My 346 dissapointment.

[sawinredneck]

As Jeff brought up in another thread, he got to play with some of my toys this last weekend.
My 046BB puts a smile on my face everytime I use it, and I think he was suprised at how it ran.
The bi shocker was when I handed him my modded 346xp and 350xp. I will try not to taint this and let Jeff give his unbiased opinion before I say too much. But I have done the same work to both saws, and am not that impressed with the 346 myself!

[Swe#kipp]

What did you do to the 346 ?
mostly curious if you raised the outlet much ?
I'm planning on giving my 346 a face lift so all info about this is appreciated :D
My plan is to go for torque ,,,, as much as possible in a 45cc saw :P

[flyboy]

The 346 already turns a helluva lot of RPM's,so if you opened the ports up too much you probably did more harm than good

[sawinredneck]

What did you do to the 346 ?
mostly curious if you raised the outlet much ?
I'm planning on giving my 346 a face lift so all info about this is appreciated :D
My plan is to go for torque ,,,, as much as possible in a 45cc saw :P

Been a while had to go llok again.

When it was all said and done the transfers where ground out and blended to almost a sliver. The intake and exhaust ports where widdened .080"-.100". The intake port was lowered and the exhaust port was raised both by .040".
I did my homework, and all of these numbers were verified to work on this saw by MANY saw builders. I had a heck of a time geting the carb se right. I finally got POD one day and deciced to wind it up and if it blew it blew, it seems happiest there? Got a nice bun on the plug, nice film of oil on the piston, so game on!

[sawinredneck]

The 346 already turns a helluva lot of RPM's,so if you opened the ports up too much you probably did more harm than good

I have been told you can widden the ports .140" and raise and lower them .060" before you run into timming issues.

I did do a litle research.

[flyboy]

Dean claims he got one to cut right beside a Stihl 440...I don't believe him..I left the transfer ports in mine alone and just made each port wider..I felt a huge difference,but not that big..

[Skwerl]

How much have you run it? All of mine took an extra long time to break in and come into power. I was quite disappointed by my last 346 and hardly ever used it for almost a year. Then it got used regularly for a couple weeks while I had the other one on the bench and it's really impressed me. It's just about as strong as my older one now.

[BoogieWithStu]

In all the time I have been on the net this is the first time I can remember anyone having any disappointment with a 346!!!

[sawinredneck]

This saw has a shady history. I bought it used from a guy on AS that bought it online. He was sorryly disapointed with it.I got it and was even more so dissapointed. Come to find out, after modding it I had to cut the limit tabs off the carb so I could LEAN it out and get it o run right!! It was that acked up from the factory!
But to answer you're question Brian, I have 6-8 tanks in it since the second port job. It may make gains yet, but I doubt it wil live up to the hype.
And no Paul, I don't see any amount of prot work making it comparable to a 361, maybe a 5100, but now way a 440!!! Unless it's in small wood!!!
Keep in mind I am running an 18" bar on this saw, I figure I am carrying around the weight, I want t cut something with it!

[sawinredneck]

In all the time I have been on the net this is the first time I can remember anyone having any disappointment with a 346!!!

Sorry Rich!!! What can I say, you always did know I was an odd duck:lol:

I am waiting for Riverrat to chime in and give his review so you all don't think I am more than normaly crazy!;)

[Skwerl]

.325" chain? 7 or 8 pin sprocket? My original badass 346 pulls a .325", 8 pin with authority. My newer one will cut just as fast but it needs a 7 pin to keep it in the powerband.

[sawinredneck]

.325 with a 7 pin.I have been told to step up to 3/8's, but..............

[BoogieWithStu]

Andy, have you ever run any other 346's???

[Skwerl]

Rich, if it won't pull .325 with a 7 pin, then it's weak.

And people don't sell low hour, used professional saws unless they are weak. ;)

[sawinredneck]

Andy, have you ever run any other 346's???

No I have not, so I have no baseline to compare it to. But the saw runs and cuts fine. It's just not at all what I thought it would be.

[darkstar]

Well dang Andy just pony up on a couple new 346xp's.
They are good saws.

