Just bought a 260 Pro

[Climber8483]

I have been reading the forum for the last month or so and enjoyed all the great information that is provided here. After reading all the post on whether to get a 270 or the 260 I had decided on the 270, went down to my local Stihl dealer to pick one up and the only one he had left was a quick adjust model (I did not want a saw with quick adjust). Just my luck the owner was working that night and after some talking to and debating he sold me a 260 pro for a little over his costs, which was only a few bucks more than the 270. Love the saw, but having one issue, the saw came with the green safety chain, I'm assuming an RM2, being that I was breaking in the saw I usually turn the bar oiler up higher than I usually do, and was not even through the frirst tank of gas and the blade was dulling dramatically, got halfway through the next tank and I had to swap out the chain, glad I picked up a RSC as a replacement chain. The wood was clean and I was cutting through the bark, but I ran 4 or 5 tanks through with the RSC and did not have any dulling issues, any reason as to why the RM2 dulled so quickly?

 

[sawinredneck]

I have been reading the forum for the last month or so and enjoyed all the great information that is provided here. After reading all the post on whether to get a 270 or the 260 I had decided on the 270, went down to my local Stihl dealer to pick one up and the only one he had left was a quick adjust model (I did not want a saw with quick adjust). Just my luck the owner was working that night and after some talking to and debating he sold me a 260 pro for a little over his costs, which was only a few bucks more than the 270. Love the saw, but having one issue, the saw came with the green safety chain, I'm assuming an RM2, being that I was breaking in the saw I usually turn the bar oiler up higher than I usually do, and was not even through the frirst tank of gas and the blade was dulling dramatically, got halfway through the next tank and I had to swap out the chain, glad I picked up a RSC as a replacement chain. The wood was clean and I was cutting through the bark, but I ran 4 or 5 tanks through with the RSC and did not have any dulling issues, any reason as to why the RM2 dulled so quickly?

Well, first off, welcome to AS!!

It sounds to me that you hit something of got it in the dirt with the RM2. RM2 is not the fastest cutting, but man does it last!!! That is about the hardest to dull chain I think there is!!
Congrats on the 260, it is a big improvement over the 270, and it's no secret that I am not a fan of Sthil 50cc saws, so please keep us up to date as to how it runs!
Andy

 

[Lakeside53]

The oiler has no effect on chain dulling... It's just the to lubricate the chain running on the bar and the link bearings, not the cutter on the wood. Your problem is dirty wood, or your cutting the dirt. The RM2 is a long lasting chain, so moving to RSC will only make your problem worse if you don't solve the dirt.. or that nail/rock embedded in the tree...

Nice saw. Congratulations. Look after it and you'll hand it off to your grandkids.

 

[Climber8483]

Sorry, Original chain looks like a RMC3, but it's in 3/8" pitch.

 

[mktest]

The oiler has no effect on chain dulling...

You know this of course, but to clarify, running without oil can cause the chain to go very hot and that could eventually lead to softening of the steel.
(I don't think the chain was that much overheated in this case, I just hadn't posted in a while so felt an urge to... )

 

[Lakeside53]

You know this of course, but to clarify, running without oil can cause the chain to go very hot and that could eventually lead to softening of the steel.
(I don't think the chain was that much overheated in this case, I just hadn't posted in a while so felt an urge to... )

If a chain got that hot it would be a fire hazard!!

 

[Lakeside53]

Sorry, Original chain looks like a RMC3, but it's in 3/8" pitch.

The RMC3 is an excellent firewood chain! but dirt is dirt..

 

[Climber8483]

I was not cutting in dirt and the bark was not dirt, I had just dropped the 3 trees that I bucked. Was careful to not cut any dirt or rocks. The trees were not laying on the ground either, laying on top of old downed timbers and the tree limbs.

 

[Tzed250]

260, chain

Good choice on the 260. I had an 026 for years and i loved it. That saw would take a lot of pnishment and never missed a beat. I still kick myself for selling it. The RM chains are very hard to make dull, but the RS chains will stop cutting well if even the least little bit of damage occurs to the chisel point.

