High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys

The Cut Report - After the Bench

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
This thread is to compliment the "What's on your bench thread". Post the results of how your OPE repair went, good and bad. How did your work perform, what worked, what did not. Looking to compare repairs or modifications here, not saw brands etc.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Recently pulled this Poulan 306A off the bench last night for a piston replacement. Took saw out this morning and put it in some newly delivered wood. Did get it four stroking just before the rain started in. Seems to have good compression even with a scored cylinder. Chain needs a trip through the grinder otherwise I think this repair went pretty good considering the circumstances. Engine does seem to pull the 16 inch bar really good, probably could handle a bit more I bet. Well, at least it's back in the useful category which it had not been in for years.

IMG_20161005_095804_947.jpg
 

Simondo

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
3:10 PM
User ID
821
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
3,425
Reaction score
10,659
Location
UK
Recently pulled this Poulan 306A off the bench last night for a piston replacement. Took saw out this morning and put it in some newly delivered wood. Did get it four stroking just before the rain started in. Seems to have good compression even with a scored cylinder. Chain needs a trip through the grinder otherwise I think this repair went pretty good considering the circumstances. Engine does seem to pull the 16 inch bar really good, probably could handle a bit more I bet. Well, at least it's back in the useful category which it had not been in for years.

View attachment 36257
Glad that worked out for you ..give it a tank or two then see if you think it gets a scooch stronger.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Did notice a bit more "Blue" in the exhaust than I normally see with my saws, but I think this is going to be expected with the cylinder suffering this type of wound. This being the only side effect noticed so far. The only other repairs made were a new carburetor kit, fuel lines and filter. Had to put sealant on the gas tank top as I could not find a replacement gasket at the time. Also can not help but think of all the cylinders that were in better shape than this one that I discarded in the past. Could have surely saved some of them with the Mastermind methods I learned here at OPE forums.
Also was interesting(at least to me) to see the different things being tried back when this saw was made like, swirl combustion chamber, reed valve cage straight to crankcase, dual exhaust ports, domed piston with closed end on piston pin to seal it off(goes by exhaust port).
Another interesting note, when talking to my cousin about this over coffee, he replied to me, that it only needs 3/8" minimum to make compression and run. Which it is too late for me to measure where the scoring stopped, but I think it was a bit taller than that by looking at the demolished piston. Guess proof is in the pudding.

IMG_20161004_090141_525.jpg
 

Simondo

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
3:10 PM
User ID
821
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
3,425
Reaction score
10,659
Location
UK
Did notice a bit more "Blue" in the exhaust than I normally see with my saws, but I think this is going to be expected with the cylinder suffering this type of wound. This being the only side effect noticed so far. The only other repairs made were a new carburetor kit, fuel lines and filter. Had to put sealant on the gas tank top as I could not find a replacement gasket at the time. Also can not help but think of all the cylinders that were in better shape than this one that I discarded in the past. Could have surely saved some of them with the Mastermind methods I learned here at OPE forums.
Also was interesting(at least to me) to see the different things being tried back when this saw was made like, swirl combustion chamber, reed valve cage straight to crankcase, dual exhaust ports, domed piston with closed end on piston pin to seal it off(goes by exhaust port).
Another interesting note, when talking to my cousin about this over coffee, he replied to me, that it only needs 3/8" minimum to make compression and run. Which it is too late for me to measure where the scoring stopped, but I think it was a bit taller than that by looking at the demolished piston. Guess proof is in the pudding.

View attachment 36261
Sure is a place full of good folks with plenty of no how.
Think you can lose a bit of compression by way of the score line from just above the trans port ....the volume above the piston may diminish until the ring passes damage of any consequence and some of the volume is fuel charge. Thats my thoughts on it but from what you have said the saw is doing just fine for a old one that parts are not easy to find.
 

jake wells

no longer here
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
294
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
8,302
Reaction score
19,496
Location
ky
poulan 306a parts are still available but it usually takes a month of sundays to get them.
 

MustangMike

Mastermind Approved!
Local time
11:10 AM
User ID
338
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
11,433
Reaction score
35,919
Location
Brewster, NY
Country flag
Recently fixed 4 saws for a local tree guy:

MS460 just needed a tune up, was running poorly due to plug & fuel filter.

MS461 had a broken piston on the intake side. There was debate on this site about what did or did not cause it, but I filed down the impulse nipple before putting it back together.

2 MS660s, one had a rebuilt carb that the shop adjusted the float lever wrong, was only about 1/32 too high, but flooded the engine in the cut. The 2nd one needed a new piston, heat failure on the exhaust side.

Thanks to Randy's method, I was able to restore the two scored cylinders and bring the saws back to life.

All 4 saws got dp muffler covers and had the limiters removed from the carbs, with Hi screws adjusted just over a turn out.

We are going to see if his saws hold up longer with these mods to enable them to run a bit cooler.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Some parts are still available for the 306A, most are not. of the three gaskets I ordered only the base gasket came in the rest were NLA. While the cylinder is listed as available(at least until you actually try and order one), was a bit over what the saw is worth let alone my budget for "fun" type projects. Think I paid $75.00 for a NOS piston and rings(also NLA, and he knew it), adding another $150.00 for a cylinder and having to wait for it while the saw is torn apart just did not sit well with me at the time. Think everything worked out OK for time being as this saw is just another play toy for me in the "antique fleet".
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Great thread. Most of my repairs are fuel system related so nothing special. If I ever get something interesting I'll post it. lol

