Stihl MS261c Easy start swap to normal housing

[pleasant]

31 minutes ago, Mark_Skyland said:

If you do convert it make sure you get a flywheel from a non mtronic as they are different to the mtronic ones.

 

Mark. The part number i supplied earlier on for the op, for the non soft start flywheel is also the non mtronic one....but yes, they need to be careful if buying used parts 

[kram]

So the broken part is no 14 in this diagram, the cover with the fixed shaft. 22 and 23 are the spinny bits and are retained by 24/25 that sit in the broken circlip groove.

 

The shaft has a torx end but looks like its only for assembly purposes?

 

Does the shaft remove from the plastic cover?

I might be able to repair that easily, or turn a new one on lathe.

Another option, if you measure and draw the part up in a CAD program, you could get a new one machined quite cheapily with https://jlccnc.com/

I've not used them myself but I know of somone who was prototyping  a climbing device and he got them to make the parts.

 

 

Edited Friday at 19:50 by kram

[Fatboy2017]

Correct! It has a torx end but I didn't see a purpose, I haven't stripped it down fully yet as it didn't show a replacement shaft on the parts diagram. What I was looking at doing was to bore the plastic starter piece (number 23) down by 5mm or so and machine a new groove in the shaft for the clip. Next job is to see if the shaft can be removed or is moulded into the cover.!

Thanks for the offer on the machining. 

[Mark_Skyland]

38 minutes ago, pleasant said:

Mark. The part number i supplied earlier on for the op, for the non soft start flywheel is also the non mtronic one....but yes, they need to be careful if buying used parts 

Yes sorry, I was thinking about buying second hand parts. 

[Tree monkey 1682]

On 11/12/2025 at 21:13, Dan Maynard said:

Seems like there would have been so many scrapped 261 for crankshaft around a few years ago, maybe there's still one under a bench somewhere you could swap all the bits? My 261 still running so you can't have my starter yet.

I flogged my 260, it went in for an overhaul at a pro garage, and still ended up being a hunt to start .

Never a keen fan  bit bulky and slow 

[Stere]

Some one got  flywheels on ebay for £25 and there is a second hand recoil for £30.

 

Doubt they are really genuine?

 

Genuine Stihl MS261C Flywheel X1 | eBay UK

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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Price is for one !

 

Ms261 Starter Assembly 084 7800 B Professional Chainsaw Parts | eBay UK

WWW.EBAY.CO.UK

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Ms261 Starter Assembly 084 7800 B Professional Chainsaw Parts

 

 

[Fatboy2017]

I'm going to try to repair the existing housing pin first. I plan to machine the pin with a new circlip groove and lower the nylon engagement part to allow the washer and circlip to be fitted. I know professionals are not keen on the ergo starts for every day use, but they have a place for the firewood cutters who are elderly or physical compromised and require a quality machine. The only problem I have is remembering not to drop start them.

I can buy a new housing inc shipping for £74, or buy secondhand none ergo for £63. I haven't checked with seller above if the are Motronic or not as well as they are different. If I could find a secondhand ergo start from a 261 or a 291 that would be the answer. The only other issue is that with the ergo start, saw is not fitted with a decomp valve although I don't think it would be a problem for 90% of users, I can still start my Husky 2100 and Dolmar 9000 without a decomp at 67, what is the general opinion on this?