Stihl 262 vs 026

[livemusic]

I see a lot of praise for the 261. What's it got over an old 026? Serious question, curious how they stack up. I also see those who LOVE m-tronic and those who don't. If I were to buy a 261, I might would bet m-tronic to try it out.

Also, same question above, but add woods porting / modding into the mix. A ported 261 vs ported 026. TIA!

 

[Backtroller]

Close to the same weight if you are comparing the 261v2. Physically the 261 is larger. 026/260 has less expensive parts. Mtronic is nice in the fact that the tune is always right. 261 has better AV. I like the air filters better on the261. I think that the 026/260 is not impressive stock. It needs a muffler mod and timing advance to wake up. They are really choked up, but modding them is easy. 026/260 models are getting up there in age. It’s getting harder to find clean examples.

I found some pictures
My 026 Mofo likes to run well into the 15k range. Mtronic ends the party earlier.

Just get a 462.... it’s just a hair larger lol

 

[sawmikaze]

I can't think of a reason to buy an 026 instead of a 261 for working purposes.

 

[460 magnum]

Good thinking

 

[TreeLife]

I can't think of a reason to buy an 026 instead of a 261 for working purposes.

Yep

 

[Backtroller]

I can't think of a reason to buy an 026 instead of a 261 for working purposes.

Exactly. If I had to pick one to use to daily it would be the 261.

I’d have zero interest using a stock 026/260. The Mofo is fun to play with but I wouldn’t want to use it everyday.....I cut daily, but you could. It’s that friendly.

 

[deye223]

Just the air filter alone would make me pick a 261 over a 260 ......

 

[RI Chevy]

Nothing wrong with either. For starters 026 has 44mm jug, 261 has 44.7mm jug.
261 does run stronger and faster. I have both. I like both. I use both.
I get longer run times from 026.

 

[Catman]

I don’t know about the 261 but the Husky 550 Mk2 is a Winner in my book!

 

[RI Chevy]

Ding, ding! Here we go...

 

[huskyboy]

What Ryan said... I agree. 261 is a better worksaw than a 026.

 

[RI Chevy]

Until something goes wrong... Lol

 

[huskyboy]

Until something goes wrong... Lol

Then buy a 346xp

 

[RI Chevy]

Nope... 026!!!

 

[MustangMike]

I have both a ported 026 and a ported 261 Ver II M Tronic.

The 261 is stronger and smoother, hands down better.

I run an 18" bar w/ 3/8 on mine. You start limbing with it, and end up using it for a lot of your smaller bucking also. Great little saw.

 

[drf256]

40 years of technology added to the design, the 261 is the more comfortable saw to use.

The design is more powerful. The AV is better.

Where I find the 261 to fail is in size. It’s big, if not bigger than an 036. Both versions are heavier than an 026, and the V1 is nearly as heavy as an 036.

Another fail is the 261 fuel tank size. Same as an auto, they build the tanks for a certain amount of mileage expected from an engine. Because the strato design is more efficient, the tank is very small on the 261. Once you get it ported, you’ll find yourself filling up quite often.

I don’t cut wood all day though. Ryan probably cuts more wood in an hour than I do in a year, even with my annoyingly long test videos.

Basically, what would you rather drive all day? A 69 Chevelle or a 2019 Camaro? Same type of deal.

But, when the MT starts to act up-which is rare, you’ll be looking for that 026 and a BFH to smash the 261.

 

[drf256]

Nothing wrong with either. For starters 026 has 44mm jug, 261 has 44.7mm jug.
261 does run stronger and faster. I have both. I like both. I use both.
I get longer run times from 026.

You seem to use your 026 more than your 261, both ported by the same hack.

Can you expand upon why?

 

[sawmikaze]

40 years of technology added to the design, the 261 is the more comfortable saw to use.

The design is more powerful. The AV is better.

Where I find the 261 to fail is in size. It’s big, if not bigger than an 036. Both versions are heavier than an 026, and the V1 is nearly as heavy as an 036.

Another fail is the 261 fuel tank size. Same as an auto, they build the tanks for a certain amount of mileage expected from an engine. Because the strato design is more efficient, the tank is very small on the 261. Once you get it ported, you’ll find yourself filling up quite often.

I don’t cut wood all day though. Ryan probably cuts more wood in an hour than I do in a year, even with my annoyingly long test videos.

Basically, what would you rather drive all day? A 69 Chevelle or a 2019 Camaro? Same type of deal.

But, when the MT starts to act up-which is rare, you’ll be looking for that 026 and a BFH to smash the 261.

I'm nowhere near the brain you are when it comes to the mechanical side of these things. I'm just a dumb wood tick.

But I swear out of the current M-oronic offerings the 261 has the least amount of troubles. Care to share why you think that is ?

I use 201s and 661s that are on their 3rd and 4th solenoids in a fairly short amount of time in chainsaw years. Our 261 probably makes more cuts and gets used the most and it's on it's 2nd solenoid, the 661 getting used the least...I don't understand.

And I still want a 360 you ported with a 25" bar and a wrap handle for chunkin down big pine trees.

 

[drf256]

I'm nowhere near the brain you are when it comes to the mechanical side of these things. I'm just a dumb wood tick.

But I swear out of the current M-oronic offerings the 261 has the least amount of troubles. Care to share why you think that is ?

I use 201s and 661s that are on their 3rd and 4th solenoids in a fairly short amount of time in chainsaw years. Our 261 probably makes more cuts and gets used the most and it's on it's 2nd solenoid, the 661 getting used the least...I don't understand.

And I still want a 360 you ported with a 25" bar and a wrap handle for chunkin down big pine trees.

The 360 isnt a problem.

Honestly, no idea why the 261 is more trouble free. Havent been inside the others to even postulate why.

I just know how great they are, until they are not. Then you are stuck with that problem that leaves you with little recourse except to get raped at a dealer or start replacing parts.

 

[MustangMike]

Dr Al builds a mean 360, and I love that it has a decomp!!! I wish the 026 had one (it has a lot of compression).