RIP 036

My 036 stopped running last week while I was noodling some uglies. It was running like a top and then just quit and would not start. It felt like it had little or no compression while pulling repeatedly on the cord. I was tired so I put it away to mess with it another day. A few days ago I got it to start, with difficulty, but it was running very poorly, reduced power, wouldn't idle, hard starting. Frustrated, I gave in and brought it to my local, somewhat reputable, dealer. I called in today to check on it and they told me it is dead. Scored piston/cylinder. After talking with the dealer it seems it has been degrading slowly over the 4 years I have owned it. It has been hard to start and quit on other time when I was ripping a large Maple log to make a bench and it git pretty hot. The dealer explained that as the engine gets hotter, and parts expand, cylinder/piston issues will present themselves. I guess I finished it off last week. He said repair would be about $450 and did not recommend I do so. The dealer was kind enough not to charge me for his findings and also offered to toss it for me. I told him no way! I'm not gonna toss a perfectly good 20" bar and chain, and I'm also not quite ready to give up on it either. At the very least there are still some good parts on it that may be of value to me or somebody else.
Those fancy new MS362s sure do look nice, but I'm not crazy about the $700-$800 price. A little time on google shows a whole slew of aftermarket rebuild kits for this saw for between $100 and $200. I am always a fan of repair before replacement, but don't want to put the time and money into this route if I won't end up with a decent, reliable saw. While the new saw would be a considerable investment, it would also be a vast improvement over my $125 used 036, and would likely last the remainder of my saw using years with proper care.
Suggestions and comments please.

I am reading that it may have failed do to an air leak and that I must find that before I simply repair the top or risk ruining anther top end.

I also have to ad the Mrs Flatbedford thinks that I should buy a new one. She says I use it so much that I should have the best. I love that woman!

I think that an 026/260 and 036/360 are too close for a two saw plan. I am happy with my ms180 and 036 combo. The ms180 is super light and the 036 will do just about anything.

I pulled the muffler off to have a look inside. The piston is pretty banged up.


When I was at the dealer picking up my new saw yesterday, ( https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-saw.128147/ ) the dealer said he'd pressure test the saw for me so I'll know if the crank seals are ok. If they are its a no brainer to fix.