SPEEDCUT NANO CONVERSION KIT, 14" - ECHO CS-355t

[MattMorin]

SPEEDCUT NANO CONVERSION KIT, 14" - ECHO CS-355t
Not yet.... but maybe with your help...

Someone said to me the other day "Oh you gotta put the Nano on that saw..." I had just told them I was buying a new cs-355t and planned to do a little work to it to wake it up.

My name is Matt new guy and first time poster long time reader. I've been cutting since I was a kid and own a small quiver of saws this being my first top handle I'll primarily be using it for trail work and light cleanup. I've got a couple milling saws and a felling saw that will still do the majority of the work. From what I've been reading this thing should be quite capable and comes with a better price tag then the 201t.

My hit list of upgrades...

• Improve Intake and Exhaust
  • Check...
  • I took the baffle out and increases the intake channel size, I ordered an Egan performance pipe and am planning to drop the saw off for a tune.
• Dogs
  • Check...
  • I ordered a three tooth from WCS. love them.
• Dust cover
  • Check...
  • Simple snag from echo
• Bar and chain
  • (Full Stop)

Like I said, I like the idea of a narrow kerf and a little shorter bar. So I went to Oregon and got stuck... I found that they make a conversion kit for the 303T, 271T and the 2511t just not the 355t. I went back to Echo... talked to a rep and discovered the 303T and the 355t can share the same spur gear... (Wrong.) Yes, it will fit in the clutch plate and it will bolt on however the oiler worm gear has two teeth on it that work with the 6 tooth spur gear that came with the 355t when I tried installing the 7 tooth spur gear that came with the conversion kit for the 303T (I know...Bonehead Move) it caused some problems that I didn't expect nor know to look for when putting it back together. Apparently, I didn't get a good seat and when I pulled the saw over I chipped the teeth on the oiler worm gear and broke all three clutch shoes which sent me back to the drawing board...

I've ordered oem replacement parts at this point and have just about given up on the nano conversion. Unless someone knows of a different oiler worm gear, a different spur sprocket or some other idea that could work with the bar and chain...

I've read mixed reviews in the Panther kit and have always had good luck with Oregon. Any suggestions or direction you all have would be greatly appreciated. If I can't figure it out I have two conversion kits and a few extra chains that may need to find a new home...

Kit Part Number 637257 and 614384 (Sent to me by mistake...) Kits have spur gear, 14" bar and chains...
Chain Part Number 80TXL059

Thanks y'all I appreciate any support you all might be able to share.
Best,
You're Newbie Bonehead... Matt

 

[Franny K]

Matt, I think you have some terms wrong. The part with two nubs that fit in the spaces of the 6 tooth 3/8lp sprocket is called a collar. It drives the worm gear but the worm gear I never had to deal with in making the rim drive conversion work. There is a serious problem with the aftermarket thinking just because an earlier model has a conversion clutch drum that is the same the later ones do not oil at idle and need oiler drive parts. v356000290 is the collar and get a few eventually you should find a way to get it working.

I see one sheared off prong on the clutch removal tool. I recall somelthing going wrong for me in my rim drive conversion (361p the rear handle version) that make it pull over like the engine was damaged as in partly seized. I am not sure what happened but no damaged stuff that needed repair. Damaging the clutch shoes isn't in your pictrure.

 

[MattMorin]

Matt, I think you have some terms wrong. The part with two nubs that fit in the spaces of the 6 tooth 3/8lp sprocket is called a collar. It drives the worm gear but the worm gear I never had to deal with in making the rim drive conversion work. There is a serious problem with the aftermarket thinking just because an earlier model has a conversion clutch drum that is the same the later ones do not oil at idle and need oiler drive parts. v356000290 is the collar and get a few eventually you should find a way to get it working.

I see one sheared off prong on the clutch removal tool. I recall somelthing going wrong for me in my rim drive conversion (361p the rear handle version) that make it pull over like the engine was damaged as in partly seized. I am not sure what happened but no damaged stuff that needed repair. Damaging the clutch shoes isn't in your pictrure.

Yep. Had thar wrong name in my brain... You're right. I am thinking about the collar that drives the worm gear that oils the chain. As far as the damaged parts.... I cracked one side of each of the pockets of each of the three shoes of the clutch. New one is already on the way from Travers Creek. I think the clutch removal tool bounced the first time I tried to remove the spur and that leg popped off. I haven't had a problem since.
M

 

[Franny K]

This is a screenshot of the parts sheet from echo for 361p. Note This must be the 8 tooth 1/4 pitch set up that Echo does not want in the USA. I can't even get the UK parts sheet to see if the collar is the same. 6 and 8 are both even probably will work or easily made to work. Oregon 25ap chamfer chisel small cutter that is so close to the depth guide a file barely fits, $60 for genuine Echo from England or half that economy import.

Note on piece 3 there is a taper cut inside the center on one side.. I put 2 shims between 2 and 3 in some attempts to get closeer. Still have 1 in maybe 10 thousands"

 

[esean]

You might want to try the OEM 3/8lp sprocket and bar with Stihl PS/PS3 chain before you switch to the .325lp Speedcut nano. I've seen a couple of reviews stating the .325 was a little smoother but no faster.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

What about the 358t Shindaiwa? Exact same saw, just red.