Used 261 - carb adjustment screws not lining up with housing. Did I get had?

[cornwnc]

Edit to add: I did try Googling before I posted here, but not coming up with anything. Probably because my terminology is off.

Picked up a used 261 today for a pretty good deal (hopefully) off FB marketplace to help cleaning up the property after Helene. Fired right up, good compression on a slow pull of the cord, and pulled the spark plug and to my untrained eye, the piston looked clean. Only thing that was off was that the holes to adjust the carb screws are misaligned on the housing. Anyone have any insight as to what's up with that?

Made a quick cut on a 16" oak round when I got home, seemed to get really hot above the muffler (hopefully not another issue), but otherwise ran great. Had to get kids in bed so haven't played with it more than a quick cut.

Anything to do about the carb screw alignment? Also, if anyone's able to interpret the serial number, I'd be curious to know when it was sold. Guy I bought it from said he bought it used to resell, but didn't speak much English. Figured there was a chance I was buying a bad saw, but the price was good enough that I figured I'd be willing to take the risk and wouldn't be losing too much if it was shot.

Cheers!

 

[Tobystihl]

It's an autotune model with a manual carb top cover, the original cover would not have any holes.

 

[cornwnc]

It's an autotune model with a manual carb top cover, the original cover would not have any holes.

Thanks for the reply! So this is normal for some of the earlier 261s? My old man and a buddy both have new 261s and don't have these holes. Made me a little concerned I'd gotten one that had been torn down and rebuilt with new plastic or something (I don't even know if that's a thing, but it doesn't look right)

 

[Del_]

Thanks for the reply! So this is normal for some of the earlier 261s? My old man and a buddy both have new 261s and don't have these holes. Made me a little concerned I'd gotten one that had been torn down and rebuilt with new plastic or something (I don't even know if that's a thing, but it doesn't look right)

Have you taken the air filter cover off to see if your carb even has those screws?

The 261C doesn't.

 

[BeatCJ]

Thanks for the reply! So this is normal for some of the earlier 261s? My old man and a buddy both have new 261s and don't have these holes. Made me a little concerned I'd gotten one that had been torn down and rebuilt with new plastic or something (I don't even know if that's a thing, but it doesn't look right)

I think that's the point of that post. You may not have plastics that match your carb. That doesn't mean you have a bad saw. If someone bought a newer saw with smashed plastics and replaced those to flip, the internals didn't get worse. If the saw runs well, you are good.

As for the really hot above the muffler, I would be concerned about an exhaust leak between the muffler and the cylinder. I don't know if that's a 261 thing or not, but it can be a problem with some saws.

 

[cornwnc]

Have you taken the air filter cover off to see if your carb even has those screws?

The 261C doesn't.

It does have the adjustment screws under the cover, they just don't line up with the cover holes

 

[BeatCJ]

How many adjustment screws, 2 or 3?

 

[cornwnc]

How many adjustment screws, 2 or 3?

There's 3

 

[cscltd]

Ser # says it is a ms261z manual carb adjment.
I wonder if it’s the air guide shroud that is not installed correctly causing misalignment?.

 

[cornwnc]

Ser # says it is a ms261z manual carb adjment.
I wonder if it’s the air guide shroud that is not installed correctly causing misalignment?.

You know, looking at it again I think you're right, looks like the shroud is bent and that's the issue. Was running it yesterday and it was cutting well. It's definitely far from new, but got it half of the new price, so I'm happy.

Thanks for looking up the serial number! Are you able to see when it was originally sold?

 

[cscltd]

it was made 08 2017- i cant tell sold date as it is a usa sold unit and it may or may not be registered
but i usually say most are sold 6m-1 year after build date for popular saws

 

[cornwnc]

it was made 08 2017- i cant tell sold date as it is a usa sold unit and it may or may not be registered
but i usually say most are sold 6m-1 year after build date for popular saws

Great!! Thank you for checking that for me.

Cheers