Now that Huztl is selling a version of the XT, it's no longer off topic to talk about them here. As much as it pains me to agree with Walt, I'd say that an OE 52mm model would have made more sense in the line up. Took me a while to warm up to the XT's myself as far as playing with them goes. Comfortable with them now, so they are an accepted member of the 372 family for me.
Starting: The original deco dropped the compression too much. Likely what's going on with Eric's. Especially bad on a new saw that wasn't broken in. Easier to pull, didn't equate to easier to start. We just told guys to not use the deco. But some older guys needed it. Many saws came in flooded. A weak pull, combined with the early deco could produce a weak initial firing of the saw that the operator wouldn't hear. Then they'd keep pulling it with the choke out. They'd put the saw on the counter with a soaked muffler and the choke lever still out. How many times did you pull it with the choke out? "At least 20" So, some of this is just people being stupid and making it worse. Few years ago they switched to a deco with a smaller hole that didn't drop the compression as much, and we rarely see this problem anymore. It's a $35 deco if you buy that specific part, but any deco or the plug will work.
There have been some carb and coil changes to address this, and the idle issue. Earliest saws were difficult to set the idle, Only the first year or 2. A coil and carb combo at that time mostly solved the problem. Couple more coil changes with the latest being WAY better in all respects. It's not just spark or no spark with these coils. The newest XT coil has different start and advance curves. Saws run better in every way. Start, idle and acceleration all improved. Walt has used them on OE saws, and he can chime in here on that. Some of this coil technology is on the new 550M2 and why it has no deco. Same for the 450 II that has been out a while. The coils fire at a lower RPM. On the 450, I think they went from needing 1400 to 700 for the coil to fire. This is a big deal for people who have a tough time snapping the rope.
The intake gutting thing? I think if you're going to gut the filter holder, you have to do the boot as well. And then knife edge the intake port. I guess do the whole shebang or leave it alone. The only thing I leave in is the divider in the carb. Pulling that allowed the throttle plate to go past center, and that's where I noticed the worst fuel usage. But I'm just playing with these things vs working with them like Mason is. I'm not really watching it closely enough to say much about it either way. But I've done a few of these for local guys and have not heard any fuel gripes.
I know this post is dragging on, typical of me.
But this is the best 372 thread anywhere combining OEM and AM info.
So, a last item. The XT that runs with Walt's Turkey Roaster, was kind of a mistake build. I decided to cut the cylinder skirts down to the transfers like we do on the OE's. Ooops, that exposed the strato cutout in the piston. Figured I ruined the jug, and tossed it on the shelf for 2 years. Was a well used top end, so who cares. Last Fall a wiped 365XT came in. (With a fine bottom end that is apprently so rare 3 hours upstate.)
Decided to stick that "ruined" top end on there for kicks and see what would happen. The dopey thing runs really strong! Need to study that a little more and pay attention to fuel use, and compare to a 2166 build that still has the stock cylinder skirts. (Both saws have the same gasket delete, muffler mod and gutted intake recipe otherwise. )
