Homelite 340

[treefrog2]

In the past, I have posted some problems I was having with my Homelite 340 on this site before and I was surprised at the number and quality of the responses I have received. So much so, that I have recommended this site to all other chainsaw owners that I know.

So here is the deal, I finally got the saw to run after the fuel line was replaced (not with a factory one, I might add!), the carburetor was cleaned, and the gaskets were replaced. I was told that the saw is still taking in a little air, probably through the fuel line somewhere.

I was unable to get a factory fuel line from Homelite and so I contacted Solo because the 340 is really a rebadged Solo 654. They had the fuel line, but it was going to be over $60.00 with shipping. I did not order it.

The problem I was having was that the saw would not idle. So I decided to put plummer's putty around where the fuel line comes up from the tank and where the fuel line goes in to the carburetor. The shop that I took the saw to removed the plastic piece that joins the fuel line to the carburetor and opted to just fit the fuel line over the metal nipple. I was thinking the air leak may be at this point or where the fuel line comes out of the fuel tank.

I then turn the idle speed screw to a slightly faster idle speed and the saw now idles, although irratically. I can turn the saw on its side and upside down and the saw will not stall. It also seems to cut fine, but I am worried that it may be getting too hot. I can't tell this for sure because I don't know how hot it should be getting, but I fear that it may be running too lean.

My question is, how would I tell if it is running to lean and how would I tell if it is running too hot? Can I increase the oil concentration in the mix that I am using to increase lubrication?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Sprig]

Hiya treefrog, sorry I can't answer your tuning question (I am sure someone will have the basic factory settings to work from)but I do have a suggestion for suspect line fittings that is simple and cheap and give you a piece of mind and that is 'Zip-ties', the little ones. (Putty? hm, maybe if its petroleum resistant but even so I'd be leary of it.) I have used them many times when I couldn't access the fitting easily or didn't have a hose clamp small enough (and I loathe those spring jobbies), as long as the initial fit is ok they seem to work well (sometimes have used more than one if the nipple is long enough), and they are dead easy to remove when you need to replace the lines again, snip. Snug them up with a pair of pliers (you'll probably break a few till you figure how tight you can go but they are dirt-cheap) and trim the excess off.
Just my 0.02$ worth for the morning.



Serge