[BoogieWithStu]

And people don't sell low hour, used professional saws unless they are weak. ;)


Disagree there Brian.................people have all sorts of reason for selling good saws or whatever.

When you need money the hobbies or toys are sometimes the first to go!!!

[Stumper]

Flyboy, I ran an 044 like that once....:D
Seriously, Brian's PP346 seemed dandy whenhe brought it out and the stock e-tech 346 I bought for my dad impressed me plenty...No it wasn't equal to a good 70cc saw but a whole lot of performance for the weight.

[RIVERRAT]

Between the 346 & 350 the 346 had a much better tone to it. It sounded real good. It was faster than the 350 but not enough for you to notice with out both saws being there.
Oh, the suprising thing for me was the 350 was running safety chain.

[rbtree]

In all the time I have been on the net this is the first time I can remember anyone having any disappointment with a 346!!!

Me neither. Both of mine will easily keep up with a stock 044, in 16 inch wood or less. They cut about 50% faster than stock. Both pull an 18 inch bar, with .325 and 8 tooth with authority....and only lag the ehp 5100 by a tad.

[Al Smith]

I ran Woodsjunkies 346 at a GTG,damned fast little saw.That one would no doubt cut with an 044 Stihl .

I'm certainly not an expert on the things but were it I,I believe I would go for the torque in port alterations ,those things already have the RPM's.

[sawinredneck]

That is why I widdend them so much Al, that is where the tourqe gains come from, as I have been told at least.
I know they can be made into bad as saws, I just think this one was a lemon, and my point is I can make mods to a cheapie homeowner saw and have it keep up with the pro saw for a lot less money!!!

[xtremetrees]

My stock 346 is on its 5th tank of gas. The ground men cant start it and always flood it. I make it to the ground, take off the carb air filter and pull it fast to get it to start. Runs fine the rest of the day. Its been flooding alot but no more body slamming it to the ground I promised AL.

[Swe#kipp]

My stock 346 is on its 5th tank of gas. The ground men cant start it and always flood it. I make it to the ground, take off the carb air filter and pull it fast to get it to start. Runs fine the rest of the day. Its been flooding alot but no more body slamming it to the ground I promised AL.

My 346xpg likes one pull with choke and one in high idle and of she goes :)

[xtremetrees]

Roger that skipp. THanks for the pointer. I'll try and employ it tommorrow let ya know how it goes. The strating sequence I just aint figured out yet. thanks again.

[SawTroll]

No I have not, so I have no baseline to compare it to. But the saw runs and cuts fine. It's just not at all what I thought it would be.

Part of your problem may be that you are comparing it to the 262xp that you sold, or maybe not.......:? :roll:

[sawinredneck]

Part of your problem may be that you are comparing it to the 262xp that you sold, or maybe not.......:? :roll:

Very well could be. Maybe I have higher expectations than what the saw is realisticly capable of.

[Swe#kipp]

Tested my 346xpg with 18"b/c for the first time, was supprised about the power it had for full buried cut, I'm gonna test this setup in some more demanding conditions then my test cut log !!

[Magnus]

A 346 with muffler mod and porting should perform better than a straight 262.

The ones I had here were all set way to lean so they had very little grunt in them.

These horrible carb's that is used with those thin tip's makes setting them a pure hell!

I tossed a few of these and put on old o´nes that gives a bit fuel...

Can't live on love alone....

[GASoline71]

My stock 346 is on its 5th tank of gas. The ground men cant start it and always flood it. I make it to the ground, take off the carb air filter and pull it fast to get it to start. Runs fine the rest of the day. Its been flooding alot but no more body slamming it to the ground I promised AL.

Any groundie that constantly floods a saw should be given their walkin' papers. :what:

Gary

[MasterBlaster]

Then you'd be working all alone. ;)

[sawinredneck]

A 346 with muffler mod and porting should perform better than a straight 262.

The ones I had here were all set way to lean so they had very little grunt in them.

These horrible carb's that is used with those thin tip's makes setting them a pure hell!

I tossed a few of these and put on old o´nes that gives a bit fuel...

Can't live on love alone....

