E-Tech meltdown

[Huskydoggg]

I bought a 353 E-tech for some of the lighter work building log homes. A 372xp and 365 handle the heavier cutting.

During a very careful break-in I noticed the 353 ran very hot, melting the plastic top cover. Mixtures were correct and outside temp was below freezing but it soon seized solid. Husqvarna replaced it on warranty, no questions.

The replacement 353 e-tech runs just as hot. I have been VERY careful not to overwork this saw, but it is going to meltdown too. I'm using Husky synthetic at 50:1 and carb setting are slightly rich.

The Husqvarna representitive denies that e-tech saw run hot or have any known problems. He says I'm out of luck when this saw seizes.

Anyone else having similar problems? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Steve

 

[ray benson]

I would take it back to the dealer to be checked. Something is not right.

 

[woodfarmer]

i have a jonny 2159 cat which also runs hot, i had the cylinder replaced when new because i thought it was flawed, its been back to the dealer since for a tune up and to me it still doesn't run right. from what i've read on AS try to get a non-cat muffler to replace the cat

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

I've had the sheer exhaust gases be hot enough to catch a juniper on fire...


Stock muffler, stock everything... just got hot enough it finally set things on fire.

 

[computeruser]

Step 1: replace cat muffler with non-cat, adjust carb. This should be a standard practice for all eTech saws.

Step 2: see how things go from there.

 

[bwalker]

I know its counter intuitive, but the richer you run a cat equipped saw the hotter it will become. Ditch the pos cat muffler asap.

 

[stihltech]

hot hot hot

Sounds like there will be a learning curve to these saws. Ben is right, rich will make a cat get much hotter, lean is actually better. Of course the piston won't care for that.
I would like to talk to the guys that actually designed and tested the system. Sounds like the mix will be critical.

 

[JoeCanuck]

For what it's worth, my 353 etech which I've had for about 1 1/2 years seems to run fine. I don't push it too hard but it has had use. I don't see any evidence so far of running unusually hot. I floated a thread a few days back about possible heat-related shortening of saw life. Most here seem to think the muffler should be changed out.
I'm all for doing my part for the environment (and this saw does run amazingly clean) but not to the point of cooking my saw.

 

[HEAVY FUEL]

The owners manual for my 2156 jred cat states 95 or higher octane, I run a mix that puts my about 102 octane doesn't seem much hotter than other saws. Even running it at night looking for sparks haven't seen much there.

 

[musch]

I feel like I just jumped into the future.

I think we are gonna see a lot of posts like this in the near.

This is what happens when government dictates design, instead of good engineering.

I wonder, how much could chainsaws be contributing to the problems of pollution? Around here, every weekend, hundreds of thousands of dudes are running their awful lawnmowers. Multiply that by every suburb and berg in the US, and youve really got something.

 

[blis]

I feel like I just jumped into the future.

I think we are gonna see a lot of posts like this in the near.

This is what happens when government dictates design, instead of good engineering.

I wonder, how much could chainsaws be contributing to the problems of pollution? Around here, every weekend, hundreds of thousands of dudes are running their awful lawnmowers. Multiply that by every suburb and berg in the US, and youve really got something.

The big factories should also come in e-tech versions... seriously, its factories that pollute most over there... Not the little saws...

 

[musch]

The big factories should also come in e-tech versions... seriously, its factories that pollute most over there... Not the little saws...

Actually, we have come a long way enviromentally.
Can people swim in the Rhine yet??

Seriously, if we could get central/south america to stop burning tires, that would be a big help.

 

[maccall]

Actually, we have come a long way enviromentally.
Can people swim in the Rhine yet??

Seriously, if we could get central/south america to stop burning tires, that would be a big help.

Can't vouch for the whole of Europe, but there has at least never been a problem swimming in the water in the middle of the Scandinavan capitols. In Stockholm it's even perfecly fine to eat all the fish you can catch while swimming, I would bet it's the same with Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen.

Maybe though the comparison is a bit unfair, since Scandinava doesn't have that very high density population (is that the right way of putting it? Ahh, you'll get it, surely.), as compared to central Europe.

But we control those countries no more than you control South America, only that we are to few to have them care when we yell at them. We send them our E-Tech saws instead...

 

[blis]

Can't vouch for the whole of Europe, but there has at least never been a problem swimming in the water in the middle of the Scandinavan capitols. In Stockholm it's even perfecly fine to eat all the fish you can catch while swimming, I would bet it's the same with Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen.

Maybe though the comparison is a bit unfair, since Scandinava doesn't have that very high density population (is that the right way of putting it? Ahh, you'll get it, surely.), as compared to central Europe.

But we control those countries no more than you control South America, only that we are to few to have them care when we yell at them. We send them our E-Tech saws instead...

Exactly...

Over here its not a problem to drink from river or eat fish catched in rivers... But since we have taken time to take care of enviromental issues we dont have to worry about e-techs and crap like that....

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

I have a tach coming my way, so Im going to get my 353 leaned out as best I can, that should help the heat issues immensely.

Maybe in the next few months I can work a non e tech muffler into the budget...



Maybe its my inner liberal-bunny hugging side of me that wants to keep it

 

[Sparky_NY]

I understand the reasoning on replacing the cat muffler and the problems it causes BUT.....

I'd go back to the dealer.... tell him there appears to be a design problem with these saws.... as for him telling you your on your own if this one fails, I'd tell him HE has a problem and you expect him to take care of it. I'd even go so far as a registered letter stating the problem and his ignoring the symptoms of it about to happen again along with his statement of being on your own if it fails again. I'd also contact husqvarna with a copy of that letter and demand something is done, either fix it or replace it with a model that won't self-destruct.

Don't be so nice.... you bought a high priced name brand saw from a factory authorized dealer, your doing things according to the book. Expecting the POS to not burn up and self destruct is NOT a unreasonable request!!!! Granted the dealer didn't design the saw, and may be on the receiving end of the factory design issues BUT you do not buy or deal with the factory, they set it up that way. Let the dealer go back to the factory and complain until they make things right.

Squeaky hinge gets the oil....

 

[outdoortype]

FWIW,
When my 359 had the e-tech muffler, the muffler got hot but I never noticed unless I held my hand near it. The cylinder cover or fins never seemed to get that hot. With the non-cat muffler it cools much quicker but the screen is way more black. The muffler screen was never black or dirty with the e-tech setup but the heat factor kind of worried me.

 

[deezulsmoke]

Thats why I run Stihl :hmm3grin2orange: I 2nd that, get rid of the cat muffler.

 

[dingo]

The big factories should also come in e-tech versions... seriously, its factories that pollute most over there... Not the little saws...

Well,Dah, most of our facrories are in Mexico and China:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Hard Knocks]

I just looked at my 353 e-tech to see if there were signs of heat on the plastic cover. I did not see any black or signs of heat distortion at all. I then proceeded to check my non e-tech 357XP. It also had no signs of heat distortion on the plastic but did have a black carbon stain on the underside that wiped off with my finger. Both saws have had about 15 tanks of gas through them and have not been abused or babied. It looks like the 353 runs a bit cleaner than the 357 but other than that I don't see much difference.

On another note, we have been selling the 353 e-tech for a few years now and have not had one come back for anything other than chain sharpening and cleaning. I guess time will tell!