What is it?

I wanted to run this by the knowledgeable guys here. I have a Husqvarna 350 that cuts very strong, can not hardly stall it with a full 16" bar. I was cleaning it after cutting and happened to pick it up by the starter cord and it stayed on the floor. Seemed like no compression. Removed the muffler and piston looks like new. no marks on ring either. Could the ring be worn that badly and still cut strong?

 

Decompression button pushed in ?

 

Pawls not engaging.

 

I like that one too !

 

Are we talking low compression (i.e. you can feel the engine turning over slowly but not enough resistance to pick the saw up), or a limp pull cord that only has the resistance of winding the recoil spring?

 

Some huskies have a funky auto de-comp (357's)

 

totally shot, i will give you 50 bucks for the parts......

 

Yes, I can feel the motor slowly turning over, but won't pick up the saw. Decompression not pushed in. Same condition if I block off the decompression valve.

 

If compression is so low that the saw dont even more off the ground I doubt it runs that well?

Put a comp tester. On it.

 

That doesn't sound good although I've never been a believer in the reliability of the "drop test". Start it up and run it - does it feel like it has less power? When you start it, or just rapidly pull the cord does it feel like the compression is lower than you're used to?

If the p&c still look good I don't think you have much to worry about in terms of damage, just don't get too crazy with the pizz revving until you have this figured out. A compression tester sure would be handy!

 

Thanks, Clemsonfor. I will check the compression.

 

Yea if this thing is just pulls the rope out and just rotates the engine it would have to be slap wore out. And I doubt it would run worth a darn

 

Saws can run well on lower compression than any of us will admit is 'acceptable'. I've seen saws that wouldn't pop on 130 psi and others that ran great at 120 psi. I'm not enough of a 2-cycle expert to know why?

 

Yes, everything seems the same as always. I will check compression. Thanks a lot.

 

I had a 372 that would run OK with a scratched piston and cylinder and the ring welded right at the exhaust port. Just would idle wonky and not tune. But cut ok to fine.

 

Amen. You can do a lot with a saw that most "rational" folks would scorn you for even starting. I have two personal examples. I used to have an MS290 that I kept around for my loaner saw. If you pulled the muffler (really wish I had pics) you'd see a piston that was scored to absolute chit with significant damage well into the rings. It still made 140 psi, passed a p/v test, and ran like a champ. After loaning it out to a buddy he begged me to sell it to him. I showed him what was wrong with it and he still wanted the saw. I sold it to him cheap three years ago and he's still running it regularly as his firewood saw. He loves it and says it still runs like a champ.

In 2013 I purchased my first 090 as a known scored saw. It made 150 psi and ran fine when I bought it, and I figured with the level of scoring and how it ran surely I'd be able to clean up the cylinder. When I got it home and pulled it apart I found not only a scored piston, but compromised plating in the cylinder. I posted (on AnotherSite) with some questions about running a scored saw if it ran well, had good compression, and passed a p/v test perfectly with zero leakdown. I got flamed for even thinking about running a scored saw, much less an 090. I quietly walked away from the 'conversation' and did what I always do . . . whatever the hell I wanted.

I did a little cutting with it and then proceeded to take it to a GTG and pushed it hard through several tanks. Ran it hard all day . . . I had blisters on my hands and the tingling from my elbows down didn't stop for a full day!

Here is a shot through the exhaust when I bought the saw. It made 150 psi and passed a p/v test:


Here is a shot through the exhaust after the GTG. It made 150 psi and passed a p/v test:

 

Impressive right there

 

Thats about what that 372 looked like. If I was not watching the CU game I would go take a pic of the piston. I have it sitting on my reloading table for some reason?

 

Push the deco valve in while the saw idling and tell me what hapen