 

[Lakeside53]

I was not cutting in dirt and the bark was not dirt, I had just dropped the 3 trees that I bucked. Was careful to not cut any dirt or rocks. The trees were not laying on the ground either, laying on top of old downed timbers and the tree limbs.

Must have hit something embedded in the wood.

 

[Just Mow]

sure sounds like a nice dealer you got there. Congratulations on the new saw. You chose one that is hard to beat. I'm with Andy, I think you hit something in the wood causing your chain to dull.

 

[SawTroll]

Must have hit something embedded in the wood.

Yes!

 

[pinus]

Well, first off, welcome to AS!!

Congrats on the 260, it is a big improvement over the 270, and it's no secret that I am not a fan of Sthil 50cc saws, so please keep us up to date as to how it runs!
Andy

Can´t agree with you. The weight, is main advantage of 260. Good AV and air filtrating are advantage of 270

 

[SawTroll]

260 vs 270

Apples and oranges.....opcorn:

...and I wouldn't buy any Stihl 50 cc saw at the moment....

 

[sawinredneck]

Can´t agree with you. The weight, is main advantage of 260. Good AV and air filtrating are advantage of 270

I don't want you to agree with me!!! I expressed an opinion for discussion, and after running the 346 for the first time, I would love to try a 260 for comparison!!! I believe I would by a 350 over the 260 still, but need to run one now!!
What I ask a saw to do, and what you will ask of the same saw, will be totaly different as well!! But as of yet, the 50cc Stihls have not impressed me though.
Andy

 

[Trigger-Time]

I don't want you to agree with me!!! I expressed an opinion for discussion, and after running the 346 for the first time, I would love to try a 260 for comparison!!! I believe I would by a 350 over the 260 still, but need to run one now!!
What I ask a saw to do, and what you will ask of the same saw, will be totaly different as well!! But as of yet, the 50cc Stihls have not impressed me though.
Andy

Andy, Have you ever run a Stihl 026/260? I have read allot of your
post, it seems that you have all ways put the 026/260 down, and
now you say "I would love to try a 260 for comparison!!!"

In my simple little mind the 026/260 is one of the better saws out
there. I have not owend one for very long. But know of people that
cut fire wood (Hardwood) for a living and have used them for years. Sure it's
no 361 or 460 and the air filter gets dirty faster than some saws.
But man put the choke on second pull it hits and runs long enough
to take the choke off, it's so easy to start. And as for liming
you can't beat it, and when I'm talking about liming, I mean fire wood
for our own use, Dad all ways cut the limbs up if they were at least
1 1/2 to 2 inches in dia, less wast, less brush to pile and thats how
I cut the fire wood also. And I would think allot of the people would to.
Allot of them don't own land to cut fire wood, so I would think they
would cut up every little piece. My point is thats a lot of liming or
lifting the saw. Sure it may take a little long, felling and bucking, but
holy cow it's allot easier to limb with, than say even my 361

Andy I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, I just think the
026/260 is a hell'va good saw and that most home owners, farmers
and people cutting there own fire wood, would have a hard time
finding a better saw for the job.

Ok, I'm stepping off my soap box now.

 

[AJLOGGER]

Andy, Have you ever run a Stihl 026/260? I have read allot of your
post, it seems that you have all ways put the 026/260 down, and
now you say "I would love to try a 260 for comparison!!!"

In my simple little mind the 026/260 is one of the better saws out
there. I have not owend one for very long. But know of people that
cut fire wood (Hardwood) for a living and have used them for years. Sure it's
no 361 or 460 and the air filter gets dirty faster than some saws.
But man put the choke on second pull it hits and runs long enough
to take the choke off, it's so easy to start. And as for liming
you can't beat it, and when I'm talking about liming, I mean fire wood
for our own use, Dad all ways cut the limbs up if they were at least
1 1/2 to 2 inches in dia, less wast, less brush to pile and thats how
I cut the fire wood also. And I would think allot of the people would to.
Allot of them don't own land to cut fire wood, so I would think they
would cut up every little piece. My point is thats a lot of liming or
lifting the saw. Sure it may take a little long, felling and bucking, but
holy cow it's allot easier to limb with, than say even my 361

Andy I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, I just think the
026/260 is a hell'va good saw and that most home owners, farmers
and people cutting there own fire wood, would have a hard time
finding a better saw for the job.

