Question on cracked handle

[NH_Wood]

Hi everyone,

What is the best option for fixing a crack on a chainsaw handle - I'm looking at a possible MS260Pro, but has a crack in the handle - from what I understand, the handle is cracked near where the trigger portion meets the base - not sure if it's a full separation or not.

Is there an epoxy that can be used to seal the crack? Does it require a new housing/handle? Sorry for no strong details, just wondering if this is a deal breaker - the rest of the saw seems in very good shape.

Cheers!

 

[711mhw]

I can't speak to that exact saw, but I "ran" with a cracked handle on my old fav. 044 for a long time. I finally parted with about $260 for the new part (only) that is basically the "chassis" for the whole saw. Now were both happy!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

JB Weld.

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks guys - I'll look into the JB Weld - geesh, $260 seems real steep for the housing - that must have been painful! Cheers!

 

[MasterMech]

Check eBay for replacement handles too. JB Weld is sold at just about every hardware and parts store.

 

[NH_Wood]

Checked on eBay - seems like a lot of after market stuff and pretty damn expensive.......I'll have to see how bad the crack is when I see the saw. Thanks!

 

[MasterMech]

Checked on eBay - seems like a lot of after market stuff and pretty damn expensive.......I'll have to see how bad the crack is when I see the saw. Thanks!

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/stihl-oem-ms260-026rear-handle-/330866924232?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d09349ac8)

or this one

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/STIHL-CHAINSAW-024-026-MS260-TANK-HANDLE-BOX1336M-/230911826609?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c36adab1)

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks MM. Man, it seems that 40-60 bucks for a rear handle seems real pricey, but, I haven't done a lot of part searching. Cheers!

 

[MasterMech]

Man, it seems that 40-60 bucks for a rear handle seems real pricey

Go ahead, call your dealer and ask. You know you want to.

 

[NH_Wood]

Ha!

 

[cygnus]

I'd stay away from the aftermarket assembly. I put one on an 038 and found that the old filter cover wouldn't fit. Turned out I needed to buy the matching aftermarket cover too. I had to trim some of the plastic to get it on and the metal 'clasp' works like crap. It wasn't worth the few bucks I saved.

Check eBay or chainsawr.com. If you have the energy, you could get something like a complete non-working saw, pull the parts you need and sell off the rest.

 

[Dune]

It is likely an aluminum/magnesium alloy which can be welded as long as the alloy can be identified.

I wouldn't buy it, though since you may not be able to find a welder who can fix it.

 

[rkshed]

Until I found a donor saw for my Jred 455, I reinforced the cracked handle by bolting a mending plate over the crack.

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks for all the info! Cheers!

 

[MasterMech]

It is likely an aluminum/magnesium alloy which can be welded as long as the alloy can be identified.

I wouldn't buy it, though since you may not be able to find a welder who can fix it.

Every 026/MS260 I've come across has a plastic back-handle. But Dune is right that Mg/Al can be TIG welded quite readily in the right hands.

 

[NH_Wood]

I have a right hand, but not the right hands! Cheers!

 

[Danno77]

Every 026/MS260 I've come across has a plastic back-handle. But Dune is right that Mg/Al can be TIG welded quite readily in the right hands.

If its a 260 then it's the plastic or composite or whatever they call it. There were some 026s that had the metal, iirc.