Wanted: Stihl MS260/026 Parts and Advice

**SteveSr** · 03-04-2003, 07:36 PM

WANTED MS260/026 PARTS or PARTS SAW

I was out doing volunteer trail maintenance after our December ice storm and my 9 month old MS260 Pro got run over by a tree. OUCH! :-( It broke enough parts (mostly plastic) to exceed the cost of the saw to buy new parts. So now I'm on the lookout for used parts or a dead saw to use for parts. Yea, I know this is a new model so used parts will be scarce fo a while. I'll keep my eye on eBay but in case any of you know of or have any of the following for sale please let me know:

The parts I need are :

16" .325 bar
Chain brake handle
Main handle
Gas tank / handle assembly
Muffler
Cylinder?

QUESTIONS FOR THE STIHL TECHS

1. The cylinder got one heat sink fin broken. Unfortunately it is the one split by the spark plug at the top of the cylinder which is in a critical location. Making it worse it is on the bar side of the cylinder away from the airflow. How big of a problem is this likely to be assuming I get the rest of the saw put back together. Is the extra heat liable to cause pinging or other engine overheating issues?

2. Are the cylinders from a 260 and an 026 interchangeable? Have they made any porting improvements to the 260 to make it not interchange with the older 026?

3. Are the mufflers interchangeable between a 260 and 026? Is there a difference in mounting or size that would make them not interchangeable?

4. Will an 026 gas tank assembly fit on the 260? I know they changed the gas cap part of the tank but did they change the part that attaches to the saw?

Thanks for any help or advice you have to offer. You can contact me via the e-mail link in this post or directly at:

slund347 "AT" ieee "DOT" org <---- some assembly required!

Steve

**Ryan Willock** · 03-04-2003, 07:38 PM

that REALLY sucks but leads me to ask HOW you managed that???

**bwalker** · 03-04-2003, 07:40 PM

MS 260 and 026 parts are interchangeable. As far as the fin goes. If you are really worried about it have a quality welder tig weld it.

**SteveSr** · 03-05-2003, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by Ryan Willock
that REALLY sucks but leads me to ask HOW you managed that???

The short answer is doing something I shouldn't have been doing!

The long answer is that I was removing an old dead 24" diameter poplar "hanger" that was overhanging the trail in some smaller trees. When the hanger started to roll out of the other trees it wedged the bar and rotated the saw into the ground.

So the question for the pros is what is the best way to deal with something like this? Cut the smaller trees holding the hanger? We looked at this but didn't have good access or escape. That only left going after the base of the hanger which had good access and escape but ended up dealing with rotten and sound wood.

**treeclimber165** · 03-05-2003, 06:22 PM

What made you decide to cut the hanger at ground level?

No place for the saw to go except to get crushed. Not to mention that you have to get down on your knees to make the cut. The proper cut (could be one or more of many depending on the situation) at a proper height would have gotten it on the ground without destroying the saw. Glad it didn't get you while you were on your knees making the cut.

**SteveSr** · 03-05-2003, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by bwalker
MS 260 and 026 parts are interchangeable. As far as the fin goes. If you are really worried about it have a quality welder tig weld it.

Thanks for the suggestion but I already talked to a welder and he said that there was no room to get to it. The fin snapped off right at the cylinder wall and there is only about .250" beween fins.

I guess the real question is do you think this will be a future problem provided I get the rest of the saw put back together? Have you ever run any saws with that type of damage? The engineers at Stihl put those fins on for a reason. I don't know if there is enough thermal margin in the design to do without 2.5 sq. in. of heat radiating area in that location on the cylinder.

If it was a bottom fin I wouldn't sweat it. But this one is located right at the top of the cylinder in line with the spark plug opening on the bar (air shadowed) side of the cylinder.

**jokers** · 03-06-2003, 03:35 AM

Hi SteveSr, just a couple of thoughts on your plight. If you decide to go with repairing your saw without replacing the jug, what`s the worst that could happen? Or is this the determining cost factor in whether you rebuild the saw? Keep it clean and you will be miles ahead of most woodticks in heat dissapation. There is an 026 Pro parts saw on ebay right now, doesn`t look too bad, seller says that it may need bottom end repairs. This could be ideal for you, otherwise I think rebuilding your saw with new parts is going to be too expensive to reasonably justify. BTW, welcome aboard. Russ

**jokers** · 03-06-2003, 03:39 AM

Forgot to mention that Jeff Sikkema is the guy to go to if you want a new 026/260 cylinder kit, I`ll try to post a link, and there are many other guys such as Dozerdan or Jacob J. who may have used parts. RussJeff Sikkema at S&S Sawshop

**4000fixed** · 09-02-2010, 06:02 PM

One broken fin will not affect the operation at all. I know of loggers running saws with a 1/4 of the fins missing for years on some big saws. Anderson Chainsaw Performance should be able to hook you up with almost any used Stihl part you need. Those guys are super.