026 PRO.......How do they rank in the world of smaller saws?

[PA Plumber]

As an afterthought, the one gripe I have with my older 026 is the air filter gets real dirty real fast. Two tanks and it's absolutely covered with dust, even with a sharp chain. Don't really understand why, as none of my other saws get that dirty that fast.

Hopefully Stihl has fixed that sometime in the last 14 years.

I have been using my 026 to limb Hemlock. The dead limbs are extremely dusty. When I fill my oil/fuel I have a very soft, small bristle paint brush I use to lightly dust off the air filter. I can get a couple of days of cutting before I pull the filter apart and used compressed air from the inside out. Only takes a minute and keeps the "Dirty Air Filter Blues" away.

 

[Lakeside53]

Yes!

Also:
The idle changes along with the status of the air filter, very annoying.
Dirt gets into the engine.

I have the same problems with my 026. But as someone said, it's 14 years old.

Not after two tanks it doesn't.

A blocking air filter doesn't affect the idle of a saw until WAY WAY after it's loosing power at the top end... in fact, idle is the last thing the filter affects. Dirt only gets in the engine IF it makes it past the filter, which it doesn't unless the filter is damaged.

 

[B_Turner]

O.k., it's dirty in two tanks.... but does the saw lack power because of this?

Oddly, it doesn't really seem to affect the performance or idling to have two tanks worth of dust on the filter. I have a second filter for all my saws and simply pop in a clean one and clean the first one when it's convenient.

I don't brush my filters anymore after I noticed it seemed had on them.

 

[Lakeside53]

The only time I find a moderately dirty filter affecting performance is when the carb is spitting back a lot of mix, and it's coating the filter and coagulating with the fine dust. It's a good sign your piston is on the way out anyhow..

 

[SinglerM]

260 Pro

I almost bought one. But for the money, I ended up getting a Dolmar 5100S. Like others has mentioned, the Dolmar is a little heavier, but the price difference was significant enough, that I went with the 5100S.
I considered the Husky 353 also, but I went with the Dolmar due to the great things said about it here.
I like it alot.
I like my Stihls, but i didn't think the 260 PRO was a good value.
Dolmar 5100S or Husky 353 are the two to consider in a 50cc saw.
Just my opinion.

Mitch

 

[spacemule]

My buddy who is an ace saw mechanic says that the 026 Stihl is such a pig you'd be better off making sausage out of it. Yeah, I'd stay away from that one.

 

[spacemule]

Actually, he didn't say it in those exact words, but you could tell that's what he meant. He said something about making bacon with one and then taking it home. Funny thing though, he fell a tree on a guy's house when he was making bacon out of one. Guess he didn't have insurance, 'cause he's been arguing about it all over the web.

 

[Big Neb]

Mine has served me well. Not a powerhouse by any means but it is a saw I trust!!! It always starts easily and very nice to handle. I consider the vib's to be negligible in a saw this size. If it really bothers you, maybe you are too small or too old to be running a saw safely. Like the others, the last time mine saw a shop was when I walked out the door with it brand new.

 

[Sawin]

I like my MS260. I don't like the air filter. For a couple of years now I have used the "winter" air filter cover all year round. (Don't know the official name. It is the one with the black plastic that covers the space between the saw's covers.)

I use this saw for limbing, so really no big prolonged cuts to heat things up much, and this has helped keep the air filter cleaner.

I made one out of rubber and attached it to my 034, and again it helps keep the air filter cleaner. I use this saw as an all around. At times it is run hard bucking. No adverse effects that I can see.:Eye:

 

[bwalker]

Of the 50cc pro saws the 260 has the least bang for your buck. The 5100 and 346 best it in everyway.

 

[SawTroll]

Of the 50cc pro saws the 260 has the least bang for your buck. The 5100 and 346 best it in everyway.

Right, the 346xp is only 45cc, but beats the 260 on all accounts anyway - I like the 260 anyway, in spite of its weaknesses......

 

[Lakeside53]

:taped:

 

[2000ssm6]

I'm with lake:taped: . 026/260 is a damn good saw, and has been for a longggggg time.

 

[Lakeside53]

It's got at least another 20 years of parts suply left.. - that would make it 38.. wow..

 

[martrix]

cool, sounds like the 026 is a good saw...Respect!

I just picked up an 026 C.....What is a new MS260 C worth in the U.S.?

 

[046]

026/260 is the cast iron skillet of small saws!

they're one of the toughest little saws available anywhere. had mine for going on 6 years and have done squat. besides cleaning out air filter, keeping her fuel/oiled up and keeping chain sharp.

it's my go to saw when my 064 is too big.

 

[Lakeside53]

cool, sounds like the 026 is a good saw...Respect!

I just picked up an 026 C.....What is a new MS260 C worth in the U.S.?

About $USD450

 

[Lakeside53]

cool, sounds like the 026 is a good saw...Respect!

I just picked up an 026 C.....What is a new MS260 C worth in the U.S.?

"C" uh oh... Fix that muffler...:biggrinbounce2:

 

[martrix]

About $USD450

Geez, thats cheap. Thats about AU$550! It would only cost about US$50 to get it sent to Australia through Airmail.

To get a new one in Australia they are AU$1200!!! Thats about US$980.

I don't think I will ever buy anything from a dealer here any more. Shipping is pretty cheap now from the U.S. and the parts etc are already so much cheaper.

 

[martrix]

"C" uh oh... Fix that muffler...:biggrinbounce2:

Bit of a muffler mod you reckon eh. Well the muffler look like its been whacked with a branch, so that might be enough excuse to mod it.:hmm3grin2orange:

Doesn't the "C" just stand for the quick-change bar and the easy chain tension adjuster?