Little green gas cap on the 346's

[spike60]

Sold my last regular 346 so now I'll be selling the E-tech versions. Some of my customers are wondering how the new version will compare to the original. I could fire one up, but you won't get an accurate picture from a brand new saw.

So, anybody have one with some time on it that would like to share some thoughts? I figure the saw has to lose a little power, but how much? Does the cat muffler have to go? Did they ruin it?

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[CITREEMAN]

Couldnt tell you about the 346 but i picked up 142 yesterday. E-tech it is threw my damn 020 stihl from 50 plus feet that morning it failed me for the last time:angry2: Any way fired that 142 up and it sounded like a well nothing run a couple of tanks threw it seemed ok sooo got back to the shop that evening i HAD to pull the muffler and see what they did. Didnt like what i seen. So i OPENED her up sounds better and runs a hell of a lot better now. :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Rspike]

The E-tech cat muffler on the 346XP is not "bad" but it did cut it down on power a little bit ( at least for the first 10 tanks of gas before the muffler got gutted ) Now the 359 E-tech is a whole different story ! I would not own an non muffler modded 359 . Wow was it bad with the cat muffler . ( on the first 10 tanks of gas ) For me ........the "stock" e-tech 346xp really out classed , out cut & out powered the "stock" E-tech 359 . The tables got turned real quick after the muffler mods .The 359 is a real power house for its cc class after modded. . Real happy with them both now . The 346 is the limbing , smaller wood saw and the 359 is the bigger woods trunk saw .(up to 20" as per the bar ) anything bigger and the 372 rolls out to do its duty . If i had to rate the "STOCK" e-tech 346xp i would give it a 8.5 of 1-10 scale . The "STOCK" 359 e-tech i would rate a 4 of a 1-10 scale. Both 10's after the muffler mod.

 

[havvey]

020

Couldnt tell you about the 346 but i picked up 142 yesterday. E-tech it is threw my damn 020 stihl from 50 plus feet that morning it failed me for the last time:angry2: Any way fired that 142 up and it sounded like a well nothing run a couple of tanks threw it seemed ok sooo got back to the shop that evening i HAD to pull the muffler and see what they did. Didnt like what i seen. So i OPENED her up sounds better and runs a hell of a lot better now. :hmm3grin2orange:

I have had similar luck with stihl chainsaws.:yoyo:

 

[spike60]

The E-tech cat muffler on the 346XP is not "bad" but it did cut it down on power a little bit ( at least for the first 10 tanks of gas before the muffler got gutted ) Now the 359 E-tech is a whole different story ! I would not own an non muffler modded 359 . Wow was it bad with the cat muffler . ( on the first 10 tanks of gas ) For me ........the "stock" e-tech 346xp really out classed , out cut & out powered the "stock" E-tech 359 . The tables got turned real quick after the muffler mods .The 359 is a real power house for its cc class after modded. . Real happy with them both now . The 346 is the limbing , smaller wood saw and the 359 is the bigger woods trunk saw .(up to 20" as per the bar ) anything bigger and the 372 rolls out to do its duty . If i had to rate the "STOCK" e-tech 346xp i would give it a 8.5 of 1-10 scale . The "STOCK" 359 e-tech i would rate a 4 of a 1-10 scale. Both 10's after the muffler mod.

Thanks R, for a good reply.

I know that the cat does affect the 359 quite a bit. I got rid of that same muffler on my 2156 and I love the way that thing cuts. Glad that the 346 isn't affected as much.

 

[SawTroll]

Over here the cat versions has bee an option on many Husky and Jred models for some time - we even have to pay extra for them.

Do you think that they sell a lot of them????:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[buck futter]

R,
Can you give us some pics of your muffler mods?


Please
Buck

The E-tech cat muffler on the 346XP is not "bad" but it did cut it down on power a little bit ( at least for the first 10 tanks of gas before the muffler got gutted ) Now the 359 E-tech is a whole different story ! I would not own an non muffler modded 359 . Wow was it bad with the cat muffler . ( on the first 10 tanks of gas ) For me ........the "stock" e-tech 346xp really out classed , out cut & out powered the "stock" E-tech 359 . The tables got turned real quick after the muffler mods .The 359 is a real power house for its cc class after modded. . Real happy with them both now . The 346 is the limbing , smaller wood saw and the 359 is the bigger woods trunk saw .(up to 20" as per the bar ) anything bigger and the 372 rolls out to do its duty . If i had to rate the "STOCK" e-tech 346xp i would give it a 8.5 of 1-10 scale . The "STOCK" 359 e-tech i would rate a 4 of a 1-10 scale. Both 10's after the muffler mod.

 

[Rspike]

R,
Can you give us some pics of your muffler mods?


Please
Buck

I guess thats not a problem . There not fancy , just all business modded . I save the fancy for the cars and trucks. <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/FOURM/A1.jpg"> <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/FOURM/A2.jpg"> <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/FOURM/A3.jpg"> <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/FOURM/A4.jpg"> <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/FOURM/A5.jpg">

 

[Rspike]

PS The 359 and the newer 346xp "had" green gas caps (E-Tech - cat muffler models). a trip to the Husqvarna dealer & few $$ took care of that .

 

[buck futter]

Thanks Roo,

I did my 359 muffler similar to what ken dunn did externally, Internally I enlarged the holes in the waffle and cut the middle of the pipe so exhaust can exit both holes. I figured by leaving the baffle in place it will cut back noise a little, kind of like the silencer on a gun. My theory couldn't be full of defication but it is definately running a little stronger. I am working on a couple of fronts to hop this saw up so my performance gains may be slightly skewed.

Thank you for the pics,someday I will take a couple of what I have done. I have a new project I am going to start on I will keep you all posted on how it turns out including full disclosure.

Buck

 

[brncreeper]

On my 346 I cut the sides of my exhaust deflector back just enough to bend the top straight up. I was then able to take a die grinder and open the exhaust up. Afterwards I just bent the top back down and TIG weld the sides. The plastic melted after a few uses and had to be trimmed back with a belt sander.

 

[Rspike]

Thanks Roo,

I did my 359 muffler similar to what ken dunn did externally, Internally I enlarged the holes in the waffle and cut the middle of the pipe so exhaust can exit both holes. I figured by leaving the baffle in place it will cut back noise a little, kind of like the silencer on a gun. My theory couldn't be full of defication but it is definately running a little stronger. I am working on a couple of fronts to hop this saw up so my performance gains may be slightly skewed.

Thank you for the pics,someday I will take a couple of what I have done. I have a new project I am going to start on I will keep you all posted on how it turns out including full disclosure.

Buck

On my Cat mufflers i took my O/A torch and cut the whole inside plate out and i cut the old out tube about 1/2" before it gets to the exhaust hole . I have done the whole weld on fancy pipe/tube exhaust thing on others chainsaw mufflers per request but I still like the hole at the bottom front better for direct outlet pressure .