housevet
ArboristSite Lurker
I just aquired a used 359 E-tech from a local guy off Craigslist. He had used it for one winter and cut about 9 cords of wood with it. Says he got a good deal and replaced it with a Stihl with same power and lighter weight .
So, anyway, it fired right up and seemed to run like a charm. I changed out the fuel mix. Put in my fresh 50:1 mix of husqvarna brand oil with 93 octane gas.
Ran great, only problem was chain would move a bit at idle, so I turned down the throttle screw a bit. Still would occasionally turn a bit at idle - possibly first mistake, decided that probably wasn't a really big deal, just wanted to cut some wood today.
Sharpened up a chain and cut up a 30 ft section of a big ol' red oak bottom that a harvester had dropped last year. Cut right through that baby slicker 'n snot
Filled up once with bar oil and fuel mix.
Just as I was getting towards the end of the log, I heard a funny pinging (at least it seemed something like that through my hearing protection!) so I stopped cutting. As soon as I let off the trigger the engine stopped dead. Hasn't started since. Starter cord wouldn't budge after first 4 inches and then wouldn't retract.
Piston would only move through lower section of cylinder.
Took the thing apart and here are the beautiful pictures.
So, I figure the piston is toast. Should I just bite the bullet and replace piston and cylinder?
What do you think may have been the issue so I can avoid this in the future?
The saw sounded like it was running ok aside from the chain moving some at idle. Good, fast throttle response, idle didn't seem too rough and didn't even seem too fast if that makes sense even with the chain moving at idle.
As far as I know, all parts are OEM - only thing the guy I bought it from had replaced was the air filter.
Thanks in advance for your help.
So, anyway, it fired right up and seemed to run like a charm. I changed out the fuel mix. Put in my fresh 50:1 mix of husqvarna brand oil with 93 octane gas.
Ran great, only problem was chain would move a bit at idle, so I turned down the throttle screw a bit. Still would occasionally turn a bit at idle - possibly first mistake, decided that probably wasn't a really big deal, just wanted to cut some wood today.
Sharpened up a chain and cut up a 30 ft section of a big ol' red oak bottom that a harvester had dropped last year. Cut right through that baby slicker 'n snot
Filled up once with bar oil and fuel mix.
Just as I was getting towards the end of the log, I heard a funny pinging (at least it seemed something like that through my hearing protection!) so I stopped cutting. As soon as I let off the trigger the engine stopped dead. Hasn't started since. Starter cord wouldn't budge after first 4 inches and then wouldn't retract.
Piston would only move through lower section of cylinder.
Took the thing apart and here are the beautiful pictures.
So, I figure the piston is toast. Should I just bite the bullet and replace piston and cylinder?
What do you think may have been the issue so I can avoid this in the future?
The saw sounded like it was running ok aside from the chain moving some at idle. Good, fast throttle response, idle didn't seem too rough and didn't even seem too fast if that makes sense even with the chain moving at idle.
As far as I know, all parts are OEM - only thing the guy I bought it from had replaced was the air filter.
Thanks in advance for your help.