Finally! My 288XP!

[jstare]

That's one beautiful saw, makes me want to get one!

 

[MCW]

The 288's are a great older saw. A fellow member here manages a Stihl shop and traded a 288 from the local council. Being a Stihl shop he can't openly advertise Husky saws so always calls me first. I've picked up a few really good Huskies from him.
The second he mentioned he had a 288 I was all over it and got it for AUD$250.
Had a couple of broken AV springs but fixed those and these things are an excellent saw, even by today's standards. I own a 3120, ported 390XP, ported Dolmar 7900's, have owned ported MS660's, but this thing really brings a smile to the dial.
They really are a great saw and would rival any modern saw in their class as far as I'm concerned. Excellent torque and balance for their age and rev/accelerate well like a typical Husky.
I actually bought it as a bit of a beater saw but quickly realised this isn't a beater, it's a saw that sits on the shelf as proudly as any of my other saws

 

[CR888]

The 288 certainly is one of the most desirable husky models of of its time. A real worker.

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

How does the 288 respond to port work?

 

[MCW]

How does the 288 respond to port work?

Very well from what I've seen. My first thought when I ran mine was it had way more torque than I thought but when I whacked it on the tacho it was also revving well. Just a really nice working type powerband when stock that can only get better if properly ported.

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

How does a stock 288 compare to a stock 7900 and 660?

 

[MCW]

How does a stock 288 compare to a stock 7900 and 660?

I own all three funnily enough
Heavier than a 7900, lighter than a 660. Right in the middle power wise. Balances better than a 660 (which is quite an easy thing to achieve).
The HD2 filter and spikes on the 660 are better. The 288 spikes are better than a 7900. A HD filter kit on the 7900 is better than the HD setup on the 288.
Really not much in it though but the 288 has a far better oiler than both the 7900 and standard 660.
Put it this way, it is one of the only older saws I've run that I think can still match it with the new saws. I have never run a stock 390XP (mine have all been ported) but I have a gut feel they'd hang with a stock 390XP.

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

My experience with husky is pretty limited, 455, 460, 371, 338th.
Been wanting a 90cc range, ported saw for a while now. And an older Husky that might just out run my buddy's 660 would be sweet. To him if it aint orange and white it is a waste of money.

 

[MCW]

My experience with husky is pretty limited, 455, 460, 371, 338th.
Been wanting a 90cc range, ported saw for a while now. And an older Husky that might just out run my buddy's 660 would be sweet. To him if it aint orange and white it is a waste of money.

A ported 288 will wipe the floor with a stock 660. My ported and pop upped 7900 will thump a stock 660 by a fair margin and my ported 390XP will annihilate a stock 660.
A well ported 660 is a beast though. Don't stress if your buddy gets his 660 ported as he may beat you in a drag race but he'll be filling up with fuel three times more often You need shares in a fuel company to run a ported 660. They guzzle fuel like no tomorrow, even when stock.

 

[blsnelling]

How does the 288 respond to port work?

Joe had one at Wiggs that he had ported. That thing was an animal! I'll be very happy if mine turns out like that.

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

A ported 288 will wipe the floor with a stock 660. My ported and pop upped 7900 will thump a stock 660 by a fair margin and my ported 390XP will annihilate a stock 660.
A well ported 660 is a beast though. Don't stress if your buddy gets his 660 ported as he may beat you in a drag race but he'll be filling up with fuel three times more often You need shares in a fuel company to run a ported 660. They guzzle fuel like no tomorrow, even when stock.

This guy is like a brother to me and I'm not putting him down in any way but.
Him having a saw ported is very unlikely to happen. He not one that enjoys working on anything and having to pay attention to the tune on a saw would be a hassle and out of the question. I asked him once if he retuned his saws for winter time or at least opened the warm air inlet. He looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.

 

[MCW]

This guy is like a brother to me and I'm not putting him down in any way but.
Him having a saw ported is very unlikely to happen. He not one that enjoys working on anything and having to pay attention to the tune on a saw would be a hassle and out of the question. I asked him once if he retuned his saws for winter time or at least opened the warm air inlet. He looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.

Well there is only one thing left to do then. Buy a 288, get Brad to port it (he's ported my saws), then get out there and make your friend's 660 look like a 38cc Poulan

 

[VINIFIREWOOD]

Well there is only one thing left to do then. Buy a 288, get Brad to port it (he's ported my saws), then get out there and make your friend's 660 look like a 38cc Poulan

Gonna have to happen. I know where a 288 is. And the competitive nature of my buddy, it will drive him absolutely nuts.

 

[mdavlee]

The 288 when ported is a strong saw. Right with a lot of the newer saws while sounding better.

 

[CapitaineHaddoc]

I asked my colleague to pass me his old 288 again and he agreed (but only to fix it for him if i can, he know nothing about saw repair).

Here's the beast,



Yes, my colleague is a pig, i fix his 357 last week, an she was even more dirty than this one. This 288 has not started for 8 years, and he started it the few weeks ago ... full of old fuel.

And of course,



Of course, I tried to recover the cylinder with Randy's method, but the ring cut into the cylinder pretty deep, nothing to do ...

It's sad, it was a good saw

 

[mdavlee]

A new p/c is in order for it plus sells I would guess.

 

[CapitaineHaddoc]

A new p/c is in order for it plus sells I would guess.

I think you mean "seals"? Yes, all seals crack like glass. I can do some of theme by myself, but i'm afraid that i must replace the bearings and the crank seals, and i don't have the tool to split the crankcase.

I'll ask my colleague, as I know he will not spend as much in repairs. And as he owes me money, maybe he will give me the saw...

If he ever gives me the saw, I think i'll ask Randy W for a Meteor kit and some other parts to make this saw right.

 

[mdavlee]

Seals I what it was supposed to say. A splitter isn't too hard to make. Seals are pretty easy to change. The oiler holds one in place. The flywheel side is a little tricky to get out.

 

[HuskStihl]

How does the 288 respond to port work?

288 with a cut squish band, machined base, 230psi and finger ports.....meh.

 

[HuskStihl]

I think you mean "seals"? Yes, all seals crack like glass. I can do some of theme by myself, but i'm afraid that i must replace the bearings and the crank seals, and i don't have the tool to split the crankcase.

I'll ask my colleague, as I know he will not spend as much in repairs. And as he owes me money, maybe he will give me the saw...

If he ever gives me the saw, I think i'll ask Randy W for a Meteor kit and some other parts to make this saw right.

There are used OEM cylinders floating around. I would definitely want one of those rather than aftermarket. Btw if you get the compression increased on one, you'll really want a decomp cylinder

Edit: I didn't mean I would ever need a decomp, cause I'm super large and extremely manly. I just meant a smaller, weaker man might want a decomp