Chainsaw Repair
Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Stihl => Topic started by: Vance in AK on August 21, 2012, 03:27:09 pm
-
As I mentioned in another thread I just picked up an 026 at what I felt was a great price & so far I am impressed with it.
Just ran accross a Farmboss locally that the guy is advertising "as new" for $225. Good price & I was thinking of trying to pick it up for $200 to make a buck on when it gets cold.
My 026 vs FB question us this. The 026 seems like a small pro grade saw. The FB seems like something that well... belongs on the farm. Plastic tank (I have personally seen 2 tanks break from branch impact), plastic trigger hand handle, etc.
Am I right i assuming the 026 would be the better saw to hang on to?
-
They are both rather popular.
I have a 026 PRO and like you say, it is a small PRO saw. It is a keeper.
I never owned a Farm Boss but they are very common around here.
-
There used to be "farmboss" versions of the 260 and 360 as well here, then it only was the 390, and by now there are none. My point is that the FB designation has been used on different models at different markets and at different times, and so has the "woodboss" designation. ;)
Also, no reasonablly current chainsaw models have a metal fuel tank and rear handle - the crankcases and clutch cover on anything close to a pro model is magnesium though, and preferably the handlebar as well.
-
Thanks guys, & Troll I was refering to the current production FB.
660, I have ony run this 026 a bit, but like you it seems like a keeper.
Talked to a salesman in the local Stihl shop today, & his personal opinion was that he would not trade a nice 10yr old 026 for a brand new FB. FB is heavier, more fragile, & no real performance gain in spite of small displacement advantage. Again, his personal opinion.
-
I'm not certain the "buzz" words of farm boss or woods boss means anything .They tagged a few "magnum" for no apparent reason other than the name .
Madison avenue hype probabley .If it looks like a duck------
-
I don't understand how you think the 029/290 is more "fragile" than an 026.
It is built heavier in every way.
The 026 has a plastic tank and trigger too.
The 026 is the one that has the choke flap MADE IN the air filter and the filter from Stihl is $38.00 last I checked.
There is nothing wrong with a clamshell saw unless you are planning to port it.
If you want a limbing saw the 026 is ok, but for general firewood duty, I wouldn't trade a decent running 290 for one.
JMHO
Mike
-
Hey Mike.
You are half right on the plastic on the 026. The trigger is (I hadn't even noticed. The FB just didn't seem as substantial), but the oil tank is metal (Mag i assume). The oil tanks on the FB scare me. I was running a friends cutting firewood for a bible camp. Chunk about 1.5" in dia flipped up & busted a substantial whole in the tank. Stihl said it was operator abuse & no warrantied so we replaced the saw with a new one. 1st time out the owner did the same thing to the new saw!
I ran saws in the woods every day for years & never had that happen with a metal tank.
If I get a chance I may pick up the FB for resale. If I do I'll try them side by side & keep the one I like best.
-
That was MY bad Vance,
I was thinking fuel tank and not oil tank! :-[
Mike
-
The 029-039 are designed for occasional use most likely for firewooding and as such do okay .They will not hold up however in professional use such as for a tree service company .
I know the later version being the 290 is very popular but in my shed is a box full of dead ones that did not make it a year in tree service work .On that though some of those guys could destroy an anvil with a feather given enough time .
-
Thanks guys.
I was busy yesterday & couldn't ck on the used FB till evening so it was gone.
My 026 will be primarily a firewood saw. What are their weak points just I can keep an eye on them. Any special tips to make thm live?
If I get into any big trees or heavy work I'll grab the Jonsered 670 & if I decide to do milling (Can't picture ANYTHING else I would need it for locally) there's a Husky 3120XP in the basement :-\
-
I wouldn't think any special precautions need to be taken .They're a proven good runner in the 3 cube class .
Keep the air filter clean ,a sharp chain and blow the crude out every so often should just about cover it .
Like any saw if you open the muffler up a tad and retune the carb it will run better and most likely longer .
FWIW the 024 being the runt bro of the 026 I recently picked from a dealer for 50 bucks has a slightly scorched piston .Not bad enough to worry about though .Runs like a top .
I suspect due to the fact it was a shop serviced machine with a highly chocked down muffler that's what caused the problem to begin with .So that's something a person might what to delve into prior to running it hard and long .