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

[Tzed250]

Directly from the department of redundancy department...

 

[04ultra]

I like my 026pro's and my 2 -5100's and 2149/346/zebra/?......And that is all that counts...






.

 

[Lakeside53]

I too have to side with Ben. I've run 026's....and never liked them that much. Anti vib too soft, filtration relatively poor, spring on master control lever easily messed up.

That said, if a 260/026 fell into my lap, I'd surely run it ...but not in stock form.

I hate to add tech talk to religious arguments but, the old spring on the control lever is only messed up if you operate it (with force) without the air filter on... $2.00 fix. - The "new" spring - 1999, doesn't. It's the same control lever and spring as on all the 036 and 360's.

Back to religion (is Zombie a religeon?): Hey RB - be fair now - would you run any saw in stock from if you had a choice . Shut up Andy, you know too much about RB and his saws...

 

[bwalker]

I hate to add tech talk to religious arguments but, the old spring on the control lever is only messed up if you operate it (with force) without the air filter on... $2.00 fix. - The "new" spring - 1999, doesn't. It's the same control lever and spring as on all the 036 and 360's.

I never had this problem on my MS260. The air filter did leak like a sieve around the choke shaft, which runs through the filter.
I actually prefer the Stihl master control to what Husky or Dolmar uses. Ditto with the chain adjuster.

 

[Erick]

The Huskys and Dolmars will be here in 15 to 20 years also, At least the ones that are not used on a daily bases, Same goes for the Ms260.
Maybe I don't know what you are getting at.

What I mean is not do you think that those saws will be around and running, I'm sure many will, if a wildthing sat on a shelf for 20 years it would still run.

What I mean is do you think the saw designs are progressive enough to still be competitive in 15 years much less the sales leader in its class??? I find it interesting that huskys latest and greatest saw designs are "competitive" with designs that are 10 to 15 years old (or older) from Stihl.

Erick, how much trigger time do you have behind the 260 AND the 346.

I have limited time behind a 346 Ben, I have cut with one and personally was not that impressed. It did seem (no stopwatch involved) faster than my 260 (no 8-pin / would like to see now) on the small stuff but as the wood got bigger my 260 pulled up level and maybe even past the 346 in cut speed and my 260 still had enough arse to go bigger, the 346 felt as though it had all it wanted. I have countless hours behind the 026/260 and see no reason to spend hard earned money to switch to a saw which may or may not be as good as what I am currently using. It really doesn't matter to me if the 346 is a 1/8 second faster in the cut on a 4" limb, I'm not production cutting or racing. If my saws not running I don't heat my house, the 260 is a proven performer and you can not argue that point (although I'm sure you will find a way). Yes my 260 probably has more dirt in the air filter than your 346 at the end of the day, but I have never suffered any performance loss or down time due to the filter being dirty. I just have to blow more dust off of the filter at the end of the day than you do and its not a big deal to me.

The amount zombie like brand loyalty on this board is amazing.

Yes it is Ben, and I don't expect to change your mind, I see no point in trying.

As for my brand loyalty, it has been earned not given. As I have stated in a few other posts on this forum I am not happy with the direction that Stihl is heading, so if you could provide me the name of a saw manufacturer that offers the same level of product performance, product reliability, product longevity, dealer support, servicing dealer locations, dealer reliability, dealer longevity and reputation I would be happy to consider them.

I’ll wait for your response

 

[bwalker]

What I mean is do you think the saw designs are progressive enough to still be competitive in 15 years

LOL. The 260 isnt a progressive design, rather its design is indicative of what saws where built like over a decade ago.

I have limited time behind a 346 Ben,

I have much more than limited time with both saws in question. The 346 out performs the 260 in everyway including torque.
I cant help but wonder if you have a reading comprehention problem. Nobody said the 260 was a bad saw, just that it doesnt compare favourably with modern offerings.

so if you could provide me the name of a saw manufacturer that offers the same level of product performance, product reliability, product longevity, dealer support, servicing dealer locations, dealer reliability, dealer longevity and reputation I would be happy to consider them.

Husky meets all your criteria. At least they do in the areas I live in.
IMO Stihl is getting better, not worse. Husky is getting worse, not better.

 

[bwalker]

BTW ERick, I am not and have never been brand loyal. I have owned saws by most MFG, ditto trucks, guns, etc.
I run what perfroms.

