026 vs 028 For First Saw

[Hickahollar]

If I ever wear out my ms250 Ironhorsedoctor I'll probably buy something like a ms261 and rebuild my ms250. That thing is probably 10 maybe 11 years old now I can't remember when I bought it. It was sometime around 2012 give or take a year. I haven't used it as much since I got the ms362. I fell with the 362 run it until it runs out of gas then I use my 250 then if I need it I get either my pl3314 poulan or my little echo cs3510 then I take a needed break. So for the last 3 years the 250 has only seen about 1/3rd the work it used to. I cut 4 or 5 cords of wood for me each year. Then probably another 3 for my mom. Then If I can sale an extra cord or 3 from storm clean up each year I will. Some years people tell me 150 is too much so I have extra camping wood and other years people want 5 plus cords. If I stay in saleing firewood I'm gonna just say 250 a cord 200 if you drive to me and get it.

 

[Courage]

Well how is the 260 doing? Congrats on your saw. I have a ms250 and ms362. The 250 is about 1 hp less but similar weight. It's been really good for me. If it ever goes I hope they still have a ms261 to sale.

Hey, sorry for never responding! I didn't see your question till I was going back through old posts, and realized I never responded...
It was doing great, and hopefully will be again soon. The second to last time I used it, it started bogging down mid cut which was kinda weird. I had been running it hard for about 2 hours solid (processing a 24" fir) so I let it sit and cool down, and then it seemed to go back to normal. Then, last time I ran it (earlier this week) it started acting weird on the 10th-ish cut on 20" pine. It was acting like it was running out of gas with a full tank. Sounded and felt lean to me. More of a high pitched sharp sound, super rev happy, but zero power. Thinking I'll give a new fuel line, fuel filter, and impulse line a try. Hoping that fixes it. Then, I really want to muffler mod it. I've never tuned a carb before. From my understanding, when tuning from a muffler mod, it needs more fuel, right? If that's the case, I shouldn't really have to worry about doing something wrong and melting it down, right, if all I'm doing is richening it a little?

 

[fields_mj]

Hey, sorry for never responding! I didn't see your question till I was going back through old posts, and realized I never responded...
It was doing great, and hopefully will be again soon. The second to last time I used it, it started bogging down mid cut which was kinda weird. I had been running it hard for about 2 hours solid (processing a 24" fir) so I let it sit and cool down, and then it seemed to go back to normal. Then, last time I ran it (earlier this week) it started acting weird on the 10th-ish cut on 20" pine. It was acting like it was running out of gas with a full tank. Sounded and felt lean to me. More of a high pitched sharp sound, super rev happy, but zero power. Thinking I'll give a new fuel line, fuel filter, and impulse line a try. Hoping that fixes it. Then, I really want to muffler mod it. I've never tuned a carb before. From my understanding, when tuning from a muffler mod, it needs more fuel, right? If that's the case, I shouldn't really have to worry about doing something wrong and melting it down, right, if all I'm doing is richening it a little?

I'd check that saw for a vacuum leak. Loosing the tune like that is a good way to loose the top end.

 

[Courage]

I'd check that saw for a vacuum leak. Loosing the tune like that is a good way to loose the top end.

That's what I was thinking too, so I quit running it. I'm a newbie to working on saws. Could you tell me how to go about testing for a vacuum leak? Thanks! And sorry for the ignorant question!

 

[StihlsawuserMS361]

Look at "Vintage Engines Repairs" , both on this site and YouTube.

 

[Courage]

Look at "Vintage Engines Repairs" , both on this site and YouTube.

Thanks! Will do!

 

[fields_mj]

That's what I was thinking too, so I quit running it. I'm a newbie to working on saws. Could you tell me how to go about testing for a vacuum leak? Thanks! And sorry for the ignorant question!

No need for apologies. Ignorance is why a smart person asks questions. I've not done it very many times, but the first 2 min of this video describes how I do it.



He only does a pressure test, but you also want to do a vacuum test. He also goes into diagnosing exactly where the leak is coming from. I don't go that far. So long as my base gasket/seal is good, then a leak means that I'm replacing my bearings and seals. Bearings are generally around $20 each from the dealership, and a gasket kit that includes the seals should also run around $20. If I'm into it that far, IMHO its worth spending the extra money to just replace it all.

This is what I bought to do the test.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1BPSZFF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1