New 394

[cory]

My old 394 got stolen too, that is the one Al Smith and others helped me with awhile back when the ignition module acted up. Thanks much, again.

So I bought a new one. It cuts just awesomely, very, very fast. But after only about 4 tanks of fuel in it so far, it has a problem. Cold saw, buck 4 or 5 rounds and then it turns off suddenly like it ran out of fuel, and it smells hot when restarting it, but not when its running. It needs choke to restart even though fully warm. And basically this keeps repeating itself until the saw won't even idle long enough to get it to the cut to start cutting.

Gonna bring it back to the dealer in a day or two but thought I would ask the experts here, first. The dealer isn't fantastic, and they don't have a log pile to test cut saws with...

A side question to this thread then is, is it possible to be a good saw mechanic without having wood on site to do test cuts?? Maybe, but I don't see how, myself.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Like to think it isn't a carb problem. Did you try another plug and check that the ignition gap is as prescribed?

I find that for the most part, the only time having to do test cuts helps, is when working on an older saw. Say with a stiff diaphragm that really should be replaced, what appears to be the right settings without cutting, may be too lean in the wood, and you don't know that without using the saw. I wouldn't exactly call myself a good mechanic, but one that perseveres.

 

[cory]

Thanks jay. I think it is fuel not electrical though.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Is it a 394, or a 395? New or used? I had trouble with my 394 after it sat for four years and I finally got it back together. The tank vent wasn't working, and it would quit like that. If I opened the tank right after it stalled, I could hear it sucking air.

 

[woodworkingboy]

You may likely be right, Cory, but I do remember one saw that gave me fits thinking it was a fuel problem. It turned out the ignition screws were lose and the gap was too close. Easy to check that stuff before tearing into the carb. Still warrantee, maybe ask to have a new carb put on if possible. Dave may have nailed it.

 

[cory]

Its brand new, so I guess its a 395, sorry for the confusion.
No air sucking sound and the problem happens very soon after start up so it doesn't seem to be that.

Jay, would your saw run perfectly up until it died, as mine does, so it doesn't seem electrical?

Ha, the untalented saw mechanic here shooting down theories

 

[woodworkingboy]

It ran erratic as hell, is what I recall. At least those are quick checks, so you don't feel foolish wasting all that time on unrelated. Actually, I have a little Zenoah now that is doing just what you describe. I have taken apart the carb and cleaned and rebuilt it, but it wasn't the solution. Electric seems ok too. I'm thinking a new carb is in order, but it is a well used saw.

 

[Magnus]

It is not always easy. You can do a lot without cutting, but to get them up in work temp and see how they act under load you need wood.

This could perhaps be a tank vent thing or carb thing, but I put my money on ignition. It is just a guessing game really if there is no saw to feel and try.
Fun and educating game though.

 

[cory]

"Fun??" Maybe to you!

You really think it could be ignition given that it needs to be choked to restart after stalling even though it is completely warm?

 

[bonner1040]

You can fix his lack of a log pile right Cory? Flip of the PTO and a push of a button eh....

Voila, logs in parking lot!

 

[cory]

Ha,one dealer is in the city, no trees around.:what:

edit: oh, i thought u meant cut them there, duh. I don't think either dealer wants logs to cut. One never has wanted em, and the other one has one cutting log that has been completely cut to shreds for years now so it is useless. And that log is laying in the woods next to shop:what:

 

[bonner1040]

Yeah, but dont you turn trees into logs for a living? So when you go to pick up a saw, leave some logs!

 

[cory]

edits

 

[rumination]

I've got a Husky 359 that does the exact same thing. My local Husky dealer (back in the States) messed with it for a while, replaced a few parts, and it still does it. Very frustrating.

I never considered that it could be an electrical problem since the saw usually runs fine for ten minutes or so before it starts happening. I did replace the fuel tank vent, no luck.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I've always remembered your 359 problem, Leon. We discussed it before you took a break from the forum. Those are prone to carb problems, but the new metal clamp on the intake boot that the factory honored, instead of the original plastic junk, solved one. I think yours has the metal clamp, you mentioned. I know of at least five of those 359s, but I haven't heard of an ignition problem. Mine was modded and always ran well until the piston circlip broke and destroyed the piston and cylinder. I'm still grieving or I might fix it. I'd offer to look into your 359, but the shipping is pretty extreme since they stopped surface. I don't imagine that it is in Hong Kong?

 

[rumination]

You've got a good memory Jay. Once I got my modded 346 I gave up on that saw, but it would be nice to get it running again just to have a backup.

As you remember I did put the new clip in with no luck. At this point all I can figure is to do a carb rebuild whenever I have some free time . The saw is in New Mexico, and it certainly isn't worth sending it anywhere. I can't complain too much about it. I got a lot of hard use out of that saw, especially considering the low cost.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I'm thinking that a mere carb rebuild might not help, maybe a whole new carb is the fix it. The 359 is a great saw to modify, turns average into a very good saw. Treewolf advised modding one because of that, and the unusual feature that the transfers have a cover that comes off for easy working on.

Was it ever working right after the metal clip was installed? It's a bit of a fiddly deal in the guts there. I could see an air leak as a possibility, even when seeming to be together right. It came with limiters as well.

 

[Al Smith]

It almost sounds like the vent is plugged .Try dumping about half the fuel out of that thing which will hold more air over the top of the tank .

If it weren't for the fact the thing is new that running a few cuts ,then dying and needing a choke to start it would indicate a bad crank seal .On a restart it would then run continually for shorter durations and repeat and get still shorter until it needed to sit for a hour before it would restart .

Now I think it's fuel delivery related which could be plugged vent ,funky carb or remotely seals .However as far as I'm concerned it's the dealers problem not yours .A saw of that size you layed out a pretty penny for and it damned sure had better be right for all that long green.

 

[Al Smith]

Back on my soap box again about those 200T seals a revilation hit me .

Something like say an 066 you might make cuts one right after another bucking a big tree or a 5 minute run a full throttle dropping a big tree .So if a seal goes bad you about know so in less than 5 minutes when the thing leans out and goes funky all the sudden .

Conversely a 200T spends it's day making little cuts of 10 seconds ,maybe half a dozen then shut off and the climber or bucket man has to move position .Seldom under most conditions do they get a 60 second run .

So in my pea mind it would make sense the thing that in my opinion that has killed most of them off ,namely seals have gone undetected .More times than not when it is found the top end is cooked all ready .--end of side track ---

 

[Cobleskill]

Have you taken a look in the tank at the line and filter set up?

 

[cory]

Have you taken a look in the tank at the line and filter set up?

No, because tanks was full so I figured the full filter/uptake had to be getting fuel no matter where it might be laying or hungup in the tank.

Good thoughts, Al. Its at the dealer now, we'll see what happens. I'll be surprised if they solve it.

 

[Al Smith]

Tell them to get you another saw then .That thing cost way too much to just shrug it off .

 

[cory]

Or, who knows, maybe they will fix it???

As mentioned, when it is working right it cuts like an animal, so, one way or another I hope it is squared away quickly.

 

[Al Smith]

Let's hope so .I just looked up the price ,right at 1200 retail . Momma mia that's some dough now .

 

[Tucker943]

Might be a tiny issue. More of my saw failures over the years have been a 2 minute fix then anything......?