General Product Question
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Thank you for contacting Husqvarna's Answer Army.
A scored piston & cylinder can be caused by several different conditions. Normally, clean sawdust "fines" will not cause such a condition. In the small quantities which may pass through or around the filter, they will just progress through the engine with the incoming fuel and be burned away.
However, inadequate filter cleaning will cause an ever increasing amount of dust and debris to pass into the engine, damaging the piston & cylinder and also the bearings.
Such scoring will show heavier on the intake side of the piston.
Other conditions which can result in piston/cylinder scoring are usually related to fuel-lean operation of the engine; such conditions as a dirty fuel filter, hole in the fuel hose, carburetor adjusted too lean, or an air leak at any joint in the engine which admits air in addition to what is going through the carburetor.
Such conditions will generally show scoring mainly on the exhaust side of the piston.
Of course, inadequate lubricating oil in the mixed fuel, or water accumulation due to Ethanol attracting water from the air into fuel stored too long, will also cause piston scoring.
Those conditions normally will cause scoring all around the piston, or at least in a "Y" pattern: exhaust side of piston and each side of the intake port in the cylinder.
Without being able to see the damaged piston and cylinder, and not having a chance to run certain diagnostic tests, we of course cannot specify which of the noted conditions may have affected your unit, but we trust the above is helpful.
- posted May 14, 2012 by John Mogush
- Permalink
Greg, your answer is well thought out and covers the bases.
I wish I had known this before I paid to have the saw evaluated. I could have had them make specific note of what they found. When they said the cylinder wall was scored and the saw was not economically repairable I thought that was the end of it as the saw was out of warranty based on time.
I do know that I am careful with my equipment; I read the instruction manual when I get something before using it.
Given that:
1. The service center confirmed the saw was well cared for 2. I am especially careful on the fuel mix and only use high quality two cycle oil in the right mix with the right octane (fresh) gas 3. Even though the saw was bought July 2005, at Sears Roebuck it does not have that much run time on it as I only use it to cut wood for my small wood burning stove 4. As for set up of the saw I bought it locally and use it locally - I have made no adjustments to the saw carbureator as it ran well when it was running. 5 As for fuel I do not let fuel set in the saw when it is not used.
You end your e-mail as I would expect that you can make no judgement without seeing the saw and being able to run certain diagnostic tests. I do feel strongly based on dealer feedback on the nature of the problem and their comment on the condition of the saw that I will make the saw available to you for review. If your analysis shows that the problem is Husqvarna will the company repair or replace the saw at Husqvarna cost? If you feel that it is something I may have done or not done I will go with your final judgement and let it go at that. Right now I have a very expensive piece of equipment that is not economical to repair and has come to a premature end. I am disappointed in how little I have gotten out of this saw but ... I am only out some money and it is not the end of the world.
Please let me know what Husqvarna can do - perhaps this is a situation where we both learn something from an adverse circumstance.
John Mogush
- posted May 21, 2012 by John Mogush
- Permalink
I printed a copy of Greg's response and my reply; I sent these to Husqvarna customer service in Charlotte, N.C. for their response to my offer.
I refer to my reply making the saw available for review. In my reply I ask if a Husqvarna issue will they stand behind a repair or replacement? I completely defer to them as the final authority; I will not second guess them if they believe things are as they should be if they review the saw in question.
I do make note of Greg's analysis that states "In the small quantities which may pass through or around the filter ... " This is the issue the dealer brought to my attention not I. Material of any consequence as there will be a lot of dust in sawing should really not be getting "by the filter"; There may be some dry dirt on a log etc. The filter should stop this material - not let it into the saw combustion chamber.
John Mogush
Thank you for contacting Husqvarna's Answer Army.
A scored piston & cylinder can be caused by several different conditions. Normally, clean sawdust "fines" will not cause such a condition. In the small quantities which may pass through or around the filter, they will just progress through the engine with the incoming fuel and be burned away.
However, inadequate filter cleaning will cause an ever increasing amount of dust and debris to pass into the engine, damaging the piston & cylinder and also the bearings.
Such scoring will show heavier on the intake side of the piston.
Other conditions which can result in piston/cylinder scoring are usually related to fuel-lean operation of the engine; such conditions as a dirty fuel filter, hole in the fuel hose, carburetor adjusted too lean, or an air leak at any joint in the engine which admits air in addition to what is going through the carburetor.
Such conditions will generally show scoring mainly on the exhaust side of the piston.
Of course, inadequate lubricating oil in the mixed fuel, or water accumulation due to Ethanol attracting water from the air into fuel stored too long, will also cause piston scoring.
Those conditions normally will cause scoring all around the piston, or at least in a "Y" pattern: exhaust side of piston and each side of the intake port in the cylinder.
Without being able to see the damaged piston and cylinder, and not having a chance to run certain diagnostic tests, we of course cannot specify which of the noted conditions may have affected your unit, but we trust the above is helpful.