Chainsaw Repair

When the 181SE was designed, the 162/61/66/266 were still using a 2 piece ignition (although a different, unrelated 2 piece ignition that won't interchange with the 181-288 series).  Shortly after that, Husky had to  tool up for a different FW side case half on the 181 for a larger bearing and seal.  They then used the same cases through the 181/281/288 production.  Maybe they didn't want to bother retooling that series again to accept the one piece ignition.  The 230/242/42/246/etc series also used the 2 piece ignition through the whole run.

When the 266XP was replaced by the 268XP, Husky retooled for a different FW side case half that accepted the new one piece ignition that was also used on the 50-55 series, some other Huskys, and some other Electrolux saws.  An unrelated change was also the elimination of the removable FW side seal carrier.  This case design (and the one piece ignition) was used through the remaining 268XP/272XP/61/268Special production.

The 'under the flywheel' SEM/FEMSA/Bosch electronic ignitions (which are 'one piece') used on the 285/1100/2100/298/2101 (and some other older Huskys, and on some Stihls and other saws) were certainly 'older tech' than the 2-piece systems used on the 181-288 and 42/242/etc families.  Heck, Homelite was putting "transistorized" electronic ignitions on some of their saws in the late 1960's (Followed by McCulloch and others)......long before Husky switched to electronic ignitions.  Those early electronic ignitions were crap for the most part....... but that's another thread...