MS260 Chain size?

[Bigbob]

Forgive me for bringing this up again. I'm sure it has been asked and answered a hundred times.

I just picked up a 260 off of ebay for $190. It runs but needs a little work. The 20" bar has a burr around it which tells me that it needs to be squared, right? The chain is .325 .063. I would like to run a 20" bar because I do cut some large oaks here in Indiana. Can I run 20" bar with .375 chain? Or is that too much for this saw?

Is there a good online site to get an airfiter and some misc. parts?

If I want to do the muffler modification to get more power what is the carb. part number that has the High adjustable jet?

Thanks for your time and help!

Bigbob

 

[Big Neb]

I run an 18" 3/8 .050 chain on mine.

As long as you realize that the 20" 3/8 is on the upper limits of its capacity you'll be alright. I find that mine doesn't cut with my other saws but I don't expect it to. It is a great limbing or pruning saw but I find it a bit small for doing a lot of firewood.

 

[bwalker]

You might be able to run a 3/8, 20" combo, but you will be happier with .325.

 

[Bigbob]

Happier?

Bigneb--

I'll be happier because why? It will cut faster? last longer? cheaper to run? Can you be more specific?

Thanks,

Bigbob

 

[Griffbm3]

Yes

I have an 026 and tried the 20" 325 in hardwood, I was disappointed, so i have kept it with 325 and a 16" bar. Always happy with that combo. Runs quicker, chains are cheap, and the availability of cheap bars at Baileys for 325 makes it an easy decision.

Buy your stuff from Baileys, it will make you life easier, a lot of people on here do, and they are cheap. The high adjust jet question will probably get an answer with a part number from Lake, or any one of the other Stihl guys on here. Overall, quite happy with the 026, but again, in the hard oaks and sugar maples, I have always favored the 16" for that saw...

Just $.02

Jason

 

[computeruser]

3/8" in hardwood? No.

The 026/260 is hardly peppy with a 16" bar buried in hardwood, much less a 20. This is a 50cc limbing saw, not a saw intended for felling or blocking. Wanna run 20" and 3/8" in hardwood? A fairly hot 60cc is a realisic minimum, and 70cc+ is probably a better starting point.

 

[Bigbob]

Is 260 enough for bucking?

I hear ya. I just sold my 023 because it felt too small. However, with a 16" bar and sharp picco chain it would cut through oak at full RPM, full bar length, never bogging or stopping.

I thought the 260 would be a step up and provide a good mid-range saw for limbing but even felling oak. The oaks around here tend to be 16"-24" in diameter.

Did I get the wrong saw?

If not, again, what is the best setup: 16" or 18" bar .325 chain? 20" bar .375 chain?


Also, can I square up my 20" bar that has this nasty burr around it or is it toast?

Thanks again,

Robert

 

[Big Neb]

I'm sorry, I think it was BWalker that said you'd be happier with .325. Mine has run 3/8 since new so I have no idea about the smaller chain. Powerwise the .325 bites less than the 3/8 and doesn't bog the saw as badly. 3/8 for me was more readily available and consistant with my other saws... I don't need a different sharpener etc...

 

[Big Neb]

I really like my 026 but not for a 24" oak. A 361 would be a much better choice. I use my 026 on anything up to about 10"

 

[SawTroll]

I have an 026 and tried the 20" 325 in hardwood, I was disappointed, so i have kept it with 325 and a 16" bar. ....

No wonder, 13" bar was the standard on the 026 here (and is on the 260) - I'd say 16" and 7-pin .325 (not 3/8") is about max for good performance, unless the wood is really soft......

24" oak??? - better get a 70cc+ saw!

 

[Bigbob]

Saw Worked Over

Wow, this saw is pretty beat up. The ebay seller refunded me $40. The filter is missing the inner fleece. Anybody know where I can get a cheap one?

How do I remove the carb from the handle housing? I removed the nuts but the thing is wedged in there. Do I need to remove all hoses first?

Thanks again for all your help,

Robert

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

I'd like to play with a 3/8th setup on my 353, but its been played with so its not the same kinda horse...


But I'd like an 18" 3/8 set up if it would handle it.


Need to find out where I can buy the stuff to play with such a setup

 

[Cam501]

No wonder, 13" bar was the standard on the 026 here (and is on the 260) - I'd say 16" and 7-pin .325 (not 3/8") is about max for good performance, unless the wood is really soft......

24" oak??? - better get a 70cc+ saw!

Nothing is normal there troll :hmm3grin2orange:
Around my neck of the woods 95% of 026/260's wear 18". Nobody around my area stocks them with anything else, and in my part of the US we can't get 260's with anything but 16, 18, and 20" through our stihl distributor.

 

[smithie55]

I've got an 026 pro / muffler mod with swapped out carb for older style to get the high end carb adjust / 20" bar / 3/8 P - 0.50 G / full comp (recommend for this size saw, semi skip would be OK if your not doing any plug cutting)
works fine for falling, bucking, 18" alder, maple, doug fir, limbing, brushing.
20" is its max, but with muffler mod and a sharp chain it cruises.
I really like the 026 Pro

 

[smithie55]

How do I remove the carb from the handle housing? I removed the nuts but the thing is wedged in there. Do I need to remove all hoses first?

