I've got a brand new NE 346XP here to mod. I've never run a stock NE 346XP that didn't at least have a muffler mod. I've been told the MM makes a big difference. I wanted to see for myself.
After establishing its performance bone stock with the cat muffler, I replace the muffler with a non-cat muffler, and left it unmodded. I installed an unlimited coil at that time. I then proceeded to mod the muffler.
Bottom line...a muffler mod makes a HUGE difference on this saw. I can now see how some of you get the results you do comparing a stock 346 to a 5100 or even a 260. I don't know personally, but am told a MM doesn't do as much for a 5100. But, again, I don't know. But that's not where I want to go with this thread.
In the stock configuration, it was easy to stall the chain. You can see that just getting rid of the cat muffler made a significant difference. But the muffler mod majorly stepped it up. What you can't see is how much stronger it "feels" in the cut. It's no longer prone to bogging at all. It has tons more torque than stock! If you're still running a stock muffler, and/or a cat muffler, please do yourself a favor and get that bad boy opened up. All I did was add a Husky deflector with spark arrestor screen installed on both it and the factory port.
I'll be degreeing and tearing this saw down for porting tonight. Later this week it'll be coming back apart for a popup piston and cylinder decking. Squish is at .026"-.027" stock with a gasket. Compression is 148 PSI.
Here are the measurements with the gasket out.
-Squish .013"
- Exhaust 108°
- Transfers 123°
- Intake 76°
Sorry about the little wood. That's all I have here right now. You're not going to get any measureable times with this wood, but you can still clearly see and hear the difference. Take it for what it's worth.
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After establishing its performance bone stock with the cat muffler, I replace the muffler with a non-cat muffler, and left it unmodded. I installed an unlimited coil at that time. I then proceeded to mod the muffler.
Bottom line...a muffler mod makes a HUGE difference on this saw. I can now see how some of you get the results you do comparing a stock 346 to a 5100 or even a 260. I don't know personally, but am told a MM doesn't do as much for a 5100. But, again, I don't know. But that's not where I want to go with this thread.
In the stock configuration, it was easy to stall the chain. You can see that just getting rid of the cat muffler made a significant difference. But the muffler mod majorly stepped it up. What you can't see is how much stronger it "feels" in the cut. It's no longer prone to bogging at all. It has tons more torque than stock! If you're still running a stock muffler, and/or a cat muffler, please do yourself a favor and get that bad boy opened up. All I did was add a Husky deflector with spark arrestor screen installed on both it and the factory port.
I'll be degreeing and tearing this saw down for porting tonight. Later this week it'll be coming back apart for a popup piston and cylinder decking. Squish is at .026"-.027" stock with a gasket. Compression is 148 PSI.
Here are the measurements with the gasket out.
-Squish .013"
- Exhaust 108°
- Transfers 123°
- Intake 76°
Sorry about the little wood. That's all I have here right now. You're not going to get any measureable times with this wood, but you can still clearly see and hear the difference. Take it for what it's worth.
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