Author Topic: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345  (Read 997 times)

0 Members and 4 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline DaveJ

  • 3 cube
  • *
  • Posts: 16
  • Karma: 2

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    10 Posts Level 2 Karma Topic Starter First Post Level 1
My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« on: August 21, 2015, 05:53:54 pm »
I realize it's not the best saw but it's served me well for 10 years and I want to see if I can replace the piston/cylinder.
I'm having trouble right off the bat just getting the cyl apart. The shop manual I have saye to just undo the 4 bolts.........Nope!
I've read that the 345 has a clamshell design cylinder. Can someone explain what that means and how do I get it apart?

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline dannyupsolate

  • Piped Saw
  • *****
  • Posts: 328
  • Karma: 28

  • Total Badges: 18
    Badges: (View All)
    Third year Anniversary Karma Good Level 4 Second year Anniversary Poll Voter One year Anniversary
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2015, 08:46:21 pm »
if I ever work on one I would watch this.   

Offline 3000 FPS

  • Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 4706
  • Karma: 320
  • Location: Carpenter, Wyoming

  • Total Badges: 43
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 7 Eighth year Anniversary Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2015, 11:46:58 pm »
Ok I looked at a parts lists and it shows the 345 as a clamshell design.   
Turn the saw upside down and see if there are 4 bolts on the bottom holding the engine in.
Make sure you have the flywheel off, the clutch off and the oiler off first before trying to remove the engine.
PP 505, 475, 445.

Offline DaveJ

  • 3 cube
  • *
  • Posts: 16
  • Karma: 2

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    10 Posts Level 2 Karma Topic Starter First Post Level 1
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2015, 12:25:06 am »
Yep that was it. Didn't have to pull the flywheel. Once I realized I needed to take off the handle/tanks assy. it was obvious. The piston is very heavily scored on the exhaust side.

Now where to get parts?

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23706
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2015, 12:38:47 am »
Which way you going to rebuild it? Back clammy or use a 350 riser and then bolt on top?

Offline wild262

  • 6 cube
  • ****
  • Posts: 161
  • Karma: 29

  • Total Badges: 14
    Badges: (View All)
    Third year Anniversary Second year Anniversary 100 Posts Level 3 One year Anniversary 50 Posts
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2015, 12:59:35 am »
You have several build options with that saw you know.  You could go back to stock (clamshell).  Or if you want a boost in power, make a 350 out of it.  Last option would be an ultimate 346NE.  Whatever you choice is , just make sure that if you have a black plastic intake clamp, change it out to the updated metal clamp intake assembly.   That has been responsible for frying many of these saws by letting unwanted air in.  If you don't make the change, it will score it again.  I have a half a dozen on the garage floor now with the same problem. And if your muffler bolts are loose all the time, you can put a 346/353 muff. bracket on it to solve that problem.   These are good little homeowner saws once you make the necessary improvements.  Have fun. :)

Offline dannyupsolate

  • Piped Saw
  • *****
  • Posts: 328
  • Karma: 28

  • Total Badges: 18
    Badges: (View All)
    Third year Anniversary Karma Good Level 4 Second year Anniversary Poll Voter One year Anniversary
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2015, 02:19:00 am »
next step is see if cylinder will clean up.  some use abrasive some use acid.  maybe new piston,and  rings and intake boot and clamp will get you sawing.  If you want more power cheap asian big bore kits are available as well as high quality aftermarket.

Offline DaveJ

  • 3 cube
  • *
  • Posts: 16
  • Karma: 2

  • Total Badges: 8
    Badges: (View All)
    10 Posts Level 2 Karma Topic Starter First Post Level 1
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2015, 10:58:45 am »
Thanks for the advice. I am leaning toward the bigger bore, but feel a little apprehensive about making the rebuild more complicated.
Those $20 aftermarket kits are scary. I have no clue as to which kits are quality. OEM is off the table as they seem to be in the $250 range.  Is there an aftermarket mfr or parts house that I should be looking at?

As far as the cause of the failure, I really don't know. I don't know how to detect an air leak. The intake has the metal clamp and showed no signs of leakage. I am very careful with my fuel. The only thing I can think of is that my loacl saw shop had recently put in a new carb and could have it adjusted too lean.

One more question. Is it a normal thing to pull the crank and service it "while I'm in there"?

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23706
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23706
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: My first piston failure and repair. Husky 345
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2015, 11:18:13 am »
Check the impulse line and the nipple part too. 

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
8 Replies
952 Views
Last post September 12, 2013, 08:50:52 pm
by KilliansRedLeo
0 Replies
553 Views
Last post March 14, 2011, 03:38:42 pm
by Old Iron Logging
0 Replies
283 Views
Last post November 13, 2011, 03:30:41 pm
by Snoopy
5 Replies
593 Views
Last post November 14, 2012, 03:02:27 am
by Ben H
20 Replies
3160 Views
Last post October 28, 2020, 08:47:52 am
by Cut4fun .
3 Replies
246 Views
Last post December 03, 2013, 09:22:18 pm
by 660magnum
14 Replies
708 Views
Last post August 17, 2014, 01:31:29 pm
by Jason K
7 Replies
660 Views
Last post September 17, 2017, 08:36:07 am
by Fishnuts2
18 Replies
1392 Views
Last post June 18, 2018, 04:12:09 pm
by phil1863
6 Replies
480 Views
Last post January 05, 2020, 12:14:41 am
by Derf