550xp sux

[MaddBomber]

I own a 2018 550xp Mk1. It refuses to idle, constantly runs rich and bogs in the cut.
According to the dealer, it has 21 hours on it.
It has been to certified repair shops 4 times for a total of 17 weeks. No difference in its lack of performance.
It starts fine, but loads up and dies. It has had a carburetor, ignition/coil, flywheel, muffler, and decomp replaced by Husqvarna. Plus, passed repeated vacuum & pressure tests. Excellent compression of 191psi cold, 168psi hot. New OEM plug, no spark arrestor.
Still will not hold an idle, and randomly bogs hard in the cut
The dealer repeatedly told me that it's fine and just needs to break in.
I have a same year 362c that never has a problem, and a newer 462c that has considerably less hours and runs flawlessly.
Could there be a bad cylinder cast? I can't believe it would be two bad carbs, and/or two bad coils... With exactly the same symptoms.
I really want to like this saw. It's so comfortable, smooth, and handy... But it's a damn $700 boat anchor.

 

[MaddBomber]

I was thinking a crank seal leak (yay husky 5 series) that only manifested at temperature, but even cold it will not idle.

 

[NSEric]

My buddies mark 2 550 was doing that, one crank bearing is gone.
He's pissed the saw has about 10 hours on it.

 

[Lionsfan]

I had a lemon also. I dumped it cheap and bought a Mark II.

 

[MaddBomber]

I had a lemon also. I dumped it cheap and bought a Mark II.

Husqvarna has all but dried up and blown away from my area. The last dealer within 40 miles has just lost husky.. they're strictly Stihl and Echo now.
I don't necessarily like the feel of the 261c so I'll probably resurrect my old 026 or get a decent 346xp.
Husqvarna has really crapped themselves with the 5 series. Such an epic fall from grace.

 

[Lionsfan]

Husqvarna has all but dried up and blown away from my area. The last dealer within 40 miles has just lost husky.. they're strictly Stihl and Echo now.
I don't necessarily like the feel of the 261c so I'll probably resurrect my old 026 or get a decent 346xp.
Husqvarna has really crapped themselves with the 5 series. Such an epic fall from grace.

Not a necessity right now, but I'll own another 346xp before it's all said and done. Doubtful on the Stihls.

 

[D Kitchen]

I own a 2018 550xp Mk1. It refuses to idle, constantly runs rich and bogs in the cut.
According to the dealer, it has 21 hours on it.
It has been to certified repair shops 4 times for a total of 17 weeks. No difference in its lack of performance.
It starts fine, but loads up and dies. It has had a carburetor, ignition/coil, flywheel, muffler, and decomp replaced by Husqvarna. Plus, passed repeated vacuum & pressure tests. Excellent compression of 191psi cold, 168psi hot. New OEM plug, no spark arrestor.
Still will not hold an idle, and randomly bogs hard in the cut
The dealer repeatedly told me that it's fine and just needs to break in.
I have a same year 362c that never has a problem, and a newer 462c that has considerably less hours and runs flawlessly.
Could there be a bad cylinder cast? I can't believe it would be two bad carbs, and/or two bad coils... With exactly the same symptoms.
I really want to like this saw. It's so comfortable, smooth, and handy... But it's a damn $700 boat anchor.

So sorry you're having these issues. Very frustrating I'm sure. I've got the 550 Mark II and absolutely love it. It's been a great saw for me

 

[MaddBomber]

So sorry you're having these issues. Very frustrating I'm sure. I've got the 550 Mark II and absolutely love it. It's been a great saw for me

I wish I knew that the mk 1 had so many issues. But, hindsight is 20/20.
I have a close friend that had a nightmare of a 572xp. Not to mention the absurdity of the 562xp.
I swear, Stihl has out Husqvarna'd Husqvarna.
They are hemorrhaging money and are being completely outclassed in weight, power, sales, and quality.

 

[Lionsfan]

I wish I knew that the mk 1 had so many issues. But, hindsight is 20/20.
I have a close friend that had a nightmare of a 572xp. Not to mention the absurdity of the 562xp.
I swear, Stihl has out Husqvarna'd Husqvarna.
They are hemorrhaging money and are being completely outclassed in weight, power, sales, and quality.

