Chainsaw Repair

I was given a Husqvarna 266 SE recently and am in need of a new piston for it, as the original is well scarred. I was wondering if the pistons used in the 266 XP and the 266 SE are interchangeable, since there are several listings online that say simply "266". Any help is appreciated!

Hopefully some knows for sure. I had a 266 and a 66 but never paid attention.

This says for closed port.  http://northwoodsaw.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=35

This one says for open port ones.  http://northwoodsaw.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=36

The OP doesn't need to worry about closed transfer or open transfer, as all 266's are closed.

The "SE's" I've run into that had original pistons, all had full circle windowed pistons, which are NLA from the OEM, unfortunately.....All the new style windowed pistons and the type Meteor and other manufacturers are making, are plug and play with the older cylinders......There is at least one aftermarket piston that is still a full circle piston, but I haven't tried one yet.

I don't think the full circle piston was meant to be specific to the SE's...I think it just happened, that the design change on the piston came along about the same time as Husqvarna's idea to rename the 266 as an XP.....Nothing else about the saw changed, other than the change to a fine thread crank & clutch and some other subtle things.

The 268 windowed piston will perform best in most models,the full skirt pistons are designed to last longer but if they don't have windows they won't make as much power.

I have been finding just as I feared the aftermarket pistons are no where near the quality of factory pistons. In a stock rebuild they may be ok, but for a performance job I find they are not good enough and often fail. There's abig difference between factory aluminum alloy and aftermarket. Can be a big difference in alloy-silicone percentage,hot strength,expansion, the jobbers are cheaper because they are cheap,much poorer alloy. Use at your own risk.