traded a stihl ms 290 for stihl 026

[jake wells]

Your 290 will outcut it in its current state. Hope you're not disappointed.

Like Joe said, it's a US made 026.

All you need to do is open the muffler, add a wt194 and metal air filter, and advance the timing a bit and that saw will be a different animal.

now if im looking at the flywheel in front of me would i remove key material from the left side of the key or right?

 

[dall]

remove on the right side
closest to the coil when key at 12 oclock position

 

[jake wells]

how much key should i remove and i don't own a micrometer.

 

[drf256]

.020-.025

Get a cheap caliper

 

[jake wells]

harbor fraught is 40 miles away so when i get some time i will go get one.

 

[jake wells]

compression is 160 according to my gauge so the saw seems to be healthy.

 

[RI Chevy]

If you have a spark plug gapper, you may be able to use that.

 

[jake wells]

the way this looks i can take a single cut file and do two swipes and be done.

 

[Canadian farm boy]

Have you got any feeler gauges Jake?

 

[jake wells]

Have you got any feeler gauges Jake?

somewhere buried in the garage do these use woodruff or just plain square keys?

 

[dall]

woodruff

 

[jake wells]

well that makes it easier i can file it while on the crank.

 

[dall]

its a tight area may want to use vise grips in a vise

 

[jake wells]

well darn.

 

[Cut4fun]

I'd trade a 029 for a 026 all day. Not for the in cut. But for the weight alone of a good trim saw, small wood saw.

 

[Cut4fun]

Then again I would take my poulan over the 026.

New to me saw. Took on trade.

 

[Backtroller]

Took .020 the key, big muffler mod with an extra port with 1/8" stainless mesh, took a nylon airfilter, totally hogged it out and put stainless 100 or 150 micron filter (can't remember) over on both sides . This one had the fixed H it was replaced with a W194.

It is a totally different saw now. I always liked running it but now it is much better. However, with my ported 421 and 5100s I don't use this one too much. When I get this ported that may change.

 

[Rob Stafari]

Took .020 the key, big muffler mod with an extra port with 1/8" stainless mesh, took a nylon airfilter, totally hogged it out and put stainless 100 or 150 micron filter (can't remember) over on both sides . This one had the fixed H it was replaced with a W194.

It is a totally different saw now. I always liked running it but now it is much better. However, with my ported 421 and 5100s I don't use this one too much. When I get this ported that may change. View attachment 32260 View attachment 32257 View attachment 32258 View attachment 32259 View attachment 32256

Might I ask what you adhered your stainless mesh to filter body with?

 

[Windthrown]

The 026 is the far better saw. I do not know anyone that would take a 290 for one. I have owed a lot of both types (310s mostly, but an 029 and a couple of 290s). I still have a pair of 026 saws. You cannot 'port' a clammy 290 much, whereas you can port the holy crap out of an 026 in 12 different ways. They will absolutely scream even with mild porting. Then put a large mount bar low profile/Picco B&C on it, and you will spank a low revving, vibration prone and bulky 290.

As others have said here, that is a later model 026 made in VA Beach with a carbide TH, plastic starter cover, larger AF and obviously fixed jet carb. If you port it in any way, you HAVE to put a tuneable Walbro 22 or 194 on it. O/w you will run it lean and burn it up in a hurry.

Now with that all said, I am going out to use my 026/260 hybrid saw to dice up a few pines that I dropped here the other day. Light and nimble, and a lot of fun to use.

 

[Backtroller]

Might I ask what you adhered your stainless mesh to filter body with?

I'd try Mercury Adhesives M5T. It's hobby super glue. It's has and nitro fuel safe. Bikemike told me about it.