346oe...not cool at all

[trooney]

I thought I might get someones attention with that title!! Really, its not the saw, not yet anyhow haven't ran it, its the new clip that attaches the intake to the intake port. Really poor design. I don't know if I have it on correctly but it seems real loose. Should I go with a stihl intake clamp? Before I do I thought that I would put it out there to see what I'm doing.

 

[Adirondackstihl]

Well ya need to take the metal o-ring off

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

If you have a stihl clamp then use it. If you don't then order one.
I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason this clamp is used is to cut down on cost at the manufacturer level. Not a cheaper clamp, but faster through the assembly line with a snap on part.

 

[Cut4fun]

Needs to snap together. Take that ring off, like others said.

See the male part put it in the female part of the clamp and squeeze.

 

[cus_deluxe]

Yeah those are a binch to get snapped together. Ive just fought with wm and eventually they snap together. Ive heard of other options but never used any

 

[Stihlbro]

What they said........ I think the closing part need to bring the 10 o clock position to clear crank case.

 

[trooney]

Well ya need to take the metal o-ring off

Ahhhh..I'm slow in the uptake but I've got it now!! Lol Wow. What a design. Thanks. I'll go out and try it and see what I think. A little bit confusing...why have that little metal ring in the first place....

 

[trooney]

What they said........ I think the closing part need to bring the 10 o clock position to clear crank case.

Thanks again!!

 

[trooney]

Its fixed. After fuc*** with it for 10 minutes I finally got it to close. What a PIA.

 

[old guy]

That little ring will keep it from getting away while you work with it

 

[Wolverine]

Put a screw clamp on it Be easier next time.

 

[RI Chevy]

I have to replace my plastic OEM clamp on my Husqvarna 345. I guess the only way to change it out is to take the saw apart and remove the jug. Gotta be a better design.

 

[RI Chevy]

@trooney Did you replace the rubber intake boot as well, or just the clamp?

 

[sunfish]

Those snap clamps are easy once you've done a few.

 

[Cut4fun]

I learned to use a set of needle nose locking pliers. Easy peasy then.

 

[trooney]

@trooney Did you replace the rubber intake boot as well, or just the clamp?

I replaced the rubber intake boot. It had 2 small depressions on the bottom where the rubber was rubbing on something, probably the impulse. So basically I have a whole new intake. Yeah, I think I am going to take it off and put a stihl clamp on it. No matter which way I go I dont get a warm and fuzzy about the intake setup on this saw....

 

[RI Chevy]

Thank you sir

 

[trooney]

Put a screw clamp on it Be easier next time.

I have you to blame for this!!!! Lol

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I have replaced (read: had epic battles consisting of all forms or cursing known to man and a few made-up words to boot) those clamps 4 or times now... I HATE those feckin things! I almost always end up bending the snap latches out of shape and having a fight to get them back the way they should be....I get how they are supposed to work, I can just never get them to snap together without a fight..

Screw type clamps for me from now on...

 

[Mattyo]

Check my YouTube channel for 346 XP build videos I believe I have gone over how to put this clamp together

You can make it easier to snap together By grinding On one of the Edges.... the idea is to make it not such a hard transition to snap

You just need a Dremel tool or an angle grinder I've also figured out that lineman's Pliers are probably the best tool for putting this together you cannot put this together with the motor still attached to this all you have to take a cylinder head off put the intake on and then put the cylinder back down

Once this clamp is snapped together you can use a set of channel locks 2 Maneuver the ring so it does not interfere or bind when you attempt to put the cylinder head back down