husqvarna 268 open port cyl vs 266xp cyl...

[eat a peach]

Hey guys can you tell me the difference in power in a husky 268 50mm open port cylinder and the cylinder from a 266xp? I have heard the
closed port have more power but never heard the comparison between the open port. Thanks for any input.

 

[SawTroll]

The closed port top end will always produce more power, if the carb and muffler is the same.

 

[eat a peach]

The closed port top end will always produce more power, if the carb and muffler is the same.

Thanks ,ST .So a 266 closed port will have more power than a 268 open port ,correct?

 

[Nardoo]

I have three 266's and have had a couple of 268's. There is absolutley no comparison, the 266 is one of the nicest running saws you can get - the 268 is for casual users who don't know what a saw that size can do. I have a new OEM 268 p/c sitting here beacause I replaced it with a thin ring 266 set up. Now that is a 268 that goes.

 

[Big_Wood]

you know guy if yer looking to buy a top end to make power. i bought a cylinder from walkers saw shop years ago for my 268. john gave it to me for $50 (i know him). he said to me that it was a closed port 266 cylinder with a 268 piston. he also said that this setup makes the perfect squish without removing the base gasket or doing any cutting on the cylinder base or combustion chamber. maybe someone will know more about this. i was 13 when i bought that cylinder so a long time ago or seems like a long time ago. i'm sure randy or terry may have something different to say about the no other cylinder base or combustion chamber mods :msp_sneaky:. i found that the cylinder was opened to much on the intake block and messed up the impulse so i swapped it out for a new one and that thing was snappy. it was definitely different then a regular 266 or 268. had tons of compression too.

 

[SawTroll]

Thanks ,ST .So a 266 closed port will have more power than a 268 open port ,correct?

Yes, and both are 67cc btw!

 

[kmcinms]

you know guy if yer looking to buy a top end to make power. i bought a cylinder from walkers saw shop years ago for my 268. john gave it to me for $50 (i know him). he said to me that it was a closed port 266 cylinder with a 268 piston. he also said that this setup makes the perfect squish without removing the base gasket or doing any cutting on the cylinder base or combustion chamber. maybe someone will know more about this. i was 13 when i bought that cylinder so a long time ago or seems like a long time ago. i'm sure randy or terry may have something different to say about the no other cylinder base or combustion chamber mods :msp_sneaky:. i found that the cylinder was opened to much on the intake block and messed up the impulse so i swapped it out for a new one and that thing was snappy. it was definitely different then a regular 266 or 268. had tons of compression too.

Cool. I don't want to derail this thread, but I am trying to find out more info on using the 268 piston in the 266xp jug. I read somewhere that someone "thinks" there is a difference in pin height, but I can't get any solid info on this. The piston in my 266xp looks just like the windowed piston out of a closed port 268xp.
I've seen two different styles of pistons offered for the 266xp. Both are windowed, but one of them has a full circle skirt.
I'm going to buy a windowed 268xp piston for mine and check it close to the one that came out of it.

Good luck with the project eat a peach.
Here is my 266xp jug:

View attachment 280851

 

[Big_Wood]

Cool. I don't want to derail this thread, but I am trying to find out more info on using the 268 piston in the 266xp jug. I read somewhere that someone "thinks" there is a difference in pin height, but I can't get any solid info on this. The piston in my 266xp looks just like the windowed piston out of a closed port 268xp.
I've seen two different styles of pistons offered for the 266xp. Both are windowed, but one of them has a full circle skirt.
I'm going to buy a windowed 268xp piston for mine and check it close to the one that came out of it.

Good luck with the project eat a peach.
Here is my 266xp jug:

View attachment 280851

ya best do that. i would like to know for sure if you could PM me when you do your measurements. i was young so all i know is what john told me. i didn't do nothing in the line of measurements. would be cool to know though. i know i got a bunch of 266 top ends here just a matter of whether i got a 268 piston. might check tomorrow. :msp_thumbup:

 

[Cantdog]

There is little, if any difference between a Mahle 268XP cyl and the Mahle 266XP/SE cyl. The 268XP makes a bit more power due to being a one piece Ducati ign and a different carb/air filter setup. Folks get confused when talking about the 268.....there seem to be many more regular 268s with the flatside pistons and open port Gillardoni P&C which ran good and held up well just not as snappy as the Mahle XP setup. The 268XP was simply an updated/slightly more advanced 266XP/SE whereas the reg 268 was the detuned version. As far as windowed XP pistons go there have been quite a few tried along the way...2 thin rings...full circle .....two 1.5MM rings......single 1.5 MM rings. I have not tried them all but will say....so far every 268XP Mahle cyl I have done came out to 0.020" squish without a gasket when using a new single ring Meteor piston and make great power.....more so when ported...some gains can be had by widening the ports in the Gilardoni cyls as well....just not as much as with the Mahle cyls.

 

[spike60]

Robin, that's not quite correct my friend. There is a real noticable difference between the 268XP and 266XP jugs. Looking at them one at a time, it's easy to miss it, but when you've got them side by side it's as obvious as the insurmountable lead you have in 49SP's. The 268 transfers are a good deal larger than those on the 266. You can see on both on the inside as well as the outside where the port castings are wider and protrude out a little farther. I'll try and get some pics up this morning when I get to the store. I think this port difference applies to early and late 670 cylinders as well.

