262 vs 266 vs 268 ??

[roncoinc]

Ron, i have a complete 268, that i also have a 272 top end for. I've ported both cylinders, the 268 a little more extreme(finger ports, raised exhaust, lowered intake). both p/c's are in great condition. Let me know if you would like to take a look at them.

Bruce,,yes i would but everytime i try to get ahold of you your busy
lost your info over time..
PM me if you would.
Ron.

 

[272super]

Forget what acres says. The 266 and 268 weight about the same. The most they could be different is a few ounces. I have had /sold many of these and know they are very close to the same saw. Double coil on 266,single on the 268. Different(and heavier) air filter setup on the 268. Different top covers. The closed port 266se/xp will outrun the open port non-xp 268. Sure the 262 weighs less but the 266xp/268xp will certainly cut right with it and will likely do better in big wood. I love this series of saws.

 

[Cantdog]

Yeah Mike's site is the absolute best there is and very, very much appreciated. However not 100% accurate always. Of course you would never know that untill you were actually working on the saw in question and found the errors.

As far as the 268XP and reg 268 top ends. The Xp is obviously the one to get (Mahle closed port) That said, the open port Gilardoni is a very nicely made cyl with actually one more set of cooling fins than the Mahle. These respond very well to porting and can be helped alot. I had one I got from fish and ported and ran on the 61/268 conv in my sig. It work great and made a LOT more power than the 61 but I was also running a 163 (266) carb and I think it would have even been better if I had used a 260. The latest ittereation of this saw is what's now in my sig. The XP cyl ported with the much larger bore 250A carb is a great combo and makes more power yet!!

Definately if you have the choise of modding the 266 or 268 I would probably go with the 268 for the single coil setup (plus they are a Ducati coil!!) Gotta love that, sounds faster still!!

Now if you have both and the 268 is a non XP you can "mix and match" by swapping the open port 268 cyl for the 266 closed port and build you own 268XP complete with the 50MM closed port 266 cyl. And you can put the Gillardoni on the 266 and probably never know the difference, still having a great running 266. If it doesn't say 268XP on the tag it probably isn't a closed port cyl. Covers and recoils get swapped all the time.

 

[taplinhill]

Both (I have a "non"). I believe the XP has open transfers and mine are closed. (or vice-versa ?)
Now back to the info. Ron is looking for...

You are right. I should have phrased my question different. If Ron has a 268XP, that is the saw to build, if it is the open port 268, don't build it, they are inferior to the 266SE.

 

[roncoinc]

You are right. I should have phrased my question different. If Ron has a 268XP, that is the saw to build, if it is the open port 268, don't build it, they are inferior to the 266SE.

Thank you.
the metal tag syas only 268,no xp on the tag.
the top cover does have xp on it but could have been changed.

 

[Cantdog]

You are right. I should have phrased my question different. If Ron has a 268XP, that is the saw to build, if it is the open port 268, don't build it, they are inferior to the 266SE.

Well...Eric .....I wouldn't necessarily call them inferior..just different and as I suggested if ron has both (and the 268 is nonXP)the best solution would be to move the 266 P&C up onto the single coil non xp case and build his own 268XP, ported or not. That way he can put the Gillardoni on the 266 and still have a good running 266. The Gillardoni is a very nicely made cyl..a work of art.. compared to the 268XP Mahle to look at on the bench. Much finer casting and fin layout, just is not as powerful. But I would have to shy away from inferior. But if what ron wants is the most power for work completed then it's gotta be the closed port Mahle all the way. Do a swap and still have two running saws when it's over. JMHO!!

 

[roncoinc]

Well...Eric .....I wouldn't necessarily call them inferior..just different and as I suggested if ron has both (and the 268 is nonXP)the best solution would be to move the 266 P&C up onto the single coil non xp case and build his own 268XP, ported or not. That way he can put the Gillardoni on the 266 and still have a good running 266. The Gillardoni is a very nicely made cyl..a work of art.. compared to the 268XP Mahle to look at on the bench. Much finer casting and fin layout, just is not as powerful. But I would have to shy away from inferior. But if what ron wants is the most power for work completed then it's gotta be the closed port Mahle all the way. Do a swap and still have two running saws when it's over. JMHO!!

I am just a tad confused on this,indulge me please..
what will putting the 66cc top end on in place of the 67cc top do ?
it seems the 266 is closed port and the 268 open port ?
if the closed port will give more power what is the reason to put it on the 268 bottom end ?

 

[Cantdog]

I am just a tad confused on this,indulge me please..
what will putting the 66cc top end on in place of the 67cc top do ?
it seems the 266 is closed port and the 268 open port ?
if the closed port will give more power what is the reason to put it on the 268 bottom end ?

Don't be confused Ron..LOL Firstly they are all the same cc. same bore (50MM) same stroke.

The reason to swap would be to upgrade away from the double ign system of the older 266 to the newer (and still availible) single coil system of the later 268. Thusly giving you a closed port (266) 50MM P&C to replicate the 268XP setup. As I said you can always put the Gillardoni back on the 266 case and still have a good running saw. Just putting all the best stuff you have one one saw to make the most power. See what I'm sayin'??