Interesting Magnus, I have been hearing it's lean a lot lately!!! May have to pull and clean the carb and play with it some more. I was just trying to set the RPM's in the realm of reality, and if I richen out the H jet it gets gutless really quick!!

[sawinredneck]

Pulled and cleaned the carb. Had to adjust and adjust it to get it to run right. Then I ran two tanks through it at the woodlot. Runs better now, it will pull you into the cut now. A lot happier, I'll see how it wears in now.
Andy

[Magnus]

Then it was set too lean earlier, right?

Do you know what tip look like on the needle's? Are they like a cone or very thin???

[Magnus]

Some are a pain in the @ss to set, these are usually thise thin ones.

[Al Smith]

Then you'd be working all alone. ;) Ain't that the truth.I have repaired more saws the brush dragers have screwed up than Carters have little pills.Those that"get it" end up being pretty good treemen.Those that don't,don't work very steady.

[sawinredneck]

Some are a pain in the @ss to set, these are usually thise thin ones.

Very thin with a shallow taper on he ends of them, almost rounded. And yes, 1/16 of a turn changes about 200 RPM.

[Swe#kipp]

The new 346 is starting to show up in Sweden now, wating for some test reports from "real world" users :D

[SawTroll]

The new 346 is starting to show up in Sweden now, wating for some test reports from "real world" users :D

According to the web-site, they are n/a without E-tech - wtf......:what: :what: :? :X :evil:

[Stumper]

Yes you northern europeans must do your part to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. It is your civic duty to offset the moose farts.

Shoot a moose-gut a muffler!

[Swe#kipp]

Yes you northern europeans must do your part to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. It is your civic duty to offset the moose farts.

Shoot a moose-gut a muffler!

hehehe :lol:

[Magnus]

:D

[sawinredneck]

Well, it seems to get more interesting!!!

I couldn't get it where I wanted it, so I came up with an idea! I would ship the saw out to a few AS members, that I trust, and get their opinions on it! Good idea right?
It got to the first house, they couldn't have had it more than four hours, and I get a call. "You want to sell this thing?" "Well, not really sure, just trying to figure it out what I did wrong with it?"
"Man this thing runs GOOD!!! I want it!!"
It has a new home now, go figure?

[Stumper]

Andy, WHY was I not first on the list?:X





















:P

[sawinredneck]

Andy, WHY was I not first on the list?:X





















:P


Well, it wasn't really for sale, and others offered first?
Oddly enough, the two people that told me it should do this or that, I offered to send it to them, pay shipping each way and for their time, refused the offer!!
Sorry Justin, I will keep you in mind next time, ok?:D

[Werks 4 da Man]

Dude, it sounds like you need a saw with torque. Just keep away from the screaming weenies and you'll be good to go.

Fred

[Skwerl]

The 346 isn't a saw you can lean on real hard. You need to keep it screaming because all the power is at the top of the powerband. I've let several people use mine and most need some coaching on how to run it. Once they let her rip, they usually come away with a big grin.
:D

[Werks 4 da Man]

Very true Brian, there are so many saws on the market that I think people should get a saw that compliments them. That's it.

All of my nonspecialty wrenches are Craftsman Pro instead of Snap-On like the specialty ones are, because I got the ones that fit me. I feel the same of any tool.

Fred

[sawinredneck]

Well Fred, I really think for what I want, I need something in the 60cc class. I had just read so much about these saws, and I got a good buy on it, I would try it. At the same time I had an option to buy a 5100s for the same money, not sure that would have made me anymore happy?
The 361 sounds good, but I don't think I will be all that happy with it in stock form. And if you get the 372, may as well go for the 7900.
I need to find someone that has these localy, and run them is what it boils down to!!

[Werks 4 da Man]

Well Fred, I really think for what I want, I need something in the 60cc class. I had just read so much about these saws, and I got a good buy on it, I would try it. At the same time I had an option to buy a 5100s for the same money, not sure that would have made me anymore happy?
The 361 sounds good, but I don't think I will be all that happy with it in stock form. And if you get the 372, may as well go for the 7900.
I need to find someone that has these localy, and run them is what it boils down to!!

