You are here: Home > Parts & Tools > Chainsaws > Stihl > Stihl MS 261 > Ignition Coil

Stihl MS 261 Ignition Coil & Chip Replacement

If your chainsaw seems to not be getting a spark, then you should check the Stihl MS 261 Ignition Coil & Ignition Chip to see if it needs to be replaced with our suitable replacement Stihl MS 261 chainsaw Ignition Coil and Chip parts below. Performance Saw Supply replacement ignition coils and ignition chips are very high quality and have a one year warranty to be free from defects and work properly.

Suitable Replacement Stihl MS 261 Ignition Coil & Chip

Chainsaw ignition systems use a magneto ignition system which requires no battery voltage to generate spark.

Stihl MS 261 Replacement Ignition Coil & Chip

The Stihl MS 261 ignition coil [module] has an armature and is U-shaped with two ends [sometimes three ends] facing the flywheel. The coil also has two sides. The primary side has thick wire wrapped around one leg approximately 150-200 times. The secondary side has very thin wire wrapped around the primary windings approximately 20,000 times. The flywheel has two imbedded magnets, a north and a south pole. When the magnets pass the U-shaped iron cores on the ignition coil, the primary winding builds voltage up to approximately 200 volts. Then, the electronic control module trigger breaks the current and sends it to the secondary side of the coil building voltage up to 20,000 volts used to fire the spark plug.

The Stihl MS 261 ignition chip is a trigger device that determines when the coil needs to fire the spark plug. It works by breaking the current from the primary side and sending it to the secondary side of the coil. This transfer steps up the voltage to fire the spark plug. The ignition trigger replaces points and the condenser on most chain saws having just two magnets [north and south]. If a flywheel has more than two magnets, then the ignition chip trigger will not work. 

Note: On Stihl models 031, 032 and 041 these coils have a spark advance built into them and the ignition chip will cause misfiring.

To test the Stihl MS 261 ignition coil, disconnect the ignition switch wire at the ignition coil. Using a good quality spark tester, pull the starter rope with a good fast pull and check for spark. Removing the spark plug makes this process easier since it reduces the resistance when pulling the starter rope. If no spark is visible, remove the Stihl MS 261 ignition coil and sand the bottom of the coil. Also sand the mounting surface where the coils are attached to ensure a good and proper grounding of the ignition coil. Note: On some saws, the ignition coil bolts onto a plastic housing with a ground wire running to the cylinder or crankcase for a ground.

Stihl MS 261 Chainsaw Ignition Coil & Chip Replacement

Important NoticeWe are not affiliated with any chainsaw manufacturers and we do not attempt to make any affiliations with them. Any manufacturer logos, model names and numbers are the sole property of their respective owners and are used here for the sole purpose of reference. We do not sell OEM chainsaw parts for any brand. We do however, offer high quality suitable replacement parts guaranteed to meet or beat OEM part specifications like our suitable replacement Chainsaw Stihl MS 261 Ignition Coil & Chips we offer for sale for you to buy and put into their brand of chainsaws.