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

[XP_Slinger]

Thanks. I bought it new sometime around 1987or 88

Just spotted this. So what ever your saw has on it is original...very cool

 

[Farmchuck]

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.

Just spotted this. So what ever your saw has on it is original...very cool

thanks for all the information. Guess I should use it a little more often. I got a 2015 550xp & that has been my go to saw for firewood these last few years.

 

[Farmchuck]

Not to get off topic but I’ve never used them side by side. Which one would you guys think would be more powerful? My 254 or 550?

 

[XP_Slinger]

Not to get off topic but I’ve never used them side by side. Which one would you guys think would be more powerful? My 254 or 550?

I don’t know for sure as I don’t own a 550. But I’d put my money on the 254 again

 

[XP_Slinger]

Got rid of the thick gasket in my 254 and made one out of .014 thick material. Brought squish down nice.



Tuned pretty high, four strokes perfect if I lift in the cut. Haven’t touched the ports yet, timing is really nice from the factory. Steady state tune is more like 14.3k, this was just a high spot after a long cut.

 

[Simondo]

Got rid of the thick gasket in my 254 and made one out of .014 thick material. Brought squish down nice.

View attachment 155098

Tuned pretty high, four strokes perfect if I lift in the cut. Haven’t touched the ports yet, timing is really nice from the factory. Steady state tune is more like 14.3k, this was just a high spot after a long cut.

View attachment 155099

You may have seen this before but in case .....Tec sheet that came with the 254-257-262 xp saws.
Sorry about the pic but its the best i can do with my old camera .

 

[XP_Slinger]

You may have seen this before but in case .....Tec sheet that came with the 254-257-262 xp saws.
Sorry about the pic but its the best i can do with my old camera .

View attachment 155105

Thanks for posting Simon! Pic is fine after you zoom in.

I’m going to try 3/8” on mine, experiments are on the horizon lol

 

[Wolverine]

@dustinwilt68 , we need to gtg and test. Rattlered 254 vs DozerDan 357, same b/c and wood.

 

[XP_Slinger]

@dustinwilt68 , we need to gtg and test. Rattlered 254 vs DozerDan 357, same b/c and wood.

You guys might beat me and my brothers to it. I think it would be very interesting.

 

[dustinwilt68]

@dustinwilt68 , we need to gtg and test. Rattlered 254 vs DozerDan 357, same b/c and wood.

We need to make it happen Jason, I will bring out the XPG for that, it's broken in, the new one has a new NOS piston in it,so it will take some time to break in

 

[Magic_Man]

Wow, what a great thread. Just read the whole thing front to back. Now has sparked my interest in trying to find a 254xp to go with my 2xx series 3 saw plan.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Well I just happen to have a little inside intell on some preliminary testing between the BG deleted and ported 357 and the compression modded 254. One of them has a fair bit of ground to make up

 

[huskyboy]

Well I just happen to have a little inside intell on some preliminary testing between the BG deleted and ported 357 and the compression modded 254. One of them has a fair bit of ground to make up

I’m guessing the 254 has some ground to make up?

 

[PA Dan]

I just picked up my 346! Oh does she sound mean!

 

[XP_Slinger]

I’m guessing the 254 has some ground to make up?

Yup. 254 is just under 1 second slower in 12” wood, and its 1.2 seconds slower in a full bar cut. I tested using same 20” bar and 3/8 chain, times were 4 cut average. Some times were closer than the average. In the cut, 357 held 1k more rpm in small wood and 2k more in bigger wood.

I’m actually very impressed with how the 254 pulled the 20” 3/8 and it cut closer to the 357 than I expected it to. That aside, the 357 handily cut faster. Would that small of a difference matter in the field when working? Not too me, but I’m curious how close I can get the 254 to it’s 3-series cousin.

I put a 199 carb on my 254 and halfway through the first test cut my chain lost its bite, frigin dirt pocket. Before the chain went bad the tach showed a gain of about 500 rpm in the cut in the same small wood log.

Next mod is timing advance, followed by some slight port timing adjustments, and I mean slight except for the intake. Most of my time will be concentrated in the lowers.

I don’t know if I can catch he 357, but I’m going to keep making changes and see what the 254 can do up against it.

Much more to follow.....

Starting to think it might be time for another sibling rivalry thread

 

[XP_Slinger]

Wow, what a great thread. Just read the whole thing front to back. Now has sparked my interest in trying to find a 254xp to go with my 2xx series 3 saw plan.

Well worth the hunt my friend. Handles similar to a 346 but with 2-series grunt. My 254 will NEVER leave my keeper shelf.

 

[XP_Slinger]

I just picked up my 346! Oh does she sound mean!

Nice Dan!

 

[Magic_Man]

Would be a perfect addition...

 

[dustinwilt68]

I can say neither of my 254s will leave

 

[Wolverine]

Hoarders..