As far as the pistons go, I believe that the dimensions would be the same, because ordering a piston for a 266 will supercede up to the same part number as the 268 piston. That piston is all you can get from Husky for either of the two saws as complete top ends are NLA for both. If ordering a 268XP top end, it supercedes to the 272XP kit, which is not a bad thing at all. :msp_biggrin:

 

[Cantdog]

Robin, that's not quite correct my friend. There is a real noticable difference between the 268XP and 266XP jugs. Looking at them one at a time, it's easy to miss it, but when you've got them side by side it's as obvious as the insurmountable lead you have in 49SP's. The 268 transfers are a good deal larger than those on the 266. You can see on both on the inside as well as the outside where the port castings are wider and protrude out a little farther. I'll try and get some pics up this morning when I get to the store. I think this port difference applies to early and late 670 cylinders as well.

As far as the pistons go, I believe that the dimensions would be the same, because ordering a piston for a 266 will supercede up to the same part number as the 268 piston. That piston is all you can get from Husky for either of the two saws as complete top ends are NLA for both. If ordering a 268XP top end, it supercedes to the 272XP kit, which is not a bad thing at all. :msp_biggrin:

Good info there Bob....I have not owned a 266 but have seen them apart and assumed there was not much difference in the cyls...so I stand humbly corrected my friend. So the 268 XP does make more power than a 266 even if set up with the same intake/exhaust...??? Hmmm good to know...

 

[spike60]

Not sure how effective the internal pics are here. Easier to see the difference on the outside maybe? 268XP on the right, 266XP on the left.

 

[kmcinms]

Good info guys

Finally getting somewhere on this subject. Been wondering where the main differences were between the two xp saws.
I wonder if the port timing is different between the two jugs? Thanks for posting these pics spike60.

I see the 268xp piston listed for less than the 266xp piston nearly every time, as far as aftermarket pistons go. In most pics, the pistons look identical when it is not a full circle 266xp piston listed.

 

[eat a peach]

Good info there Bob....I have not owned a 266 but have seen them apart and assumed there was not much difference in the cyls...so I stand humbly corrected my friend. So the 268 XP does make more power than a 266 even if set up with the same intake/exhaust...??? Hmmm good to know...

This seems more logical to me .I know everybody has different results with their saws but my 268xp has more power in the cut with bigger wood and the 266 has more comp. It is not a large amount but 175psi vs 155 pi in the 268 and it still is stronger. thanks for all the discussion guys,keep it up:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[eat a peach]

Ok ,how about another wrench in the pile. What is the difference in a 266xp/se and an 80's model ,black or grey top model 66? Anyone else having a problem getting Mike Acres site to come up?

 

[SawTroll]

There is little, if any difference between a Mahle 268XP cyl and the Mahle 266XP/SE cyl. The 268XP makes a bit more power due to being a one piece Ducati ign and a different carb/air filter setup. Folks get confused when talking about the 268.....there seem to be many more regular 268s with the flatside pistons and open port Gillardoni P&C which ran good and held up well just not as snappy as the Mahle XP setup. The 268XP was simply an updated/slightly more advanced 266XP/SE whereas the reg 268 was the detuned version. As far as windowed XP pistons go there have been quite a few tried along the way...2 thin rings...full circle .....two 1.5MM rings......single 1.5 MM rings. I have not tried them all but will say....so far every 268XP Mahle cyl I have done came out to 0.020" squish without a gasket when using a new single ring Meteor piston and make great power.....more so when ported...some gains can be had by widening the ports in the Gilardoni cyls as well....just not as much as with the Mahle cyls.

Robin, that's not quite correct my friend. There is a real noticable difference between the 268XP and 266XP jugs. Looking at them one at a time, it's easy to miss it, but when you've got them side by side it's as obvious as the insurmountable lead you have in 49SP's. The 268 transfers are a good deal larger than those on the 266. You can see on both on the inside as well as the outside where the port castings are wider and protrude out a little farther. I'll try and get some pics up this morning when I get to the store. I think this port difference applies to early and late 670 cylinders as well.

As far as the pistons go, I believe that the dimensions would be the same, because ordering a piston for a 266 will supercede up to the same part number as the 268 piston. That piston is all you can get from Husky for either of the two saws as complete top ends are NLA for both. If ordering a 268XP top end, it supercedes to the 272XP kit, which is not a bad thing at all. :msp_biggrin:

Not sure how effective the internal pics are here. Easier to see the difference on the outside maybe? 268XP on the right, 266XP on the left.

Great info, that I will save for later reference! :msp_biggrin:

 

[spike60]

Ok ,how about another wrench in the pile. What is the difference in a 266xp/se and an 80's model ,black or grey top model 66?

The grey top 66 used the same 50mm open port P&C as the open port 268. :msp_rolleyes:

 

[Cantdog]

The grey top 66 used the same 50mm open port P&C as the open port 268. :msp_rolleyes:

Yep that's the 50MM Gillardoni....nice work...just not as potent as the closed port Mahle......

 

[eat a peach]

thanks guys,what a wealth of knowledge you guys have and share so freely.

 

[almondgt]

I have a January 1993 Husqvarna Forest and Garden catalogue with models 266xp and 268 non xp specs. Both saws have a cylinder displacement of 67cc and 4.1 cu. in. The engine horsepower on the 266xp is 4.5 HP and the 268 is 4.6HP. The 266xp max rpm's are 12,500 and the 268 max is 13,300. The 266xp weighs 13.5 pounds and the 268 weighs 13.6 pounds. The 266xp power to weight ratio is .54 and the 268 is .55.
The 272xp is 5.2HP and the power to weight ratio is .60