Chainsaw Repair

Here's what you asked for, the Bailey's after market cylinder and piston assembly.

http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?PageNo=1&skw=stihl+026+cylinder

But . . .  as is often the situation, you can save the cylinder and just need a new piston and ring for $30 range.

http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?PageNo=1&skw=026+piston

At disassembly, you can examine the cylinder, show us pictures, use a Q-tip and Muriatic acid to clean the galled aluminum from the cylinder.

As far as I know, you can use the bigger bore size if you are buying the piston and cylinder?

To me none. Just depends on the port timing in the cylinder. 44mm to 44.7mm so you gain .7mm. If I was buying p+c I would go with biggest displacement just because. Just like OE 346 42mm and NE 44.3mm if buying complete topend kit I would go biggest. But if I could clean up either smaller bore cylinder then I would re-use and just get a meteor piston kit.

http://northwoodsaw.com/store/index.php?l=search_list&s[search]=stihl+026+cylinder&s[title]=Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=Y&s[sku]=Y&s[match]=all&s[cid]=0

The AFM 44 is $20 off right now.

Unless the cylinder is shedding chrome probabley a new set of rings would fix the problem .Cheapo fix .

Some people hone them but frankly I wouldn't bother as usually the comp will be allright .It might take a tad until the rings fully seat but as soon as they do it will come alive .You'll definately know when it happens .Run it a little rich but other than that run it like you stole it .

Flog that thing like a borrowed mule .It will either run like a scalded ape or fly apart like a dollar watch but seldom would that happen unless something else is wrong with it .

You will see some confusion on the 44mm /44.7mm piston scenario.

It was my impression that the very last 026/026PRO chainsaws were 44.7mm and all 260's were 44.7mm.

Being as it is difficult to date a Stihl other than how it is equipped, it is best you measure your piston first.

You can measure it with a popsicle stick stuck into the exhaust port.

Put the stick all the way into the exhaust port and very slightly pinch it with the piston.

Then measure from the end of the stick to the pinch mark with vernier callipers.

This will be close enough to decide 44mm or 44.7mm.

Being as it is a 026 it is most likely a 44mm but it is also probable, with a chainsaw that old, that it could be a frankensaw and someone could have changed it?