Stihl 026 AM Cylinder Options

[altatim]

I picked up a dead 026 a while back and want to make it into a firewood saw. The saw didn't burn up but rather wore through the piston skirt and caused some damage to the cylinder. I might be able to clean it up but its pretty nasty and started to flake some nikasil from the ports. Are there any decent AM cylinders around for these? If not I'll likely just pass up rebuilding this saw and keep it for another build down the road. Hardly worth buying new OEM 44mm top end as well as doing bearings and seals, gaskets, etc when I could go buy a 550xp for around the same price that those parts are available for here.

 

[bwalker]

No.
I'd buy the 550xp..

 

[altatim]

No.
I'd buy the 550xp..

That's not very helpful, I am hoping to fix it for less than the price of new which is why I asked. If I was going to spend the money I would just buy the 550xp.

 

[ballisticdoughnut]

That's not very helpful, I am hoping to fix it for less than the price of new which is why I asked. If I was going to spend the money I would just buy the 550xp.

I’d take a look on eBay for a good used 026 cylinder or complete top end. Someone here may have a good cylinder they would be willing to sell as well. I’d go that route before looking for aftermarket parts.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

OEM, Meteor, Hyway- in that order.
Whats left is a bit of a crapshoot.

A LOT of the cheap aftermarket ones are made near enough that a saw will run if used- just never as good as they did on original gear- now just how long they continue to run before flaking plating, catching rings, loosing wrist pin retainer clip- or ring locator pin- well thats anyones guess and the gamble you risk when spending little to expect similar.

 

[Mad Professor]

Find a good used 026/260 cylinder and get a OEM or Meteor piston. Stihl gasket kit comes with seals. Note they switched from 44mm to 44.7mm so get the correct parts.

A want ad in the trading post here will turn up a used cylinder.

 

[bwalker]

That's not very helpful, I am hoping to fix it for less than the price of new which is why I asked. If I was going to spend the money I would just buy the 550xp.

It might not be what you want to hear, but it's the truth.
Stop being a tight wad and just buy the new saw.

 

[thompsoncustom]

Are there any decent AM cylinders around for these? If not I'll likely just pass up rebuilding this saw and keep it for another build down the road.

I think I've bought 5 or 6 different AM 026 cylinders and not one of them has been close to the OEM one and I have a couple clones saws that run as good as the OEM ones but the 026 AM cylinders aren't one of them. Will they run yes but they are a long ways off of the OEM specs but I bet you can pick one up used on ebay or from someone that builds saws fairly cheap. If you need help finding one I might know a guy that would have some.

 

[altatim]

Find a good used 026/260 cylinder and get a OEM or Meteor piston. Stihl gasket kit comes with seals. Note they switched from 44mm to 44.7mm so get the correct parts.

A want ad in the trading post here will turn up a used cylinder.

I think thats the route I'll go, not really in a rush to get it going but I thought might as well ask. I think I already have the seals so its just the p&c I need and a few other rubber bits.

It might not be what you want to hear, but it's the truth.
Stop being a tight wad and just buy the new saw.

lol I'm not a tight wad I just have hobbies. I run new saws 90% of the time I just like to fix old stuff for fun.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I think thats the route I'll go, not really in a rush to get it going but I thought might as well ask. I think I already have the seals so its just the p&c I need and a few other rubber bits.

lol I'm not a tight wad I just have hobbies. I run new saws 90% of the time I just like to fix old stuff for fun.

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