Stihl 028 annular buffer(s)

[Sidecarflip]

My ancient (over 40 years old) 028 Stihl was in pretty dire need of new annular ( vibration mitigating) buffers so I was intending to stop by the local Stihl dealer and buy a set but instead I went on Amascon and ordered a complete set for 15 bucks from a seller with excellent reviews and believe it or not, they went right in, everything lined right up (including the drilled holes in the metal locating plate on the rearmost buffer, 100% plug and play. Took all of 5 minutes to renew. I was impressed.

The rearmost top buffer has deteriorated to the point where it was ripped and really needed replaced plus I purchased a new aftermarket rear cover as well and it fit perfect as well. My stock rear cover had a crack in it so it got renewed as well. Only difference between the OEM cover and the replacement cover is, the replacement cover from Amascon don't have the molded in 'stop' words in it. Not sure if the new cover or the buffer set is Chinese or not but all fits well, was an easy upgrade so I'm happy and it was free shipping and came quickly.

 

[Mad Professor]

My ancient (over 40 years old) 028 Stihl was in pretty dire need of new annular ( vibration mitigating) buffers so I was intending to stop by the local Stihl dealer and buy a set but instead I went on Amascon and ordered a complete set for 15 bucks from a seller with excellent reviews and believe it or not, they went right in, everything lined right up (including the drilled holes in the metal locating plate on the rearmost buffer, 100% plug and play. Took all of 5 minutes to renew. I was impressed.

The rearmost top buffer has deteriorated to the point where it was ripped and really needed replaced plus I purchased a new aftermarket rear cover as well and it fit perfect as well. My stock rear cover had a crack in it so it got renewed as well. Only difference between the OEM cover and the replacement cover is, the replacement cover from Amascon don't have the molded in 'stop' words in it. Not sure if the new cover or the buffer set is Chinese or not but all fits well, was an easy upgrade so I'm happy and it was free shipping and came quickly.

Chances are the Chi-Com buffers won't last 40 years like the originals. Maybe take a chance on buffers or plastic covers. I know there is problems with air filters. I'd also worry about stuff like fuel/oil lines, carb kits, engine internals,.........

Look for a free parts saw for the 028. Not to reuse stuff like rubber materials but for important parts.

I have one for my 028. It came in a box of "parts" along with a 024S, when I bought a used 064. To my surprise, it has OEM 028S P/C and piston still has machine marks on it looking through the muffler.

 

[ZeroJunk]

You can still get the original straight OEM fuel line for an 028, but for whatever reason it comes with a fuel filter in the pack and has a different part number. FWIW

 

[Sidecarflip]

Just went to the Stihl dealer up town and bought a new NGK plug for it. I had the old plug with me when I got the new one and the owner remarked the old plug looked good, to which I replied it was the original plug and over 40+ years old. It does look good, light brown and not an excessive gap either. I do need the hard nylon guide that fastens to the outer cover as mine is missing a part of it but not in stock, though still listed so I had him order me one. He asked me what I used for fuel and I told him canned gas to which he replied... smart move.

Hopefully the new buffers last long enough as I'm not gonna last another 40 years anyway. Being 75, 40 years would put me well over a normal lifespan.

When I stopped in, he was grinding chains, IMO, a thankless job but then I do it as well.

What is with those 'funky' looking new Stihl guide bars? The paint job or the stenciling or whatever looks gross... Is that some DEI stuff or what?

 

[ZeroJunk]

Just went to the Stihl dealer up town and bought a new NGK plug for it. I had the old plug with me when I got the new one and the owner remarked the old plug looked good, to which I replied it was the original plug and over 40+ years old. It does look good, light brown and not an excessive gap either. I do need the hard nylon guide that fastens to the outer cover as mine is missing a part of it but not in stock, though still listed so I had him order me one. He asked me what I used for fuel and I told him canned gas to which he replied... smart move.

Hopefully the new buffers last long enough as I'm not gonna last another 40 years anyway. Being 75, 40 years would put me well over a normal lifespan.

When I stopped in, he was grinding chains, IMO, a thankless job but then I do it as well.

