Stihl Cylinder

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roostersgt

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I just received my "won" Ebay 044 piston and cylinder. This kit is new OEM. The piston and rings seemed normal, but the over-all cylinder quality looked a bit less than I'm accustomed to. I have always bought Mahle Stihl cylinder kits and they have always looked great. This was the plain Stihl branded cylinder and I swear a decent AM cylinder might look better overall. Casting looks rough and intake / exhaust openings look off-center, if that's possible. Will definitely only be buying the Mahle kits from now on. Picture maybe later, too disgusted and too late tonight. Just got off work and checked the mailbox. I'm sure it'll work fine, but good grief.
 
This is one of those times that the OEM only brigade disappear back into the shadows. Nobody can doubt the quality of the Mahle kits but some of the Stihl branded OEM cylinders I've seen are crap with a capital C and the average Chinese/Taiwanese aftermarket kit will thump them for quality.

The old "It's got Stihl stamped on it so it must be good" mentality :laugh:

Good luck with it but even though it may look bad I'm sure it will be reliable and produce good power :cheers:
 
I just received my "won" Ebay 044 piston and cylinder. This kit is new OEM. The piston and rings seemed normal, but the over-all cylinder quality looked a bit less than I'm accustomed to. I have always bought Mahle Stihl cylinder kits and they have always looked great. This was the plain Stihl branded cylinder and I swear a decent AM cylinder might look better overall. Casting looks rough and intake / exhaust openings look off-center, if that's possible. Will definitely only be buying the Mahle kits from now on. Picture maybe later, too disgusted and too late tonight. Just got off work and checked the mailbox. I'm sure it'll work fine, but good grief.

:bang:
 
Hey on another note I'm pretty sure when the 044's were out they only had Mahle cylinders. How does one end up with a new 044 OEM "Stihl" branded cylinder which as far as I am aware have only been on Stihl saws within the last 5 odd years? MS440 maybe but not 044.
Hmmm...
 
My MS440 had a Stihl cylinder and it dates back to at least 2003. The saw came to me straight gassed, si O cleaned the cylinder and installed a Meteor piston. The cylinder definitely did not look as nice as the Mahle cylinders that I've looked at, but it runs strong.
 
My MS440 had a Stihl cylinder and it dates back to at least 2003. The saw came to me straight gassed, si O cleaned the cylinder and installed a Meteor piston. The cylinder definitely did not look as nice as the Mahle cylinders that I've looked at, but it runs strong.


OK, maybe 10 years then :)

But they still weren't on 044's.
 
Hey on another note I'm pretty sure when the 044's were out they only had Mahle cylinders. How does one end up with a new 044 OEM "Stihl" branded cylinder which as far as I am aware have only been on Stihl saws within the last 5 odd years? MS440 maybe but not 044.
Hmmm...

You have to remember that this is the same guy who posts that he can buy "new OEM cylinders, on eBay, for cheaper than you can get those junk, aftermarket ones", every time someone asks about aftermarket cylinder quality.

I am fairly certain he was crowing about this recently in another thread and telling someone how he knew that cylinder was good because of the pictures that were posted in the eBay listing. :dizzy:
 
You have to remember that this is the same guy who posts that he can buy "new OEM cylinders, on eBay, for cheaper than you can get those junk, aftermarket ones", every time someone asks about aftermarket cylinder quality.

I am fairly certain he was crowing about this recently in another thread and telling someone how he knew that cylinder was good because of the pictures that were posted in the eBay listing. :dizzy:

Was that him? Oh golly gosh...
 
Yes, it's been known for some years now that Stihl was putting out some inferior quality cylinders. This seemed to be more of a problem a couple years ago. They now seem to have improved the quality and/or gone back to Mahle in some cases.

On another note, it's funny how less than perfect it's viewed as good quality for AM, but sub-standard for OEM. It seems to me as though there's a dual standard here. Crap is crap, no matter who makes it.
 