 

[Erick]

Talk about a reading comprehension problem

LOL. The 260 isnt a progressive design, rather its design is indicative of what saws where built like over a decade ago.

I think you made my point very well Ben.

Husky meets all your criteria.

That’s what I thought you were gonna say Ben

The amount zombie like brand loyalty on this board is amazing.

 

[THALL10326]

Sales dont figure into comparitive rankings. I could care less how many units Stihl sales.
And the idea that a 026 that ran daily will last 15 years is laughable. The saws you see that are still going after that amount of time simply havent been run that much. A sawyer in my neck of the woods gets not around a year out of his saws.
BTW the 346 might have a steller reputation over fifteen years if it where not for the fact that Husky updates their saws much more frequantly. That why the consumer isnt running antiques like the 260.
And one more thing. As you know I had a 260 and it served me fairly well once I pitched the fixed jet carb and save a few ignition modules, but when it comes to any parameter having to do with perfromance the 346 flat out spanks it. I also might add that I purchased my 346 form a LOCAL dealer for around $100 less than the 260 cost.

Sorry I'm late with a reply Ben, I've been selling Stihl all day. Now back to how the 260 rates. You say sales have nothing to do with it and I say sales have everything to do with it. Sales is the proven track record as to whether something is good or not. After 18 plus years now the sales of the 260 prove beyond a doult there are many thousands of satisfied customers out there. If there wasn't the 026/260 would have been dropped years ago. Any saw that doesn't sell doesn't stay, no point in it. It has to sell and the 260 has done so well for years and years. You keep referring to performance as your key and as I told you earlier not everyone is a saw buff. Most merely want a saw that starts, runs, saws wood and lasts. You may find that odd but those are the facts and in those simple areas the 260 shines. 20 years of life in a 026/260 is laffable to you, to that I laff myself. I see old 026's all the time with owners saying do whatever it needs, its been a great saw. Heck those saws were sawing wood when you was just a 9-10 year old kid Ben, think on that. So you laff all you want, you "think" you know when I "do" know. That remark reminds me of when you that said a stock 372 would outcut a 046/460 , thats something I sit and laff about myself. Come on out the closet Ben and just admit your a closet Husky lover and get it over with. Its ok to love your Huskies, not a thing wrong with it but don't pretend your not. Heck I may buy a Husky one day too, who knows, but even if I do I won't pretend I'm a Stihl man..

 

[sperho]

I couldn't put a 346 or 5100 in my hands around here (without driving 2 hours or so). So, for me, the 260 was the only easy option for a solid 3 cube saw. Thus, it was better for me in every way. I won't buy a saw without determining how it feels in my hands. The feel of a saw can be one person's love, but another's hate, so to put performance numbers aboave all is sheer ridiculousness. Sweeping superlative arguments can be found at the pinnacle of internet masturbation. My friends, the pinnacle can be climbed in this thread...

 

[NovaMan]

I too have to side with Ben. I've run 026's....and never liked them that much. Anti vib too soft, filtration relatively poor, spring on master control lever easily messed up.

I have to say that I've noticed the anti-vibe mounts are quite soft. But it cuts wood just fine.

Does the 346 have a magnesium case?

 

[outdoortype]

. I won't buy a saw without determining how it feels in my hands. The feel of a saw can be one person's love, but another's hate, so to put performance numbers aboave all is sheer ridiculousness.

Good point sperho!!!

Myself, I would go with the 346 because the huskys allways feel better to me. If they both felt the same, I would have no problem buying an "antique". The fact that this 026/260 is still around says that its a great design. As far as the performance argument goes: Has anyone ever compared a stock MS260 to a stock 346 etech with both saws using a Micro lite 95VP setup?

 

[THALL10326]

. I won't buy a saw without determining how it feels in my hands. The feel of a saw can be one person's love, but another's hate, so to put performance numbers aboave all is sheer ridiculousness.

Good point sperho!!!

Myself, I would go with the 346 because the huskys allways feel better to me. If they both felt the same, I would have no problem buying an "antique". The fact that this 026/260 is still around says that its a great design. As far as the performance argument goes: Has anyone ever compared a stock MS260 to a stock 346 etech with both saws using a Micro lite 95VP setup?

