394, Round #2

[RIDE-RED 350r]

So a couple of years ago, I rebuilt this saw for a friend/local tree service. I found a good used cylinder, replaced crank bearings, seals, gaskets, fuel line, etc. This was the first saw I had ever been into that deep. The saw died on the job awhile back and up to that point had been working well for them for a couple of years. They took it to the local Huskt dealer and were told it had a crank bearing failure. So this leaves me wondering if I did something wrong on assembly that caused a premature failure? Keeping in mind this was my first major overhaul and everything has a learning curve. I have since gotten much better at bottom end assembly, but I don't recall any signs that I did it wrong back then. Crank rolled normal, etc.

So, I'm about to go dig in #1, verify it in fact needs crank bearings and #2, see if I can determine the cause of the failure if that's the case.

I'll post up some pics when I get her torn down. Heading to the garage now...

 

[Mkinslow]

Thay could be right, but I wouldn't put too much faith in the local shops around here being right. They usually price repairs so high, it sounds better to the customer to just buy a new saw.

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[Deets066]

Could maybe just be a crank seal

 

[huskyboy]

Tree service? Probably nothing you did wrong. The ones around here usually destroy everything within a matter year or so wether it’s a 660 or 550xp. I bet it was run with a dull chain and crappy mix gas by everyone but the owner. It probably paid for itself many times over anyway... they look at it as a tool that can be replaced.

 

[srcarr52]

Why did they take it to the dealer? No start, acting funny?

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Shaun, I believe the saw died and woulw not restart. And you guys are right, shop rate makes having them do the repair not very cost effective for the tree service owner. He is a well established and very reputable/certified/insured business but he's not huge.

Piston and cylinder still looks very serviceable. Most of those lines visible in the pic is oil.

PTO crank bearing looks toasty. The dealer shop pulled the crank seal on that side to expose the bearing.

I do have the seal, doesn't look bad visually that I can see.

Sorry about the seal pics, tough to get a good pic of it

 

[Wolverine]

Were they good bearings?

I had the no restart for a while. Most times while milling. Ended up being a used up coil.

 

[srcarr52]

Must be a low top, bearings look dirty but probably still ok. Seal looks fine.

 

[redline4]

Is the rubber on the seal hard? Or still soft?

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Actually she's a high top. Bearings were OEM, can't recall what brand. I'll be getting a set of SKF bearings and OEM seals for it. The seal still seems pliable but I'm replacing.

To be continued tomorrow, as per usual for me the 394 flywheel is resistant to the brass punch. Going to take the bottom end to work with me tomorrow where we have pullers that I have used to pop stubborn 394 flywheels. I'll give the parts a bath and split the case there.

To be continued....

 

[Wolverine]

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Well daggum, that's an interesting puller

 

[Mkinslow]

Don't know if it's me or the picture (picture of bearing) but is the bearing sitting to far out toward the lip of the case?

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[RIDE-RED 350r]

No Sir, it's recessed. It does look that way in the pic though doesn't it.

 

[Mkinslow]

One shop close to where I work charges $65 per hour.

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[Mkinslow]

No Sir, it's recessed. It does look that way in the pic though doesn't it.

That's good. Yeah no matter which way I looked at it, it looked like it had walked out.

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[Deets066]

Bearing that still turns won’t cause the saw not to start

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Bearing that still turns won’t cause the saw not to start

I hear ya, I kinda wonder if someone was flushing off a stump with a rocked chain or something like that and got too much heat to the PTO seal?? Bearing definitely looks crusty and gray, but it does still turn. But then again if that seal leaked bad enough to cause it to die, it seems like there would be visible damage to it.

Hoping to know more once I split the case tomorrow, otherwise this is just guesswork.

 

[Fruecrue]

Big end rod bearing all good?

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Won't know for sure till I get the case split tomorrow and have a close look. As of now it feels tight and looks good. Also, no damage anywhere that would suggest bearing material flying around inside.