Ok, I'm stepping off my soap box now.

I have wondered the same thing. I have just recently bought a used 026. Now I will admit that I am biased towards Stihl, but I have used a lot of different saws and formed my opinion. However, I have read a lot of post on here about the 026, its slow, its old design, its air filter sucks, it vibrates a lot so on and so on. I don't get it. My old used 026 runs like a top, I can cut Hedge, Walnut, Locust, and Ash with it all day and the filter is a little dirty but doesn't compromise performance. I can bury it in the wood I listed above and the thing will not stop, it won't bog. It seems pretty light to me compared to other saw brands that I have run in the same class, and the vibrations don't seem bad to me either. It feels like any other saw. And did I mention that it is an older USED 026 and I will probably be able to pass it on to my 17 month old son when I am done. The saw must be doing something right because it probably outsells all other brands of saws in its class. I guess I just don't get that anal if a 346xp cuts a whole big whoppin' second faster than my 026. One thing I have noticed on here tho' is that most people I have read post on bad mouthing one saw or another have never ran that saw, they just read the manufacturer specs and then try and tell you what to buy. And just like Trigger Time, I am not trying to pick a fight, because a lot of guys on here have helped me out big time and I love this site, I just sometimes shake my head.

P.S. My reply was not directed towards redneck, I was just agreeing with trigger in general.

 

[RiverRat2]

I was not cutting in dirt and the bark was not dirt, I had just dropped the 3 trees that I bucked. Was careful to not cut any dirt or rocks. The trees were not laying on the ground either, laying on top of old downed timbers and the tree limbs.

If you cut through the target tree while bucking and might have got into the "Old downed timber" a bit or even a few times that old wood if it was even slightly rotted,,, it is organic material and when it dies it returns to its natural state hence Dirt, especially if the old stuff had bark on it
and we all know what dirt does to chain.. We do alot of clean up work clearing lots and i hate to have to cut on any downed timber that looks like it been there a while cause it is hard on your equipment.... just a possibility:biggrinbounce2:

 

[MikeInParadise]

Funny,

Just go back one year and read the posts and the 260 was the rage. Recommended by most folks here, except of course the husky fans. I bought it a little over a year ago based on the raving about it on this site.

In one years time it has become "old technology" and everyone praises the Dolmar 5100s and poo-poo's the 260. Now if I was buying today I still would not buy a Dolmar as there is no dealer around me.

I love my 260. I have used it about 150 days in the last year and it starts runs and does the job. Feels good in my hands and has had hundreds of tanks of gas through it with little problem. Put gas in through the day. At night clean it and sharpen the chain and good to go the next day.

They talk about poor anti-vibe and I don't get it as it doesn't vibrate to me at all.

I finally had to fiddle around with the idle and low speed jet a week or so ago which is the first time I have touched it in over a year.

If it got destroyed today it has earned its keep already!

So I just ignore all the nay-sayers as it does what I need it to do which is cut wood all day long, day after day, with no problems.

It works for me!

 

[pinus]

I don't want you to agree with me!!! I expressed an opinion for discussion, and after running the 346 for the first time, I would love to try a 260 for comparison!!! I believe I would by a 350 over the 260 still, but need to run one now!!
What I ask a saw to do, and what you will ask of the same saw, will be totaly different as well!! But as of yet, the 50cc Stihls have not impressed me though.
Andy[/QUOTE=sawinredneck]
I used a lot 026 (the same as 260) and 270 and my opinion is basing on this
As sawtroll said rather there are apples and oranges