Good post there and pure and simple. You just stated what 99% of most buyers do. They pick the saw up, if it feels good, about the right size for what they wanna do, they buy it. All this old design and high tech talk I never hear from a buyer. The biggest and most often question I get is will this saw last me and thats that. Good post there.

 

[bwalker]

whether something is good or not

Nobody is saying it isnt good, or that Stihl hasnt sold a ton of em. What the original question was had to do with how the 260 compared to its class rivals. From any paramter having to do with performance it lags behind.
A 10 year old saw that is still aorund simply hasnt accumulated a enough run time to wear it out. Run it daily and they need to be replaced after a year or so.

 

[bwalker]

that said a stock 372 would outcut a 046/460

A muffler modded 372 will spank a 460. I know this to be true because I have ran them side by side.

 

[THALL10326]

Nobody is saying it isnt good, or that Stihl hasnt sold a ton of em. What the original question was had to do with how the 260 compared to its class rivals. From any paramter having to do with performance it lags behind.
A 10 year old saw that is still aorund simply hasnt accumulated a enough run time to wear it out. Run it daily and they need to be replaced after a year or so.

Performance performance performace Ben. Are you telling me that if say a 346 is say 1,2,3, 4, even 10 seconds faster through a cut that is the deciding factor , it is the better saw of the two, is that what your telling me? If so once again let me remind you most folks could care less about that. Not many carry a stop watch to the woods Ben to saw up their winter firewood. My 026 is slower than my 5100, it sure is. Does that make the 5100
a better saw, to me it does not. The 026 I have has put many a grand in my pocket over the years and when the 5100 does the samething, and it may well in time, hope it does too, I'll say its as good. Till then the verdict is out. The only point I'm making Ben is the 260 has done something the other two saws have yet to do, its stood the greatest test of all, time. The other two have not and due to that you can't say they are better saws overall untill they do. A few cuts in a block or tree with two new saws prove nothing as to which one of the two is a better saw, time will decide that. The 260 has pulled its time.

 

[24d]

Nobody is saying it isnt good, or that Stihl hasnt sold a ton of em. What the original question was had to do with how the 260 compared to its class rivals. From any paramter having to do with performance it lags behind.
A 10 year old saw that is still aorund simply hasnt accumulated a enough run time to wear it out. Run it daily and they need to be replaced after a year or so.

Im pretty sure the question was if he wanted a STIHL this size was this the one to get ?
I dont think "STIHL-KID" is look'n at other brands

 

[THALL10326]

A muffler modded 372 will spank a 460. I know this to be true because I have ran them side by side.

What happen to the word STOCK? Ben I know you love the 372. I've read so much about that saw I been seriously considering getting one myself. However I read a post Belgytree posted the other day where he said the 372 does not live up to all the hype. He has one and he also has the 460. If he agrees the 372 will outcut a 460 I will then beleive it. I've had no time with the 372 but I do honestly beleive its a great saw based on all I've read about it. However I have run only one for a few cuts in a log. The 046 that was there with it outcut it easily as it should, its a bigger saw. Your 372 must be special cause your the only guy I know of that repeatedly says it will outcut a 460.

Skipping that though I wanna ask you something getting back on subject of the 260. I know you like the 660, have seen you say so many times. The 660 has the same rubber mounts as the 260, only bigger. The filter gets filthy just like the 260. So tell me how come you find no fault with the 660 when its a outdated design as you say the 260 is. Fill me in on that.

 

[manual]

. Heck I may buy a Husky one day too, who knows, but even if I do I won't pretend I'm a Stihl man..

You a very funny person, Round eye.

 

[Tzed250]

Yep, 024 034 044 064, when you look at them or hold them, or take them apart you can tell the designs were done at the same time. They bred the 026 036 046 and 066. The fact is that Stihl hits the nail on the head the first time with ease. The MS260 MS460 and MS660 all use these 15 to twenty year old designs to this day. Stihl built their pro-saw reputation with these saws. The MS361 and MS441 are the new kids on the block, showing that the engineering can be improved, but the 260 still sells well because it was such a great design in the first place.

The John Browning designed M1911 is getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday, and they are more popular now than ever. There are pistols with more "performance", but people buy the 1911 'cause it does the job just right. The 026/MS260 is the same way.