What is with those 'funky' looking new Stihl guide bars? The paint job or the stenciling or whatever looks gross... Is that some DEI stuff or what?

I hardly see new stuff. Fancy paint job for Light maybe ?

Only chains I sharpen are the ones with issues that want the chain sharpened if fixed. Marked CSS2 internal ticket code. I think they charge like $14 on the saw. It's crazy.
The full time guy may spend two hours some days just sharpening chains. I'd just as soon slam my privates in a car door.

 

[Sidecarflip]

I don't mind sharpening loops at all, just so long as I get a quantity at one time. One grinder is set up for teeth and the other is for rakers. Most of he loops I sharpen are either 325 or 404 anyway. I don't like fiddling with the lo pro stuff and most of my customers don't use that anyway.

 

[stihltech]

Not uncommon to see 100 chains come in in a day. It is one guy's job, between running the front of the store. Small place with 2 employees and the owner. And I still get saws in to the tune of 2 to 6 a day.
Great retirement job!

 

[ZeroJunk]

Not uncommon to see 100 chains come in in a day. It is one guy's job, between running the front of the store. Small place with 2 employees and the owner. And I still get saws in to the tune of 2 to 6 a day.
Great retirement job!

I'm the same. 71 years old. I only come in when the full time guys gets overwhelmed. Usually from April till about now. Maybe 25 employees. Everything from pansies to AR's.

 

[Sidecarflip]

If I was 70 again. I cannot retire because I own the business and have full time employees. Someday maybe. I'll be 76 next July. Interestingly, I have had inoperable cancer for the last 8 years and was given 6 months 8 years ago. Through the miracle of modern medicine and fantastic health care, I'm mostly still here...

Every night before I go to sleep, I thank the Lord for another day. One day at a time for me.

 

[stihltech]

I started working at the shop part time in 81. Never left. Extra money for a young family and then just enjoyed the job. Been the only tech for 20 years now. Sometimes it is better that way.
Tried to train a few new techs. Just not enough money to stay.
Started when I was a GM tech. Thought I was pretty knowledgeable. Owner said" you know nothing about 2 cycle".

Most new employees would be offended. I took it as a challenge. One of the best things I ever did. What an education I have received!

 

[Sidecarflip]

I started working at the shop part time in 81. Never left. Extra money for a young family and then just enjoyed the job. Been the only tech for 20 years now. Sometimes it is better that way.
Tried to train a few new techs. Just not enough money to stay.
Started when I was a GM tech. Thought I was pretty knowledgeable. Owner said" you know nothing about 2 cycle".

Most new employees would be offended. I took it as a challenge. One of the best things I ever did. What an education I have received!

You work at the tech center in Warren perhaps? One of our good friends retired from there and the main reason why my wife drives and always has owned Suburban's. What he drives as well. Told my wife the Subs have been around so long and engineered so well, they are like tanks and I agree, it is a tank. GM did / does some lain brained stuff like their cylinder cutout deal. The initial one, you could defeat it by installing an electronic bypass in the OBD port, but the later ones (like the one she has now, you must pull the top of the engine off and access the valve actuators and replace them with modified lifters, which I did. Suburban owners could care less about fuel economy and in reality, it only lost maybe 1/2 mpg but now it's a V8 all the time instead of a castrated buggy,

I work part time at a Kubota dealer that also sells Echo power tools so I get to see all the stupidity that chainsaw owners 'attempt' at doing and I'm quite familiar with what they will warrant and what they decline. Nice thing is, I get my Echo's at dealer cost and I have 2 presently plus the Stihl's. The ancient 028 that I use all the time, the 075 and the 090 that are both shelf queens. Bought all 3 at the same time, from the same dealer in North Ridgeville, Ohio.

I'm retired as well from a steel processor but I still play at farming and own a couple large frame Kubota FWA tractors and a bunch of tools to cultivate and process the crop I grow. Wife and I also own and operate a short run machine and fabricating shop that really requires too much of my time and at 75, it's really time to slow down and smell the roses even though I resist that temptation.