Please do not think you have to have some crazy example of something to share here. I think you hit the nail on the head here, if fuel related issues are most common, than that should be reflected here. All kinds of people here are at all kinds of different levels. I see people here all the time trying to diagnose fuel problems for the first time in their life. So please feel free to post about any repair, modification, success or failure, mundane or exotic, special and nothing special. Every experience can be learned from.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Today's cut report; not too good! Was cutting the rest of the pile of wood I started yesterday, ran the Poulan 306A with a freshly sharpened chain long enough to be happy with it. So I broke the 272xp back out to "get real" was doing fine cutting and moving wood out of the way for when the splitter comes back. I went to restart the saw and KAPOW! Blew the fargin' muffler apart at the seams. What the...How in the...Oh...Definitely a first for me. Was shooting exhaust up at the top cover so I decided to use lever B and got another saw. Finished last large log with 281xp as I wanted to see how the new skip tooth chain worked. Cut really well even with the 32" bar buried. Problem arose when I pulled it out of a cut, the holes I drilled in the end for a helper handle and auxiliary oiler had the bar hung up being full of chip. Guess a new bar is in order and save the other just for milling.
I still can't believe my 272 is back on the bench, it was running so good...

IMG_20161006_170554_549.jpg
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Gave this MS440 a bit of run today, as well as a few other exercises while it's been hanging around the shop. Saw ran very well, performance expectations just reached and not exceeded. Goal here was a strong running work saw better than stock. Besides the replacement of all the lines filters boot drum and sprocket, carb and so on to get it back in shape, this is what I did. Saw came to me with light scoring on the exhaust side of piston. Cylinder was salvaged as transfer was light, cleaned up well with the Mastermind method. A Meteor piston w/caber rings was used, squish set at .023", ports were smoothed out, port matched and polished. Flywheel key reduced by .010" to advance timing just a tad bit. Muffler was port matched and a dual outlet cover installed. A HD2 air filter from HL supply with a Stihl outer cover was installed. Saw was tuned in the wood before limiter caps were re-installed.
While I'm quite sure this would seem like a conservative approach by most folks here, and it is. Air easy in, air easy out, smooth travel along the way. Something can be said though, that this simplistic approach does have its rewards. No, it won't win cookie cutting races, but then it never will cut them either. Real race here is out in the woods, where I believe this saw will hold its own(at least in these woods, this ain't the PNW). Really does not matter what I think of it, only that the owner is a happy one, that will be the true measure of success.


IMG_20161016_090004_118.jpg
 

P.M.P.

Stiff Member
Local time
11:10 AM
User ID
352
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
12,128
Reaction score
58,685
Location
Michigan
Country flag
Gave this MS440 a bit of run today, as well as a few other exercises while it's been hanging around the shop. Saw ran very well, performance expectations just reached and not exceeded. Goal here was a strong running work saw better than stock. Besides the replacement of all the lines filters boot drum and sprocket, carb and so on to get it back in shape, this is what I did. Saw came to me with light scoring on the exhaust side of piston. Cylinder was salvaged as transfer was light, cleaned up well with the Mastermind method. A Meteor piston w/caber rings was used, squish set at .023", ports were smoothed out, port matched and polished. Flywheel key reduced by .010" to advance timing just a tad bit. Muffler was port matched and a dual outlet cover installed. A HD2 air filter from HL supply with a Stihl outer cover was installed. Saw was tuned in the wood before limiter caps were re-installed.
While I'm quite sure this would seem like a conservative approach by most folks here, and it is. Air easy in, air easy out, smooth travel along the way. Something can be said though, that this simplistic approach does have its rewards. No, it won't win cookie cutting races, but then it never will cut them either. Real race here is out in the woods, where I believe this saw will hold its own(at least in these woods, this ain't the PNW). Really does not matter what I think of it, only that the owner is a happy one, that will be the true measure of success.


View attachment 37563
Nice bar. What does PNW stand for:confundio:
 

jake wells

no longer here
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
294
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
8,302
Reaction score
19,496
Location
ky
solved a fuel leak on the echo 440evl today and cut up a tree replaced the fuel line, filter and tank grommet i got it mostly cut.
till the chain came off,,,, the spur sprocket broke clean in half time to order a new spur or rim drive for it.
the old spur says HERR on it never heard that name before.
 

MustangMike

Mastermind Approved!
Local time
11:10 AM
User ID
338
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
11,433
Reaction score
35,919
Location
Brewster, NY
Country flag
squish set at .023",

How did you set the squish?

On 044 & 440s you can usually delete the base gasket and end up with about 20/1000 squish, and I usually take 20/1000 off the key, which is still conservative.

Deleting the base gasket will: increase compression, reduce the squish, increase the effective length of both the compression and power stroke (the time the piston is above the exhaust port), and increase intake duration.

Conversely, I have never done any port work on a saw.

You can often get them to out perform stock 460s, but ported 460s are another story.
 

Stump Shot

Disciple of Monkey's
GoldMember
Local time
10:10 AM
User ID
1377
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
30,974
Reaction score
193,725
Location
Northwoods of Wisconsin
Country flag
Did not set squish, more like checked it, with AM piston and AM gasket just how it turned out. Was too tight with no gasket, which is where I was originally going. New piston changed everything.
 

Czed

Aluminium Member
Local time
11:10 AM
User ID
568
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
31,933
Reaction score
181,326
Location
Wv
Country flag
I rebuilt a 371 three years ago for a friend meteor and cabers ran excellent for two months and he admitted he leaned it out and smoked the topend even though i cleaned up the husky jug he wanted a bigbore so i got the cheapest chinese kit off ebay 21.00 i think and bought cabers it only had 145 compression new he says it has more power than original it doesn't i ran it both ways and can tell the difference but it's still holding up it surprised me.
 
Top