Perhaps. My 550xp Mark II is the best saw I've ever owned, and if it dies today it will be replaced with the exact same model, ported by the exact same guy.

 

[MaddBomber]

Perhaps. My 550xp Mark II is the best saw I've ever owned, and if it dies today it will be replaced with the exact same model, ported by the exact same guy.

That's great. Husky still makes great saws. For sure. I can literally feel the potential in this saw, but it just hates life. Lol.
The 550/555/562 have been devastating for Husky. Yes the mk 2 is much better, but remember, it's a complete redesign with no interchangeable parts... Yet, to save face, Husqvarna kept the same model name. It should be the 551xp or 550xp NE (like what they did with the 346xp and that was just a different top end).
I think the warranty claims reached 11% of sales for the 5 series. That's not good. The 3 series hit an all time high of 0.7% warranty claims.
Combine that with husky pulling over 40% of dealership support in North America, and 70% on the right coast.
Stihl is outselling them almost 3 to 1 in the pro market. Not to mention the weight, reliability, simplicity, innovation, ease of modifications, and power.
Look. I really want to like this saw. I grew up in a logging family. Old Macs and Jonsereds were everywhere. Then husky/jred. Every company around used those two... orange and red. with a minority of an 044 here and there.
Now it's all Stihl. The 462 and 500i are the staple. When I see a 572 in the wood, I get excited because it's so rare. From Maine to Massachusetts, to New York to North Carolina.
I would love to get a brand new Mk2 550. But there just aren't any dealers around anymore. It's all Stihl and Echo. And after this fiasco, I am not trusting enough to buy online without any support within a 2 hour drive

 

[dangerousatom]

Im working on a 550xp M1 right now its a major PITA. It was cutting great then tossed the ring and chunked out the cylinder right in mid cut.

After a new :
cylinder
pop-up piston
caber ring
a major porting & muffler gutting no timing changes in the porting
gasket delete
rebuilding the carb
It is terrible! I checked it for leaks and holds +/-8psi or more. Ive adjusted the hidden low idle screw with no good results. Put it on the computer with the software tool and no codes, did a reset and still nothing. It cuts at high rev "ok" but isnt what it was. Its making 135psi cold at maybe 5min of run time with a long hose and quick disconnect in the middle of the gauge along with a decomp valve, so IMO the compression is good. It just wont idel at all unless I keep the throttle at 10% or so. I have another new carb coming so well see but im not hopeful. Ive heard of guys opening the butterfly hole or notching it to allow a little more air at idle with positive results. I may do that if the new carb is a bust.

 

[MaddBomber]

Im working on a 550xp M1 right now its a major PITA. It was cutting great then tossed the ring and chunked out the cylinder right in mid cut.

After a new :
cylinder
pop-up piston
caber ring
a major porting & muffler gutting no timing changes in the porting
gasket delete
rebuilding the carb
It is terrible! I checked it for leaks and holds +/-8psi or more. Ive adjusted the hidden low idle screw with no good results. Put it on the computer with the software tool and no codes, did a reset and still nothing. It cuts at high rev "ok" but isnt what it was. Its making 135psi cold at maybe 5min of run time with a long hose and quick disconnect in the middle of the gauge along with a decomp valve, so IMO the compression is good. It just wont idel at all unless I keep the throttle at 10% or so. I have another new carb coming so well see but im not hopeful. Ive heard of guys opening the butterfly hole or notching it to allow a little more air at idle with positive results. I may do that if the new carb is a bust.

Yup, that's similar to what I'm dealing with. The idle is like it's way too rich, loads up and dies. It gets a little better when warm, but not much.
Mine also bogs randomly in the cut at wot. Sometimes it will come out, and sometimes it revs right back up. It's not frequent, but alarming when it does happen. Big wood and small.
I've been chasing the gremlins for years and hesitate to dump money in it, for it to just infamously eat it's own bearings.
Husqvarna screwed the pooch with their 5 series.
It's a boat anchor.