026 Hard Starting

[tapritchett]

I traded for an 026 some time back, and the saw has always been hard to start. Just replaced the carb with a brand new walbro fully adjustable model for the saw. When replacing the Carb I did notice a grounding wire pinched between the carb and housing. Saw is still hard to start usually have to use carb cleaner to help her along.

Ordered a compression tester and about the best numbers I am seeing is 105-110 psi. Guessing the compression is a bit low, time for a new piston and cylinder?? Other thoughts??? Much appreciated.

 

[ucm931]

Very low. Pull muffler and plug, look at condition of piston, cylinder, and ring to start. MAY just need ring, may need more.
Never use carb cleaner, brake cleaner, ether, etc. to start a two cycle. It removes the oil from the internals and bearings. Hopefully your crank bearings aren't shot. Pour a little mix down the carb or through the spark plug hole if needed.

My .02

 

[blacksmith]

I agree with @ucm931 . Also another thing to look at is the choke flap on the air filter. Sometimes it doesn't full close. You have to pop the air filter apart heat and tweak the choke flap lever . A heat gun works but be careful!

 

[tapritchett]

Thanks

 

[tapritchett]

Whos piston n cylinder kit would you get??

 

[blacksmith]

If you're gonna go aftermarket, I believe that the Meteor kit is pretty decent. Check with @Definitive Dave he may have some in stock!

 

[stihl_head1982]

Whos piston n cylinder kit would you get??

If your cylinder is scored (which we are not that far in this conversation yet) it will likely clean up.
You should attempt to clean it -- if it is. You can buy an OEM piston for a reasonable price. Or Meteor makes a high quality replacement for these saws.
I've built more of these saws than any other. If this were my saw -- that's the route I would take. The low compression may mean you have a internal problem
with the cylinder, or your tester is not working properly.

 

[dmb2613]

plenty of used oem stuff out there I would go with an oem piston over the meteor , if you get a ms260 jug it will be cheaper on a new piston they are plenty full on ebay about 30 bucks

 

[Termitebuffet]

Allot of times the filter (that contains the choke) and the linkage were not meshed properly, basically filter in wrong ...not letting choke lever engage choke...

Sent from a baked potato...

 

[tapritchett]

Piston and cylinder looked perfect, go figure?

 

[RI Chevy]

Maybe a bad coil or plug/wire?

 

[stihl_head1982]

Probably time to go through a process of elimination as to why the saw is having the problem.
Check the spark, check the fuel system etc. If the compression is as low as you stated there is certainly a reason, or the gauge may be faulty.

 

[RI Chevy]

If everything looked good inside and I had compression reading that low, I'd at least put new rings in. Boost compression back up to 160, 170 or so.
Saw should still start though.
I'd also check the start/stop switch wires, etc. I've seen a few that come loose and cause issues.

 

[tapritchett]

Installing a new meteor piston and cylinder kit, will update after install

 

[tapritchett]

Piston hitting cylinder at TDC. Installed new meteor piston and cylinder. Tried to delete the base gasket piston locking up at TDC. backed off fasteners slipped some gasket under the cylinder, re snugged two fasteners. Piston not hitting, guess the gasket delete wont work.
Any thoughts on where to get a gasket quick. What I have found is two weeks out.

 

[av8or3]

Piston hitting cylinder at TDC. Installed new meteor piston and cylinder. Tried to delete the base gasket piston locking up at TDC. backed off fasteners slipped some gasket under the cylinder, re snugged two fasteners. Piston not hitting, guess the gasket delete wont work.
Any thoughts on where to get a gasket quick. What I have found is two weeks out.

Make one.

 

[stihl_head1982]

Piston hitting cylinder at TDC. Installed new meteor piston and cylinder. Tried to delete the base gasket piston locking up at TDC. backed off fasteners slipped some gasket under the cylinder, re snugged two fasteners. Piston not hitting, guess the gasket delete wont work.
Any thoughts on where to get a gasket quick. What I have found is two weeks out.

The 026's usually don't have enough space in the squish for a gasket delete. I would suggest you try the "thin gasket". I don't have the part number before me, but Stihl makes two different gaskets for this saw.
The thin one has always worked well for me. Its hard to say if the meteor kit will have the same numbers though -- If it were me I'd get the OEM gasket (my preference, not a law for everyone else).

Check out Ebay item # 391116153786

I really feel like you can get one quicker than 2 weeks. But I could be mistaken.

 

[stihl_head1982]

Did you get this saw running?