Stihl 026 VS MS260 Pro

[Deere80]

What is the difference between the Stihl 026 and the MS260 pro other than the 260 pro has the compression release?  For my small saw I have a 026 and just bought this weekend a mint condition MS260 pro because a guy can never have to many saws and I cannot tell anything different other than the compression release and obviously it is newer.

[Duane(Pa)]

The only real difference may be the fuel caps and air filter. I was surprised by how tiny the exhaust outlet hole was on my 260. I opened it up and it runs quite a bit better now.

[Deere80]

So what size of hole did you go with?

[mike_belben]

Are they both closed transfers?

[DelawhereJoe]

Is it just an 026 or the 026 pro ? I think the pro models have the adjustable oilers on them, my old 026 doesn't.

[teakwood]

Was there a 260Pro??  I know that the 026 came in a pro version but never heard of a 260pro

[Deere80]

Yes they made a 260 pro because that is what I bought MS260 Pro.  I have a 026 right also that was bought new in 1991.

What is closed transfers?

[ehp]

big thing is the porting degrees are different in those models , the 026 is a lower degree and that makes it perform different than the 260 , its kind of like the difference between the 066 compared to the last 660 made

[Deere80]

So which one would out perform the other?

[DelawhereJoe]

If I remember correctly they were both the same hp rating

[ehp]

depends on what saw you got , the older 026 is a better saw for me as we cut mostly bigger hardwood but the older 260 were not bad , the last 260's had high porting numbers so do not have much torque BUT I never kept a 026/260 more than a day logging here , just to slow for me . Now the new 261 I have ran a lot more and there a pretty good saw .

[ehp]

HP numbers that you read most times donot really show how a saw really cuts . Some saws showed big numbers but at a real high rpm and they would just fall on their face in the cut once you put them in bigger wood

[mike_belben]

What is closed transfers?

The transfer port from crankcase to combustion space can be full open, fully closed or open with removable covers on the jug exterior, many jonsereds have the covers.
 
Open is just some vertical channels up the jug.  Husky 61 for example.  Closed transfers have a fully enclosed conduit to form the port that goes from block to head with no access.  Husky 372 for instance

If you look at a husky 350, its like a cheap plastic clamshell clone of a 346XP.  The 346 will be metal crankcase and closed port.  Vs the 350 open ports and clam bottom.  Otherwise theyre pretty interchangeable.   

I think i may have a 260 pro and a 026 in the basket case lineup.. Will take a look next time im in that shed. 

[Deere80]

Thanks would appreciate it.  Would like to know which one I should keep, I do not need both of them.

[Mad Professor]

At some point the piston bore went from 44mm to 44.7 mm

[HolmenTree]

At some point the piston bore went from 44mm to 44.7 mm

The MS260 got the 50.2cc displacement with the larger 44.7mm bore after serial #262187362.(Virginia Beach, US. made)
Production runs:
▪026 Aug 1988 - Aug 2001
▪MS260 Aug 2001 - Dec. 2011

[Deere80]

Used both of them side by side this last weekend and the older 026 out performed the MS260 pro.  I never adjusted the carb on the 260 but it seemed to run like it should but just didn't have as must power as the older one.  It is a very nice smooth running saw but you could stop the chain so must easier. 

[DelawhereJoe]

Are they running the same size rim sprocket  ?

[mike_belben]

Finally dug around.  I have an MS260 PRO but not an 026.  It was a pair of 036 parts saws i got confused on. 

[ehp]

like I said the port timing is different , the 026 has a lower timing number so that produces more torque