ChrisNewport

Never respond to fishy looking texts or emails, just delete them. If they really want to be in touch with you they will send a letter.

Did mine 2 weeks ago, into post office with my old one, they took new picture and filled in all info on their I pad, i signed it and paid i think 19 quid and new one arrived 3 days later. They give you a receipt to prove they have sent your old one off if you get stopped.

I dont know the saw but for a 150 quid homeowners saw i would be surprised if it had an adjustable oiler.

Give them no help in the future, i know its petty but i get satisfaction from it. Was once held for 10 hours years ago for theft of a wallet and phone in a pub just before Christmas, never did it, i was nowhere near the place at the time but i was in the same small town, i had the same colour trainers and coat on as the person who did do it. I told them all this and to check the CCTV in the place i was at the time, they didnt believe a word, thrown in the back of a van and into a cell. Let out free to go eventually ten hours later at 7am on xmas eve five miles away from where i was picked up with no busses running till an hour later to get home. TWATS.

i rebuilt a few using aftermarket cranks off German ebay (no UK seller had them at the time) a few years ago, and know of 2 that are still in use the others were sold on. In total it used to cost me about £80 for all the parts needed, ie bearings, crank, seals and gaskets. If youre not fussy about how you do things as your crank is knackered you could just remove the screws and belt the crank end with a hammer to seperate the cases.

2 years ago i got these Flexible Chimney Sweep Set 8m 26ft Flue Sweeping Brush 8 Rod Kit Soot Cleaning | eBay after my sweep retired, ive used them a dozen times sweeping chimneys for family and so far so good. Dad was a bit nervous at first as when he used to sweep them with drain rods he tied a rope round the brush so he could retreive it if it came off up the chimney as with the ones you attatch to the drill you cant.

A good harness also needs to be considered, i progressed from a Stihl FS400 with just a shoulder strap which was fine to a Stihl FS560 with the same strap, the extra weight of the machine made using it for anymore than half an hour a strain on my shoulder and back. I bought the Stihl RTS harness and can now use the machine for a full day with very little aches and pains.

Looking at parts early 291's came with 44.7mm top end, later changed to 47mm when theyd used up old stock. My very first 260 is 44mm top end and one theyd used up old 026 stock they changed to 44.7mm

1125 640 1701 should be the one but with the hole for side tensioner.

I was paying about £35 for a check up and polish every 6 months when mine was NHS, He went private about 2 years ago and its now £90 for the same. He runs a scheme where you pay £12 a month direct debit to go towards the cost. Last time i was there i needed a replacement filling which cost £370

Personally i would drill it out 5mm and tap it M6x1 and then open up the hole in the spikes and the chain catcher. Im not a fan of helicoiling into blind holes, i can never get them right.

Was over 10 years ago, and i definitely got my money back. I seem to recall it making nigh on £500 in total. I do remember thinking at the time id sold it too cheaply.

Cant help you with how available new parts in the uk are but i did once purchase a 166 at a farm auction by accident, auctioneer was struggling to get a bid 50,20,10 so i shouted out 2 quid to get you going, before i'd finished speaking he'd put the hammer down. Took it home, cleaned it up and realised it was a 166 with scored piston and cylinder so parted it out on ebay and every bit of it went to America. So i reckon used parts in this country will be as rare as hens teeth.

Was running when last used. Is code for its knackered and stopped working when last used, ive had it looked at and its too expensive to fix.

I knew L and S didnt have it on the HS61 diagrams when i wanted one a few years ago, so got mine from DIY spares as above. Now seeing its the same as the MS260 pipe i probably had one in my spares all along. FFS.