miscellaneous Husky 61 Q's

[jbqwik]

Hello all.
Over the past 20 years, I've gone thru about 125 cord, 3 bars and 1 sprocket on my 61. Today it runs as good as when new, but, the carb could stand to be adjusted.
Can you guys advise on the best method to do this, considering I'm just a homeowner, using only hand tools, nothing fancy like a tach?

From reading various posts on this site, I get the sense there might be performance differences between the 61 that I own, and a similar model sold at that time called the 61 Rancher. Does anyone have more insight on this?

I usually file the depth guage down a bit and, of course, I feel it could use more power! Are there simple performance mods I can make to get just a bit more torque?

And, finally, is the factory carb size and jetting big enough to support more aggressive mods, such as porting or larger piston and/or stroke combinations?

Thanks much!

 

[sawn_penn]

http://www.madsens1.com/sawtune.htm

 

[Freakingstang]

That site that sawpenn posted is good for setting up the saw without a tach, although it is better to error on the side of rich vs lean. If you get it too lean, the saw will end up with a scored piston and cylinder.

Not real familar with the 61 Vs 61Rancher, but most saws perform much better by opening up the muffler. Do a search for muffer mods and there should be quite a bit of information. There might not be a whole lot of 61 specific mods, but the 266 268xp 272xp use a very similar muffler.
I have modded quite a few of my own saws and have never ran into a problem with the carb being to small.


-Steve

 

[jbqwik]

That madsons web site is a nice resource. I adjusted the carb as indicated, using their WAV sounds as reference. Perfect.
Thanks to sawn_penn for the quick reply.

Freakingstang, I'll do the search you suggest. I much appreciate the info.
I'd like to get into DIY mods. Even though I know my way around 4-strokes and diesels, I'm pretty ignorant on two-stroke basics. So bear with me.. I am train-able

Again, thanks.

 

[sawn_penn]

2 Strokes:

Leaner = faster = more heat + less oil = dead saw. You can't just add more oil to the fuel mix, 'cos the heat will kill you anyway.

Two strokes get leaner under load. You have to tune them to run pretty rich when out of the wood.

Take a little screwdriver with you when you go and cut. You can always make the saw leaner in the field if it turns out to be gutless in the cut.

 

[Mr.]

The best mod for that saw is a 268 or 272 jug and piston. See it all the time racing.

Yes, it's cheating in a 4 cube class, but you're just cutting firewood.

Fred

 

[buck futter]

welcome back fred.

buck

 

[jbqwik]

OK, MR., I'm game, but, lots more questions:
Is the piston & barrel a direct bolt-on swap?
Anything else need to be changed or modded?
How about the carb and/or jetting? (I know, I keep mentioning the carb, but, from my experience, whenever I increase airflow I also need to add fuel.)
Is there a specific supplier you all use, or, just my local shop?
Finally, what type of induction does the 61 use? Is it piston-port, reed-valve...what?
Thanks guys. This is gonna be fun.

 

[Mr.]

Thanks buck.

JB. Right now on ebay you can get a new Chinese? 268 cylinder and piston. The 272 can be harder to find. It is direct bolt on and the 61 has the same stroke. You would have to check IPLs, but I am confident you can use the same carb without modification.

It is piston ported and a good engine IMO.

A big carb is great for high RPM/Horsepower, but we want maximum torque at the RPM you are at in the wood.

Do a muffler mod, which is desribed in 75635635 threads on this site and you should have a very impressive saw.

Fred

 

[computeruser]

Wouldn't an older saw like the 61 already have an adequately ventilated muffler for use with the stock carb and porting, having been built and designed (I presume) pre-EPA restrictions?

 

[Freakingstang]

Wouldn't an older saw like the 61 already have an adequately ventilated muffler for use with the stock carb and porting, having been built and designed (I presume) pre-EPA restrictions?

One would think that. Here are some Pics courtesy of Gypo Logger that were on his 268 SE that he trurned into a 272xp. My 268 is 1989 vintage and has the same looking muffler on it.

John's saw started life as a concrete saw from the reading/searching I did.

