Husqvarna 545 opinions wanted

I can help you

 

Sorry... My original quote was harsh. I appologize. We all have been couped up in our houses too long this winter !
Im not gonna argue with someone i never met in person .
I hope you can figure out your probs there... But its not a reflection of the masses of people that own these and other models of Husky saws. So maybe it can be tracked down to certain models and fixed. I do agree the crap should never get into the carb when
theres a good air filter atop it !

 

No offense taken. If we ever get together, we can argue in person.

When the auto tunes first came out I was an enthusiastic supporter. I traded the first 562XP for one with heat and got a 550XPG. The saws are strong when they run. But they just don't start like a good pro line saw. My others virtually without fail will start on the first pull every single time once they are warmed up and have only been sitting a minute. On occasion an auto tune will but almost always it's 3-5 pulls on average for it to start warm. Heck they generally start better cold.

I have just gotten over the novelty and don't feel they are near the saw a 346XP is or a 357XP. Because of this in the last month I acquired a OE 346XP and a mint 353 and am seriously considering dumping the 550 and 562 for the issues I have mentioned.

This week I will go over to the saw shop and have both "reflashed". BTW, the 4th edition is now out. If Husky wasn't having problems, they wouldn't be updating the software in the saws.

 

The software has to do with crap getting i to the air filter ? l
But seriously.... Whenever someone puts computers in anything... There is a learning curve. How can you argue with people that like them and have no probs ?
But..... I tell you what..... When i go to the woods to cut.... I always take a non comperterized back up ! My trusty old 61 just wont quit. I have such respect for that family of saws... I now have a good collection going !

 

Well of course the programming has nothing to do with the air filtration issue. It's just another thing that is making me skeptical.

BTW, pretty nice collection of old iron there Honey Fuzz, you prove my point.

 

Hey thanks !
I understand its hard to let go of stuff we found to be tough as nails !
Im not too old in age... But ive learned quickly that if you stay in the past... You get left behind.
Sometimes i think stuff now is better than when i was a kid. And some stuff they should have left alone . Im on the fence with these saws. My 545 and 550xp run great. They balance better than any saw i e handled. But.... We dont know the conclusion of there history yet !
What sold me on the Husky 162 family is that there are still plenty of Amish and Yankees alike beatin the crap out of there 266's and 272's day in and day out.... Logging and firewood guys ! They still run great... A fella can get any part..and they are still modern and relevant. You know what you are getting with those saws !
And im serious when i say... Im glad we found some common ground to smooth over the things we may always disagree on
Btw... There were many changes throughout the model lines history of the saws im collecting. They found tiny probs... And updated them. At least they make that effort anyhow its a shame that we get to spend a lot of money to be ginny pigs

 

I think now that saws have computers... And that technology makes leaps and bounds everyday... By the time we buy a new m-tronic or a/t saw... The computers are already out of date. I bet they update electronics every couple of years from here on out to keep up.

 

Throughout the Winter I volunteered at the saw shop in return for learning some basics of saw repair. The owner tutored me and I saw a lot of saws and tore many down to diagnose problems. A few auto tunes have some serious issues. One buddy of mine has 4 - 562's. One had the dreaded "hesitation" issue. It was reflashed twice and then had the coil and carb replaced. It has the same problems coming back again.

After I had my 288 XP Lite project saw done, I gained quite a respect for the simplicity of the design and there aren't too many saws that will be stronger than this one. (We did a little port work too since it was apart) Last week my logger buddies ran it and one thought is was = to their Stihl 660's, the other thought it was stronger. Felt pretty good about that and these guys put 5 gallons a day through their 3 saws so they are qualified to evaluate a saw.

 

Actually IMHO, the real problem with the auto tunes and the hot start issues is the orientation of the cylinder and carb. Heat soak from the hot cylinder is directly over the carb causing vapor lock.

 

That actually makes sense to me.
Also...id love to here more and see pics of the 288 lite ! I might start collecting that family next. They remind me of the 266xp. All business... And sink those dogs in and go to town no issues either

 

I've heard the 266 really becomes something with a 262 piston.

I am not at home right now, so can't help with the pictures. But here, C5Rulz is me.
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=724466

 

And that hesitation issue should have been fixed before those saws left the factory... That i can say for sure.
Im tempted to take my 266xp and buy a bunch of parts saws... And filters... And just make it last forever

 

The only AT saw I own is the 555 and and brad tried to get it to mess up and was unable. I have yet to have a problem with it and even when it is hot will start on one pull. Granted it is only one saw.

 

Ive had neither prob either....but i still like my old ones too

 

Lots of good reading here. You got me Googling the 1050 MasterMech. That puppy's got to have gone through quite a few cords since she was manufactured. Makes me want to get something beyond the 50 cc range.

 

Uh oh, once you start scratching that itch it gets hard to stop

 

Good enough quality for me to watch it three or four times. You look like you're having fun. All that green is looking pretty good right now too.