Husqvarna 254 (xp?)

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Lee192233

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Afternoon guys,

I picked this 254 maybe xp up for $50 about 6 weeks ago. Finally got around to checking it out. I first put some mix in the tank and she fired right up. Feels like it has great compression. I have a couple questions.

- Is it an XP? It has the port from the fan to the air cleaner housing.
- Is there much upside to this saw? Should I clean it up, rebuild carb and replace clutch cover and all rubber bits and resell? 15927752502531996697162927606193.jpg15927752502531996697162927606193.jpg20200621_163513.jpg20200621_163521.jpg20200621_163528.jpg20200621_163553.jpg20200621_163632.jpg

What are your thoughts?
I was also thinking maybe keep it and do a gasket delete and some mild porting and muffler mod. How do they respond to that?

Thanks,
Lee
 
Definitely an XP, the XP designation came along before the air injection. Very much worthwhile spending time on.
Not sure about a base gasket delete on them. I honestly have never pulled mine apart. They are a runner stock.
Mine was my Dad's saw, as far as I know it only has a gutted muffler with a homebrew deflector.
 
Definitely an XP, the XP designation came along before the air injection. Very much worthwhile spending time on.
Not sure about a base gasket delete on them. I honestly have never pulled mine apart. They are a runner stock.
Mine was my Dad's saw, as far as I know it only has a gutted muffler with a homebrew deflector.

Great to hear! Now that I've seen your saw running I think I will clean it up, tune it up and run it this winter. I better be careful, I'm edging closer to having a chainsaw addiction!
 
There is no non-XP 254. If it's already hard to pull over due to high compression and the cylinder has no decompression valve, I'd definately leave it the way it is. Deleting the base gasket will make it physically harder to start without making any worthwhile performance difference
In the IPL for early models, base gasket 501 86 19-02 was thinner than 501 86 19-01 but that's as far as I'd go if and when a rebuild is necessary.
Without the non-zero-flow H jet carb, 154 & 254 would happily run steadily at 14,400rpm under limbing load... until the big-end rollers "left home" spectacularly.
 
Based on everyone's responses I think I might keep it! Should I put crank seals and a new piston ring in it as maintenance? Are there any maintenance items on the chain oiler to replace(hose)? I tore it down tonight and blew a bunch of crud off it. Man these Huskies are easy to work on! Here's some pics.20200622_230159.jpg20200622_230208.jpg20200622_230213.jpg
 
Pretty normal, as saws haven't come forward in the motor department for at least 30 years or more. In fact, they have gone downhill in the durability dept., while making no more power and not necessarily even becoming lighter.

"0" progress in motor.
 
View attachment 838306
Really not far off of the latest and greatest husqvarna in the power department.

Here are a 254xp and 550mk2 stock runs from the dyno.

Closer than i would have guessed.
Pretty close to the factory figures from 1986.
(Note: The "Moment [Nm]" or Torque trace is not displayed.)

254 dyno test 1996.jpg
 
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