I found something about aftermarket cylinder sets that surprised me - the wrist pin bearing is to short. I was replacing the cylinder on my new ms 260 to bring it up to Pro specs. Instead of using the wrist pin bearing that came with the cylinder set, I used the original Stihl bearing from my original piston. It was not worn or damaged and fit perfectly in the piston and on the wrist pin. Had I used the new wrist pin bearing it would have caused a lot of side to side slop in the piston. Over time this would have caused a lot of cylinder scuffing and wearing away of the Nikasil coating in the cylinder. Just thought you would want to know.
My 660 build has taught me a few things. I replaced quite a few control parts to get it to have a high speed half choke position, a carb, coil and finally a complete cylinder kit - about $100, total. I now have a saw I think is as good as any of my Stihl or Husqvarna saws. I have not found anyway to fill it with helium, yet, because it weighs a ton. I never setup my saws to scream like some folks and I feed everything the same 50:1 fuel but I am happy with it and it works good and protects my two cycle stuff. I learned that the things that I thought would take a long time ended up taking the least amount of time. I also learned that Huztl`s quality control sucks on a lot of parts. All in all, I would build another one, ut maybe an ms 360 or 440 the next time around. I have thought about the 372 but I am a Stihl person, I do have quite a lot of Husqvarna equipment, but I also have more German DNA than Swedish DNA, so I am usually able to figure out some of the stupid stuff Stihl does on their saws.
Some good info Walt, sure would like to see more of that (popup)? piston. Just putting together another 036 and have found as you have that some parts do need an upgrade and I also like Hi-Way. Hope it warms up for you in the east, here in Montana it has turned into the January gray days. Take care
I agree on the intake boot. I think mine is suspect and I may pickup an oem or good am intake boot for my 660, probably from hlsupply supply. Their base gaskets are great and that is what is on my 660. I have had no problems with the chain adjuster or clutch and my oil pump works as good as any stihl oil pump.
Kit saws- yes, I am going to build either a 360 or 440 this fall. I am leaning towards the 440 because I do not have a 72 cc saw. I have several 60 cc saws. I like the 361 but there are not as many parts for the 361 as there are for the 360. I may build the ms 250 this summer. They are pretty cheap and a piece of cake to build, even though I am not overly fond of the 250. I would love to find a ms 260 to rebuild but most of the ones on eBay are to pricy.
Walt. I am a firm believer that even oem has problems. Most stuff from new has failure rates. I heard on the br420 stihl blower 15 % of them came back to the shop in the first week. It all breaks eventually.
I did not have any problem with the clutch, oil pump or chain adjuster on my 660. They all worked fine. The controls, throttle linkage, starter and coil sucked and were replaced, mostly with oem. My opinion on the intake boot, fuel line, cylinder, piston and rings are possibly junk, too, only time will tell.
I know how you feel about having to wait for parts from oem dealers. Pay a fortune for them and have to wait a week or longer for a part you can get from ebay in a few days. Like you I tend to look on ebay instead of running down to my local stihl dealer when I need parts, unless they are parts that I cannot get off ebay. I thought the farmertec oil pump I got looked pretty good and I know it works. I have not had any problem with my chain adjuster and it looked pretty good when I installed it. I do not know how long it will last but it is working good, now.
I rebuilt that poulan 2175 and she has good power more ass now then when it had the 38mm piston. Found out partner 220 260 350 351 440 parts are the same except for the bore is different
Awesome video. I have never taken the time to visit farmertec/huztl. However, my buddy left my saw Husky 372 xp, on ground behind a forwarder. You know the rest. Crankcase fine, all cosmetic parts damaged/broken. $400 for cosmetic parts at dealer. Less than $100 from Huztl. Wow! I realize some of the chassis parts might need a little grinding so to speak. Is their anything I should be leary of when getting/ordsering/using these parts?
I think the Farmertec stuff is pretty good, even their rubber parts. There may be some variation among identical parts but if you swap parts you can get a combination that works as intended. I also agree about dealers. They do what is best for them, financially, and they don’t give a damn about what you need and when you need it.