Any excuse you find to run saws is a good one. IMHO8)

Fred

[sawinredneck]

Any excuse you find to run saws is a good one. IMHO8)

Fred

I don't need excuses, I need time!!! It's firewood time now, and people are screaming for OAK!!!!!

[Skwerl]

Andy, the 372XP is as rock solid as they come. Bailey's has them (with the 75cc jug) for less than $700. If you're going to use it to block firewood then it's an excellent choice.

[sawinredneck]

This will be a felling saw as well. Most of the tree's I take on (for firewood) are 12"-20". My 046BB is wonderfull for this, but overkill, and thirsty!!! I'd like something lighter, but can't find anything, other than the 7900, worthy of putting the 046 down for. See my conudrum?
I don't have a bad word to say of the 372, but the 7900 weighs about the same, has more power, and I can get one cheaper than the 372!!!

[Skwerl]

Why get the 7900 if you already own a 79cc saw? I wasn't aware that you owned a 460.

[sawinredneck]

Thats the other part of the conudrum Brian!!
Yes, I have the Freakingstang built woods ported big bore 046. It's NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!!!! If I can't cut it with that saw and my 32" bar, I DON'T NEED TO!!!

But yes, why do I need another saw that size?

[squisher]

'Cause ya gotta have spares. Atleast that's my excuse, if you're happy with the 46 get another one, then all your parts interchange. You can't go wrong with a 046 imo. How does yours oil?

[sawinredneck]

'Cause ya gotta have spares. Atleast that's my excuse, if you're happy with the 46 get another one, then all your parts interchange. You can't go wrong with a 046 imo. How does yours oil?

Mine oils fine, with the seven pin on the 32", run the 8 pin, and, well, it runs fine but wants to burn up bars!!!!

[SawTroll]

According to the web-site, they are n/a without E-tech - wtf......:what: :what: :? :X :evil:

All I have seen here so far (just 3), are non-Etech, but the last thing I heard was that the owner of the joint had ordered an E-tech one for himself - I told the tech (my friend) to stop him - we will see....:evil:

[pigwot]

I bought a 346XP with a 16" bar last year to replace a tired 238 as my climber. Haven't had the $$ to send it out for any custom work yet. What basic changes are you doing short of pulling it down and port and polishing and changing port timing? It runs and cuts just fine for most all of what I do. I find I'm pulling the heavier 262XP or 268XP up the tree when the wood gets big. Might I get to keep the 346XP up there with custom reworking and a 18" bar? As far as getting the saw worked up, my contract work should be freeing up the $250.00 to 300.00 soon.

[rbtree]

Yep. My ehp 346 is 40-50% faster than stock.

I'm interested in the new 346, but also have two 5100's, one done by Ed, and it beat the 346, so I'm set.

[SawTroll]

Yep. My ehp 346 is 40-50% faster than stock.

I'm interested in the new 346, but also have two 5100's, one done by Ed, and it beat the 346, so I'm set.

:surprise: Eds very first attempt on the new 50cc 346 beat his 5100s, as I read it - and it is a slightly lighter and better handling saw.....:)

Wonder if Rocky has got the saw yet, it was his saw......

[Skwerl]

Santa Claus wears brown shorts, and he will be delivering my saw tomorrow. :D

[sawinredneck]

I bought a 346XP with a 16" bar last year to replace a tired 238 as my climber. Haven't had the $$ to send it out for any custom work yet. What basic changes are you doing short of pulling it down and port and polishing and changing port timing? It runs and cuts just fine for most all of what I do. I find I'm pulling the heavier 262XP or 268XP up the tree when the wood gets big. Might I get to keep the 346XP up there with custom reworking and a 18" bar? As far as getting the saw worked up, my contract work should be freeing up the $250.00 to 300.00 soon.


Easiest is a muffler mod, a bit hard to do on the Husky saws and make it look good without being/knowing a good welder. Basicly open the exhaust hole to 75-85% of the exhaust port opening, cut the limiters off the carb adjusting screws and re-tune the saw until it "fourstrokes" nicely. You should gain 200-500 RPM and a bit more power pretty easily.
The one that I sold had been torn down twice, ported, timing changed etc.