Run it or replace it, Stihl 066

[blsnelling]

Like Jim said, skirt wear is your main concern. You can run it until the skirts break and you destroy the cylinder. A piston is too inexpensive to not replace it, as you did.

 

[nstueve]

Is it worth your time to tear the saw down in a year to replace a $40 piston? Not to mention like others have said you might break a skirt and destroy a cylinder. I know 1-2hrs of my time is worth more than $40...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meteor-pist...261261?hash=item2800de4fcd:g:bbAAAOSwpDdVbgjR

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

New piston on the way.

When you're done your saw will be money in the bank since it will have a refreshed top end and will be very sellable if it comes to that.

 

[Firstyear50]

New piston arrived today, almost ready to start reassembling.
One more speed bump though, the low needle seems to be broken off clean while still in the carb. Luckily I have another carb to throw on this saw, but for future use with this one, any pointers to get the needle removed?

 

[JonCraig]

I'd try taking a hacksaw blade & cut the end of the blade into a "V" shape. Use that to try & notch a slot into the stem, then use a tiny slotted screwdriver to remove. Like the ones that come in those precision screwdriver sets or eyeglass repair kits.

I'd try it, and stand a good chance of failing, but I'd try anyway.

Or, if you take out the welsh plugs, does one of them let you see the other end of the screw? Depends on the carb design, of course.