All Things 288XP

[XP_Slinger]

Always happy to help, especially if a kid is involved, all I ask is you do a build thread again, parts will be at cost

Thanks Dustin! I feel like I should send you a kidney or something to repay your generosity...lol! I would absolutely do another build thread. I enjoy reading other builds and it's even more fun when it's on my own bench. Next time I'll do more detail of the assembly process for readers who may not be as experienced as the group that was following this thread ( i.e. Installed flywheel, coil and shroud, routed coil wires, set the coil gap). Kinda lay it out in chronological order accompanied by progressive pics of the build. I feel like I rushed finishing this thread a little because I had things going on after I got done with the saw but I wanted get the pics posted. Next time will be better.

 

[XP_Slinger]

Which anti vibes did you end up going with?

Rubber AV mounts all around. I added the 2 front mounts in the build process. I think I'm gonna like how it feels.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yeah it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the saw going together and forgetting to take a few pics along the way.

I know I had fun during this build, I didn't do a heck of alot other than torment you with the shop vac! But it was fun. I've still got the itch to do another one myself, but what to build!!

 

[XP_Slinger]

Yeah it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the saw going together and forgetting to take a few pics along the way.

I know I had fun during this build, I didn't do a heck of alot other than torment you with the shop vac! But it was fun. I've still got the itch to do another one myself, but what to build!!

Yeah had I not had pressure to get by the camp fire I would've done a better job with the thread updates. And you did enough to keep me on track and make sure I didn't screw up assembling the cases. I think you should build a classic

 

[XP_Slinger]

Oh yeah i love that sound. Only one saw i know of makes that sound. And u spelled it right!

Hell yeah man it sounds nice! IMO the only saw I think comes close to it is my 357. Definitely not as deep in tone but it has a very nice sounding "crackling ting" to it its idle. This video is my son running it for the first time in his young life.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yeah had I not had pressure to get by the camp fire I would've done a better job with the thread updates. And you did enough to keep me on track and make sure I didn't screw up assembling the cases. I think you should build a classic

I'm still flopping around between a 254, 281, and 390. 242 would be cool as hell, but......parts sourcing.

Gotta do that 55 with the boy first though. I'm thinking one of the more descent AM kits might be the way to go, thinking Hutzl or Hiway. HLS has the Hiway kits for $90. Less $$$ and a good teaching opportunity.

 

[Onan18]

I'm still flopping around between a 254, 281, and 390. 242 would be cool as hell, but......parts sourcing.

Gotta do that 55 with the boy first though. I'm thinking one of the more descent AM kits might be the way to go, thinking Hutzl or Hiway. HLS has the Hiway kits for $90. Less $$$ and a good teaching opportunity.

OEM is $100

 

[dustinwilt68]

I like the idea of adding detail, I have a bunch of 281 P&C not sure how good they are but if you want them ride red 350 send me a PM I think I have atleast 3.

 

[XP_Slinger]

I like the idea of adding detail, I have a bunch of 281 P&C not sure how good they are but if you want them ride red 350 send me a PM I think I have atleast 3.

Take offs from 288 builds? The 281 cylinder I have MAY be salvageable, gotta give it the drill and sand paper treatment to see how it cleans up.

 

[dustinwilt68]

Yep all from 288 builds, just looking for shipping on them

 

[XP_Slinger]

@RIDE-RED 350r ^^^^^

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Onan18: I honestly didn't even look up OEM P/C kit prices yet. Good to know they are that cheap, as I have noticed some OEM kits really didn't come down much or at all.

Dustin: I may take you up on that. As I did just a little bit of cutting up of a dead spruce for the campfire today at my son's 13th birthday party, (using my "beater" 359 I salvaged) I started thinking harder about it being pretty cool to do a 281. Brother's 288 roaring to life last night helped too Let me get back to you later this week.

 

[dustinwilt68]

If you need some other parts, I can help you out as well.

 

[XP_Slinger]

It's test n tune day. I checked compression out of curiosity yesterday and it's at 185psi. Very surprised and happy with that number with squish being at a fat .032. Still have some 20+inch hard maple logs to cut up, should be a good first meal for my 288. I'll post a video later today.
Glad to hear you're wanting to do a classic @RIDE-RED 350r. Cool thing is if you decide you want a 288 you can just swap the top end and presto! Going to be another fun build.

Edited to add compression info

 

[XP_Slinger]

Made my first cuts in hard maple. I left the tune a little rich for break in, readily 4-strokes when I lift in the cut. Checked it with a tach out of curiosity and it's piss revving to 12.5k. Let me just say that I now completely understand why there is a fan club for the 288XP. It really doesn't feel like I'm carrying much more weight than my 372!?!? The vibes aren't bad and I really like how much more rigid it feels with the additional mounts up front. But the best part is the wiiiiiiiiide power band. It'll hold high rpm while cutting but will take some major abuse while prying with the dogs. In the third cut in the video I pried much harder than I normally would just to see what it had for torque and damn does it have torque. I am flat out impressed with this saw and couldn't be happier with it. I am officially, whole heartedly "in the club". Looking to the future I'm betting a properly ported 288 is a force to be reckoned with. Still gonna leave it stock for a while though. Well, except for the base gasket, that's staying out...lol

 

[Onan18]

Made my first cuts in hard maple. I left the tune a little rich for break in, readily 4-strokes when I lift in the cut. Checked it with a tach out of curiosity and it's piss revving to 12.5k. Let me just say that I now completely understand why there is a fan club for the 288XP. It really doesn't feel like I'm carrying much more weight than my 372!?!? The vibes aren't bad and I really like how much more rigid it feels with the additional mounts up front. But the best part is the wiiiiiiiiide power band. It'll hold high rpm while cutting but will take some major abuse while prying with the dogs. In the third cut in the video I pried much harder than I normally would just to see what it had for torque and damn does it have torque. I am flat out impressed with this saw and couldn't be happier with it. I am officially, whole heartedly "in the club". Looking to the future I'm betting a properly ported 288 is a force to be reckoned with. Still gonna leave it stock for a while though. Well, except for the base gasket, that's staying out...lol

HOORAY 288!

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I made a couple cuts with it and I get why that saw is so loved now. Very strong saw even in mostly stock form!

 

[DSS]

HOORAY 288!

I been saying that for years [emoji106]

 

[XP_Slinger]

Did a little playin around after cutting a bunch of firewood today. The 288 is obviously on its first tank of fuel tuned a little rich for break in at 12.3k no load. 372 is fully ported tuned to 14.3k no load. Cut times are so close between the two that the variation in the log dictates which is faster. The log is half dead white ash, very hard and it's about 20" in diameter at its widest point. I have a new respect for my porting on the 372, hanging with even a stock 288 is impressive to me. But it still can't lug like that 288 can and that's where the displacement advantage really shows up.

 

[Swedish_445]

I finished my 288xp lite build almost a year ago and absolutely love it! I did a little work smoothing the ports and polished exhaust but didnt modify much. Opened existing muffler port and also forgot to install the base gasket. I plugged my decomp, but it definitely takes some muscle to pull over. If i get much older, ill likely reinstall. I think youd be quite pleased with some mild port work, but the 288 is a horse regardless. One of those saws that'll put a smile or occasionally a bit of fear on any face. Nice build/thread. Just curious, did you alter the compartment separator for the intake? My first assembly attempt resulted in intake leak because removing the base gasket dropped the jug just enough to throw things off. trimmed the separator and all was good.