Husqvarna battery saw fix

[HumBurner]

That inertia break is on almost all pro saws and it’s there for a reason. It may save your butt some day.

I did some looking around this morning, and what I found confirms what you're saying. This is 25-35year old tech.

All that aside, I've still never had a saw stop on its own from kickback or dropping/rolling. The back of my left hand is positioned and ready to be able to hit the brake with the lightest flick of the wrist. Maybe I trip the brake at the same time or before the inertia activation....? I'm also applying forward/downward pressure in the events I'm cutting at or above face-height, so that if it does kickback, I can stop the saw before it hits my face.


It's interesting Husqy has chosen to use this as a selling point/highlight on the resource page. Maybe they ditched the damned brake-sensor?

 

[livemusic]

Check the video, maybe you get the answer.

Well, I am back after a long hiatus! I watched it, thanks for the video. Not sure what I learned! But what the saw does when he cuts the cookies in the locust, that is what my problem is. It just stops like it's binding up. He seems to note that this happens if he dogs into the cut. I guess he means that if he lets the saw just cut with little pressure, it does not bind / bog down?

At the very end of the video, he puts the clutch cover from the 542 onto the 540 and notes that it's a bigger gap. But I'm not sure that chips clogging up was causing the issue of cutting the locust. I guess I will have to watch it again! If the clutch covers solves it, then there's the fix. Assuming I can get the part.

I have the .325 nano bar/chain that came with the saw.

Again, this seems a flaw. I guess I have probably already complained that Husky should provide a free fix, lol. I'll have to spend close to $100 if the clutch cover is the culprit. (I think it is part number 536885801, 536 88 58-01.)

 

[ZERO]

Most likely the overload protection kicking in.

The oregon speed cut nano does well with these saws.

I took the inspiration from our good friend Richard Flagg and did a 1/4 pitch conversion. Could not be happier.

In my world of dirty muddy wood, I do prefer the direct sprocket drive.

 

[livemusic]

Most likely the overload protection kicking in.

The oregon speed cut nano does well with these saws.

I took the inspiration from our good friend Richard Flagg and did a 1/4 pitch conversion. Could not be happier.

In my world of dirty muddy wood, I do prefer the direct sprocket drive.

View attachment 480474

Thanks for replying, you say 'overload protection kicking in,' is there anything I could do about that?

What did you mean by your direct drive statement? Are you referring to Husqvarna coming out with battery saws with a clutch?

Do/did you not notice what I described when using your saw? If not, any idea why not? I just wish I could fix mine. And now wonder about the aforementioned saws with a clutch. I think I saw that the new 542 and the 550 have a clutch. I am thinking that is an alternative to direct drive for more torque. Do you think they did it due to the problem I have?

 

[MS261CM]

<snip> is there anything I could do about that? <snip>

Keep the cooling screen clean, chain sharp and cut with lighter pressure. Likely in that order.

 

[ZERO]

To be fair to Husky, both the 540 and 542 cut out under load.
Each saw behaves differently: the generational difference between the two.
The 540 cuts out completely due to the direct drive sprocket off the shaft, otherwise the motor/battery would burn out.
The 542 a clutch systems cuts out and tries to re-engage, can do since the clutch dis-engages when the motor cuts out.

Then both saws cut out, under load with bucking spikes which tells me the operator had to be pressing hard.
Operator does mention using bio-degradable oil that sticks really hard, hence the cover chip build up.
It hardens the drive links and probably bar rail grooves along with the sprocket nose causing additional resistance.

If we back up a step, we have to look at our overall cutting experience be it good or bad, it is a three piece pie.
1. Understanding the five fundamentals that work together to make a chain cut.
2. Sharpening/setting a chain for a specific fiber to be cut.
3. Operator skill level.

In the video, as most of us do, we sharpen/set a chain and expect it to work in all applications.
#1 fails, it seems to be a stock chain, one has to understand what a stock chain does.
#2 fails, cuts fine in soft wood, but the chain is not set up correctly for the hard species, thus it overloads the saw.
#3 fails, soft wood both saw powers through, he too is surprised, no dogging in. Maybe he is impatient how hard wood cuts and is pushing too much on the saw.

I run both 10"/12" set up depending on what I cut.
10" hard wood stumps are not a problem, cut flush with the ground.
Knotty logs that a splitter will not touch for the stove, both cut and cross-cut, no problems.
Using the original BLI200 battery with the green cells.

 

[livemusic]

To be fair to Husky, both the 540 and 542 cut out under load.
Each saw behaves differently: the generational difference between the two.
The 540 cuts out completely due to the direct drive sprocket off the shaft, otherwise the motor/battery would burn out.
The 542 a clutch systems cuts out and tries to re-engage, can do since the clutch dis-engages when the motor cuts out.