On another note, it's funny how less than perfect it's viewed as good quality for AM, but sub-standard for OEM. It seems to me as though there's a dual standard here. Crap is crap, no matter who makes it.

I agree Brad but in context there have been a lot of OEM quality AM kits that have automatically been labelled crap before they've even been looked at.
Crap is crap for sure and there are certainly double standards on both sides of the fence.

Don't you think it sounds a bit dodgey that there is a "Stihl" branded cylinder labelled OEM for an 044? Sounds fishy to me.
 
I agree Matt. That cylinder is probably a couple years old and highly unlikely from the 044 era. I think it was a MS260 cylinder that I actually removed from a new saw and replaced with a new Mahle cylinder. It was pathetic! I'm no respector of brands or color when it comes to quality.
 
FWIW....
I have been rebuilding an 034 in my spare time. Its an early model. The cylinder that I removed from the saw was MAHLE, the used OEM replacement I received was STIHL.

Better port chamfering on the MAHLE.
Nicer shaped lower transfers on the STIHL.
Intake and exhaust ports appear to be identical.
Both castings appear to be great.
 
FWIW....
I have been rebuilding an 034 in my spare time. Its an early model. The cylinder that I removed from the saw was MAHLE, the used OEM replacement I received was STIHL.

Better port chamfering on the MAHLE.
Nicer shaped lower transfers on the STIHL.
Intake and exhaust ports appear to be identical.
Both castings appear to be great.

You got lucky :cheers: Although there is no doubt that no matter how bad the Stihl branded cylinders may look they run well, are reliable, and produce good power.
 
I agree Matt. That cylinder is probably a couple years old and highly unlikely from the 044 era. I think it was a MS260 cylinder that I actually removed from a new saw and replaced with a new Mahle cylinder. It was pathetic! I'm no respector of brands or color when it comes to quality.

Brad were you comparing the outside look of things being this ms260 was a new saw? Just wondering cause even on my new ms261 the outside of the cylinder looks like they had to shave alot of casting marks off the fins or something. I don't know, don't look too bad but not like my other older stihls. Runs like a champ so idk. Thanks.
 
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Brad were you comparing the outside look of things being this ms260 was a new saw? Just wondering cause even on my new ms261 the outside of the cylinder looks like they had to shave alot of casting marks off the fins or something. I don't know, don't look too bad but not like my other older stihls. Runs like a champ so idk. Thanks.

Well maybe i got ahead of myself there... on second look the grey color on the cylinder was just shined up in a few spots there Brad. Alright I'll shut my pie hole. Let the real info keep going...haha.:msp_biggrin:
 
I agree Matt. That cylinder is probably a couple years old and highly unlikely from the 044 era. I think it was a MS260 cylinder that I actually removed from a new saw and replaced with a new Mahle cylinder. It was pathetic! I'm no respector of brands or color when it comes to quality.

I have seen, and likely you also, stihl cast cylinders that are nice. I also seen some not so great mahle cylinders. Bottom line is I never had a stihl cast that under performed or swallowed a ring.
 
Yes, I'm the guy who said he regularly get OEM kits for around $159, and I have gotten several, this one included. Several more available, and for "pro" Stihls (check Ebay, search stihl oem cylinder). This is the first Stihl branded cylinder I've ever bought, the rest have been Mahle. The original box states it's a 044 cylinder. It has no decomp and a 12mm pin. I'm sure it'll work okay. Though the looks of it are disappointing. I'm only going to get the Mahle ones from here out.

See fellas, I'm not biased. I base my opinions on my experiences and observations. In this case, the OEM quality appears to me to suck. The pictures don't do it justice. It almost looks as if the ports were drilled out at an angle. Camera doesn't show the graininess of the cast either. My last AM 039 cylinder looked much better.

Box Label
DSCN0134_zpseae6fc7b.jpg


Intake appears "offset. Photo taken directly in fron of cylinder.
DSCN0135_zpse380aa0d.jpg


Exhaust port appears "offset". Same camera angle.
DSCN0136_zps426672f0.jpg
 

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