New Saw: Stihl 026

Thanks! From my limited run time with the saw, it’s a solid runner and cuts great.

 

OEM filter came and and I installed it. I also figured out the fuel leak….OEM tank vent. Swapped over the fuel line/echo one from the leaky tank. No more leak! I really need to fire this up and dial in the carb.

On a side note, I picked up a bunch of accessories; plug wrench/screwdriver, chaps, helmet with a face shield and ear muffs and a husky case. LOL! It was the most reasonably priced one on Amazon. I’ll get some pics soon. I got this stuff so I didn’t have to haul stuff back and forth.

 

So I finally got this saw dialed in! It wasn’t idling well and stalling out. It has an aftermarket carb on it. I used AI and started adjusting the idle via the big idle screw (which I assume adjusts the throttle opening.) That didn’t help. So….started to tweak the Low screw on the carb. It needed a bit of richening. The saw now idles and doesn’t stall. It’s somewhere between the chain moving…and not moving. So I’m calling that good enough for now!

Now….just need to find some local scrounges and really test this out!

 

I really like this video on carb tuning by ear. Gordy does a good job of explaining the process, and what needs tweaking depending on how the saw acts:

 

Had a close call with the 026 running lean last weekend. I was cutting up some small saplings against our fence and noticed it seemed to be reving out a bit. Also, the RPMs would hang after letting off the throttle. Then, it started to bog, shut down….and would only burble a bit upon trying to restart it. Ugh!

I finished the cutting with a Kobalt battery saw that came with a tool score a few months back. Thankfully, that worked really well.

After the cutting was done and the brush was loaded, I attempted to start the 026. It fired up…but rev’d a bit. I shut it down. The next day, I pulled the muffler and inspected the piston and cylinder. I pulled the engine over so I could see the top of the piston, cylinder and piston skirt. Everything looked just about perfect. Phew!

So I think after this long winded explanation, I’m going to need some crank seals. Not an expensive job, but seems that getting the seals out on the 026 is a challenge due to their small size. I welcome any advice.

But before I start firing off the ol’ parts cannon, I’m going to do a compression test. And hopefully a leak down test with a brake bleeder and gauge that I have.

Glad this happened in my back yard and not out on a scrounge! Coulda been a lot worse.

 

Classic air leak symptoms. If you run good oil, and enough of it, a saw will survive a scare like that. IDK if you watch YouTube videos, but channel called Married with small engines probably has that repair covered. Might need to sniff around the playlists to find it. Good catch on your part.