This is one of those subjects made difficult because of the variances in the experiences of those who would post...and there in lies the answer. Not consistent. Where OEM IS consistent. (ly better)
2013 was when I stuck together the first Aftermarket sourced saw I ever did. Interestingly enough that first "Huztl" 372 saw still lives. It had just about everything break externally from pull starts fragging to the muffler rattling off, but the core saw which was a 52mm Farmertec cylinder on OEM cases and crank still runs. Had an OEM intake and carb as well. It ate all the AM ignitions and settled on a OEM ignition. Then the "Cyclops" which was the first X-Torq to OE saw I ever built. It to has a Farmertec 52mm cylinder. I ran it for a season or two, then it lingered in the truck with occasional use. Finally I gave it to my Son in law. IT still runs. So to this point the "sample" of two Farmertec 52mm 372 OE top ends on my saws have lasted. Then rolled into the MS660 clone saw phase. And yet again had the Farmertec 54mm's run and last with out any failure on those saws build with those top ends to this point in time. The first 56mms same...no structural issues. Even with their freeport issues. Then Farmertec went through some parts source changes and somewhere around 2017 the 56mm (NOT 54mm, the 54's were still good) top ends were simply junk. The first set of MS660 Farmertecs I built STILL are running. ALL of them. The first 56mm with that earlier top end is still running as well. The one I build with the "junk" 56mm's ( bling Saw) just was ugly, I ended up pulling that jug and putting one from the earlier batch and IT still runs.
I've built many of those with the 54's from farmertec and some went into true logging use and they ALL still run. had to detail them with a smattering of OEM parts..all documented on YouTube, the the cylinders from Farmertec lasted, even if they were ugly as compared to other AM's and OEM. So in an attempt to add both longevity and a better appearance I tried some on line "Fad's" starting with those Cross Performance 54mm's with a popup. Two for two failed quickly ...but not the plating or casting of the cylinders. Took out the cranks and for a bit I was blaming Farmertec cranks...it wasn't the cranks! It was bore alignment issues with the cylinders putting a side load on the connecting rod, taking out the cranks. Fast. A third one from an Amish fellow came thru the shop they had built...same top end, same issue. And that was the beginning of the "carnage" phase. I built those 660's back to Farmertec 54mm's, one with a HyWay 54mm popup piston (not cylinder, just piston) and four of them went into full time logging....and they ALL still run. The rest I auctioned off down at Whitney point..needed room. Auctions are clean separations. Moved back into 372's....
I've built tens maybe twenties XT to OE conversions now from blown up X-torqs. The build I did for customers was converting them to OE's with 51.4mm OEM top ends. A lot of reasons why. SO to try and come up with "options" I started again to look at AM options....Understand while I have had each of the three clone 372 Farmertec's variants ( g372, g372xp, g372xt) come thru the shop, figured on the ones I was to build I would go up scale a bit with the cylinders. TO this point in time NONE of the Farmertec cylinders have failed on 372's I've had. Not a one. They may not be pretty, but they run. I tried going to Hyway's. The first "HyWay" hot rod was build on a 52mm decked to get .018 squish. It siezed. Plating just under the exhaust peeled and stuck the cylinder. Since it was just a little piece, AND it was below the exhaust, not ever in contact with the rings, I cleaned it up with a hone and stuck it back together. THAT saw still runs. Build another one with a used OEM cylinder with a Farmertec Piston...THAT saw runs daily here. ( JPS Saw n the channel) Had a Madsen modified cylinder I stuffed a Farmertec Piston in. I then figured I would really go upscale with a HyWay 52mm Popup top end. That saw lasted 7 or 8 months as a full time daily use loggers saw...it blew up. Plating over the exhaust port peeled off. And to add insult to injury the Aftermarket cases it was built on had the PTO side bearing pocket beat open...which is why I tore that saw down because it was STILL running peeled plating and all...but found the two issues on tear down, turned the bones of that one into the 48mm build with a popup.
Mean while I've started down a different path for "simple builds"...using those Lil Red Barn Popups inside Used OEM cylinders. Why? Because I know the cylinder quality and plating quality is better than Anything I can get Aftermarket. And you can get away with a "lessor" piston if the RPM's are kept stock, assuming piston diameter & ring end gaps are within reason. The increase in compression is the "Hop" to those who care and we will see if they last....time will tell. But one thing I am absolutely sure of. OEM cylinders are the best starting point. And the LESS grinding on the area's the rings will pass over the better relative to plating life. You break that as manufactured bond, and the frag clock starts to tick ... faster. The Lil Red Barn popup pistons are going in where OEM Pistons worn to the point there was aluminum transfer happened resided...and my bet is even after the trauma they last longer than some of the "Fadish" Aftermarket cylinders & pistons made with materials that expand at a different rate than the OEM cylinders were designed for. And for a cheap bang per buck build....$40 dollars delivered gives more performance than the stock setup. I will put them in the hands of a few loggers around here to see if they last. Having said that , even though I've had no failures on the Farmertec's I still lean towards the "salvage" OEM cylinders at this point, They just look right I guess. Just did a three part video series starting with the "disappointment" of finding my fun HyWay Hot Rod was toast. To building it back with another set of AM cases and a used 48mm OEM 365 cylinder with a LiL Red barn Popup. Good running saw. Easily a match of a stock 372 and a LOT lighter than any X-Torq.
Happy again......
Bottom line? OEM and Farmertec Cylinders have done me well. Done with the "pretty" ones where the plating flakes off. Also beginning to understand that a lot of over analysis happens with these simple little two strokes.....lots of money spent on stuff that is more about bling & bragging rights and as one entrepreneur once opined, there is a sucker born every day! But its fun, and if those things help more smiles happen, who cares. ( All the years I spent money on race bikes? And prolly loosing 20lbs would have make more difference? Not one to judge! )
