Stihl MS261 finally on my bench

[nmurph]

OEM is going to cost you $100+. I would be having a conversation with the seller. I would bet that saw had some runnability issues bf you received it.

 

[MEATSAW]

Yup it was $136 for OEM piston, rings, and circlips. Ouch.

But I did it. I could have spent $35 on a golf piston kit on eBay but it makes me uneasy. So I'll pay the extra $100 for peace of mind.

So I guess the real price of this saw went from $300 to $450 real quick. Live and learn -- I'm 2 for 2 on crappy AS transactions. I think I am done buying used sight unseen for a while.

When I get the parts in hopefully I'll have some positive news about how strong it runs!

 

[nmurph]

That's about normal Stihl OEM. They really sting people on parts.

As far as buying sight-unseen. I think what you are forgetting is that several of us threw up warnings that the compression on that saw seemed low. What you passed up was the experience of those who have bought and sold many saws. One of the hardest parts this hobby is learning to listen to our head and walk away when our heart is screaming at us to buy.

Good luck on the repair. You will have a nice saw when all is said and done, it will just cost you a little more than you planned.

 

[MEATSAW]

You couldn't be more right. Like I said, it was a learning experience, much like your signature says.

 

[Chris J.]

Yup it was $136 for OEM piston, rings, and circlips. Ouch.

But I did it. I could have spent $35 on a golf piston kit on eBay but it makes me uneasy. So I'll pay the extra $100 for peace of mind.

So I guess the real price of this saw went from $300 to $450 real quick. Live and learn -- I'm 2 for 2 on crappy AS transactions. I think I am done buying used sight unseen for a while.

When I get the parts in hopefully I'll have some positive news about how strong it runs!

That doesn't sound good, & plus one for having a discussion with the seller.

I guess I've been lucky when dealing with older vintage saws--unpleasant surprises aren't all that surprising or unpleasant (depending).

 

[MEATSAW]

That doesn't sound good, & plus one for having a discussion with the seller.

I guess I've been lucky when dealing with older vintage saws--unpleasant surprises aren't all that surprising or unpleasant (depending).

He no longer will respond so there is not much more to do with that. Honestly the best transactions I have had were for my Homelite XL-924 and my Mac 10-10 (I sold it for this 261, doh!). It seems that the older saws were either taken better care of, or were built better -- buying newer ones seems to be a crapshoot. But that might just be that I haven't been a smart buyer. I'm learning the hard way like usual.

 

[Chris J.]

Some folks who like to bring vintage saws 'back to life' are a little more tolerant of unknown issues, within reason of course, as long as the price or trade was fair for the known condition.

Back when ArboristSite had the Trading Post, there were two (IIRC, my memory is bad) stickies, one for positive comments and one for negative comments about eBay sellers and fellow AS members. I wonder what became of the feedback comments when the Trading Post was reorganized?