STIHL MS 261 no compression

Local guy has a Stihl MS261 for sale. Says it has no compression and doesn’t run. Comes with 20” bar and 3 chains (2 new). Asking $125.

What’s it worth?

What’s it cost to rebuild?

 

I buy them at $50 from a tree service in that condition. Several times it has been due to them torquing the sparkplugs to the point of stripping. Save a plug works pretty good. I'd be hesitant over 75, I've seen scorched wrist pin and main bearings in a couple.

 

Would probably be ok if the saw is in ok condition. If its rough, hit him a little low.
2 chains are worth $40

 

I would at least price a new piston rings and a cylinder. Then see if it is worth 125.00. It could be something more wrong or something less but at least it gives you starting point and a bargaining tool. And do not forget your time to do all the work.

A lot of shops would probably charge more than the saw is worth.

 

Where’s the best place to find the parts? This is all new to me.

 

Calling dall , huskihl , Armbru84 & a few others I can't think of right now. These guys will point you in the right direction.

 

i get my parts from definitive dave he has or can get oem and aftermarket parts

 

have you taken cylinder off or even the muffler off ?

 

can you get us pictures if you do buy it
i havent had to rebuild a 261 yet but id like to because i have a couple of them but i have rebuilt over 50 usually 150 to 200 bucks to rebuild with new bearings gaskets seals hoses and piston but being new some of that stuff may not be needed and possible it was straight gassed which would be a new piston and see if can clean the cylinder

 

I was looking at parts and then put the kids to bed and someone else bought it. There will be another one sometime.

 

Is he a member on here?

 

yes he is
he sells on ebay and has his own webstore Chainsaw Conservation Components

 

definitive dave

I buy a lot of things from him also. Great guy.

 

$125 is a crapshoot. Sometimes free is a crapshoot, depending on what it needs. If it needed both a piston and cylinder, and bearings, you might into it for more than it's worth, even if doing the work yourself. Some of the 261's were notorious for wearing out the crank at the clutch drum bearing also.

So it might have been a good deal if it didn't need much, but it's really hard to say without giving it a once-over

 

I’m not losing any sleep over it. I probably need to figure out what to look for and how to actually rebuild before I take a $125 gamble on one anyway.

 

I actually prefer buying a cheap saw that's advertised as scored. 9 times out of 10 the cylinder can be saved and all I'll need is a piston. Unless it had bad bearings, which in turn wore out the seals

 

same here
but some people dont know what scoring is
i bought a 460 that was told low compression but fuel tank was filled with bar oil and the decomp was pushed in
i take chances and if would take more than saw is worth it becomes a parts saw

 

I bought a Craftsman 4218 for $20...guy said the chain was locked up...I bet you guys can figure out what was "wrong"

 

lol chain brake or a dry overtightened chain but id say the first guess is best

 

Yup...it was fixed before I got to my car! I didn't feel bad either because I saw what was wrong right away, asked him if he had looked at it at all, he said he didn't care, just wanted rid of it...yes sir!