Tuning and fixing a husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb

It's the frustrating feeling when you go to pull the wire and your trusty 350 just won't bite, or even worse, it starts up but dies the second you contact the throttle. Quite often, the culprit is usually that tiny steel box responsible for mixing air and fuel. When your husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb gets gummed up or the internal diaphragms obtain stiff, the found just can't "breathe" right.

Tips on how to tell in case your carb will be actually the issue

Before a person go tearing issues apart, you need to be certain it's actually the particular carb. Usually, if the saw starts on a prime (dropping a little fuel in the particular cylinder) but won't keep running, you've got an energy delivery issue.

Another traditional sign is "bogging. " You'll have the saw idling okay, but mainly because soon as a person put it in to a log and give it the gas, it falls upon its face. That usually means the high-speed circuit within the carb is usually clogged or the needle isn't allowing enough fuel via. On the flip side, if the particular saw is smoking like crazy plus fouling plugs, it might be running too wealthy, meaning the carb is dumping way too much gas into the mix.

Cleaning vs. Replacing: What's the move?

This is the big discussion among saw proprietors. In case you buy the rebuild kit and spend an hour or so thoroughly cleaning every small orifice, or simply swap the whole thing out?

When you have the initial Zama or Walbro carb that arrived on the found, it's often well worth trying to save it. The high quality of the metal and the engineering on those old OEM units is usually top-notch. The rebuild kit—which will be basically just some gaskets, a diaphragm, and perhaps a brand-new needle—is cheap.

However, let's be real: you can find a brand-new aftermarket husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb online intended for less than twenty bucks these days. As the purists may scoff, these cheap replacement carbs in fact work surprisingly well for your average house owner. If you're brief promptly and don't want to mess along with tiny springs and carb cleaner squirt hitting you within the eye, simply swapping the whole unit is a valid shortcut.

Getting the carb out of the saw

Obtaining to the carb on a 350 isn't too bad, but it's a bit of a puzzle. You'll want to pop the very best shroud off very first. Once that's out of the way, you'll see the air filter assembly. Remove that, and you're looking at the neck of the carb.

The tricky part is usually the linkage. You've got the throttle rod and the choke lever to deal with. Be gentle right here. You don't need to bend the throttle rod, or even your trigger will feel "mushy" down the road. Also, take a glance at the gasoline line. If you're already in generally there, check if the rubber is cracked or gummy. There's no point in fixing the carb if the gas line is sucking air or leaking gas all over the crankcase.

The art of tuning the husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb

Once you've got a clear or new carb installed, you're most likely going to have to tune it. This is how people get intimidated, but it's not rocket science. You'll see three anchoring screws, usually labeled D, H, and T.

The particular L screw (Low speed): This controls the particular fuel mixture with idle. If the particular saw dies whenever it's just sitting down there, or when it hesitates when you hit the gas, the T screw needs an adjustment. Usually, an excellent starting point is usually 1 and 1/4 turns out from lightly seated.

The H mess (High speed): This is definitely the important a single for the wellness of your engine. It controls the particular fuel at complete throttle. If a person run this as well "lean" (screwed within too far), the particular saw will shout in a very high RPM, however it can also run hot and eventually catch the piston. A person want it simply "rich" enough that will it "four-strokes" a little bit at full accelerator when there's simply no load, then clears up and screams once it hits the wood.

The T screw (Idle speed): This really is just a mechanised stop that keeps the throttle dish open a little bit. If the chain is spinning as the saw is idling, your idle is actually high. Back the T screw out there until the string stops.

The reason why modern gas is usually your carb's worst enemy

In the event that you find your self fixing your husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb every single springtime, the problem isn't the saw—it's the particular gas. Most gas you get in the pump contains ethanol. Ethanol will be fine for vehicles, but it's horrible for small motors. It attracts humidity, and when it sits, it transforms into a nasty varnish that plugs upward those skin pores within the carb.

If you may, find a place that sells "recreation fuel" or ethanol-free gas. It costs a bit more, but it saves you so much head ache in the long run. If a person can't find ethanol-free, at least use a high-quality fuel backing and try not to allow found sit using a full tank for over the month or 2.

A several pro tips intended for the job

When you're placing everything back together, make sure the gaskets are sitting perfectly. A small air leak between the carb and the intake boot can make the saw run like garbage. It'll run lean, the particular idle will leap all over the particular place, and you'll never get the tuning right.

Also, check the particular "impulse" hole. Upon these Husqvarnas, the carb uses very little pulse of air from the crankcase to pump the fuel. If that will passage is clogged or maybe the gasket will be covering it, the particular saw might begin but it'll starve for fuel almost immediately.

Gift wrapping it up

The Husqvarna 350 is a workhorse, and it deserves to run right. Whether you're cutting firewood for that winter or simply clearing some brush in the backyard, having a crisp, responsive throttle the actual job a whole lot easier.

Coping with a husqvarna 350 chainsaw carb might seem like a task, but it's a great way to get to know your saw better. Once you obtain that perfect beat and hear the engine "pop" into life on the particular first pull, you'll be glad a person took the time to do it. Just keep in mind: keep things clean, be patient using the adjustment screws, and for the love of all things mechanical, attempt to use better gas! Your saw (and your arms) will thank you.