New Husqvarna 346XP Yikes

[JimR]

Oh man if you only knew...we had trimming chores from hades one spring after the worst ice and snow storm in 50 years when I buggered my knee one time.

We had 6" rain then hard freeze then 12" snow all in a weekend in December it broke down branches off every tree on my property. Come spring I took 13 car trailer loads clear full and strapped down off my 1 acre homestead. About as badly tangled on the ground all over the place as an old growth un-used forest area.

Yeah I was tired all right completely worn out fact wagging the 372 day after day trimming branches. If (famous last words) I would have had the little 346 back then it would have been absolutely no work at all as it was I had no choice all I had was one big saw to do it all live and learn.

Did it look like this mess? This was our ice storm of 2008. It wiped out our 36 acre woodlot, our back yard and the trees on our farm next door. The picture with the tree sitting on top of the tree truck is funny. They had just stopped when the tree fell on their truck. The tree you see cut down in the foreground that is on the wires was removed by me about and hour before this picture was taken. I cut that while standing in the bucket of my tractor. I was trying to open up our road. We lost out power for almost a week.

 

[Car Doc]

Yeah it sure did what a mess!

I cant find any pics to share I took a bunch because its so hard to describe w/o seeing it. I am really bummed about that too because I had some good ones now I need to remember what I did with them.

 

[xyz123]

Ice storms are my worst fear to deal with. Been a few years since we lost power due to one for a week or so now.
Watched the limbs out front take the power right out. Sure wish back in the day they would have used underground wiring, but that wasnt the case in the 1900's when this place was built.

I'm also the last house on my own transformer way off the road.

 

[CJONE]

I cut pro for more than 10 years and still remove trees as a side job [like I need more things to do]. The 346 will run a 16" bar and a 3/8 chain. Modded the little saw is as strong as a good running 357. I run a 18" with a 3/8 chain on my modded one. I actually just sold my 357 to a buddie because it was sitting too much. A 357 is one of the best all around saws for a 1 saw plan. JMHO/experience. CJ

 

[JimR]

What exactly did you do to your 346xp to mod it?

 

[xyz123]

Most people do whats called a woods port. Opening exhaust port, intake port, some change port timing, some work over transfers, some do pop up domed pistons, some cut squish bands, also cutting off base of cylinder to get tighter squish and more psi, etc etc and add then for a final touch add a 357 carb.

Some stop at just a muffler mod which helps too. Just be sure to do a carb retune afterwords.

 

[JimR]

I can see where all of that would lead to a high performance saw. Thanks for the info.

 

[CJONE]

Most people do whats called a woods port. Opening exhaust port, intake port, some change port timing, some work over transfers, some do pop up domed pistons, some cut squish bands, also cutting off base of cylinder to get tighter squish and more psi, etc etc and add then for a final touch add a 357 carb.

Some stop at just a muffler mod which helps too. Just be sure to do a carb retune afterwords.

Yep all of the above except the popup, would rather cut the jug and comb chamber than use a popup. Don't forget the aircleaner the 346 stock one is poor. CJ

 

[Car Doc]

I am in the buy a stock high performance saw and leave it alone crowd.

If a person likes messing with small engines a 346 would be an awesome platform to start with no doubt. But I like not working on small engines and I want complete reliability and besides that I like quiet at least stock muffler quiet, hotrod saws are loud. ymmv

 

[xyz123]

some cut squish bands,

would rather cut the jug and comb chamber than use a popup. Don't forget the aircleaner the 346 stock one is poor. CJ

It was there you just missed it.

I have never had a problem just using the 346 air filter set up on mine with 357 carb and OE 45cc, the 357 surface area would be a plus but isnt needed in my case. My 45cc pulls 3/8 full comp chain just fine too.

Any video of your 346 in the cut?

 

[CJONE]

I am in the buy a stock high performance saw and leave it alone crowd.

If a person likes messing with small engines a 346 would be an awesome platform to start with no doubt. But I like not working on small engines and I want complete reliability and besides that I like quiet at least stock muffler quiet, hotrod saws are loud. ymmv

I used to be also but after having somebody who knew what they were doing mod my 372 I am sold. I now understand why alot of fallers have modded saws. 30% faster is not uncommon and it makes a difference at the end of the day. CJ

 

[CJONE]

It was there you just missed it.

I have never had a problem just using the 346 air filter set up on mine with 357 carb and OE 45cc, the 357 surface area would be a plus but isnt needed in my case. My 45cc pulls 3/8 full comp chain just fine too.

Any video of your 346 in the cut?

No vids yet, the saw still is a little low on compression at 170psi. The builder said he may have to recut if it does not come up after break in. My 372 took almost 20 tanks for the compression to come up. I am at about 15 tanks in the little saw. He is shooting for 200+, the 372 has almost 210. If you go to ecsaws on youtube he has a ported 346 there. Mine actually revs harder than that one, my guess because the comp has not come up yet. CJ

 

[xyz123]

:laughing: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/chainsaws/223749-whats-up-arborist-site-3.html

Read pages 3 and 4 and we just skimmed the subject. We talked in PM's about the good stuff.

 

[defed]

sorry to reply to a slightly old thread, but i can't seem to find this info anywhere...

there should be no problem sharpening a .325 chain on a cheap harbor freight sharpener that is used for 3/8 (1/8" wheel)? as far as i can tell, the only difference is the pitch and all the other angles are the same? so when going from sharpening a 3/8 chain to a .325 chain, you would just have to adjust the chain stop closer to close the length difference between the two pitches?

looking at a 346xp, which is how i got here...i was unaware that there were so many different chains! right now, it's between the 346xp and ms261....leaning towards the husky at this point.

thanks.

 

[JimR]

The best thing to do is try both saws out if possible in the same piece of wood. I'll stick by my little 346xp's as being a couple of mean wood cutting machines.

 

[Bluegill2]

sorry to reply to a slightly old thread, but i can't seem to find this info anywhere...

looking at a 346xp, which is how i got here...i was unaware that there were so many different chains! right now, it's between the 346xp and ms261....leaning towards the husky at this point.

thanks.

The ms261 is a good saw, but the 346xp is smaller, a bit lighter, and more of a Hot Rod. I've been running a 346xp almost 12 years in semi commercial use (firewood/logging/clearing) and it's still going strong. Liked it so much, I bought another one a couple years ago.

I also have a 357xp, 562xp, 359 and a highly modified 75cc 365. But the 346 is my favorite and possibly the best saw ever made.

 

[Car Doc]

+1. Nothing wrong with Stihl but if those are the choices its definitely the Husky that particular saw the 346 either NE or OE are screamers.

As far as chains yes there are a bunch. I run 3/8 Baileys 30RC (I think thats the series) chain on mine with a 16" bar and its my go to saw it does 95% of my firewood and yard chores very light and powerful and starts on the 2nd pull just love it.

 

[s219]

I looked at both. The 346 is definitely a screamer, and very lightweight. But I liked the beefier feel of the 261 for my purposes, which is in itself light considering it can outcut bigger heavier Stihl saws.

Both are great saws, and I don't think you will go wrong either way.

 

[Bluegill2]

Yes, the 261 is "beefier"...But if ya like the feel, that's all that matter.

 

[defed]

thanks for the info. i was leaning towards the 346xp because it is lighter, i like the feel of it better, and it's less expensive.

i was just worried that i won't be able to use my fixed position sharpener on the .325 chain. not 100% sure that's what it comes with, but had read it did. if all the angles on the cutting tooth are the same, just the pitch is different, there should not be a problem besides adjusting the chain stop, correct?