Husqvarna 346XP NE questions - Orange or Silver Clutch cover? Are you sure?

[rynosawr]

Hello Gang,

I have recently acquired a 346XP. I also thought it was an OE version when I got it, as it was so dirty and I was in a hurry when I got it, and it has an orange clutch cover. The guy had flooded it trying to start it before I got there and it took a bunch of waiting and several pulls for me to clear it out finally. I was ready to pull the plug but it finally hit and was ready to start after that. I was ready to give up on it, but she fired finally and I was happy to hear another 346 breath life.

I believe that the clutch cover is the original, as I don't see a reason why it would have been replaced by the original owner for aesthetics or any other reasons. The saw has low hours and it is a great runner. The orange clutch cover has very little wear and is similar looking to the rest of the saw, not like a brand new part on a used saw.

After I got it home and started playing with it and looking it over, I was very surprised to find that it has the primer bulb, decomp valve, and the 50cc sticker on the top cover! AWESOME! I didn't even look earlier when I got it.....

I have always heard the saying "Don't look a Gift horse in the mouth", and I feel I have been blessed many more times than I have been hurt when I didn't over analyze a good deal, just took it on faith.


The only other example of an orange cover on a NE version is mentioned and pictured by CapitaineHaddoc here:
http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/i-just-bought-a-nice-346-xp.253317/#post-4718772



So, what's the consensus? Is the clutch cover on ALL NE versions Silver?




If it is decided/known that they were all silver, does anyone reading this have a good looking used cover they would sell?

I hate to put a new silver cover on it since the rest of the saw is 8.5-9/10, thus the used cover request.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Full Chisel]

Nice find! Leave the orange cover on it, the silver ones look ratty to me.

 

[sunfish]

You did well. I've heard of a few NE 346s' coming with orange clutch covers, but not many.

 

[CR888]

My guess is for a short period as the model started off there was a few runs with orange covers. Most would prefer them that way, you done good.

 

[rynosawr]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the info all.

I am going to leave it orange!

I need to get it cleaned up and ready to work.....

I just bought an almost perfect Jonsered cs2149 (thanks to J. Walker!!) and I have a 50cc OEM 346 cylinder and piston waiting for it, so this Husky 346xp NE will be sort of redundant.....

I am keeping the J'red no matter what, so we will see what I decide to do with the 346xp NE.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

I had a NE XPG on my bench that came with orange cover. Dealer said about 4-5 of his XPG's came that way.

I hate the silver used.

 

[SawTroll]

You did well. I've heard of a few NE 346s' coming with orange clutch covers, but not many.

As far as I know it has happened.

Anyway, the clutch cover color just is a vague indication of what the saw likely is, as a lot of owners have been swapping them out/around. There are many more reliable signs to look for - but as those parts also may have been replaced/swapped, the only really "safe" way to tell what it was when it left the factory is the serial number, the last OE ones were 07 19XXXXX, according to the 2007-04 IPL.

Now there were 45cc ones made after that (only for the Japanese market, at least officially), but those still are NE saws.

 

[sunfish]

I just bought an almost perfect Jonsered cs2149 (thanks to J. Walker!!) and I have a 50cc OEM 346 cylinder and piston waiting for it, so this Husky 346xp NE will be sort of redundant.....

I am keeping the J'red no matter what, so we will see what I decide to do with the 346xp NE.

No, not redundant, just an extra. I have 3 runners and 5 more in parts.

 

[blsnelling]

I have replaced several silver covers with new orange ones. The finish on the silver ones is junk.

 

[SawTroll]

I had a NE XPG on my bench that came with orange cover. Dealer said about 4-5 of his XPG's came that way.

I hate the silver used.

View attachment 518225

Did you look at the serial number of that saw?

 

[7sleeper]

I have replaced several silver covers with new orange ones. The saws with the silver ones are junk.

Fixed it for you....





7

 

[SawTroll]

My guess is for a short period as the model started off there was a few runs with orange covers. Most would prefer them that way, you done good.

I didn't hear about it before much later - but the saws may of course have been in stock somewhere for a while.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Did you look at the serial number of that saw?

Did back then but never wrote it down or remember year etc.

It is also the one that was mislabeled on the top cover sticker with 390 specs on sticker. Rare bird indeed 88cc in 346 package.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Checking the thread on CR. Saw was mailed to me apr-may 2012 and owner had it in 2011 guessing. But still dont know year on the saw.

Here was the sticker on cover.

 

[SawTroll]

Checking the thread on CR. Saw was mailed to me apr-may 2012 and owner had it in 2011 guessing. But still dont know year on the saw.

Here was the sticker on cover.

View attachment 518235

I remember seeing it before - rare bird indeed!

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Does it really matter if the saw runs well?

 

[CascadeHusky]

Does it really matter if the saw runs well?

Thanks Cap'n Obv.... If my 346oe starts not running well should I switch to silver?

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Thanks Cap'n Obv.... If my 346oe starts not running well should I switch to silver?

Maybe better to park it where the sun don't shine and see what color it is in a month!

 

[ken morgan]

As far as I know it has happened.

Anyway, the clutch cover color just is a vague indication of what the saw likely is, as a lot of owners have been swapping them out/around. There are many more reliable signs to look for - but as those parts also may have been replaced/swapped, the only really "safe" way to tell what it was when it left the factory is the serial number, the last OE ones were 07 19XXXXX, according to the 2007-04 IPL.

Now there were 45cc ones made after that (only for the Japanese market, at least officially), but those still are NE saws.

saw troll, if you know of where I can find a a japanese dealer I would greatly appreciate it. I have a 372 tht is causing me some starting issues and need help with it.

Ken Morgan

 

[SawTroll]

saw troll, if you know of where I can find a a japanese dealer I would greatly appreciate it. I have a 372 tht is causing me some starting issues and need help with it.

Ken Morgan

Sorry, I can't really help you (as I'm not able to read Japanese) - but I assume there os a Japanese Husky website, and that there is a dealer locator on it?
Edit; There is: http://www.husqvarna.com/jp/dealers/dealer-locator/#cm=default,start-page,local-dealer-locator

My info on the Japan only version of the 346xp is from IPLs, not from any website in Japanese.