Husqvarna 61 easiest upgrade

[dynomite76]

Recently got a Husqvarna 61 with the black top metal chain break, needs new top I've heard of lots of upgrades to this 266, 272 etc. Which upgrade if any doesnt require buying different parts besides piston and cylinder, and can be basically just bolted back on. Thanks

 

[Onan18]

None, the 61 uses a unique intake setup. Now, a 162SE, 66, or 266 will fit under the top cover, but you will have to get the correct intake block and gaskets. A 268 or 272 will bolt on with an intake swap also, but I am not sure if they will fit under the top cover.

Joe

 

[BigDee]

I put an aftermarket 272 and intake block on a 61 and it fit under the cover with no problem. The problem was that the brake prevents access to the compression release valve, which, while not necessary, is a real benefit for starting a good 272.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I put an aftermarket 272 and intake block on a 61 and it fit under the cover with no problem. The problem was that the brake prevents access to the compression release valve, which, while not necessary, is a real benefit for starting a good 272.

Husky 61 never had a decomp valve that I know of. Most owners tell me that they are glad it never had one.

 

[Gypo Logger]

There is also a problem with the carb high idle screw, some have the screw in the casing and some have the screw in the body of the carb. A Jonsered 630 can also be mixed and matched.

 

[DSS]

Husky 61 never had a decomp valve that I know of. Most owners tell me that they are glad it never had one.

No but the 272 top end that he installed on the 61 chassis does

 

[BigDee]

61s may have no decomp but many 272s do. I put a plug in the hole. I think it is just the old style chain brake that interferes.

Most owners tell me that they are glad it never had one.

Decomp envy?

 

[BigDee]

There is also a problem with the carb high idle screw, some have the screw in the casing and some have the screw in the body of the carb. A Jonsered 630 can also be mixed and matched.

That's right, I forgot the idle screw. I have to go look ad see what I did.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I ran into this last year on a 61 I built for a gift. Might be able to find the thread I did on it on here.

I ended up putting a 61 jug back on vs having to change out other parts to use a 272 jug. KISS mostly. I used a Farmer Tec brand from Bailey's. It wasn't too bad for the price.
I was able to pull the base gasket, not sure if an OEM jug would allow that, but it's worth checking.

 

[BigDee]

My old style 61 with the 272 top end has the original Tillotson 163 back on it and the through-the-case idle screw lines up fine.
But do the 272s take larger diameter carb screws than the 61 cylinder?

 

[BigDee]

There is also a problem with the carb high idle screw, some have the screw in the casing and some have the screw in the body of the carb. A Jonsered 630 can also be mixed and matched.

Hey Friend I believe we had this conversation once before. I later found the problem arises when you try to put the Tillotson 260 carb on a 272 in an old style 266 with the screw in the case. I didn't want to drill a hole so I pulled the cowl to set the idle.

To get the full benefit of a 272 upgrade, you might have to use a larger carb that the 163.

 

[Gypo Logger]

As mentioned before, the 266 and the 272 have a bolt on intake, while the others have the intake, carb and filter boot bolted on as one unit. I built one of these for a logger pal of mine and he much prefers his 272 hybrid over his stock 365.
All I did was a gasket delete and a gentle muffler mod.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hey Friend I believe we had this conversation once before. I later found the problem arises when you try to put the Tillotson 260 carb on a 272 in an old style 266 with the screw in the case. I didn't want to drill a hole so I pulled the cowl to set the idle.

To get the full benefit of a 272 upgrade, you might have to use a larger carb that the 163.

Good call on the Tilly carb. I'm sure this thread will be refered to many time for thoses wishing to do the conversion.

 

[BigDee]

Good call on the Tilly carb.

Shucks tweren't nuthin. But thanks. I think you are the one who told me I would need a bigger carb, some time ago, discussing this very topic.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Shucks tweren't nuthin. But thanks. I think you are the one who told me I would need a bigger carb, some time ago, discussing this very topic.

When you get as old as I am it's easy to forget, unless you work on the same saw everyday. Lol

 

[zorak]

I have a old 61 and have always wanted to do this conversion. So the cylinder is a direct bolt on and the only issue is the carb area?

 

[BigDee]

Mostly yes. There are different configurations of 61. Mine with the 272 cylinder is the grey top and everything but the decomp fit well.

The white-top in the foreground has the screw on top. The white-top "Rancher" has no chain brake, never did.

Some of the earlier ones have a different top cover, and they may not be as easy. But as Gypo Logger said, you cannot get the full benefit of the 272 top end without going to a bigger carb, like the ones on the later 266s, 268s and 272s. Those carbs have the idle adjust screw on the body of the carb. So you need to make a hole in the cowl if you want to have access to the idle screw. Here is a 260 from a 272:

My experience with a 266 that has no hole is that I can still adjust the high and low with the cover on and when I do need to tweak them, it is almost always a minor adjustment and I don't touch the idle.

 

[DSS]

The early ones with two piece ignition have a different top cover.

I just went through a 61. When I tore it down the top end was mint so I put a caber ring in it, deleted the gasket and did a muffler mod. Squish is right at .019

Runs pretty good for a 61

 

[BigDee]

I'll bet it does run pretty good. I had the same experience -- new ring, delete the gasket, remove the muffler baffles.

There's a lot of goodness in a 61, right from the start.

 

[zorak]

My 61 has a orange cover on it. Its a virgin and has never been touched.