Almost all saws have a spot for preheated air in the winter? Not sure on your 359, but all my saws have some type of air preheating intake. The 55 Rancher I have has one, as well as my 550xp and 545. I'm gonna look up your manual. Here is a Screen shot from the 550 and 545 and they are Autotune.
Here is the update: On the Stihl 290 there is a plastic divider that I can rotate to let air from the jug into the air cleaner area to prevent icing. The dealer sent me the parts needed for the 550. Since the 550xp is pulling air in from the starter side and washing over the air filter to keep it clean, it can also pull snow and dump it onto the air filter. This blue plastic shield just snaps into place and should be used in loose snow and temps under 32F per the paperwork they sent me, or less than 23F as is stamped on the plastic piece. There is also a rubber plug that should be inserted in the plastic divider between the cylinder and the air cleaner. The plug should be removed when below 32F and inserted when above 32F because overheating can damage the engine. I will not do this part unless I need to. The blue plastic shield can snap on and off easy but a black rubber disc will never be found again when I drop it back in the woods or around my work shop area. No fricken clue what the screws and rings are for. Maybe same kit for several models of saws. I don't know.
Also, be sure to do this for Winter weather. For just cold weather use, you can do what's listed below. If running in light fluffy snow (bucking)? Then the plastic cover may be needed. But if just using as a limb saw? It won't need it.
I got trigger happy with my IPad. I added to the post pertaining to the cold weather kit. I will see how it runs before I knock out the hole and then forget to plug it when it's warmer.
I had a whole bunch of saws out running in single digit temps on Sunday. Other than flipping the pre-heat vents open, no further precautions were taken. If they aren't picking up snow, I doubt even the pre-heat vents need to be open. Carb icing really is only a problem in temps hovering around freezing with a high relative humidity. Actually, my 034 doesn't have a pre-heat shutter and the 362XP Special I had with me doesn't either, or at least I didn't find it so if it has one, it was probably closed. Same with the 45cc quake. I guess you could pull the plug boot skirt thing but I ran it as is (both of them, stock and modded) and they did fine with it.
Thanks MM, I have ran other saws and forgot to flip the pre-heat vents and they ran great. Would you have any idea what the screws and o-rings are for? Hopefully I will get a chance to run the saw this weekend and start getting it broke in.
I would imagine they are for securing the blue cover to the recoil cover. The o-rings would go between the cover and the recoil to prevent the cover from rubbing the paint off the recoil? It's all just a guess on my behalf but perhaps the IPL for that saw would show something?
I might ask next time I am at a dealer. The holes in the cover don't match up to any screws on the recoil cover. It really isn't a deal breaker anyway.
A 20 inch .325 pitch would be fine if you are doing limbing...and cutting normal size firewood up to 16 inch . If you are gonna bury all 20 inches in wood all the time...Id step up to the Husky 562xp . The 550xp I got my girlfriend has a 16 inch bar...and it balances the saw out perfectly ! Plus...the smaller bar lets the saw run at higher RPM's in the stuff she cuts . Normal firewood trees in my woods are 14 to 16 inches...so this set-up works perfectly . Its a trade of bending down a little further ........but the 550 cuts so fast..you wont be down there long !!! BTW....the 550xp is quite impressive..and addicting
Please post pics. 550xp is a very capable little saw. Today's 50cc machines are pretty stout little saws and great for the average firewood guy!! I have an 18" Total in .325 on order and a 16" Husqvarna bar in 3/8". Both should be here this week!!
Somebody is gonna have some fun I love the 16 inch bar on these saws ! Fun little firecracker of a saw !
I haven't even started the 550xp yet, but I did start the 545 (same saw, but detuned), and man it sounds like my old 99 CO 125 dirt bike. Love it!! The 550xp should sound even better, especially after I open her up a little bit
That blue thing a ma jiggy reminds me of a grill blanket for a diesel truck... Looks like a PIA and one more think to lose. I'd much rather have a little shutter on the inside of the air box. Though I almost never use that either. Figure as long as the saw is running right no reason to change anything. Maybe I'm lucky but I've never experienced carb icing and often cut below 15-20.
