There is some Devcon on the white arm which holds the red control rod (on the clutch side of the saw). It is there because that hole was wallowed out, and the saw would run on "choke."
But, the saw in this post seems to have had the starting problem all along. (And, my saw started fine...it just ran on choke).
I think my pic shows the red lever pointing more "up" than yours.
Maybe a pic of the flywheel side of the control lever would help. Or, a pic of the control lever after it has been removed from the saw.
I do like the 026/260 saws...but, that choke-in-filter design is one of the things I don't like.
Roy