Husqvarna 440e - stuck piston?

[JPOHLIC]

While hunting a few years ago I flipped my quad into a creek. My 440e was strapped to the rear rack and ended up under water and packed full of mud. After that it wouldn't pull, so when I got home I took the starter apart and cleaned it out. I had some trouble with the recoil spring so it sat for a few years.

Now, thanks to youtube I got the recoil spring wound up and the starter working again but the flywheel doesn't move at all. The carb looks really clean but I'm thinking I got some water in the exhaust and the piston/ring is rusted and/or seized.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a schematic diagram of how to take this apart or give me some tips on how to free the piston? I have tools but no small engine experience.

This saw is hardly broken in, only about 5 litres of fuel through it, and I'd like to get it running again.

 

[Guido Salvage]

Start by pulling the muffler off and taking a peek in the exhaust port.

 

[AKDoug]

It is highly likely that if you sunk the saw and didn't take care of it right away, the crank bearings are seized up. It is also very likely that the lower and upper rod bearings have seized or have been damaged. I bet parts are going to exceed it's value. That said, it is fun and educational to disassemble saws.

 

[Guido Salvage]

What Doug said, I had to cut my response short. This is the same reason that you run a saw and bring it up to operating temperature after hosing it off or power washing it.

 

[Guido Salvage]

Make sure nothing is jammed behind the flywheel as well.

 

[JPOHLIC]

Well, I finally had some time to look at this saw again. The exhaust port looked like new with no signs of rust as did the carb and spark plug, so I proceeded to tear the whole engine down. There was minor rust on the clutch bearing and only a thin line of rust where the flywheel contacts the shaft which left me hopeful. Unfortunately the diagnosis from AKDoug was correct. Both crankshaft bearings were rusted/seized and the lower rod bearing is also seized. The crankshaft, piston, ring, and cylinder walls all look good so I'll price out some new bearings.

One more question, is the shaft of the lower rod bearing pressed in? I've got it soaking in PB Blaster until I try to remove it.

Thanks

 

[AKDoug]

There have been folks that have been able to press apart cranks, but as far as I know the bearing themselves are not available. It probably is not worth the trouble.

 

[JPOHLIC]

So, after sitting on my workbench for another year, I finally installed the new bearings. The saw is mostly reassembled, enough to fire it up anyway. It idles good but when I give it any gas it bogs down or dies completely. There are two wires connected under the choke switch, a blue wire and a black wire. Does it matter which wire goes where? My parts diagram doe not specify. Could it be old gas causing me problems or would the carb need adjustment? Any other ideas?

 

[huskihl]

I doubt it matters which way the wires go. I'm sure that after a few years of sitting, you need to rebuild the carb

 

[bigbadbob]

So, after sitting on my workbench for another year, I finally installed the new bearings. The saw is mostly reassembled, enough to fire it up anyway. It idles good but when I give it any gas it bogs down or dies completely. Could it be old gas causing me problems or would the carb need adjustment? Any other ideas?

Try turning your low speed jet out a bit, carb may need adjusting. And use new gas, might just try that first.
BBB