266 xp acting up

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Boredrob

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20191008_083314.jpg 20191008_083355.jpg
I know, pics or it didn't happen so I'll get that out of the way.
As you can see I have a 266 xp that was acquired by my dad, a career logger. He got this saw (free I think) and planned to use it for a firewood saw, the PO purchased it new and said it would run great a day then not run for the next few so he tossed in a corner where it sat until lately. The condition lends credence to the story. Well, now many years later dad got it and said the same thing. Dad changed the carb, fuel line, filter, plug.... and maybe some other small things and it still does the same.
I ran it yesterday half a tank and it ran fine. Idles fine runs at any angle. Starts when hot. They say when it acts up that it acts like a carb issue. Wont idle wont tach up. Hard to start, but it will start. The problem can start warm or cold, not necessarily any pattern to it. I will run the saw and try to get a better idea of what the issue may be, but is there anything to check based on symptoms or maybe on this particular model or generation of saw, which is far older than I'm familiar with.
Also I'll disclose that while I'm a 20 year industrial machinery specialist, and a car restorer and atv mechanic in my spare time, my 2 cycle knowledge is limited at best. I have a tecate 250 and had a banshee and I've fixed a dirt bike or two but that's about it.
 
Well, I couldn't stand it and it was raining so I took it apart. The new carb gasket doesn't cover the whole impulse hole slot. So it had a little dust in it. I also have the tank off. I'm going to stop at the dealer and see if they have a fuel tank vent and a gasket. If not I'll order them.

The parts were oem except the carb. Im going to put the oem carb back on. The coil is original. The whole saw looks new really.

One question. When I pulled the fuel line from the carb there was a good but of pressure. Gas came out for 5 or 6 seconds. Is that normal?
 
That carb gasket is a well known problem for these saws including some Jonsereds, it will not allow the carb to function correctly and few carb rebuild kits contain the correct gasket for the 266.+ A carb that has set for years may not function correctly either, the rubber bits inside them go hard over time.
 
2 piece coils usually fail in short order.
You're saw seems carb issue's most likely.
Fuel line's on those are easiest to change from inside
The tank out pull it up the barbs will seat.
Imho sone of the best saws ever made.
I have 7 266/268/272
Ported they are exceptional.
 
View attachment 764377 View attachment 764378
I know, pics or it didn't happen so I'll get that out of the way.
As you can see I have a 266 xp that was acquired by my dad, a career logger. He got this saw (free I think) and planned to use it for a firewood saw, the PO purchased it new and said it would run great a day then not run for the next few so he tossed in a corner where it sat until lately. The condition lends credence to the story. Well, now many years later dad got it and said the same thing. Dad changed the carb, fuel line, filter, plug.... and maybe some other small things and it still does the same.
I ran it yesterday half a tank and it ran fine. Idles fine runs at any angle. Starts when hot. They say when it acts up that it acts like a carb issue. Wont idle wont tach up. Hard to start, but it will start. The problem can start warm or cold, not necessarily any pattern to it. I will run the saw and try to get a better idea of what the issue may be, but is there anything to check based on symptoms or maybe on this particular model or generation of saw, which is far older than I'm familiar with.
Also I'll disclose that while I'm a 20 year industrial machinery specialist, and a car restorer and atv mechanic in my spare time, my 2 cycle knowledge is limited at best. I have a tecate 250 and had a banshee and I've fixed a dirt bike or two but that's about it.
That's a fine looking saw
Low hour's
Mine wear 24" bar's.
 
Most of ours are much later models. We have a whole bunch of 372s and always preferred them. Various years. Only 1 of those is an x-torq. We do have a 288 that no one liked that been a donor saw. But yeah that 266 looks like it has very few hours. Everyone who has used it and had issues always says "I see why it looks so good". I'm going to get him a gasket and a fuel tank vent since i already have it all apart. Then go from there. I can easily fix the new gasket issue. But that won't fix whatever the original issue was. Maybe I can get it to duplicate the issue

I didn't measure but I think this one had a 24 inch bar too. Looked like the same length as my 72 setting beside it.
 
