Let’s build a Husky 350.

[Spike60]

The 44.3 kit is the best option for these projects. But the original 42mm kit also works nice if you take the skirts off,but I think it's NLA now. I've done about 3 dozen of them, both orange and red. Most went to guys doing tree work, just like you are planning. Only limitation was the supply of homeowner toasted carcasses.

Some history on the muffler bolt problem. This really only appeared when the 350 went from the original 44mm top end to the 45mm 353 cylinder with the dished piston. That kit had some kind of vibration the would spit out the muffler bolts. Happened on the 353 as well, but not as often as on the 350. Really not a problem with the rest of the saws on this chassis.

Other than ditching the gasket and opening up the muffler, I didn't do any other mods. Those kits are great runners out of the box. I still have guys with tired saws asking me to freshen them up. Was unaware of Dukes having one, but I'll have a look. Is his the 44.3 version. I saved a couple OEM kits before we closed, but I'm down to my last 2.

At some point in either 21 or 22 all Husky cylinder prices went through the roof. Many pretty much doubled. Dealer cost on those 346 kits was down in the 60's with retail in the $110-$120 range. That party dure is over, ain't it.

 

[GerbrandR]

If the 346NE (44,3mm) isn't available from OEM, would it be wise to get an OEM 353 cylinder kit? Or would you rather go for an aftermarket 44,3 mm version?

 

[Spike60]

I wouldn't go near the 45mm 350/353 kit in any form. The vibration issue is always going to be present. Plus I don't think there'd be much if any price difference between the 2 OEM kits

I am curious about an AM 44.3 kit. Wonder what the out-of-box squish is on them. That's typically a weak point on most AM kits.

 

[farminkarman]

For my money, I would get the 44.3 top end. Yes, you can improve the 45mm cylinders, but they don't turn out as strong as the 44.3, and as @Spike60 mentions, the heavier piston isn't a good thing. If you have a 45mm and want to run it, then go for it. My idea of a ported worksaw is not the same as everyone else, so keep that in mind. I tend to go the route of giving a 50cc less exhaust duration to make it more forgiving...not racier. That being said, I would do 105-107 on the exhaust, 16 deg blowdown on the primaries and 18 on the secondaries. On the intake, somewhere between 76-78. I should add that I have tried those numbers after cutting 0.040" from the squish band and then setting the squish at 0.020".

 

[Spike60]

Clean and proper. You guys with the all black saws have committed an unforgivable transgression.

 

[thedude74]

The 44.3 kit is the best option for these projects. But the original 42mm kit also works nice if you take the skirts off,but I think it's NLA now. I've done about 3 dozen of them, both orange and red. Most went to guys doing tree work, just like you are planning. Only limitation was the supply of homeowner toasted carcasses.

Some history on the muffler bolt problem. This really only appeared when the 350 went from the original 44mm top end to the 45mm 353 cylinder with the dished piston. That kit had some kind of vibration the would spit out the muffler bolts. Happened on the 353 as well, but not as often as on the 350. Really not a problem with the rest of the saws on this chassis.

Other than ditching the gasket and opening up the muffler, I didn't do any other mods. Those kits are great runners out of the box. I still have guys with tired saws asking me to freshen them up. Was unaware of Dukes having one, but I'll have a look. Is his the 44.3 version. I saved a couple OEM kits before we closed, but I'm down to my last 2.

At some point in either 21 or 22 all Husky cylinder prices went through the roof. Many pretty much doubled. Dealer cost on those 346 kits was down in the 60's with retail in the $110-$120 range. That party dure is over, ain't it.

Interesting that only the 45 mm version had muffler bolt problems. A 346/353 muffler bracket with extra leg cut off appears to work well....so far anyway.

@$45 the dukes 44.3 P&C is only a few bucks more than a 45mm 353 meteor flattop. Anyone have experience with these? They sure look nice.

 

[farminkarman]

Interesting that only the 45 mm version had muffler bolt problems. A 346/353 muffler bracket with extra leg cut off appears to work well....so far anyway.
View attachment 409641
@$45 the dukes 44.3 P&C is only a few bucks more than a 45mm 353 meteor flattop. Anyone have experience with these? They sure look nice.
View attachment 409642

I have machined & ported a couple of the dukes 44.3 top ends. I couldn't tell a difference in performance between them and OEM after porting. Not sure how they run out of the box.

 

[thedude74]

I have machined & ported a couple of the dukes 44.3 top ends. I couldn't tell a difference in performance between them and OEM after porting. Not sure how they run out of the box.

Impressive. Good to know. Doesn't make much sense to mess with the 45mm cylinder and 353 flattop with that option available.