Husqvarna 266 worth it?

[Total]

So my father and I have been using his Husky 340 W/ 16" B&C for firewood cutting, But are looking for something a bit bigger. I have found a Husky 266 for sale with a 24" B&C for $200, says good condition, lots of power, cuts fast, starts easy, chain brake and oiler work great...

I'm just wondering if you guys could throw some opinions my way? I have been reading a lot on these boards and all of you seem to know a TON about this stuff.

Thank you for your time!

 

[SawTroll]

24" is a lot of bar (marginal)) on that saw, and it is an old saw!

 

[hamish]

Its at the very least 10 years old, very easily you could end up buying a lemon that will cost you alot of money and headaches. Make the investment in a new saw, look after it, learn how it works, talk nicely to it, cuddle with it if need be and you'll have that same saw 20 years from now..........basically pay now or pay later.

 

[SawTroll]

Its at the very least 10 years old, very easily you could end up buying a lemon that will cost you alot of money and headaches. Make the investment in a new saw, look after it, learn how it works, talk nicely to it, cuddle with it if need be and you'll have that same saw 20 years from now..........basically pay now or pay later.

10 years is a huge understatement.....

 

[pioneerguy600]

The 266 is better suited to a 20" bar and chain but it is one tough customer. I have seen a lot of these saws used around here for 20 years in the pulpwoods and they take some beating day in and out doing that job. They make an excellent firewood saw also, a little light for hardwoodwood over 24" diameter but in smaller wood they hold up very well. For $200 if the saw still has good comp and is in decent physical shape I would not hesitate to buy it.
Pioneerguy600

 

[SawTroll]

What does the number plate say, and what color is it ("silver" or black)?

 

[Total]

What does the number plate say, and what color is it ("silver" or black)?

uh.. neither. The one he has pictured is all orange. I just talked to him on the phone he says it all runs good, has good compression, and I asked him to take a picture of the number plate and send it to me.


Thank you for all the quick responses!!

here's the picture he has up.

 

[pioneerguy600]

It appears to have the silver number plate on it, it looks like an older saw with the newer style brake lever on it, plastic loop on the handle, of course it`s bent.
Pioneerguy600

 

[HARRY BARKER]

What does the number plate say, and what color is it ("silver" or black)?

its probably not a talking number plate,so it doesnt say anything.

 

[Total]

Sorry, I for some reason thought you were talking about the saw when you asked about color.


here is the number plate picture he just sent. So I'm guessing it was made in '84?

 

[cpr]

I paid $155 for mine and by the time I replaced the bar and chain (20"), drive sprocket, busted clutch cover and tore it down and painted it, did the muffler mod, I'm probably in to it for around $240. That said, I am well pleased with it. It's powerful, too. It doesn't take a back seat to the 372 until the wood gets beyond 16" and even then you need a stopwatch to tell.

I say try to run it before you buy, but if all is good, get it.

 

[Total]

I think I might check it out tonight, if it feels right and I can talk him down a little, I might just get it. But if it looks in rough shape and running badly, I'll just pass.

Any more thoughts?

Thank you for all the responses everyone! I really appreciate it.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I think I might check it out tonight, if it feels right and I can talk him down a little, I might just get it. But if it looks in rough shape and running badly, I'll just pass.

Any more thoughts?

Thank you for all the responses everyone! I really appreciate it.

It depends what that saw was used for, if it was just a homeowners firewood saw then it might be ok. At least pull the muffler and look at the piston, if you can get a compression gauge take a com reading, 140 lbs and over, good to go. If it runs good and has good compression it would be a fairly good deal.
Pioneerguy600

 

[andrethegiant70]

The 266 is a great saw. My neighbor used his for 17 years before it acted up in the field on him. He had cut hundreds of cords or wood with it, to burn himself and to make ends meet. He said it just cut out on him and would not restart until it cooled down. He ran out and bought a 359, and gave the 266 to me for watching his dog.

I tuned it, took it to the woods, ran the h&ll out of it and, after a year of using it, I can't find anything wrong with it. I think somebody had just tuned it lean on him and it vapor-locked or something. I tried to give it back to him, but he wouldn't take it. I told him I'd keep it around, and if he ever burned up his 359 (it's an e-tech) I'd just hand it back to him.

The point? These are durable, powerful machines that still keep up with the more modern designs. I actually expect the saw to outlive his new 359. If it's a good one, $200 is a decent price.

 

[Total]

The 266 is a great saw. My neighbor used his for 17 years before it acted up in the field on him. He had cut hundreds of cords or wood with it, to burn himself and to make ends meet. He said it just cut out on him and would not restart until it cooled down. He ran out and bought a 359, and gave the 266 to me for watching his dog.

I tuned it, took it to the woods, ran the h&ll out of it and, after a year of using it, I can't find anything wrong with it. I think somebody had just tuned it lean on him and it vapor-locked or something. I tried to give it back to him, but he wouldn't take it. I told him I'd keep it around, and if he ever burned up his 359 (it's an e-tech) I'd just hand it back to him.

The point? These are durable, powerful machines that still keep up with the more modern designs. I actually expect the saw to outlive his new 359. If it's a good one, $200 is a decent price.

thats pretty awesome, good to hear also.


I'm gonna head out soon to go look at it.

 

[thumper440]

come on you guys just cause its not a 346! lol a 266 is a great saw se or xp. if it has good compression and is in good shape (like the others mentioned.) it could be well worth that price range. you would have to spend alot of coin on a new saw that will run with it! i ran an 18 on mine for its life and it would cut anything in its way!:chainsawguy:

 

[SawTroll]

It appears to have the silver number plate on it, it looks like an older saw with the newer style brake lever on it, plastic loop on the handle, of course it`s bent.
Pioneerguy600

It appears that way to me as well - "silver" plate means that it is from 1986 or earlier.

I also agree that something is odd with the brake handle.





Oooops, didn't see the latest picture beforeposting!

 

[SawTroll]

Sorry, I for some reason thought you were talking about the saw when you asked about color.


here is the number plate picture he just sent. So I'm guessing it was made in '84?

Yes!

 

[garyischofield]

one of the saws that made Husqvarna's reputation

I agree wholeheartedly with Pioneer man.I've got several of those saws that were subjected to max output for their whole lives(logging/landclearing).A friend gave me one that cosmetically looked worthy of the dumpster.Compression so low it wouldn't idle.New piston,that thing cuts Very respectably.IMHO for a solid saw,consider that$200 well spent.

 

[Saw Dr.]

That is a pretty good old saw. It will cut lots of firewood for your grandkids if they can still buy fuel for it. The weak point on those saws at this age is the rubber bits. Generally when those come around my shop, at least a few of the 6(!) rubber anti-vibe mounts are broken. They are available for about $60 from Husky, or half that at Baileys. Once in a while I need to change a fuel line also. I have seen several with the throttle lock broken, but that is an easy fix. The mufflers can rust out if they are kept where it is humid. The 2-piece ignition system has also been known to fail, but that is not a deal breaker. You can swap to a one-piece coil/flywheel setup and those are easy to find. That chainbrake handle is just assembled improperly. It is easy to get it together like this, and I have bought several saws like that. Sometimes you have to change the spring or the handle if it gets worn from being run with the handle put together wrong. I have a couple of the correct "swede-o-matic" brake assys that I'd swap you if you want the right one on there.
The best part about those is that you can upsize to the 272xp top end if you ever get the urge to do so. You'll need the intake setup and a new topcover (or cut a hole in yours) for the sparkplug to clear.
I would at least go look at that saw. I think you have plenty of info to go on from this thread.