Husqvarna 355FX Clearing saw died - suggestions?

Not a chainsaw per se, but close enough I hope.

I have a new Husqvarna 355FX clearing saw - about 70 hours on it over the last month. I bought a tach to adjust it after the break in period, as well as to adjust my chainsaws and other 2 cycle equipment. It has run great to this point, after breaking it in I adjusted the carb. The only problem I have noticed is that the standard nylon air filter lets too much dirt past into the filter box. Flock filters worked better but still let dirt in, today I tried a washable sponge filter speced for the 355RX on the parts list. Not sure why only that variant, but it appeared to work well. I adjusted the carb again, as it appeared to be running rich.

After 90 minutes (tank and a half) it just died and I could not get it started in the field. Back at the house I checked spark - fine, The filter is a little dirty, but nothing exceptional - I put a new one on anyway. Gas mix looks clear in the tank, the fuel filter looks clear. I managed to finally get it to start, but it won't stay running. I did manage to go WOT once, but it died when I came off the throttle.

I guess I'll play around with the carb settings in the morning. I have not been able to find a shop manual for this piece of equipment, and the OM isn't any help. Any thoughts? Kind of disappointing to me with the low hours (not to mention the price!).

Before you go crazy if you're still under warranty take it back to dealer...I'd want to make sure EVERYTHING was perfect on a machine like that...especially with what they run $$$wise.

The big clearing saws are amazing though...my fs 450 tackles the worst stuff the way my echo does lawn turf.

It makes sense that the denser foam filer would require you to lean out, as less air was flowing through the engine due to higher density and greater impedance of flow. However, how much did you lean it out? Did you lean out high and low? How close were you running to suggested? You're saying it absolutely won't idle? Did you run out of gas before it happened? or it just cut? is it at all seized?

It just died in the middle of a tank of gas. It does not appear seized - it does not take any more effort to pull the starter cord.

I had it adjusted to idle at 2800 and max out at 13000 per the manual listing for the 355FX. However, you prompted me to check the manual again. I notice the 355RX max rpm is 12000, idle is 2800 - I wonder if the lower max is due to the filter, although I'm not clear if the sponge filter is standard on the 355RX or is just an option. The multi-model OM does not mention different filters.

It is an awesome piece of equipment. I have 16 acres of 5 year old longleaf to clean up, removing natural regen loblolly and hardwood (it was previously a mixed site). It looks great and will release a lot of shaded out longleaf.

Sorry but the RX model is the model reflective of the current filter setup you had even though you have the FX because you changed them? Is that right?

Do you have compression gauge?

Yes, I saw the sponge filter on the parts list, it was annotated for the RX model. I was looking to cut down the dirt making it through the filter. I find it amazing how dirty the inside of the box gets after just a day's work, an this is not in a dusty environment. But perhaps it is designed that way - they don't care if fines make it through, the filter is only to stop big stuff like seeds. However, the local shop said a guy destroyed the engine on his clearing saw cutting in a burned area, and the soot made it through the filter and did the damage.

I do not have a compression gauge. Funny you should ask, I was thinking about getting one for another saw I worked on this morning. I also have a Husqvarna 359 that is giving me fits - idles unevenly, races with no throttle at times. I disassembled and cleaned the carb this morning, but it did not help. It has always been a little twitchy, perhaps one of the bad Walbro carbs others have commented on.

Bummer - three pieces of Husqvarna equipment (the other is another 359), 2 are down.

Thought I would update this in case anyone ever looks it up in the future.

The problem with the saw was a cracked piston - the dealer who serviced it (but not the dealer who sold it to me) warrantied it. He also adjusted the carb to run rich (11,800 versus the book max rpm of 13,000) and recommended I let it 'breathe' - stay off WOT as much as possible. Now I 'pulse' the throttle and use minimum rpms to cut the brush, which works as well as a more wide open style, and saves fuel. I have noticed that the rpms have drifted up after a day's use, even after adjusting the 'H' jet all the way rich to the EPA stop limit.

I am also using a 40:1 mix now.

He also said the inside of the intake system was filthy, even with daily filter changes. He implied this might have something to do with the cracked piston - not sure how, I would think it would cause more of a problem with the rings and cylinder. I have resumed using the oil soaked sponge filter, as it appears to do a better job keeping dirt out.

To me, the dirt passing through the filter problem is a serious issue with this saw, which otherwise I am very happy with.

If you're happy with a high price item that craps out after 70 hours you'd be
ecstatic with a Shindaiwa which seems to run forever.

wow over $1100 for that thing. that is alot of money for a big trimmer

taandctran said:

wow over $1100 for that thing. that is alot of money for a big trimmer

Click to expand...

It's a lot more than a trimmer. Years ago I tried using a trimmer with a brushcutter blade to try to do what I do now with the 355FX. The trimmer pole started to come apart in the middle after 10 minutes of banging futilely against hardwood stems.