Did I miss the bearing and seal change? The last 2 cases I've received from Huztl both had aluminum shavings in the bearings and seals ms660 & ms440 which prompted me to swap out to SKF & National. I look for inexpensiveness be it OEM or Aftermarket not "Cheap" waste your money junk. I purchase on a percentage scale if I can get it at 25% or less than aftermarket then I'll go OEM if not then its the best inexpensive aftermarket I can find. You know you just turned that old McCulloch into a Speed Racer. "Go Speed Racer Go" Again Thanks for your insights thoughts and recommendations.
Nope...Farmertec seals and bearings. They were fine. If they fail, I'll replace with OEM bearings and HyWay seals. Building yet ANOTHER set of cases in that configuration for a future video. Using a crank from yet another source. But that will show up in a couple of months
Like I have said for years, a bit of a crap shoot with some models way better than others. The g395I have needed a piston, THEY fixed that, other than that, it's ran well for at least a year now. 660 are pretty well sorted out as well
Walt I received my first 660 kit and the cylinder walls had 3 hairline cracks! They also machined tru Cylinder coating at skirt! I ordered a cylinder form bailys! I hope its better, I bought factory stihl gaskets and seals. Should I Upgrade crank? Finally got email from hudtle today after 4 trys.
Depends on what you plan to do with it. If its a hobby saw the Huztl crank is fine. If not go to HLSupply and get a better one. Also Baileys is also from over there somewhere. I would try HLSupply's and possibly the Hyway version. Actually I've had good luck with the Huztl/Farmertec 54's even when they don't look that great, they last in spite of the appearance, and they do run strong. BUT cosmetics....if that important spend the money.....:) You have to expect swapping stuff out, there isn't a cook book solution to these kits box saws even though some would have you believe there is. Look at each part as an individual expecting some not to be the best and you will be happy with the results. Expect OEM consistency and quality, might as well just go buy OEM..:) I've had a lot of fun building and swapping out & solving little issues. But I have a pile of saws so having in as a work in process doesn't matter for me...:)
I haven't had any issues with the recoil on 3 of the ms660 saw I built, so must have been just lucky :) I've had to replace 2 oem clutchs on oem stihl ms290, and 291, cause they failed
The current group of Farmertec pull starts have improved....the early ones were a constant problem once I "upped" compression. And even this last batch, I had one that stuck right out of the box. SO a better option is something I'm going to investigate. It is a game of statistics. 3 even 5 saw build is a tiny sample. If even one fails thats 20 percent....and if its a trend on such a small samples set chances are its a systemic issue. Doesn't mean ALL will be bad. Just it increases the chances. The numbers side of this escapes many, both ways. One failure and it effects the perception. The point I was making in the "Different Worlds" video.
That pisses me off, too. Dealers do what is profitable for them and not us. Sometimes I have to wait for three weeks for a particular screw or part that I can get from eBay in less than a week. The problem is profit these days is not the price of the part but in shipping and handling. I scan through axe heads on eBay often, looking for a particular head that I may want and for an example the seller wants $8 for a particular axe head and $15 shipping. Needless to say “sucker” is not engraved on my forehead😏
Cold you Say ??? I believe it with 6 inch plus Sneaux down here in Southwest Louisiana........ I alway say if it's gonna get cold for a few days might as well let it Sneaux ~!~! Plus Tard Mon Ami..........
I've put on used Walbro's Like WJ-67's and I hear good things about the MUCH less expensive Tillotson HS-320's Like this: www.ebay.com/itm/Tillotson-OEM-HS-320A-Replacement-For-Walbro-WJ-67B-fits-Stihl-066-MS660/173039055581?hash=item2849ee72dd:g:OioAAOSwJslbDAir:rk:20:pf:0
I thought I heard you say in a video that you make tools for sale to work on these machines. Question for me is, how do I order and how do I email you?
