Kommandokenny
ArboristSite Lurker
If your gonna have just one saw for any length of time, the 026 is not powerful enough . Great saw for tops and pruning your pot plants, but that's it.
026 vs 028 For First Saw
- Thread starter Courage
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Courage
ArboristSite Lurker
Hey guys, I finally got a saw. It's a MS260. I bought from the original owner. He bought it new 6 years ago. He said it still has the original bar on it. The only reason he was selling it is because he can't start it anymore (he's almost 80). I got it for $275. It came with a bar cover, 2 bottles of 2 stroke oil, 1 bottle of bar oil, 3 pretty good chains, and one usable but not good chain, a stihl chainsaw wrench, and a carb rebuild kit. He had recently had the carb rebuilt, and the air filter, ignition, impulse line, fuel line, and a couple other things that I can't think of right now. It has the original cylinder and piston. The compression is really good. It cuts really good too. My one complaint if you could call it that is that the oiler seems to over lubricate the chain. Is there an adjustment on it for that? Do guys think I got a good deal? Do you guys think that the Ms260 is a good saw? I was really looking for a Ms261 or Husky 346xp (I think that is the model you all kept recommending), but after 4 ½ months of looking every day this one seemed like a good buy. Can't wait to hear if all you experts think I got a good saw for a good price!
Courage
Courage
Looks like clean saw you'll enjoy.
Should be an oiler adjust screw hole on bottom of crankcase. For picture it looks like it has both Hi/Lo for the carb, probably a WT-426.
Might want to pull the muffler and check P/C, open the EPA muffler a bit and retune.
Go to beg for manuals thread and get an IPL and service manual
Great saw. The model before the MS261 and has manual carb.
As noted, oiler is adjustable using screw accessed from the bottom.
If you pull the muffler off, check the spark screen and clean it if necessary.
Learn how to use it safely, sharpen chains, maintain it, etc. Fantastic saw to do all this on. Should last years and years.
In Canada and parts of Europe, you can get a narrow kerf bar/chain that cuts really well. I have this combination on a 261 - and it's great. Article from Sweden (in English): https://www.forestry.com/editorial/test-light-04-pro-chains-stihl/
Enjoy.
As noted, oiler is adjustable using screw accessed from the bottom.
If you pull the muffler off, check the spark screen and clean it if necessary.
Learn how to use it safely, sharpen chains, maintain it, etc. Fantastic saw to do all this on. Should last years and years.
In Canada and parts of Europe, you can get a narrow kerf bar/chain that cuts really well. I have this combination on a 261 - and it's great. Article from Sweden (in English): https://www.forestry.com/editorial/test-light-04-pro-chains-stihl/
Enjoy.
Kommandokenny
ArboristSite Lurker
Kommandokenny
ArboristSite Lurker
Ya I guess we used the 026 at harvest and the 310 for pruning,,,my bad.............. 
Kommandokenny
ArboristSite Lurker
Softwood,,,,,,, and it took long enough........
Rubber duck
ArboristSite Member
The C in stihl 251c chainsaw or any that has the letter c on the end means it has easy start easy to brake recoil if you don't know this because you pull on it like a regular saw just have to pull slow barely pull and if right will fire up on second pull that being choke as first pull they are fun to rebuild parts are easy to find and not a old saw like 2014, to like 2019 or 2021 font quote me on that I mostly rebuild the old,e but gold,e saws The Rubber Duck.
Rubber duck
ArboristSite Member
Any one know were I can get hand chain brake for a stihl 028 wb chainsaw need it to finish a rebuild have found and replaced all most every thing but do only oem original factory stihl parts has to same model and serial number as come with saw I keep them original politically correct gets costly but any thing 35 to 50 years old or older deserves it.
Rubber duck
ArboristSite Member
Looking for hand brake stihl 028 wb.
You need to determine which brake config is on your saw. See
https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/stihl-028-chain-brake-or-no-brake.132057/post-7614383
May not have one. My brain ain't what it used to be, but I'm think most WB's did not.
Rubber duck
ArboristSite Member
My understanding that all 028 come with chain brake but it's not the brake that cross each other man super hard to find I even found new clutch shoes spings drum everthing else oem in sealed package but this chain brake holding up my rebuild I thing it's 1979 it's got the 7 digit serial number on crankcase and they switched to 9 digits in 1980 and also I understand only.made the 028 wb and 028 av wood boss 1979 and 1980 then went to 2 differt super models 4 models longest run of saw stihl has ever done this is the 028 av wood boss finally got it done got new clutch shoes and springs yesterday woo hoo build done now to finish the 028 wb .
Hickahollar
ArboristSite Operative
Well how is the 260 doing? Congrats on your saw. I have a ms250 and ms362. The 250 is about 1 hp less but similar weight. It's been really good for me. If it ever goes I hope they still have a ms261 to sale.
A poulan PPB4218 (42cc/18”bar) and a poulan 5020 (50cc/20”bar) are manufactured by Husqvarna. When searching for repair or replacement parts virtually all the part numbers begin with 530#### etc. I agree with Hickahollar that if properly taken care of the saw will last you many years. I too have a Stihl ms250. Great 45cc saw. Best budget Stihl homeowners saw on the market in my opinion. I had heard but haven’t confirmed that Stihl is phasing out their ms170 and ms180 soon. I’ve had many poulan or poulan pro and craftsman chainsaws ( Husqvarna) and have repaired and sold them off. 99% of the repairs was fuel related ( fuel lines and carburetor replacement or rebuild from ethanol. I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the Stihl 034 in this thread! Great 56cc saw and easily upgradeable to a 61cc 034super or 036. Plenty of OEM parts available online or from your local Stihl dealer as well as aftermarket. The 034 as well as the ms250 both have excellent power to weight ratios. A good pair for large or small jobs
Thread is from 2021.
He can do plenty of damage with that saw with a sharp chain. He stated 12 inch trees.
Keep in mind the China made husqpoulans and the pro Husqvarna saws made in Sweden are very different.
He can do plenty of damage with that saw with a sharp chain. He stated 12 inch trees.
Keep in mind the China made husqpoulans and the pro Husqvarna saws made in Sweden are very different.
Why look for a ms261? If the ms 250 goes south just rebuild it or recondition it for half the cost of new. Parts for the Stihl ms250 can be had almost anywhere. Used or aftermarket or OEM from your local Stihl dealer. Most saw failures that I have encountered are not the fault of the manufacturer. It appears to be more on how it’s used and maintained.
I worked on an old 028 WB for a friend late last year. First thing I noticed was no internal hardware or mechanicals for a chain brake. The hand guard/flag would move back and forth but wasn’t connected to anything except a strong return spring. The friend said the saw never had a chain brake from the day it was purchased.