Here is the stock outlet:

Here is how he opened it up a little:

Here are a couple threads for interchangability and stuff

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=29229&highlight=268

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=29401&highlight=268


-Steve

 

[manual]

Wouldn't an older saw like the 61 already have an adequately ventilated muffler for use with the stock carb and porting, having been built and designed (I presume) pre-EPA restrictions?

You would think so, But remember the manufactures are also dealing with noise decibels. So making a small outlet keeps the noise down.
thus restricting power.

 

[Mr.]

BTW if that carb has removable jets it's worthless. Put it in a box and send it to me. I'll throw it away here. LOL

Fred

 

[manual]

unless you get better money for scrap, down there.
Something tells me you ain't gonna' throw it away. hmmmmmm

 

[jbqwik]

hah! you guys are great, and way funny!
Of course, I appreciate MR.'s offer to dispose of my 'trash' carb. But, around here, we recycle; That means the 'ole Tillotson carb 'll just HAVE to go into my trash bucket <ahem>.
I did cut apart the muffler. It has one internal baffle with a couple holes poked in the top left side. So, I welded 'er back together. Thanks sawn_penn for nice the pics.
So, which of these mods, the "268" or the "272" is a direct bolt-on?
Obviously I need to do more research. Any other "gotchas" you guys know of would be much appreciated.
Is there a guess as to total cash involved?
Ya know, this old saw has done me right over the years. Now I've got a son-in-law with 4 acres of mixed pine and hardwood that needs whacking. Looking forward to more years of cutting.
Thanks all...

 

[Freakingstang]

Both the 268 and 272 are direct bolt on swaps. The 268 is 50mm and the 272 is 52mm bore.

There should be information in the links I provided earlier in the post.


-Steve

 

[SawTroll]

.. I get the sense there might be performance differences between the 61 that I own, and a similar model sold at that time called the 61 Rancher. ....

I have seen the regular 61 rated at both 2.9 and 3.0 kW, and the 61 Rancher at only 2.6 kW - but I am not sure that this covers every Husky 61 ever made.

... I've gone thru about 125 cord, 3 bars and 1 sprocket on my 61. ...

3 bars and only 1 sprocket - pretty odd.....

 

[jbqwik]

SawTroll, I also have seen this documented in at least one, web-posted "manufactures" data sheet. Like you say, it described the 61 as ~.4 hp higher than the Rancher 61. That's actually quite a bit and I'm curious why. The only saw I've got to compare with is a 55 Rancher, which the 61 stomps all over <G>.

You're right about the sprocket; I should have changed it out sooner.
You see, I thought I knew something about saws, but I'm finding out how ignorant I really am. Only after reading many of the archive posts from this site, as well as others, did I tear the saw down for a closer look. The sprocket was beat-up, but, otherwise, the old 61 is in quite excellent shape. Still using the factory plug, which shows dark brown and black electrode, and, no signs of carbon or scratches anywhere else. Didn't measure ring end-gap or clearances or compression, BUT.. with new bar and chain, really, I swear she cuts as good as new.
Partly I attribute this to the fact I've always run a 1:25 oil mix, and, also I've always been careful about overreving. Ahh, I give myself way too much credit and not enough to Husqvarna!

Recently I got the bug for a little more power. That is my nature anyway: I'm into power-anything!
Being more of a backyard hobbiest than professional, I'm learning a bunch from the more experienced senior members here. To me, that's the fun part.
Thanks a lot for the reply.

 

[SawTroll]

Just in case you don't know, both the 61 (2.9 kW) and the open port 268 (3.2 kW) are still sold as current models in parts of the world.

 

[jbqwik]

Still sold? Wow, mine is 20 years old, I wonder how long the model run has been.
Would this be in your part of the world? Do you know what price they're going for? I paid $430 in 1985. Probably a bit on the high side, but, I felt that having a happy dealer close by was worth something. In the following years the only times I had to revisit this shop was for the (many) chains and few bars I went through.
I was just commenting, in email to another old hand on this site, how the shop owner steered me to purchase the 61 over many others. Since then I have mentally 'thanked' that crusty old guy many times.
Thanks!.. for your insight and all.