Husqvarna Chain Saw winter kit?

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Huskybill

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Small Stihls have 'em, but I generally don't bother fiddling with them. As for winter air filters, I chuck 'em. I just rebuilt a newer J-red 562 that was tanked due to being run with one of those filters, while the owner had a new flocked one and just didn't install it. On larger saws, however, I've still only seen 'em on Stihls. But, I'm only at 2000-2500 feet working on saws from that general altitude and sunny CA locale, so it would probably be different for an Alaskan.
 
I run Stihl saws all winter in Minnesota and have never used them. I did try it for a day with a 201t and there wasn’t a difference. I would expect them to be useful when at -10 or lower. I have run saws at -20 without them, so I don’t know what their intended temp range is for the block offs.


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When the 372xp showed up on the scene ('96??, '97??) it was hopeless in very cold, snowy weather. Very frustrating indeed. It took a bit, but eventually the guys figured out how to tape them up to keep them running.

the 272 was far less problematic in the winter

Those were some pretty rough winters around Fort Nelson, BC. Lots of 40 and 50 below and lots and lots of snow.
 
When the 372xp showed up on the scene ('96??, '97??) it was hopeless in very cold, snowy weather. Very frustrating indeed. It took a bit, but eventually the guys figured out how to tape them up to keep them running.

the 272 was far less problematic in the winter

Those were some pretty rough winters around Fort Nelson, BC. Lots of 40 and 50 below and lots and lots of snow.
When it gets 40 and 50 below here, you’ll find me at home riffling gopher wood into the Blaze King.
I’ve never had a saw/snow issue because all my stumps are chest height.
 
When it gets 40 and 50 below here, you’ll find me at home riffling gopher wood into the Blaze King..

About the coldest it gets here and it’s generally only a handful of days out of the winter is the single digits and some winters it never gets there. At single digits above zero it’s so damn cold I sit and feed my stove.

when y’all say 40-50 below zero it makes my head spin. That has to be a whole nother cold there. Insane.
 
About the coldest it gets here and it’s generally only a handful of days out of the winter is the single digits and some winters it never gets there. At single digits above zero it’s so damn cold I sit and feed my stove.

when y’all say 40-50 below zero it makes my head spin. That has to be a whole nother cold there. Insane.
It is insane at those temps. Whiskey freezes and piss freezes before it hits the forest floor and eye lashes freeze together.
 
I got one with my 550 but never used it and when I asked the dealer, was told most guys don’t use it. I’m not one to run a saw if it’s below zero though normally anyhow.
 
When you are cutting trail and there's lots of snow in the conifers you need something covering the fan to keep from sucking snow into the saw.

PS, ... 50 below is an acquired taste :chainsaw:
That's not even the coldest!??!

not many work in that anymore. Modern safety standards and all you know.. 40 below seems to be the cut-off point now.
 
I've run saws in snowy conditions...and I'm sure it has sucked snow into the saw. Never really knew it was a problem.

What's the problem with this? Possible thermal shock issues like cracking the jug? Snow getting packed and blocking air flow thus over heating issues?

Just wondering what to look for.
 
I've run saws in snowy conditions...and I'm sure it has sucked snow into the saw. Never really knew it was a problem.

What's the problem with this? Possible thermal shock issues like cracking the jug? Snow getting packed and blocking air flow thus over heating issues?

Just wondering what to look for.
I think the issue with snow is you could end up with a water score on the intake skirt of the piston due to oil being washed away.
 
The snow is more of a problem with flocked filters than it is with silk, but a soaking wet filter would choke down the saw giving any observant saw operator plenty of time to figure out what is going on before the damage is done.
 
I've run my MS250 and 372XP X-Torque in -20 Celsius temps before, the only issue I encountered was from me being a dummy and not replacing the heavy bar oil with a light weight oil, that ended up gumming up the MS250 so bad that I had to remove the bar and chain numerous times to clear out all the wood that got caught up in the gummy oil as it was stalling out the saw, otherwise they both seemed to work fine.
 
I seen this winter kit before but never asked or questioned it. It’s a cold weather block off plate for less cooling air flow in colder temps. Does cutting in the colder climates really effect these saws. Ever use them?

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/part/husqvarna/522986502

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...husqvarna/chain-saw/570-xp-2007-01/winter-kit

For more models?

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/part/husqvarna chainsaw winter kits
I live in northern Minnesota. I think that it helps, especially when restarting (maybe sitting it down in snow), more so on older models with cast housing than the newer plastic bodies. Maybe not a huge difference but if it starts a little easier, helps keep fuel lines & air filters from icing, why not? May not make a difference when it's 20F above 0 but it does when it's -20F.
 
When it's 40 below and you're up to your waist in snow and the snow is falling out if the sky like cats and dogs and sliding off the conifer bows in big fluffy blankets you will appreciate your winter kit and your duct tape.

Especially cause your pickup has been bumped around and its 3/4 of a mile ahead of you through gnarly terrain in thick bush. And you gotta cut the trail to your truck. And its cold. And it won't stop snowing...that's why you don't stop..gotta stay warm...cause staying dry has been out of the question for a few hours already, sweating, snow won't stop falling ..also, your beard and moustache are snotty icicles and you can't open your mouth without pulling whiskers out of your face and sometimes tasting snot.

and stuff...
 
I figured you guys had an answer these cold weather kits were new to me the first I heard of them. The coldest temp I ever cut in was 10 above 0 degrees F. I keep the saws and bar oil warm in the truck while traveling to the wood lot. At home there in a wood stove heated garage in the past. There pampered and spoiled till I run the snots out of them.

At 10 degrees I had hot coffee in the truck. I emailed Keurig about making a 12 volt version of there home coffee maker. Then we have hot coffee and hot chocolate on the job. Even Lipton cup of soup to warm our inners.
 
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