Husqvarna 268 XP (Special) restoration

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Never seen the special sticker on older or newer. Cool to see.

Info we have put together on 268xp 268 etc. Nothing on the special though. Might pick up some info I dont see here. https://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/husqvarna/husqvarna-268/

 

[Jacob J.]

I have two NOS 268 Special decals...like the one on your top cover. You're welcome to them if you want them.

 

[mikey78]

Hello SawTroll,
I first wanna thank you for being so kind for sharing with me/us your knowledge : thankyou very much !!!
Now let's try to go forward .
The following picture shows two top covers first one is from 1990 diagram, second one is from 1991 diagram :



As you can see my saw (and in this thing it is not alone as you can see from the other example saws I've posted) has a kind of hybrid cover :
both decals ("XP" and "Special") are present in a new configuration . . . what was happening in those two years ?

Can we reasonably say that my 268 XP ported from 1990 had the cover replaced soon after it was built with the newer 268 Special cover ?
If things are so, can we also say that Husqvarna used for some of its 268 Special some older XP covers to which the factory just added the new "Special" decal in a new position ?

Hope my thoughts were clear enough and that language differences did not create a mess

 

[mikey78]

Just found another 268 with XP and Special togheter :

 

[Cantdog]

That number indicates 1990 week 35, so if everything internal is original it means it is the more powerful closed port xp version. The open port version simply wasn't made that early (it appeared in (late) 1991, at the same time as the 272xp replaced the 268xp as the top model in that model family).
The original top cover likely is a slightly later replacement though, as the xp saws weren't called "Special" before what mentioned above happened in (late) 1991, according to the "official" story.

Just to make that clear; The 268xp Special (some times just referred to as the 268 Special) is technically exactly the same saw as a late production 268xp (without the "Special" designation). The only difference is the decals on the plastic covers.
Early 268xp saws had a slightly different (but same size) carb, and maybe a few other minor differences.

There we go...thanks Niko...

 

[Cantdog]

I think you're right in that they were probably using up all the old stock XP covers with the XP sticker already installed. Also , when they designate a certain year it doesn't mean that any and all changes went into production on the first day of that year......changes are generally phased in as production allows. Not like autos.

 

[SawTroll]

Hello SawTroll,
I first wanna thank you for being so kind for sharing with me/us your knowledge : thankyou very much !!!
Now let's try to go forward .
The following picture shows two top covers first one is from 1990 diagram, second one is from 1991 diagram :
View attachment 624803


As you can see my saw (and in this thing it is not alone as you can see from the other example saws I've posted) has a kind of hybrid cover :
both decals ("XP" and "Special") are present in a new configuration . . . what was happening in those two years ?

Can we reasonably say that my 268 XP ported from 1990 had the cover replaced soon after it was built with the newer 268 Special cover ?
If things are so, can we also say that Husqvarna used for some of its 268 Special some older XP covers to which the factory just added the new "Special" decal in a new position ?

Hope my thoughts were clear enough and that language differences did not create a mess

Just found another 268 with XP and Special togheter :

As far as I know, many (possibly most) of the "Specials" also said "xp" on them somewhere, so that is not odd at all. Using up 268xp specific parts after basically replacing the model with the 272xp is what I believe was the main reason for making the 268 Special.

Also, Husky didn't always do exactly as the part lists said on production saws, so they may well have started putting "Special" decals on production saws at a time different from the dating of the IPL that first mentioned them (February 1991). It is possible that the saw left the factory with the Special decal already in 1990 week 35, but I don't find it particularly likely.

 

[SawTroll]

I'm adding some more pictures so that you can fully understand how disturbing were saw conditions :
View attachment 624325

......

Is the oil tank leaking where the case halves are meeting, at the top of the tank? If so it is no wonder that there were a lot of burned oil under the muffler....

