I was first caller this time

[trooney]

Feels good to be number one.At least once.

I have yet to experience that thrill.........Must be nice!!!

 

[blsnelling]

Has anyone put the 550 together sans base gasket? the gasket is .027 thick, I bolted the cyl. down no gasket and squish is .018, will this fly? will also open up the muffler.

There a good chance that the cylinder is no longer setting flush. IIRC, the transfer cover bolt heads are proud of the base of the cylinder. The one on the front right will hit the case as well.

 

[old guy]

Thanks Brad , I'll go check that out.

 

[old guy]

I'm ok there looks like, there's lotsa room underneath & to the side

 

[blsnelling]

Good to hear. Perhaps that only becomes an issue after the base is cut. I haven't messed with a 550 in a couple years.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

What do the experts say? Is .018 enough for a 50cc Saw?
My gut tells me it is, but I'm no expert...ought to be a rippin' good saw for $150!

 

[mdavlee]

.018" is enough for 70-90cc

 

[Onan18]

You also need to check where the cylinder bore extends down into the case, IIRC it will bottom out before the cylinder is completely flush and square with the case. Between that and the fact that the 550 has a know history of the case halves not matching perfectly I would personally run the gasket and use a sealer also.

Joe

 

[Keith Gandy]

Mine ran fine with the bottom case / cylinder matched and without the basegasket after I fixed the leaking flywheel side seal from the factory ! Then it developed at autotune malfunction which never got fixed at the dealer. Traded that one at the dealer for a 562xp after the techs scratched their heads for 2 months

 

[old guy]

Thanks for all the tips and advice Guys, but no way am I gonna run .045 squish, that ain't my nature.

 

[Keith Gandy]

Thanks for all the tips and advice Guys, but no way am I gonna run .045 squish, that ain't my nature.

Delete the gasket and make sure the transfer covers have clearance as Brad stated and pressure check everything good before reassembly. I use 518 and Loctite Activator when I delete the gasket and has worked well for me. The activator makes a difference

 

[old guy]

IT LIVES, got it put back together today, was a little surly at first and ran rich, smoking, hitting the trigger would result in a puff of smoke & silence. After a bit it straghtened up, it still has a bit of a bog but get past the bog & it goes to shreeik rite now. I think it was still compensating for the old air leak.
I don't have any wood here so I can't run it yet.
I was amazed at how little chamfer on the ports on both cyls. almost like none.
Getting all the hoses & wires hooked up is kind of a bugger on these.

 

[old guy]

Went out and put a new sprocket on it and a shorter bar, (it came with a 20" and a new lpx.325.) Fired it up again, the bog was gone.

 

[old guy]

Took the 550 out to a log pile this morning, it was a little cold blooded at first, it started rite up but needed a couple of minutes before it would pull any revs, but then it was, "come awn boy, feed me wood". I may have a new favorite saw here, ran a tank of fuel thru it, it did stall once when I hit the trigger so I did have to start it twice.

 

[old guy]

Got 4 tanks thru it now, gittin real attached to this little piggy.
Start it up & it's ready to work rite away, no bogs or hickups & you do need the kill switch.

 

[Mastermind]

I just test drove the "new to me" 550XP.

Seems like a good runner.

 

[old guy]

Ordered some stuff from H&L supply today and since I needed one more 16'' bar, I treated myself.

 

[bikemike]

I don't do much with pics and it's all tore down now, it's just a nice clean 550, heck that grey clutch cover even looks good yet.
The old cyl. will clean up too.
All the damage is on the exhaust side, it seems if it were bad fuel the damage would be all around but this concentrated at the exhaust port. Before I run it I'll take it to the dealer and have it flashed.

Damn epa and lean conditions

 

[bikemike]

Stihl got the heated handle 460

 

[tickbitintn]

I just picked up another one of these at a pawn shop the other day for two bills!! starts and runs great 15 model.