 

[SawTroll]

Now this is wierd !!
checked acres site again..
266 with THIRTEEN in b&c = 15.8 lbs
268 PHO = 13.7
does a 13 in b&c weigh 2 lbs ??

Not quite, but the metal tank and a metal chain brake handle as well may get the total weight to that level.

The "official"/original 1981 spec was 12.9 lbs empty PHO, but that was without chain brake as well as bar & chain.

 

[SawTroll]

Don't be confused Ron..LOL Firstly they are all the same cc. same bore (50MM) same stroke.

The reason to swap would be to upgrade away from the double ign system of the older 266 to the newer (and still availible) single coil system of the later 268. Thusly giving you a closed port (266) 50MM P&C to replicate the 268XP setup. As I said you can always put the Gillardoni back on the 266 case and still have a good running saw. Just putting all the best stuff you have one one saw to make the most power. See what I'm sayin'??

Yes,all versions of both models are 66.7cc.

 

[SawTroll]

I am just a tad confused on this,indulge me please..
what will putting the 66cc top end on in place of the 67cc top do ?
it seems the 266 is closed port and the 268 open port ?
if the closed port will give more power what is the reason to put it on the 268 bottom end ?

Only the "plain" late production made after the 272xp replaced the 268xp is open port. The 268se/xp/special are clost port, with different (higher capasity) carbs and intakes from the 266se/xp. Then there are the ignition issue....

 

[roncoinc]

Don't be confused Ron..LOL Firstly they are all the same cc. same bore (50MM) same stroke.

The reason to swap would be to upgrade away from the double ign system of the older 266 to the newer (and still availible) single coil system of the later 268. Thusly giving you a closed port (266) 50MM P&C to replicate the 268XP setup. As I said you can always put the Gillardoni back on the 266 case and still have a good running saw. Just putting all the best stuff you have one one saw to make the most power. See what I'm sayin'??

AHA !!!
NOW i get it..
i did see that two piece setuo on the 266 and thought if something goes wrong what part ??
going to weigh both powerheads and see whats up.
any room in that closed port jug for some work ?
Tnx..

 

[Cantdog]

AHA !!!
NOW i get it..
i did see that two piece setuo on the 266 and thought if something goes wrong what part ??
going to weigh both powerheads and see whats up.
any room in that closed port jug for some work ?
Tnx..

OH Yeah Lots of room for improvement nothing at all like the 262!!!!

 

[SawTroll]

Thank you.
the metal tag syas only 268,no xp on the tag.
the top cover does have xp on it but could have been changed.

That is the newest and most common 268 version. The only thing that makes it a lesser saw is the open port top end, everything else is the same as the other 268s, as far as I know.

 

[Cantdog]

That is the newest and most common 268 version. The only thing that makes it a lesser saw is the open port top end, everything else is the same as the other 268s, as far as I know.

Yes that's how I see it too...they had to detune the 268 so as to make the new (at that time) 272XP seem even better to the buyer.

 

[taplinhill]

Well...Eric .....I wouldn't necessarily call them inferior..just different and as I suggested if ron has both (and the 268 is nonXP)the best solution would be to move the 266 P&C up onto the single coil non xp case and build his own 268XP, ported or not. That way he can put the Gillardoni on the 266 and still have a good running 266. The Gillardoni is a very nicely made cyl..a work of art.. compared to the 268XP Mahle to look at on the bench. Much finer casting and fin layout, just is not as powerful. But I would have to shy away from inferior. But if what ron wants is the most power for work completed then it's gotta be the closed port Mahle all the way. Do a swap and still have two running saws when it's over. JMHO!!

Maybe I was a little harsh. You're idea is good. Make one saw with the the best performance and have a second as a back up. So ron will start with a 266SE and 268, and end up with a 66 and 268XP.

 

[Cantdog]

Yeah..... that about sums it up.

 

[andrethegiant70]

Maybe I was a little harsh. You're idea is good. Make one saw with the the best performance and have a second as a back up. So ron will start with a 266SE and 268, and end up with a 66 and 268XP.

One item to consider that I almost didn't catch on a similar project (266se and a 266xp combined into one saw) was that the intake and carb throat on the SE were of smaller diameter. When looking for power, that's a pretty big deal.

 

[Cantdog]

You are 100% correct Andre!! To achieve the full potential of this setup you would have to move up to the manifold for the 268XP or 272XP series and carb as well, using the 260 tillotson instead of the 163A that usually came on SE branded saws. It will still bolt up and run fine on the 163 but does choke the performance a bit.

 

[SawTroll]

One item to consider that I almost didn't catch on a similar project (266se and a 266xp combined into one saw) was that the intake and carb throat on the SE were of smaller diameter. When looking for power, that's a pretty big deal.

The carb was changed (from HS 163 to HS 224) some time in the 266SE production (probably 1985), maybe that change took place at the same time?