 

[cuttinupferalivin]

Yes I do have many specific questions

I want to "restore" this saw to its pristine conditions or, at least, as close as I can .
I've already spotted some minor issues/missing parts but, because I've a limited experience in both engine and chainsaws,
to go further I need some chainsaw diagrams (I mean those drawings with all the parts)
so that I can understand what is what, where it is located on the saw and how to disassemble it ...
In order to do that I need to know the year of production of the saw, so that I can be sure about the model,
and I can pick the right diagram up !!!
To help you guys identifing the saw I'm posting some more pictures:
View attachment 624335

View attachment 624336

View attachment 624337

Best place to go is e-replacement parts...just Google husqvarna 268 parts list and go to the site...they have a complete breakdown of the saw in a format that is easy to research and understand...priceless, but free, for what you are doing...

 

[mikey78]

Hello guys ,
Sorry for being away during the week-end . . . I will try to make up for lost time !!!
First of all I wanna thank Jacob J. for offering me those decals but being the saw from 1990 I don't need them,
thankyou anyway !!!

I also wanna thank saw troll for helping me with saw dating !!!
(P.S. Luckily after a triple check I can say that the oil tank is not leaking )

 

[mikey78]

I've started looking at the 1990 Diagram and found some parts that are missing on my chainsaw :






Do you have any idea where (on the web) I can order them ?
I have seen some spare parts kit on Aliexpress are they any good ?
P.S. I also miss the gasket between muffler and cylinder ...

 

[Marshy]

I've started looking at the 1990 Diagram and found some parts that are missing on my chainsaw :

View attachment 625757

View attachment 625758

View attachment 625759
Do you have any idea where (on the web) I can order them ?
I have seen some spare parts kit on Aliexpress are they any good ?
P.S. I also miss the gasket between muffler and cylinder ...

Some times e-bay is the easiest for these things. You will probably have a hard time getting the decades. I know a guy on eBay who makes them but they are not the same quality as OEM. They look great but they just won't last as long in her regular saw use.

The muffler gasket is most important from a functionality point.

I'm hesitant to give you any recommendations to buy parts because I haven't ordered from many sites so I have little first hand experience with them. You can try www.partstree.com

 

[mikey78]

Hi Marshy thanks for replying,
I've searched the web for parts and have to say that e-bay will probably be my best option

While I look for the best deal ,
I've a few more questions on the saw from a functional point of view !!!


In the above drawing (bottom ), I see 2 chain plates :
My chainsaw only came with one plate on the crankcase side,
is that wrong ? Am I missing a second chain plate on the chain brake assembly ?
Hope I was clear

Muffler screen : what purpose does the it serve ?
In what way does it affect (If it does) the saw performances ?

 

[mikey78]

One more issue :



Looks like at some point in its life the oil tank cap has been modified with a diy valve ...
This make me think that there has been a problem with the oil tank vent !!!



Now, if in the above drawing I have identified the oil tank vent, how do I access it to check for its conditions ?

Thanks for guideing me through this operation !!!

 

[Cantdog]

That's not the oil tank vent, circled in red.....it's the fuel tank vent.

 

[mikey78]

Thankyou for helping ...
But where is the oil tank vent ?

What about chain guide plates and muffler spark arrestor ?

 

[happysaws]

The spark arrestor will dampen the saw's performance. So will the baffle. More air flow is better. If I were you, I'd take both out.

 

[Sepia]

Oil tank vent is part number 501-83-93-01. It is a tube that inserts into a hole in the face of the bar attachment pad - between the bar studs. If you look at your saw where the bar attaches, you will see a small hole in that area - that is your oil tank vent.

 

[SawTroll]

The spark arrestor will dampen the saw's performance. So will the baffle. More air flow is better. If I were you, I'd take both out.

I agree, but he should be aware that spark arrestors are mandatory in parts of the US (and maybe somewhere else as well).

If it is used, the operator needs to make sure it is clean - and change the screen if it is hard to get clean.

Removing the spark arrestor used to be the first thing I did with a new saw, as they aren't mandatory (and mostly not needed) here.

 

[happysaws]

I agree, but he should be aware that spark arrestors are mandatory in parts of the US (and maybe somewhere else as well).

If it is used, the operator needs to make sure it is clean - and change the screen if it is hard to get clean.

Removing the spark arrestor used to be the first thing I did with a new saw, as they aren't mandatory (and mostly not needed) here.

Good point. It's also not mandatory for a saw to have a spark arrestor where I live, so I have just always taken them out.