Stihl 260 running HOT!??

Picked up a Stihl 260 a month ago and have run 3-4 tanks through it. It cuts awesome, better than I expected, but it is running really hot. After about a 1/2 tank of gas I can barly keep my left hand in the handle and that's with gloves on! It also seems to be reving a little high.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated

You can see on the pics that top cover is melting.

 

Bad muffler mod?

 

Is it an arctic model? Some of the 260's had headed handles. There is a little switch on the right side bottom of the top handle. I have one of the 260 Arctic and it's great for cutting in the winter.

Edit: I just reread your post and it says that the plastic is melting. Definitely not from heated handles. Have you changed fuel or mix oil lately? Has it had a muffler mod?

 

Have you checked to make sure there isn't just a mouse nest blocking cooling air? I recently found the beginnings of one in a Husky 272XP that I was looking over for possible purchase.
Also, check to make sure everything seems properly in place...plastic wise that is...a misplaced or missing part could easily make things run hot.
Muffler gasket blown out?
I'd also pull the plug to make sure it is not running lean...sometimes when they are a little lean they can "run a little better than expected" (for a little while)

 

Hope it turns out to be something minor. Running on the lean side I wonder?

 

Yes sounds lean maybe, especially when you said it is revving high, I would get it checked out before you run it anymore. It could get expensive running it lean.

 

Thanks for the advise guys. The fuel is good, I was using the same mix in my other saws. It doesn't appear to have had a muffler mod, so I don't think that is the problem.

Is there a way to tell if the muffler is bad?

How can I adjust it so it doesn't run so lean.

 

Air leak ? Crack in impulse line ? Clogged fuel filter or leak in fuel line ?

 

Is it lean? Pull the plug and see what color it is (post pic here )

 

Fatten the H screw on the carb buy turning it out a bit - see if that helps. If you run it (briefly) at wide open throttle (under no load) does it sounds like it's 'racing' or running lean? Cheers!

 

^^^^^Do this first!!!!!!

 

It's definitely racing at full throttle. What direction should I turn the H screw?

 

Left is more fuel but Check the plug first!!!!!

 

Counter-clockwise - small adjustments make a pretty big difference - go easy - throttle up for a few seconds, repeat. Tachometer is great for this, but listen for 4-stroking at WOT - better to err on the side of a bit rich if you think you are running lean. If lean condition is your problem - sounds like you've run the saw pretty hot for a bit - I'd pull the muffler just to see if there is any damage to top end. Cheers!

 

As we never know how much experience a guy has, remember counter clockwise makes it fat, and clockwise will make it lean. Once you know the sound you're looking for, it will be stuck in your brain.

*Apparently everyone else types faster than me!

 

True about experience - and to the OP - if you've never adjusted a carb - there is an 'art' to it - if you are uncomfortable, ask someone for help (we'll do our best here) - running lean is where bad things happen (i.e. toasting your top end). Cheers!

 

Here's the pics of the plug.
Should I just put a new one in? What's the correct plug?
Thanks

 

Plug color looks fine to me.I would Change the fuel filter next. Check the cooling fins around the cylinder to see if their is a lot of build up (saw dust, sap etc). If the doesn't work I would adjust the h and l a tad richer. If you have an adjustable h screw on that carb.

 

Need to pull front cover off of muffler, make sure it isn't blocked or plugged with anything and make sure the bolts that hold the muffler to the cylinder are tight. Judging by your plug, I don't think it's really lean, but I'd back the H screw out about a 1/4 turn counterclockwise. If it's still racing at WOT, you've got an air leak somewhere.

 

Pulled the fuel filter and it definitely needs replaced along with the fuel line. The fuel line was cracked.

How difficult is it to replace the fuel line? Do I have take the tank off?

Will.a crack fuel line cause overheating?