HighlanderNorth
New Member
Whats up folks?
I just joined and this is my first thread or post. I bought a Husq 346XP back in late 2005. I had just had my truck broken into after stopping at the grand opening of a new Home Depot, and while in there, the intercom called me to the front desk, where a lady informed me that she had just witnessed a guy stealing stuff out of my cab, with glass all over the pavement. So I ran out there, but he was gone. I had intentionally moved my backpack blower, chainsaw to the cab so it couldnt be lifted from there, but this guy simply broke the window and stole everything, including my then-new cell phone, digital camera, tool box with $700 in tools, blower, chainsaw, etc.
So then I went out and bought this 346XP about a week later. The insurance covered exactly zero of my losses, so I paid cash to replace everything. Well, I didnt realize it at first, but it leaks bar & chain oil, because I stored the saw on top of several layers of already oil-stained cardboard in a corner of my basement when not in use, so I didnt realize til much later that it was actually leaking chain lube from day 1. I noticed when I finally decided to replace the cardboard, and when I pulled it up I noticed a big circular oil stain on the concrete where it had sunk in over time.
So I took it to my local dealer to fix the leak, but the warranty was over, so they charged me about $75, but couldnt figure out why it was leaking, and even replaced some part, but it didnt stop the leak at all! So I paid $75 for absolutely nothing. I'm not an arborist per se, so I dont use the saw every day, and some times I only use it once a month, and when it does get used its usually for branches or small trees. So even though its 7 years old, it doesnt have LOTS of hours on it.
Now the hurricane blew through earlier this week, during which time a large tree came down in my front yard, so on Wednesday I went out to start cutting up the tree, and I did the branches first, and didnt notice any problems, but when I started cutting the larger diameter stuff, I noticed the bar and chain were smoking and getting hot, so I shut it down and looked at it closely, and its obvious it isnt getting oil to the chain at all...
Now, I had taken the bar and chain off before I got started to blast everything out with the hose, so I got all the debris from around the clutch, sprocket, bar, etc. So I took it apart again, blasted it off with the hose gain after it cooled, but didnt notice anything clogging the hole where the oil comes out, nor was the hole in the bar or the slot in the bar where the chain travels clogged.
So I guess either there is a clog somewhere deeper within the oil system, or the oil pump gear is worn out, or the oil pump, etc, etc, etc. My first question is: If there is no obvious debris clogging the hole, what is most likely the problem? Is the gear made of metal or plastic? I would assume that since this is a $475 pro-grade saw, it certainly SHOULD NOT be plastic! Is it relatively easy to replace the gear, and/or the oil pump? Do I have to break apart the crank case to get to the gear and the pump?
I just dont want to have to give another $200-$250 to this dealer who didnt fix the earlier leak problem, and if possible I would like to fix it myself. I worked for Lawn Doctor for 7 years from '88-'95, and we used to completely break down, clean and rebuild the 2 cycle engines in the turf tamers we used, so I know how to rebuild a 2 stroke, but I dont have ALL the tools and pullers I'd need to do it, so I'm hoping I dont have to break apart the crankcase. PLus, I'd have to then replace the gaskets too. Also, what would cause the oil leak?
Thanks....
'
I just joined and this is my first thread or post. I bought a Husq 346XP back in late 2005. I had just had my truck broken into after stopping at the grand opening of a new Home Depot, and while in there, the intercom called me to the front desk, where a lady informed me that she had just witnessed a guy stealing stuff out of my cab, with glass all over the pavement. So I ran out there, but he was gone. I had intentionally moved my backpack blower, chainsaw to the cab so it couldnt be lifted from there, but this guy simply broke the window and stole everything, including my then-new cell phone, digital camera, tool box with $700 in tools, blower, chainsaw, etc.
So then I went out and bought this 346XP about a week later. The insurance covered exactly zero of my losses, so I paid cash to replace everything. Well, I didnt realize it at first, but it leaks bar & chain oil, because I stored the saw on top of several layers of already oil-stained cardboard in a corner of my basement when not in use, so I didnt realize til much later that it was actually leaking chain lube from day 1. I noticed when I finally decided to replace the cardboard, and when I pulled it up I noticed a big circular oil stain on the concrete where it had sunk in over time.
So I took it to my local dealer to fix the leak, but the warranty was over, so they charged me about $75, but couldnt figure out why it was leaking, and even replaced some part, but it didnt stop the leak at all! So I paid $75 for absolutely nothing. I'm not an arborist per se, so I dont use the saw every day, and some times I only use it once a month, and when it does get used its usually for branches or small trees. So even though its 7 years old, it doesnt have LOTS of hours on it.
Now the hurricane blew through earlier this week, during which time a large tree came down in my front yard, so on Wednesday I went out to start cutting up the tree, and I did the branches first, and didnt notice any problems, but when I started cutting the larger diameter stuff, I noticed the bar and chain were smoking and getting hot, so I shut it down and looked at it closely, and its obvious it isnt getting oil to the chain at all...
Now, I had taken the bar and chain off before I got started to blast everything out with the hose, so I got all the debris from around the clutch, sprocket, bar, etc. So I took it apart again, blasted it off with the hose gain after it cooled, but didnt notice anything clogging the hole where the oil comes out, nor was the hole in the bar or the slot in the bar where the chain travels clogged.
So I guess either there is a clog somewhere deeper within the oil system, or the oil pump gear is worn out, or the oil pump, etc, etc, etc. My first question is: If there is no obvious debris clogging the hole, what is most likely the problem? Is the gear made of metal or plastic? I would assume that since this is a $475 pro-grade saw, it certainly SHOULD NOT be plastic! Is it relatively easy to replace the gear, and/or the oil pump? Do I have to break apart the crank case to get to the gear and the pump?
I just dont want to have to give another $200-$250 to this dealer who didnt fix the earlier leak problem, and if possible I would like to fix it myself. I worked for Lawn Doctor for 7 years from '88-'95, and we used to completely break down, clean and rebuild the 2 cycle engines in the turf tamers we used, so I know how to rebuild a 2 stroke, but I dont have ALL the tools and pullers I'd need to do it, so I'm hoping I dont have to break apart the crankcase. PLus, I'd have to then replace the gaskets too. Also, what would cause the oil leak?
Thanks....
'