In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Husqvarna Autotune software

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by haveissues, Nov 7, 2015.

  1. cnice_37

    cnice_37

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,205
    Likes Received:
    14,192
    Location:
    SE Mass
    Take 4 left turns, that should straighten you back out.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn, M2theB and 4 others like this.
  2. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    I like how the Stihls start. Push the switch all the way down and pull until it freakin' starts. Simplest I've ever seen on a saw. I've messed with a couple AT Huskies and I hear what you're saying.

    And they should run just fine with a standard carb. Most of the Stihls have not MT versions of the same engine that were either released in other countries or were prior models to the current line-up.
     
  3. CNE deer

    CNE deer

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2013
    Messages:
    699
    Likes Received:
    2,562
    Location:
    ohio
    This is so beyond me but very interesting:loco: :crazy:
     
    amateur cutter, barns1, Horkn and 2 others like this.
  4. Oldman47

    Oldman47

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2015
    Messages:
    1,798
    Likes Received:
    6,499
    Location:
    Illinois
    I can start my old school Stihl 026 but it takes a sharp ear to hear that first burp or I flood it. My Husky 555 with the autotune is a breeze. One or 2 pulls and even if I don't hear it I can see the compression release has popped up. Take it off choke and the next pull it is running. I'll take the "modern technology" every time.
     
  5. mdavlee

    mdavlee

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2013
    Messages:
    4,380
    Likes Received:
    10,478
    I never had a problem with the AT on the 576 or 550. Started easy as quick as my regular carb saws.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn, M2theB and 4 others like this.
  6. haveissues

    haveissues

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    2,060
    Location:
    Hudson Valley
    My AT saws start right up also. You just need to set high idle when they are warm but they start right up.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn and M2theB like this.
  7. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,142
    Likes Received:
    57,502
    Location:
    IN
    When my 362 is warm you just pull the rope once and it starts. Don't even need to set the switch.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn, M2theB and 2 others like this.
  8. cnice_37

    cnice_37

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,205
    Likes Received:
    14,192
    Location:
    SE Mass
    Really? I don't set the switch to high idle on mine for warm re-start. Do I need to rtfm? :whistle:
     
  9. Oldman47

    Oldman47

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2015
    Messages:
    1,798
    Likes Received:
    6,499
    Location:
    Illinois
    It couldn't hurt. If I am restarting within a couple of minutes I just pull the cord but if it has been sitting aside for 5 or 10 minutes the high idle gives a more consistent first pull start.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn and M2theB like this.
  10. dgeesaman

    dgeesaman

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2014
    Messages:
    662
    Likes Received:
    1,952
    Location:
    Elizabethtown, PA
    I get what you're saying, but my 3 standard carb saws start predictably and warm start on the first pull too. So I'm not sold on electronic tuning either way.

    David
     
  11. scooby074

    scooby074

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2014
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    142
    This could be awesome for us AT owners. Subscribed.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn and M2theB like this.
  12. radio

    radio

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    173
    Location:
    SoNH
    Has anyone make progress on reverse engineering the interface?

    I recently heard from a dealer that the autotune software is useless for consumers because Husqvarna now requires the software to log into the Husky dealer website to function.

    Being an EE and a Ham Radio operator I am used to reverse engineering software protocols and building hardware interfaces. Just need a place to start.
     
    amateur cutter, Horkn and M2theB like this.
  13. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,523
    Likes Received:
    25,467
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    I have to wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just drive the OEM hardware with a replacement control module that would bypass the OEM module. You would give up access to the OEM data-logging but gain total control over the fuel and ignition functions.
     
  14. JeffInNH

    JeffInNH

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    18
    Location:
    New Hampshire
    I've run into the same issue. I bought the Diagnostic Tool and I can't find a copy of the CST and even if I had it I don't have a computer that can run it.

    I have a Mac and a Linux machine.

    I took apart the Diag tool and it's pretty simple inside.

    There's a FTDI USB to RS232 chip (at TTL level) connected to an Atmega164P 8-bit microcontroller and some output hardware. Not much else.... all the components are on the top of the board and it appears to be only a 2 layer PCB, but I haven't checked closely.
    Datasheets are available on the mfg websites.

    I'll pin the thing out and draw up a schematic later. The hard part is the protocol (as someone said). I have some ideas on how to deal with that... but its very labor intensive.

    I also haven't figured out what interface the saw per-se uses... with only 3 pins... well, its unclear to me what would make sense there. I have to do some poking around.

    It would be really nice if Husqvarna published an ICD for that interface. I don't know why companies consider this proprietary or whatever.

    If I have to face this kind of dealer-lock-in-money-suck it is basically a deal killer .... I will never buy another product of theirs.

    There's a reason I own a Kubota instead of a Deere and didn't even look at one. Deere is the worst for dealer repair lock-in.
     
  15. M2theB

    M2theB

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2017
    Messages:
    2,989
    Likes Received:
    19,074
    Location:
    Central Massachusetts
    Hello
    Welcome aboard
    I’ll keep that in mind if I find myself tractor shopping
    Good to know
     
    amateur cutter and Horkn like this.
  16. Lastmohecken

    Lastmohecken

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2020
    Messages:
    876
    Likes Received:
    3,732
    Location:
    Arkansas
    This thread has convinced me that I won't be getting a computerized Husky. Too complicated and too much trouble just to run a small engine and pull a chain around a grooved bar. I will say though that I am beginning to like my little Stihl 261 CM, and once I learned the right way to start it, I find it to be very user friendly on the starting up, etc. But that is as far I ever want to go on electronics to run small engines.
     
    amateur cutter and M2theB like this.
  17. M2theB

    M2theB

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2017
    Messages:
    2,989
    Likes Received:
    19,074
    Location:
    Central Massachusetts
    I think you’ve already crossed the line with the Mtronic

    And I agree, except for legacy known issue on a vintage of the 550XP, I find them very user friendly
     
    amateur cutter likes this.
  18. Sinngetreu

    Sinngetreu

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2014
    Messages:
    1,235
    Likes Received:
    3,943
    Location:
    North Central Iowa
    I like to cut wood. My chainsaw go BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. :saw:
     
    Creekin, amateur cutter and CNE deer like this.
  19. eko

    eko

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    220
    Location:
    kentucky
    I would guess the 3 wires are Rx , Tx , and ground. Protocol is probably logic level UART.
    I would watch the signals with a scope to determine the baud rate. If it logic level signals you need to get it back to RS-232 levels
    so you can connect to a PC running something like realterm.

    SparkFun RS232 Shifter - SMD - PRT-00449 - SparkFun Electronics
    Need this is the signals are logic level.

    RealTerm: Serial/TCP Terminal

    Realterm can log the entire data exchange if you set it up correctly.

    Be prepared for the possibility that there is a basic encryption on the communications. If you find that sending the same request repeatedly causes different data to be exchanged each time then this is likely the reason.
     
    dgeesaman and amateur cutter like this.
  20. JeffInNH

    JeffInNH

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    18
    Location:
    New Hampshire
    What I haven't thought through is how the chip on the saw is powered if there are only three lines: Tx, Rx and Ground. Presumably its powered by the saw when the engine is running, but its unclear to me how long it could run w/o a super cap or battery or external power while you are trying to talk to it.

    I also don't know yet if its 1.8v, 3.3v, 5v or RS232 (-12 to -25 swing).

    There are ways to power via logic lines, but that's pretty atypical. I'll know more as I dig into the board.

    If someone has a spare auto-tune carb that they want to sacrifice to the cause, I'm more than happy to take that apart and see what the electronics on-board look like.