Husqvarna 242xp Questions

[dirtcurt]

Hello, I picked up a local 242xp with a bad piston and a missing muffler. I ran into a problem today figuring out the new OEM 242xp fuel line was the wrong one for my saw. In my research figuring out the fuel line, I discovered that the 242 piston I put in may not be the correct one as well. It runs pretty darn good, and I did not tach it (i don't have a tach), so I don't know what "good" is. Last, I can't seem to figure out the fuel cap seal either. My 242xp is pretty old but looks great. It has the old-style decals on the 242xp recoil and top cover. My main and first question is the piston. I put one in that came from the Little Red Barn for 24.99 PN #503513201. It starts idles and runs good enough for me to not know if it's wrong. The only thing I had problems with was the saw would die if you cut the throttle in a cut. I did not know there was a primary air screen on the side and found/cleaned it and the stalling all but stopped occurring. When I checked the new piston to the old one, they looked exactly the same. I did not measure any part of the new piston, just set them up side by side and thought they were the same. Are they the same?

 

[dirtcurt]

This is the piston I used.

 

[82F100SWB]

That is the proper full window style piston for a closed port saw.

 

[Huskvarna hotellgäst]

Piston looks right and it's the right part number (503 51 32-01), 42mm diameter.
A vented/flow-through/closed-port 242 piston will also work in a 42 but not the other way 'round.

 

[quattro.pilot]

As others have cited that piston is the correct (and likely only) part for that saw. Proper aftermarket replicas of the 242 piston are few & far between... and NOS parts are virtually impossible to find.

Fuel hose: I would plan to, when convenient, replace that original 2-series part....after 30yrs they don't seal well anymore. And of course, like 95% of other 2-series parts you can't buy a new one. The solution is to use a modern curly Stihl fuel hose. The one accommodation for doing this however is you will need to drill out the hole in the fuel tank to a slightly larger size. I've done this to three 242xp's that I rebuilt; it's a simple and permanent solution.

Fuel cap... well it's the same as many 2-series so look for a used cap and hope it's seal is better. I suppose you could remake a replacement if you had some equivalently thick smooth rubber. Ebay may have something as chinese aftermarket...always worth a look.

Otherwise nice 242... is a '91 for what it's worth. Don't break any parts, they are rather difficult, if not impossible to find ... it shares 90% of its parts with the 42 though, so getting a complete -cheap- 42 donor saw is probably a smart way forward.

 

[dirtcurt]

Great! I was thinking it was the wrong one, but also thought "How many more rpms???"

 

[dirtcurt]

As others have cited that piston is the correct (and likely only) part for that saw. Proper aftermarket replicas of the 242 piston are few & far between... and NOS parts are virtually impossible to find.

Fuel hose: I would plan to, when convenient, replace that original 2-series part....after 30yrs they don't seal well anymore. And of course, like 95% of other 2-series parts you can't buy a new one. The solution is to use a modern curly Stihl fuel hose. The one accommodation for doing this however is you will need to drill out the hole in the fuel tank to a slightly larger size. I've done this to three 242xp's that I rebuilt; it's a simple and permanent solution.

Fuel cap... well it's the same as many 2-series so look for a used cap and hope it's seal is better. I suppose you could remake a replacement if you had some equivalently thick smooth rubber. Ebay may have something as chinese aftermarket...always worth a look.

Otherwise nice 242... is a '91 for what it's worth. Don't break any parts, they are rather difficult, if not impossible to find ... it shares 90% of its parts with the 42 though, so getting a complete -cheap- 42 donor saw is probably a smart way forward.

Thank you and I will be looking! It's a fun saw, so I don't plan on revenue with it, just fun. As far as finding parts I found out looking for the muffler. I was lucky a guy on Ebay had all the stuff I needed. He was selling the bolts and I asked if he had the rest The saw had the curly hose in it and I ordered the 242xp hose which as you see wouldn't work.

 

[dogfather]

Pressure & vacuum test the crankcase. figure out why the first piston failed. The 242 shares a bearing seal assy on the pto side with the 238 and similar which is prone to failure. Last I knew the seal was back in limited production (3 or 4 years ago), but when it wasn't, lots of saws were sold for parts....you might have one of those.

 

[dirtcurt]

Fuel hose: I would plan to, when convenient, replace that original 2-series part....after 30yrs they don't seal well anymore. And of course, like 95% of other 2-series parts you can't buy a new one. The solution is to use a modern curly Stihl fuel hose. The one accommodation for doing this however is you will need to drill out the hole in the fuel tank to a slightly larger size. I've done this to three 242xp's that I rebuilt; it's a simple and permanent solution.

I can find a Husqvarna curly fuel line but not a Stihl. Are there part numbers for the line? Is that a dealer only part?

 

[quattro.pilot]

I can find a Husqvarna curly fuel line but not a Stihl. Are there part numbers for the line? Is that a dealer only part?

Ya, I can elaborate a bit.. my memory is often not great and details of all my little tinkering projects become muddled.... my brain is full

So turns out my system had to pieces. The Husqvarna curly hose (which we all know, and you've already identified). And then I used a fuel line grommet from Stihl, Part# 0000 989 0516 ... Amazon, Dealership, several places offer to sell this part.

Drilled out the hole on the 242 fuel tank a bit (don't recall how big), and also contoured with a dremel part of the shoulder associated with the molding for the rubber mount. I believe you can see this in the image provided. Sorry for the confusion... I knew I'd used a Stihl part, but forgot it was the grommet. Got the idea from other documented instances of folks updating their 2-series saws.... came off *********

 

[KASH]

I wonder if a hose for the early 266 metal tank would work.I just changed one last nite on a 162. the dealer had the 266 hose in stock.
Kash