I'm gonna order a 272xp top end for my 61 witch would make it a big bore since it completely compatible was wondering if there are promo codes for the hyway website
Sometimes it's about the learning experience. What better way for someone who wants to learn about saws than to put a kit together. Just look at the explosion online of actually mechanically inclined folks who now argue on how best to install a bearing or do a muffler mod over the last ten years. Prior to that knowledge was more about who to send a saw to... we FIXED that starting back in 2014 :)
Can use the messenger function here. Thats private. Also the messaging over at forestryforum.com "weimedog" . Another good place that private. OR at arboristsite.com same user as forestryforum.
Matt the logger uses 390's for everything.....he had Stihl MS660's before. He's the reason I have any Farmertec as it was his crusher MS660 that got me looking for parts. I converted him to Husqvarna 390's with a slightly tweaked 390. If you take a look at the "different worlds" video what he's doing there is typical for his work. And he has a couple of years back log so I have a lot of saw work ahead. I have 2 soon to be 3 Farmertec 660's in his care as part of my test program..:) To the 395, big yes....buy not faster enough to make it interesting for him.
I found something about aftermarket cylinder sets that surprised me - the wrist pin bearing is to short. I was replacing the cylinder on my new ms 260 to bring it up to Pro specs. Instead of using the wrist pin bearing that came with the cylinder set, I used the original Stihl bearing from my original piston. It was not worn or damaged and fit perfectly in the piston and on the wrist pin. Had I used the new wrist pin bearing it would have caused a lot of side to side slop in the piston. Over time this would have caused a lot of cylinder scuffing and wearing away of the Nikasil coating in the cylinder. Just thought you would want to know.
My 660 build has taught me a few things. I replaced quite a few control parts to get it to have a high speed half choke position, a carb, coil and finally a complete cylinder kit - about $100, total. I now have a saw I think is as good as any of my Stihl or Husqvarna saws. I have not found anyway to fill it with helium, yet, because it weighs a ton. I never setup my saws to scream like some folks and I feed everything the same 50:1 fuel but I am happy with it and it works good and protects my two cycle stuff. I learned that the things that I thought would take a long time ended up taking the least amount of time. I also learned that Huztl`s quality control sucks on a lot of parts. All in all, I would build another one, ut maybe an ms 360 or 440 the next time around. I have thought about the 372 but I am a Stihl person, I do have quite a lot of Husqvarna equipment, but I also have more German DNA than Swedish DNA, so I am usually able to figure out some of the stupid stuff Stihl does on their saws.
Intrested for sure please keep us updated
Some good info Walt, sure would like to see more of that (popup)? piston. Just putting together another 036 and have found as you have that some parts do need an upgrade and I also like Hi-Way. Hope it warms up for you in the east, here in Montana it has turned into the January gray days. Take care
I agree on the intake boot. I think mine is suspect and I may pickup an oem or good am intake boot for my 660, probably from hlsupply supply. Their base gaskets are great and that is what is on my 660. I have had no problems with the chain adjuster or clutch and my oil pump works as good as any stihl oil pump.
Kit saws- yes, I am going to build either a 360 or 440 this fall. I am leaning towards the 440 because I do not have a 72 cc saw. I have several 60 cc saws. I like the 361 but there are not as many parts for the 361 as there are for the 360. I may build the ms 250 this summer. They are pretty cheap and a piece of cake to build, even though I am not overly fond of the 250. I would love to find a ms 260 to rebuild but most of the ones on eBay are to pricy.
Walt. I am a firm believer that even oem has problems. Most stuff from new has failure rates. I heard on the br420 stihl blower 15 % of them came back to the shop in the first week. It all breaks eventually.
I did not have any problem with the clutch, oil pump or chain adjuster on my 660. They all worked fine. The controls, throttle linkage, starter and coil sucked and were replaced, mostly with oem. My opinion on the intake boot, fuel line, cylinder, piston and rings are possibly junk, too, only time will tell.
Hope you don’t mind I have recommended you to several people that were asking questions about after market equipment
I know how you feel about having to wait for parts from oem dealers. Pay a fortune for them and have to wait a week or longer for a part you can get from ebay in a few days. Like you I tend to look on ebay instead of running down to my local stihl dealer when I need parts, unless they are parts that I cannot get off ebay. I thought the farmertec oil pump I got looked pretty good and I know it works. I have not had any problem with my chain adjuster and it looked pretty good when I installed it. I do not know how long it will last but it is working good, now.
