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Best bar/chain for Stihl 026

livemusic

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I bought a used clean 026 that appears to be in great shape and it runs great but it doesn't have a bar/chain, so, I have not cut with it. Anyone have an opinion on bar/chain? Would prefer to keep it 3/8 and .050 but am open to anything that would work good. I have a 362 with a 20" bar, so, don't really need something long. The previous owner thinks the saw is stock. It doesn't look like it was used an awful lot. I am open to doing mods some day but would like to see how it cuts as is and then I could investigate what, if anything, to do.
 

Deets066

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There is no one best bar, it’s whats best for you. Some will say .325 some will say picco, but if you want shorter than a 20” and 3/8 .050 to keep it simple. Then that’s just what I’d do. Keep it good and sharp is the biggest thing.
 

CR888

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16" 3/8-.325 063 solid RSN bar. A number of good brands out there.
 

Ryan Browne

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I've spent a decent amount of time with both a 16" 3/8 bar and 16" .325 on an 026. For limbing and otherwise messing with small branches, I'd take the .325. For firewood or to keep everything the same, I would be happy to run 3/8.
 

Bigmac

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I like mine with 16” bars 3/8, the Stihl laminated bar is fairly light. We have more “soft” wood over here, but I like the short bar. Great little saws!
 

NCPT

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Run with that slap a 16" .325 on it.
If you are really tall and Don't like to bend your knees get a .325 20" 81dl Farm boss bar that came on all those 290s.
Agreed, I would go with .325 and a 16" bar.
 

livemusic

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Run with that slap a 16" .325 on it.
If you are really tall and Don't like to bend your knees get a .325 20" 81dl Farm boss bar that came on all those 290s.

Yes, I am 6'2". Are you saying that the 290 Farm Boss had a 'special' 20" bar? Is it lighter than a regular 20" bar? I always wondered how a ms290 could justify having a 20" bar.
 

Tpagel

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Yes, I am 6'2". Are you saying that the 290 Farm Boss had a 'special' 20" bar? Is it lighter than a regular 20" bar? I always wondered how a ms290 could justify having a 20" bar.
Not lighter the same.

I heard on the internet the stencil of the guy in the hat and saying Farm Boss on the bar makes makes your saw 25% faster.

[emoji16]
 

Duane(Pa)

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Stay with.325 if the sprocket is in good condition. I like 16 or 18”

Now the bigger question... how many adjustment screws on the carburetor? If there are three, one idle, two mixture, you can do an easy muffler mod and pick up some powa! Or, at the very least, make a racket. You have to be able to re-tune the carb. though. Some only had one mixture screw. That would be a no go for the muffler mod. Bad ass little saw, I have four of them, and brain damage...
 
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Wood Doctor

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Stay with.325 if the sprocket is in good condition. I like 16 or 18”

Now the bigger question... how many adjustment screws on the carburetor? If there are three, one idle, two mixture, you can do an easy muffler mod and pick up some powa! Or, at the very least, make a racket. You have to be able to re-tune the carb. though. Some only had one mixture screw. That would be a no go for the muffler mod. Bad ass little saw, I have four of them, and brain damage...
+1. I have two Stihl 026 PRO's and love them both. One backs up the other, but I have never had to back them up. They both always start, always run well, and never fail. I suppose I could replace them both for $1,200 but that seems a bit pointless to me.
 

Bigmac

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Not lighter the same.

I heard on the internet the stencil of the guy in the hat and saying Farm Boss on the bar makes makes your saw 25% faster.

[emoji16]
That’s not true, needs to be an authentic farm boss bar! Lol a stencil doesn’t cut it, the factory paint is like Teflon!! Lol
 

livemusic

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Stay with.325 if the sprocket is in good condition. I like 16 or 18”

Now the bigger question... how many adjustment screws on the carburetor? If there are three, one idle, two mixture, you can do an easy muffler mod and pick up some powa! Or, at the very least, make a racket. You have to be able to re-tune the carb. though. Some only had one mixture screw. That would be a no go for the muffler mod. Bad ass little saw, I have four of them, and brain damage...

Would you happen to know what the latest thinking is on how to do the muffler mod? I have high, low and LA screws.
 

Backtroller

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I copied mine with how Al does (did, it’s been a few years now) them. It looks like it would be terribly loud but it’s not too bad.

However, this is ported. I had the front cover opened up slightly less when it was just advanced and had the extra outlet. It did pick up from that too.

This was a 026 Pro originally was a fixed H. Now a WT-194 ACF5C508-DEE2-4553-A841-2249C42F1D08.jpeg7F16C2F4-23CC-49D2-8798-BBBF43AFEF8D.jpeg86815A57-2DB2-4CE1-9D35-B847CB06F072.jpeg
 

Duane(Pa)

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Would you happen to know what the latest thinking is on how to do the muffler mod? I have high, low and LA screws.
The muffler cover is held on by the two bottom screws. If you take it off, you will see obvious restrictions. You can open it up a fair amount and still keep the factory screen in place. It will take more fuel on the H screw. This means turning it counter clockwise. If it runs too lean, it will get hot.
 

thedude74

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I've spent a decent amount of time with both a 16" 3/8 bar and 16" .325 on an 026. For limbing and otherwise messing with small branches, I'd take the .325. For firewood or to keep everything the same, I would be happy to run 3/8.

^^^^
This , in my humble opinion, is good advice.

Also almost most every saw I own has a muffler mod. Easy to do, most saws gain power, some quite a bit. Not to mention getting heat out of the cylinder more efficiently.
 
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