The harness you wear is as important as the saw itself - together they are a brushcutting system. It makes it possible to cut all day long without noticing the weight of the saw.

I would take it back for the warranty work. My 345rx has run like a champ over the years and I run a 9" carbide blade. BTW hows the hand?

flushcut said:

I would take it back for the warranty work. My 345rx has run like a champ over the years and I run a 9" carbide blade. BTW hows the hand?

Click to expand...

The finger has a scar, but I am thankful I still have it

I was pleased the dealer warrantied the piston and labor. I love the saw, I just can't understand how the filter lets so much dirt past. I have never seen that before with any piece of equipment with an air filter.

Elmer Fudd said:

It's a lot more than a trimmer. Years ago I tried using a trimmer with a brushcutter blade to try to do what I do now with the 355FX. The trimmer pole started to come apart in the middle after 10 minutes of banging futilely against hardwood stems.

The harness you wear is as important as the saw itself - together they are a brushcutting system. It makes it possible to cut all day long without noticing the weight of the saw.

Click to expand...

Elmer I am a pro silviculture worker and I use a stihl 480 clearing saw, I work on a crew that has 20-25 guys per year, at least 15 use the 480 with very little problems other than worn throttle cables and starter parts wearing out etc.. some guys use the 345 husky with very little problems to report. We also had 3 guys with those new 355fx models with many problems, piston issue like you had and failure to work properly in rainy weather(sucks in water and saw will not work, you have to constantly dry the filter off, ) These guys used the old husky 265 before the 355fx and had good success with it, they bought the 355 expecting the same but had to go back to their older backup saws (265) in order to stay working.

craig71 said:

Elmer I am a pro silviculture worker and I use a stihl 480 clearing saw, I work on a crew that has 20-25 guys per year, at least 15 use the 480 with very little problems other than worn throttle cables and starter parts wearing out etc.. some guys use the 345 husky with very little problems to report. We also had 3 guys with those new 355fx models with many problems, piston issue like you had and failure to work properly in rainy weather(sucks in water and saw will not work, you have to constantly dry the filter off, ) These guys used the old husky 265 before the 355fx and had good success with it, they bought the 355 expecting the same but had to go back to their older backup saws (265) in order to stay working.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed info. I was never able to find a solid review of the 355FX online. If I would have known about these kind of issues, I would have bought the Stihl.

Elmer Fudd said:

It's a lot more than a trimmer. Years ago I tried using a trimmer with a brushcutter blade to try to do what I do now with the 355FX. The trimmer pole started to come apart in the middle after 10 minutes of banging futilely against hardwood stems.

The harness you wear is as important as the saw itself - together they are a brushcutting system. It makes it possible to cut all day long without noticing the weight of the saw.

Click to expand...

I actually consider buying one, but am not sure if it should be a RX or FX (but it sure will have the heated handles) - anyway it will be used with both a saw-blade and brush/grass attachments. The only brushcutter I have extensive experience with is the FS200, but it sometimes feels a bit weak.....

Obviously, the 355 is a huge improvement over the 265 that it replaced - that was basically a 1960s engine design, and the FS550, but if it doesn't hold up, that changes the picture a bit.

I went the 345rx route because it seemed to be the most versatile ie, running a saw blade, grass/brush blade, or a string trimmer. I like having a do it all toys in stead of single use toys my chain saws are the exception though. It has been a great machine I have cleared acres of buckthorn, honeysuckle, swamp willow saplings, and field grass as tall as myself with no problem. I haven't looked into the 355 but I hope that it was repaired and will prove itself to be the machine that you need it to be.

flushcut said:

I haven't looked into the 355 but I hope that it was repaired and will prove itself to be the machine that you need it to be.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I hope so also. The problem is, that I will only use the machine intensively for short periods over a period of years. I am not a professional arborist, just a landowner who will have to do several acre projects once every couple years, with very light use in between. It will get expensive after the warranty period, if I have to replace a piston every couple years.

Based on my experience and especially that of craig71, since he has a lot more experience with this class of equipment and the 355FX itself, I would strongly recommend against buying the 355FX. It is ridiculous to spend that much money on a piece of equipment like this and have basic reliability issues.

I would think the equipment won't mind sitting for awhile if you've got someplace dry to store it. It would be crucial to run the motor empty of fuel before storage and always start a new cutting session with fresh fuel if it's been more than a couple of months.

I've pretty much run my C-35 like that for 20+ years without any problems related to fuel issues.
It'll probably sit more as recently I've aquired a bunch of new "toys" to play with and at times I'm starting to get the brush under control.

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I actually enjoy a good session cutting the heck out of things with a brush cutter.

No problems storing it, I just don't look forward to having to replace a piston every 100 hours or so, out of warranty. I would also think the dirt getting through the filter is causing other problems that will seriously degrade component life.