Cringworthy choice of clothes, but interesting comparison. Doesn't say much for the newer saw.
The stihl 260 and a 346 are very dang close in weight and size.
Not if you are cutting with it all day long .I've had ported 260's by 3 builders and 346s by 2. The 346 ported kills the 260 ported.
I'll keep my 026s, they run fine and not a PITA to work on like HuskyvamintsThe 026 filter design while slightly different than the 260, never the less still sucks.
And yes the Stihls half assed attempt at making the saw meet epa regs was a disaster. The 260's with fixed jet carbs are not even runnable to me.
I have 028S 038M 036 that Stihl have original seals. Two homies also a super XL Auto and a 150.
I do seals. but here on a 036......View attachment 993729View attachment 993730View attachment 993731
Not sure why you think a 346 is hard to work on. They are pretty damn simple.I'll keep my 026s, they run fine and not a PITA to work on like Huskyvamints
What in the world are you talking about. If any thing the better antivibe and increased torque of the 346 makes it less taxing to run.Not if you are cutting with it all day long .
I don't know anybody that could keep up with either saw running it full out in 50cc size wood probably not even close to an hour and if they tried good chance they would cut their leg off.
The 346 will absolutely smoke a 026/260. The 346 is a much better saw.
I've had ported 260's by 3 builders and 346s by 2. The 346 ported kills the 260 ported.
You keep mentioning how much faster the 346 is like the 026's - 260's are totally duds and nobody in their right mind should have 1. I call that absolutely exaggerating to much.What in the world are you talking about. If any thing the better antivibe and increased torque of the 346 makes it less taxing to run.
That's a friends 46 1 1/2 ton chevy plow truck. Big straight 6 and duallys on the back with chains on all tires.I don't care about chainsaws at all anymore - tell me about the truck!!
Really? Perhaps you need a gym membership.You keep mentioning how much faster the 346 is like the 026's - 260's are totally duds and nobody in their right mind should have 1. I call that absolutely exaggerating to much.
So the anti vibe is better but a well maintained 026 or 260 anti vibe isn't bad and doesn't hurt or slow my oldish bones down and I don't see why it would be any more problem for an average age fairly healthy normal person.
The torque comes in as an advantage if that's the torquiest chainsaw you take to work. Seldom do i not have 1 to 3 higher displacement saws that blows away any 50cc torque with me when i have serious work.
What i was getting at my last post is . For most serious wood cutters that means cutting a fair or more amount of wood in a days work. If you work as fast as your saw will go you will not have the stamina to cut long enough to cut a days wood. It would be like trying to run 2 miles at your top speed. An average person would probably drop from exhaustion a couple to few hundred yards, little less or more. In the case of running a chainsaw good chance you would have a serious accident before dropping, either way you don't finish the race or days work.
I can't remember if the 346 is set up the same as a 350, but I friggin' hate having to pull the jug every time I want to pull the intake boot. That being said, I'd still take a 346/350 over an 026.Not sure why you think a 346 is hard to work on. They are pretty damn simple.
You think you can move your hind end fast enough to keep up cutting small trees, limbs, brush etc. full speed as fast as an 50cc saw can take wood working up and down steep ditch banks, hills, snowy slopes etc.? If u think so you are exaggerating in your own mind and better figure out your physical limits before you try it.Really? Perhaps you need a gym membership.
Say what you will, the 260 is an inferior saw to the 346. It's as simple as that.
When I logged I did it all the time, only with a 372xp, MS440, and briefly with a 7900 and 288xp.You think you can move your hind end fast enough to keep up cutting small trees, limbs, brush etc. full speed as fast as an 50cc saw can take wood working up and down steep ditch banks, hills, snowy slopes etc.? If u think so you are exaggerating in your own mind and better figure out your physical limits before you try it.
In reality I would bet your average saw user in a couple hours or more sawing would get as much cut with an 260 unless you were cutting larger wood in easy conditions.
Inferior in some ways and superior in other ways that is beyond your mind.
Sorry I can't even imagine you were that fast and could endure itWhen I logged I did it all the time, only with a 372xp, MS440, and briefly with a 7900 and 288xp.
Nobody said a poorer A/V makes things easier that i know of . And a slower saw is physically easier on the operator vs the same or heavier going faster such as cutting up limbs suspended in the airAnd the idea a slower saw with poorer AV makes things easier on the operator is just stupid.
A slower saw is not easier on the operator. In fact it takes more time and effort to run one...Sorry I can't even imagine you were that fast and could endure it
Tjudging by my experience working with loggers and the various chainsaw work I have done.
Nobody said a poorer A/V makes things easier that i know of . And a slower saw is physically easier on the operator vs the same or heavier going faster such as cutting up limbs suspended in the air
I cut mostly with old heavy slow c series homelites mostly in my earliest years cutting for profit. Bought an 056 super , similar weight maybe a little lighter. When i went to cutting up limbs such as 10 inch and less into 16inch lengths it was like 20+ pounds I just caught falling into my hands every 2 or so seconds. With the slow homelites my body was relaxed longer through the cut and not near quickly fatigued catching the weight every few seconds or so
Granted, with back bent a slow cut is hard on the back but that is remedied with a long bar with sufficiently powerfull enough saw to pull it and a sharp chain, at least for me it is.
Enjoy your 346's. I usually prefer either a smaller saw for limbing and brush or a bigger saw for falling and cutting sizeable trees which is most what i do. My 026 usually rides back up and gets a round now and then AND gets out more when falling small to medium trees from lower parts of steep ditch banks where I often need to toss it when i struggle to get where I need to be. Been doing less of that these latter years.
Got a nice new 550xpg with heated handles for the frigid winter temps. I wonder if it will keep up with a 346?
Also keep in mind that your wood in NW Ontario is incredibly soft. When I lived up there a 260 felt decent, but not great in that soft wood. When the wood becomes harder the 346 really pulls ahead.Like I said, I have yet to do a 346, I have a 353 chassis and a new NE 346 top end on the bench. Just need to get around to putting it together.
I also need to port my spare 254 jug. That long stroke makes it a very strong saw even stock, and my 026 is only barely stronger than it. It's my yardstick that I measure 50cc class saws by, we will see if I can make the 346 outrun the stock 254.
I'm not from here, but I live here... LOL We definitely barely have much of anything that one would consider a hard wood until it's -40 and you are trying to cut something that's as much ice as it is wood. I definitely spent far more time running saws back home on the east coast than I have out here, I haven't done it as a day job out here yet.Also keep in mind that your wood in NW Ontario is incredibly soft. When I lived up there a 260 felt decent, but not great in that soft wood. When the wood becomes harder the 346 really pulls ahead.
In Upper MI where I am from a 16" bar on a 066 or 288 was a popular firewood setup for the commercial guys.I'm not from here, but I live here... LOL We definitely barely have much of anything that one would consider a hard wood until it's -40 and you are trying to cut something that's as much ice as it is wood. I definitely spent far more time running saws back home on the east coast than I have out here, I haven't done it as a day job out here yet.
Don't get me started for the locals affinity for running 16" or 18" bars on just about everything... 046? Yep, 266, 630, 670? Yep, with an 8 pin... Hell one of the guys I sharpen chains for just got a 592xp, runs an 18....