Strange behaviour of 346xp ...

[palbin]

One of my 346xp's has started to behave strange recently - it needs 20 or
so pulls to start - it just ignites and then dies - until 20 or so pulls, that is -
and when it finally starts and gets worm it has a way too high idle rev so
that the chain never stops - albeit it is quite firmly tensioned ... unless chain
break is employed ... not ideal obviously ... . It sounds like it is getting
a bit too much air I guess ... .

I have cleaned the air filter giving no improvement .. . (Predictably if it gets
too much air ... .)

I haven't tried to readjust the carburator as I think the mentioned behavi-
our is too much "off topic" to be just a carb adjustement issue ... .

Thankful for advice ... .

Edit: L-screw is on max by the way ... .

 

[palbin]

Yes - thanks for your kind advice - still additional advice is much
appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RedFir Down]

Does the saw "hold a tune"? When at WOT does the saw 4 stroke or rev to the moon?

 

[palbin]

Well it works well and pulls as it should when warm - whether it 4 strokes
or not I am not sure - perhaps not - it does not rev to the moon though -
I have used it for chopping oak wood as of lately so I guess it does not ha-
ve much chance to rev to the moon there ... the H-screw is also on max by
the way, or even slightly past it in fact (having cut the "wings") - the saw
has a muffer mod by "High Rev Saw Works" - meaning completely empty
muffer inside - anyway - this is my first saw and it has never behaved
like this before ... .

I have had it disassemled once (cylinder of etc) to do a muffer screw repair
- could I have tightened screws too poorly or something such? - guess I co-
uld check that myself - but if the fault is easy recognizible it is good to hear
about it anyway .

 

[AKDoug]

It's most likely cooked. Take the muffle off and look at the piston. I'll bet my lunch it's scored. Sounds like you had an air leak that caused a lean seize.

 

[sunfish]

Air leak, don't run it like that or you will toast it.

Check the fuel line, impulse line, intake & intake clamp.

If its very old and had a lot of use, it could need crank seals, but it's likely something simple...

 

[Big_Wood]

if this 346 is an OE i would be looking into a vac/pressure test. i may even be willing to bet that if it still has the plastic intake clamp that it is most likely the issue. my 346's intake pretty well fell off the cylinder. no damage resulted and i installed the updated intake clamp.

 

[SEAM]

Have you checked the fuel line? There is a point above the tank where, depending on its installation length, it may rub against the carb box and wear thin, developing a leak that's more noticeable when there's no fuel in the hose yet...

PS: To check just shake the saw and lay it on its side to see if fuel leaks.