The tank vents used to be a problem back when we were selling them new. The Quebecois we were dealing with called them "pitot tubes" . Pulling and replacing them cured a lot of problems similar to what you describe. No clue what the issue was. The 266 was one of the best saws Husky ever made IMO.
 
again that's a real nice looking saw...getting harder to find a brake flag like that not all bent up..........y might look for a odd break in the small wires from the charging coil to the ignition coil....I also believe there is a plastic pad here some connection come together...could be fuel vent but ya could ck that by putting a vac test on line to carb and ck it out....basically the fuel pup has to be able to overcome the tank vent...If a problem from new it seems could be assembly defect as to connections ignition. Run it with out the kill switch connected...

good luck
 
Funny you mention the brake, I was afraid it would complicate taking the side plate off, but it is a pretty non- invasive design. Not bad at all. That part's Unlike any other saw we have but most of the saw is pretty similar, it's easy to see the lineage and evolution of the husky. We do have a couple old saws with no brake and manual oil though.


No local dealer had the vent (nor the carb gasket) in stock but they said both were still available through husqvarna. I found a carb gasket and put the oem tillotson back on it. I still have the saw apart waiting on the vent which is coming USPS. I checked the vent and could pull up to 25 in of pressure then it would leak down. So it is definately not right. Could be from setting full of crap for 30 years though and not the original issue but I'll try it and see. Like I said, I've not actually even seen the saw act up yet. 20191008_100506.jpg
I take pictures of most every step of disassembly, something I picked up on machinery. The wiring looks ok and I couldn't find a fault with a multi meter while wiggling wires either. It Could be a heat induced wiring issue though. Unhooking the switch made no difference. That's the first thing dad does. For whatever reason he unhooks most of them at the first sputter and just chokes them to cut them off. Just this week I was running his 372 and when I hit the switch I knew exactly why it didn't die without really having to think about it. He is a great old school mechanic but He has a very unhealthy distrust of anything electronic.
 
The tank vent will leak down very slowly, it only has to let in air at a slow rate to replace the fuel being drawn out, if it was letting air in rapid like the fuel would also leak out at that same rate. I have had a few 266`s with gummed up vent discs so it wouldn`t hurt to replace them but don`t expect them to breathe freely, just slowly.
 
I miss my 266.... it appears you probably found the problem with the carb. Take a close look at the ignition as well. Somethings the connection from the wire to the coil comes out on those or breaks. I had to replace mine before. Also check the length of the wire and see if there are any hot spots along the way where the cable came in contact with the cylinder and may have shorting out the odd time. Sounds like a stretch but check it anyhow. I had that problem on a 371 when she was showing the same symptoms.

Beauty saw!
 
The part I think was off was the 25 in/hg. From what I read it is supposed to open around 5. No idea though just going by specs. I'd be surprised if its not fuel related. It ran well the short while I used it. My tank vent has left MD according to the tracking number. So it will be next week before I get to run it and see what the symptoms really are. I do have a 288 parts saw and from what I've read the vent is the same. There is a good chance I'll get impatient and steal the vent and try it out Friday if it dont rain.

Any idea if the coil is the same on the 288?
 
The part I think was off was the 25 in/hg. From what I read it is supposed to open around 5. No idea though just going by specs. I'd be surprised if its not fuel related. It ran well the short while I used it. My tank vent has left MD according to the tracking number. So it will be next week before I get to run it and see what the symptoms really are. I do have a 288 parts saw and from what I've read the vent is the same. There is a good chance I'll get impatient and steal the vent and try it out Friday if it dont rain.

Any idea if the coil is the same on the 288?
Coil is completely different on the 288.
 
Coil is completely different on the 288.

Awesome. Thanks
I didn't know. The 288 has been a donor saw for years. Not a lot left but I didnt remember what the coil looked like, or even if it was already gone (if it fit the 272s I'd bet its gone). I also read that the carb is different.
 
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