Stihl 026 Air Filter: Kind of Sucky?

[sritzau]

I have had a love/hate relationship with the paper air filter on my 026, and currently I am back on the hate side. It really gets dirty quick and cleaning is not easy. Is there another option? Can I get a foam filter? If so, is it any better?

Steve

PS - I have the fixed-jet carb.

 

[stihltech]

filter

I have found that a good cleaning with brake clean will remove the oil residue and keep the filter cleaner. I only do this to an oily looking filter.
IF you have a lot of oily residue in a short time, check how much spit back thorough the carb you are getting. May be time to look for carb inlet lever setting or a bit of internal wear.

 

[sritzau]

Thanks, stiltech. When I said the filter gets dirty, that wasn't exactly right. Mostly it's just clogging up with wood chips / dust and such. I know that that is kind of the point of the filter in the first place - but it seems to get coated fast and then kind of "chokes" the saw. The chain is not perfect but it is not dogged either, so I don't think that I am just generating a lot of small particles. It just seems like a lot of "stuff" finds its way to the filter.

Steve