Then both saws cut out, under load with bucking spikes which tells me the operator had to be pressing hard.
Operator does mention using bio-degradable oil that sticks really hard, hence the cover chip build up.
It hardens the drive links and probably bar rail grooves along with the sprocket nose causing additional resistance.

If we back up a step, we have to look at our overall cutting experience be it good or bad, it is a three piece pie.
1. Understanding the five fundamentals that work together to make a chain cut.
2. Sharpening/setting a chain for a specific fiber to be cut.
3. Operator skill level.

In the video, as most of us do, we sharpen/set a chain and expect it to work in all applications.
#1 fails, it seems to be a stock chain, one has to understand what a stock chain does.
#2 fails, cuts fine in soft wood, but the chain is not set up correctly for the hard species, thus it overloads the saw.
#3 fails, soft wood both saw powers through, he too is surprised, no dogging in. Maybe he is impatient how hard wood cuts and is pushing too much on the saw.

I run both 10"/12" set up depending on what I cut.
10" hard wood stumps are not a problem, cut flush with the ground.
Knotty logs that a splitter will not touch for the stove, both cut and cross-cut, no problems.
Using the original BLI200 battery with the green cells.

Thanks again for your reply. You have same 540iXP as me but you use 10" or 12" bar? As I said in the OP, I bought a 16" and that was because after inquiring about the saw being strong enough for 16" prior to purchasing, was assured that it is. Heck, maybe for pine but it sure seems to me that it is NOT strong enough for hardwood. This is discouraging because this and saw and batteries was expensive and I bought it at a sale price! I'm disappointed in Husky about this saw.

Do you think I should get a shorter bar? And how do you set a chain for hardwood different from a common sharpening?

 

[TreeHunter]

Thanks again for your reply. You have same 540iXP as me but you use 10" or 12" bar? As I said in the OP, I bought a 16" and that was because after inquiring about the saw being strong enough for 16" prior to purchasing, was assured that it is. Heck, maybe for pine but it sure seems to me that it is NOT strong enough for hardwood. This is discouraging because this and saw and batteries was expensive and I bought it at a sale price! I'm disappointed in Husky about this saw.

Do you think I should get a shorter bar? And how do you set a chain for hardwood different from a common sharpening?

Did you run it in hardwood and have a bad time? I have a 16" bar on mine and with the chain set up correctly, sharp and depth gauges set correctly the saw works great. If its too aggressive or on a soft wood setting its going to be more difficult to manage.

 

[ZERO]

From the true experts that run a 325 all day long.

Randy from Guiltyoftreeson
Damian and August from the August Hunicke
Reg Coates
Veteran Tree Servive

The stock husky chain that comes with these is nothing to rave about.

You can try the speed cut nano and see if anything changes. The pros mentioned above run them all day long.

I run mine with the faster 9 tooth 1/4 pitch sprocket. Thus far no issues, for me, unification of all my top handles under the 1/4 pitch umbrella.

 

[livemusic]

From the true experts that run a 325 all day long.

Randy from Guiltyoftreeson
Damian and August from the August Hunicke
Reg Coates
Veteran Tree Servive

The stock husky chain that comes with these is nothing to rave about.

You can try the speed cut nano and see if anything changes. The pros mentioned above run them all day long.

I run mine with the faster 9 tooth 1/4 pitch sprocket. Thus far no issues, for me, unification of all my top handles under the 1/4 pitch umbrella.

You mention the pro use of that speed cut nano. Are they using the 540 battery saw or other battery saw or gas saw? TIA.

 

[jimmorrison]

It appears that this issue is being way over analyzed. I have never used either of these saws. In the first few minutes of the video, the first saw doesn’t allow chips to pass through the clutch cover, the second saw does. Simple as that. Pay attention to what you are watching. The first saw throws chips forward, they are bouncing off the saw. The second saw throws chips out the back of the clutch cover, just like any saw I have ever used.

 

[Reloaderguy]

I have a Husky 540iXP and now they are coming out with 542iXP. The 540 I have, I have complained about, in healthy oak, it "bogging down," too often, "getting in a bind." Like the bar/chain is getting bound in the cut somehow and it stops the saw and I have to go again but I have read all I can about this and some mention that the clutch cover presents a problem in clearing chips during the cut. Is that the same problem as I describe? Whatever it is, it's maddening to have an otherwise good saw and it does this.

My other question is... if the clutch cover is the culprit, do you know if the clutch cover for the 542 could be put on the 540 and problem solved? Or another solution? Is lack of chip clearance what this is about? I'm actually put out with Husky for releasing this saw like this, it should not be this way for an expensive saw like this to behave poorly in oak. I have lots of oaks! Husky should give me a fix! Otherwise, I really like the saw. Presently, I am thinning some woods and it's lighter than other saws I would use. Except for my Echo 2511 but the Echo doesn't have enough power for some trees. I might hop it up some, lol.

Have you updated the firmware?