It fits fairly tight in there. There is a hose fitting on the backside of the carb which will give you some resistance. wiggle as you pull semi aggressively and it will come out. Plus you have to pull apart the handle to be able to free up the throttle linkage. Least wise that's how I did it.
Lakeside55 is the man with the answers.

 

[SmokinDodge]

24" oak??? - better get a 70cc+ saw!

Definitely good advice for a saw junkie. But it may not be the best advice for Big Bob.

Bob how much wood ya cutting? If it's 5 cord or less a year the 026 will do ya fine. Felling, bucking, the whole nine. Yes a 440 will do it faster but do you need it? I've cut 24" Red Oak with a 011. It cut it, took a little bit but it did it. At the time that was the only saw I NEEDED and it did the job fine.

It will pack the 3/8 as long as you realize that is what is on the saw and don't crowd it. I think it falls to personal preference on that part and what other equipment you are running.

It's all about what you need to do the job. Tell us about the job your trying to do and we can be more help than "You need to spend a lot of money" oops sorry "You need a 361" oh that's not it either uhh "You need a 70 cc saw".

I'm not saying that a larger saw won't benefit you it's just that people can't make a good recommendation for you until we know what and how much your trying to do.

Even if you do end up eventually getting a larger saw you still have a saw that will work for years to come.




I'll get flamed for this post but come on guys he had a 023 and it was working for him and the next thing you know he needs a 361?

 

[Bigbob]

It fits fairly tight in there. There is a hose fitting on the backside of the carb which will give you some resistance. wiggle as you pull semi aggressively and it will come out. Plus you have to pull apart the handle to be able to free up the throttle linkage. Least wise that's how I did it.
Lakeside55 is the man with the answers.

Thanks a ton! I got it out. How about removing the clutch and flywheel. Is there a home solution without special tools? What I'm trying to do is remove all the caked on oil, dirt and sawdust and would like to clean behind the clutch and flywheel. Is there a way to do it withour removing them? How about an air compressor or pressure washer?

Any ideas will help.

Robert (Bigbob):rockn:

 

[Big Neb]

No flames intended SmokinDodge... Especially with a handle like yours. I'm running a modded 97' Cummins myself.

My recommendation on the 361 refers to his statement that he is looking for a "good mid-range saw for limbing... felling oak... 16"-24" in diameter." I don't consider the 026 a toy saw, but if that is his application he will be working that 026 like a red-headed stepchild no matter how many cords he cuts a year. A jump of 10cc's would put him in the "sweet zone" for that size of wood. He was asking for our opinions so that is mine. I love my 026 and it is a great saw. It never fails to "Get'r Done."

You can use a .50 caliber to shoot a ground squirrel and a .22 to kill a grizzly bear but it doesn't mean that they are the ideal calibers for either application.

 

[Bigbob]

Definitely good advice for a saw junkie. But it may not be the best advice for Big Bob.

Bob how much wood ya cutting? If it's 5 cord or less a year the 026 will do ya fine. Felling, bucking, the whole nine. Yes a 440 will do it faster but do you need it? I've cut 24" Red Oak with a 011. It cut it, took a little bit but it did it. At the time that was the only saw I NEEDED and it did the job fine.

It will pack the 3/8 as long as you realize that is what is on the saw and don't crowd it. I think it falls to personal preference on that part and what other equipment you are running.

It's all about what you need to do the job. Tell us about the job your trying to do and we can be more help than "You need to spend a lot of money" oops sorry "You need a 361" oh that's not it either uhh "You need a 70 cc saw".

I'm not saying that a larger saw won't benefit you it's just that people can't make a good recommendation for you until we know what and how much your trying to do.

Even if you do end up eventually getting a larger saw you still have a saw that will work for years to come.




I'll get flamed for this post but come on guys he had a 023 and it was working for him and the next thing you know he needs a 361?

I cut probably 3-4 cords a year. I do, however, fell 2-3 18" 24" oaks a year. I send the wood a mill for winter woodworking. I liked the 260 because it is a faster cutter than the 290 but not too heavy. It sounded like a nice comprismise. I guess if I get into more firewood cutting or more weekend felling then I could consider a 361 or 440 and keep the 260 for smaller stuff.

Does that help describe my situation?

It also sounds like if I do some simple modifications I can boost the power which will help the cutting speed. How do I go about finding a carb with the HIGH adjustment?

Thanks

Bigbob

 

[SmokinDodge]

You can use a .50 caliber to shoot a ground squirrel and a .22 to kill a grizzly bear but it doesn't mean that they are the ideal calibers for either application.

Ya but what fun is a 22?

There is a line for all of us when we need to step up to a larger saw, the trick is identifying it on a personal basis.

Bob it sounds like you going to get along fine with that 260 for what you are doing. It will be working but isn't that what a saw is for?