I'm building my first saw 288 with hayway top end and don't what crankshaft to use yet can you till me a good brind or a brand you like
I rebuilt that poulan 2175 and she has good power more ass now then when it had the 38mm piston. Found out partner 220 260 350 351 440 parts are the same except for the bore is different
Awesome video. I have never taken the time to visit farmertec/huztl. However, my buddy left my saw Husky 372 xp, on ground behind a forwarder. You know the rest. Crankcase fine, all cosmetic parts damaged/broken. $400 for cosmetic parts at dealer. Less than $100 from Huztl. Wow! I realize some of the chassis parts might need a little grinding so to speak. Is their anything I should be leary of when getting/ordsering/using these parts?
I think the Farmertec stuff is pretty good, even their rubber parts. There may be some variation among identical parts but if you swap parts you can get a combination that works as intended. I also agree about dealers. They do what is best for them, financially, and they don’t give a damn about what you need and when you need it.
Hi Walt, I got my saws in the mail yesterday.
Did I miss the bearing and seal change? The last 2 cases I've received from Huztl both had aluminum shavings in the bearings and seals ms660 & ms440 which prompted me to swap out to SKF & National. I look for inexpensiveness be it OEM or Aftermarket not "Cheap" waste your money junk. I purchase on a percentage scale if I can get it at 25% or less than aftermarket then I'll go OEM if not then its the best inexpensive aftermarket I can find.
You know you just turned that old McCulloch into a Speed Racer. "Go Speed Racer Go"
Again Thanks for your insights thoughts and recommendations.
Nope...Farmertec seals and bearings. They were fine. If they fail, I'll replace with OEM bearings and HyWay seals. Building yet ANOTHER set of cases in that configuration for a future video. Using a crank from yet another source. But that will show up in a couple of months
I have a new ms660 built and Oiler leaks out bottom of saw what might be the problem
I have one of those pistons coming for my hl660. Haven't even had it in wood yet... Lol
Good vídeo and good explanation!
Those rpm limiting ignitions have a tendency to fail at higher percentages than non rpm limiting ignitions and this is regardless of manufacturer.
What do you think of the pre assembled engines from farmertech? I bought 2 ms660 a couple years back and wondering if I should build them up?
Like I have said for years, a bit of a crap shoot with some models way better than others. The g395I have needed a piston, THEY fixed that, other than that, it's ran well for at least a year now. 660 are pretty well sorted out as well
@@afleetcommand Thanks.
I use as much STIHL O.E.M parts as possible ......
Walt I received my first 660 kit and the cylinder walls had 3 hairline cracks! They also machined tru Cylinder coating at skirt! I ordered a cylinder form bailys! I hope its better, I bought factory stihl gaskets and seals. Should I Upgrade crank? Finally got email from hudtle today after 4 trys.
Depends on what you plan to do with it. If its a hobby saw the Huztl crank is fine. If not go to HLSupply and get a better one. Also Baileys is also from over there somewhere. I would try HLSupply's and possibly the Hyway version. Actually I've had good luck with the Huztl/Farmertec 54's even when they don't look that great, they last in spite of the appearance, and they do run strong. BUT cosmetics....if that important spend the money.....:) You have to expect swapping stuff out, there isn't a cook book solution to these kits box saws even though some would have you believe there is. Look at each part as an individual expecting some not to be the best and you will be happy with the results. Expect OEM consistency and quality, might as well just go buy OEM..:) I've had a lot of fun building and swapping out & solving little issues. But I have a pile of saws so having in as a work in process doesn't matter for me...:)
I haven't had any issues with the recoil on 3 of the ms660 saw I built, so must have been just lucky :) I've had to replace 2 oem clutchs on oem stihl ms290, and 291, cause they failed
The current group of Farmertec pull starts have improved....the early ones were a constant problem once I "upped" compression. And even this last batch, I had one that stuck right out of the box. SO a better option is something I'm going to investigate. It is a game of statistics. 3 even 5 saw build is a tiny sample. If even one fails thats 20 percent....and if its a trend on such a small samples set chances are its a systemic issue. Doesn't mean ALL will be bad. Just it increases the chances. The numbers side of this escapes many, both ways. One failure and it effects the perception. The point I was making in the "Different Worlds" video.
