346NE vs 254XP vs 55CP...Sibling Rivalry. Results are in!!!!

[XP_Slinger]

Those are great points!
I did a little web sleuthing and the following numbers were obtained
Husqvarna 346xp : listed at 5 kg = 11 lbs 1 oz (picture on a scale online shows PHO of OE/NE is 11lbs 4 oz, and 11 lbs 7 oz for e-tech)
Husqvarna 254xp : listed as 11 lbs 9 oz dry from an old product page hosted at FHC (would love to get an actual weight pic)
Husqvarna 357xp : listed as 12 lbs 1 oz

The displacement of the 254xp is really right between the two 3-series saws, and so is the weight.

I don’t really see a loser in that field, all of these saws are just plain fun to run and won’t wear a feller out. Thanks for posting these details.

 

[dustinwilt68]

Of all the saws listed the 346 is probably the favorite of most, I will take the 254 anyday

 

[XP_Slinger]

Of all the saws listed the 346 is probably the favorite of most, I will take the 254 anyday

100% agree. How does your rattler’d 254 run compared to an equally built 357 Dustin? I have my own suspicions but am curious since you have a built up 254.

 

[Farmchuck]

254, year 87, OEM jug, thin ring piston, 0,4mm gasket, 020" squish, pretty much close to stock with a 0,5mm gasket, but those jugs had a very little compression chamber......
View attachment 114172

I like them just as much as I like 262's....maybe a tad more also.
View attachment 114173

Except those 4, there is two other Mahle out there, and one KS with decomp:
View attachment 114174
The one who gives this insane compression is stamped the same as the one left bottom, 86.

How could I find out if my 254 is one of the stronger ones? The serial number on it is

 

[XP_Slinger]

View attachment 155009 View attachment 155010
How could I find out if my 254 is one of the stronger ones? The serial number on it is

Compression test would tell you in a hurry. Nice looking 254!

 

[Farmchuck]

Compression test would tell you in a hurry. Nice looking 254!

Thanks. I bought it new sometime around 1987or 88

 

[Farmchuck]

I don’t own a compression tester.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

It was built in '87, so that jives. Nice 254

 

[Farmchuck]

It was built in '87, so that jives. Nice 254

Thank you sir.

 

[Farmchuck]

How U can tell it was born in 87?

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

View attachment 155009 View attachment 155010
How could I find out if my 254 is one of the stronger ones? The serial number on it is

Serial number tag. First number 7 indicates year, in this case 1987. Judging by your recoil badge I inferred 87 and not 97. Not sure if the 254 was still in production in 97, but if it were it would have the large later style recoil badge.

Next two numbers is the week it was produced, last four numbers is unit number than week.

So on your case, 1987, week 32, unit 513

 

[mdavlee]

Serial number tag. First number 7 indicates year, in this case 1987. Judging by your recoil badge I inferred 87 and not 97. Not sure if the 254 was still in production in 97, but if it were it would have the large later style recoil badge.

Next two numbers is the week it was produced, last four numbers is unit number than week.

So on your case, 1987, week 32, unit 513

1997 has 1997 on the tag. Black tags started in 1987

 

[Tor R]

View attachment 155009 View attachment 155010
How could I find out if my 254 is one of the stronger ones? The serial number on it is

SE 7 39 0091
SG 7 40 0209
So you should have the golden jug as long they did not change to jug later on your saw. If so, the piston should have a 1mm thick ring.

My winter project is one 254 XPG year 99, will use my last thin ring cylinder for that task.

 

[Tor R]

1997 has 1997 on the tag. Black tags started in 1987

that is correct, belive the 1986 tag was a shiny one

 

[Derf]

I think they made the 254xp until at least 1999.

Any info on parts for it going NLA yet? It is getting to the end of the product support lifecycle and you might want to consider stocking up while you can. In a few years the parts will be worth their weight in gold if you can find them to keep these beauties running.

 

[Tor R]

I think they made the 254xp until at least 1999.

Any info on parts for it going NLA yet? It is getting to the end of the product support lifecycle and you might want to consider stocking up while you can. In a few years the parts will be worth their weight in gold if you can find them to keep these beauties running.

2001, I got one of them!

Some think I'm solely a 242 guy, well I got some of them, belive its 5×42, will be 9×242 when im done with them, and 3×246.
But I also fancy 254, when I'm done with them it will be 5×254. I'm one who belive Husly left alot on the table for us us improve, wouldnt be surprised if a ported 254 is up with a ported 357.

254 and NLA, the two last 2xx standing will be 288 and 254

 

[dustinwilt68]

I have had booth ported 357 and a 254, I still prefer the 254, I consider it one of my 3 most impressive saws I own, so much so I sent him a second 254 to port the same way last week. I do have a 2156 that I plan to get ported also.

 

[mdavlee]

that is correct, belive the 1986 tag was a shiny one

Yes shiny silver

 

[Farmchuck]

SE 7 39 0091
SG 7 40 0209
So you should have the golden jug as long they did not change to jug later on your saw. If so, the piston should have a 1mm thick ring.

My winter project is one 254 XPG year 99, will use my last thin ring cylinder for that task.

My 254 is 100% stock, I doubt it has more than 25-30 tanks of fuel thru it. When you say golden jug is that the better one? Also when you say as long as they didn’t change it later on are you referring to the factory? Sorry These may seem like stupid questions but I’m not that familiar with that stuff.

 

[XP_Slinger]

My 254 is 100% stock, I doubt it has more than 25-30 tanks of fuel thru it. When you say golden jug is that the better one? Also when you say as long as they didn’t change it later on are you referring to the factory? Sorry These may seem like stupid questions but I’m not that familiar with that stuff.

No stupid questions here my friend. Yes, Tor is referring to an early cylinder that had an incredibly small combustion chamber and made over 200psi in stock form. For us saw nerds that’s a “golden” thing to possess...lol! More powa!!!!

And you are correct in assuming he was referring to the factory using a different cylinder. This was said because no one really knows when or why they stopped using the small chamber cylinder. All that is known is that they came on first year production saws like yours. Who knows when they stopped installing them or whether they had 2 different cylinders in 87. What you discover about your cylinder will provide another bread crumb for narrowing this down.

There’s also the possibility that it’s had a top end change over its life unless you’ve had it since new and can confirm that it hasn’t.