and it's drying right now. I'll probably leave it overnight - pressure/vac test in the morning and then let her see some wood - hopefully!

I don't know about the fuel hose - I pressure tested mine and it was fine so I left it alone.

cowroy · Jun 23, 2012

hrhunter said:
Let me know!

Good news I do have you a carburetor :msp_thumbsup:

Better news is it has a new carb kit in it to :msp_thumbsup:

I will swap it out to my 026 and make sure it works as it should cause it has been sittin' for a little while. I will also make a video of how I do it and then you can do it how ever you feel is the easiest way for you. I have had the carb on and off my 026 a lest 50 times, so stay tuned! If it checks out i'll send it out as soon as I can :msp_wink:

hrhunter · Jun 23, 2012

Great! Would you happen to have a throttle rod as well? Looks likeI am missing that. I also need a tank vent. it just had a piece of tag stuck on there.

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cowroy · Jun 23, 2012

hrhunter said:
Great! Would you happen to have a throttle rod as well? Looks likeI am missing that. I also need a tank vent. it just had a piece of tag stuck on there.

Unfortunately the only thing I have is the carb but if you will click on the sticky's subforum at the top of the page and go to the swap meet thread and post there what you need I know there are plenty of people that would have those little pieces for you. Or just go back up to Arrowheads post where he linked to the thread and when you post you will be subscribed. :msp_wink:

My $50 Stihl 026

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