Hi Walt, I have a huztl ms660 and a 372 on order. I was wondering if you would put my cases together for me?
Only if you are local. I don't do any thing by mail. I just don't have the band width..:)
I live about 45 minutes west of Syracuse, not sure how far that is from you.
About an hour? Hour and a half?
Yeah I can probably help then.
Auburn area?
That pisses me off, too. Dealers do what is profitable for them and not us. Sometimes I have to wait for three weeks for a particular screw or part that I can get from eBay in less than a week. The problem is profit these days is not the price of the part but in shipping and handling. I scan through axe heads on eBay often, looking for a particular head that I may want and for an example the seller wants $8 for a particular axe head and $15 shipping. Needless to say “sucker” is not engraved on my forehead😏
Cold you Say ??? I believe it with 6 inch plus Sneaux down here in Southwest Louisiana........
I alway say if it's gonna get cold for a few days might as well let it Sneaux ~!~! Plus Tard Mon Ami..........
Which carb do you recommend for the MS 660 kit?
I've put on used Walbro's Like WJ-67's and I hear good things about the MUCH less expensive Tillotson HS-320's Like this:
www.ebay.com/itm/Tillotson-OEM-HS-320A-Replacement-For-Walbro-WJ-67B-fits-Stihl-066-MS660/173039055581?hash=item2849ee72dd:g:OioAAOSwJslbDAir:rk:20:pf:0
I have rarely been able to get the carb's that come with the kits to work well at idle. And the ones I did I had put Walbro parts in them.
I thought I heard you say in a video that you make tools for sale to work on these machines.
Question for me is, how do I order and how do I email you?
I do, but do all the messaging for that over at opeforum.com ( the "start a conversation" function )
Thank you. I'll look into it over this Christmas break. Merry christmas sir.
I'm gonna order a 272xp top end for my 61 witch would make it a big bore since it completely compatible was wondering if there are promo codes for the hyway website
K...no idea, I'm not a marketing partner for any company or any one.
it only cost 100 more to buy it assembled it cost 200 for special tools not cost affective
Sometimes it's about the learning experience. What better way for someone who wants to learn about saws than to put a kit together. Just look at the explosion online of actually mechanically inclined folks who now argue on how best to install a bearing or do a muffler mod over the last ten years. Prior to that knowledge was more about who to send a saw to... we FIXED that starting back in 2014 :)
Would you do a ms250 or ms 270 build? Just curious
ms270
I was considering a ms270 for a larger clam shell but like the 345 350 husky more
Do you have experience with the Meteor top ends?
Yes, mostly good. Problem is in the Husqvarna world they are priced in the same territory as OEM> .:)
I would like to talk to you more Walt, about the crank case puller
Can use the messenger function here. Thats private. Also the messaging over at forestryforum.com "weimedog" . Another good place that private. OR at arboristsite.com same user as forestryforum.
Hope to see you there
Message sent through arbostsite
Got it
The more people buying these after market parts only helps the companies making these parts improve their quality and products offered.
We will see what they do...I've seen parts from them go both ways....:)
Matt doesn't want to 395's for the big stuff? Built like tanks.
Matt the logger uses 390's for everything.....he had Stihl MS660's before. He's the reason I have any Farmertec as it was his crusher MS660 that got me looking for parts. I converted him to Husqvarna 390's with a slightly tweaked 390. If you take a look at the "different worlds" video what he's doing there is typical for his work. And he has a couple of years back log so I have a lot of saw work ahead. I have 2 soon to be 3 Farmertec 660's in his care as part of my test program..:) To the 395, big yes....buy not faster enough to make it interesting for him.
Two broken crankshaft s and a tight pne,I see a pattern forming here
Watch the whole story, first I thought is was the cranks, turned out to be something else...:)