Husky 181SE mystery apperance

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Good luck with this saw. I really want a 181SE....just can't seem to find a decent one. Looking forward to watching this thread...:cheers:

I've been looking on ebay for one myself. I hear they make some real good runners for their age. I can't wait till you get it together with some videos.

Thanks fella's.

I've been quite surprised at how nice a saw these are since tearing it down.

Got some crank bearings and seals, so I'll head out and try and assemble the case.
It will be a week before I see the barrel kit and then some time for the 066 piston to be turned.
I'll widen the ports, actually I haven't done a port map on the original cyl as yet.
I'll try and look into the mods a little further if I can find any info.
 
There may be a substantial weight difference, but when you'r out in the bush with a 288, the amount of power for the weight is second to none IMO. .

That may be true, but it is surely not reflected in the specs - others share your opinion though, about the power of the 288.....:confused:

According to specs, the 288xp weights the same as the MS660, but has 1.1hp less.
 
Last edited:
Hopefully JJ will chime in here, but I think the 066 piston may require macheing to work in a 288? Popup maybe?

Yeah I mentioned that knowing that Al has skills and tooling enough to make it into a good runner. I was going to mention also that I have a NOS 181 thin-ring piston but decided I better keep my trap shut. Besides, the 066 piston will make a better runner anyway.
 
You're gonna love that saw, Al. Here's what I did to my 181SE last winter:

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=89498

And now it sounds like this:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkNrDIKpeEU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkNrDIKpeEU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Yeah it's heavy and loud but man does it eat wood fast. I can lean right down on it and it keeps on pulling. I also have another stock 181SE runner that I haven't quite decided what to do with yet, and I have a 288 as well that's in bone stock form still; to be honest I haven't used it nearly enough to justify keeping it, but I just can't bring myself to part with it, if for no other reason than that others want them so badly! I'm looking forward to seeing what you can pull off with one of these guys after your 371/2 thread. I don't have the equipment or skills to pull off a lot of the things you can, but I love the ideas nonetheless.

I don't think I noticed you mention whether or not you had sourced a new top cover for yours; if not, they're still available new from Husky, at least here in Canada. I just had one (the lowtop cover) ordered at my local dealer this past summer. It wasn't that bad either; only a bit over $50 CDN.
 
Last edited:
Frig it's hot down your way today Al, I think it's around 37* here ATM.
We've been spoilt by a week of mild temps and cool nights, one night dropped to 6*, looks like it's back to summer.
 
We've been experiencing unseasonally warm weather here - it's the dead of winter in the middle of January, and we've had two straight weeks of days above freezing, sometimes up to 12°C, with beautiful sunny conditions most of the time to boot. Normally clear weather & sun during the winter here mean it can get just nasty cold. Meanwhile Florida has been much colder than us and might lose a lot of citrus crops due to freezing temperatures. I love it.
 
Nice find on the 181. I just received mine from ebay. Paid about $40.00 for it.It will need a little work but i think i can turn it into a good runner. I also have two 288xp coming next week.
 
Yeah it would have to be Will, otherwise no point using it. :clap:

Thought so. Just thought I'd mention it since I didn't see anybody else.

Yeah I mentioned that knowing that Al has skills and tooling enough to make it into a good runner. I was going to mention also that I have a NOS 181 thin-ring piston but decided I better keep my trap shut. Besides, the 066 piston will make a better runner anyway.

I'll ask you this. What don't you have??
 
You're gonna love that saw, Al. Here's what I did to my 181SE last winter:

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=89498

And now it sounds like this:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkNrDIKpeEU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkNrDIKpeEU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Yeah it's heavy and loud but man does it eat wood fast. I can lean right down on it and it keeps on pulling. I also have another stock 181SE runner that I haven't quite decided what to do with yet, and I have a 288 as well that's in bone stock form still; to be honest I haven't used it nearly enough to justify keeping it, but I just can't bring myself to part with it, if for no other reason than that others want them so badly! I'm looking forward to seeing what you can pull off with one of these guys after your 371/2 thread. I don't have the equipment or skills to pull off a lot of the things you can, but I love the ideas nonetheless.

I don't think I noticed you mention whether or not you had sourced a new top cover for yours; if not, they're still available new from Husky, at least here in Canada. I just had one (the lowtop cover) ordered at my local dealer this past summer. It wasn't that bad either; only a bit over $50 CDN.

Thanks for that Brad.
That 181SE runs great for a stock saw.
Mate, if others want that 288 so badly, it's enough for me to keep it.
If your not desperate for the bucks, keep it.
To many times we get down the road and and say "wish I had a kept that saw".
Onya mate.
 
Frig it's hot down your way today Al, I think it's around 37* here ATM.
We've been spoilt by a week of mild temps and cool nights, one night dropped to 6*, looks like it's back to summer.

So much for putting the cases together.
Mate who dropped of the saw wanted to go pick up a grey fergie we've gone halves in. :dizzy: In this heat.
Spose to be 41/2c today.
 
Nice find on the 181. I just received mine from ebay. Paid about $40.00 for it.It will need a little work but i think i can turn it into a good runner. I also have two 288xp coming next week.

Find alright. I found it at home, lol.
A week ago a coupla mates called in and we drank a few beers over the back of the ute (pickup) for the evening and Kurt had a 2165 sitting in the back of his ute. Well I couldn't help myself and proceeded to tell him what he could do with his 2165, lol.
It was these two that scored the saw for me.

Mate that's great with your saws.
You know the rules - pics and vids.
:cheers:
 

Latest posts

Back
Top