A friend of mine may have just fried his 353. I don't know the damage, and I haven't seen it. The only report I've heard is "repair guy says compression is shot. When asked for a probable cause, he says ethanol gas may be a prime suspect, he says a number of saws have come in with similar symptoms." (I wonder if may have been run too lean?)
I'm trying to convince him to examine the possibility of replacing piston and rings, and maybe cylinder, depending on what it looks like. Neither of us have done this sort of work before, but he's fairly mechanically experienced.
If it's not worth repairing, is the 545 about the closest replacement in the Husky line these days? He'd probably go for that over something in the 400 series (like a 450 or 455). I can read the specs, I just want to make sure he's not stepping down in capability/durability.
If it helps for background: He's used his 353 for about 5 years of "landowner"-type use (he cuts about 5 cords of firewood per year, and occasionally helps out others with their wood). Mostly hardwoods (Beech, Ash, Maple, Oak), and mostly in the 4" to 10" diameter range (rarely up to 14", maybe more). He's been happy with the 353, and doesn't mind being a bit patient on the rare occasions he gets into the larger stuff. This will be his only saw. He does appreciate a well-made saw, but price is a consideration. He may drool over the 562XP, but he's not likely to spring for it. He a big Husky fan. He might be convinced to step up to a 550, especially if he can find one on sale. (I'm thinking the autotune feature may be a plus... I'm not sure how often he checks carb tuning, or even if he does it on his own or brings it to a dealer.)
Any thoughts?