Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Husqvarna => Topic started by: alsled on January 10, 2014, 06:04:41 pm


Title: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 10, 2014, 06:04:41 pm
Buddy of mine gave me his 455, says its just not like it use to.  I havn't ripped it apart yet, but just wondering if there are other little secrets to make them run better then stock?
 No base gasket, any exhaust port work, dual port the muffler? Any of this help that saw, I'm not familiar with the x torq.
 I'll be putting a new ring in at the minimum.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 10, 2014, 06:49:38 pm
Cant pull base gaskets on these. They are clamshell design.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 10, 2014, 06:50:03 pm
New rings and a muffler mod should be good enough.

Been around one 455 that had the covers off and i thought it was a well made chainsaw for a homeowner one. I could not see anything to be critical of.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 10, 2014, 06:57:15 pm
Thanks, I forgot to add the oiler is not working also, I have to look into that.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 10, 2014, 09:31:13 pm
Thanks, I forgot to add the oiler is not working also, I have to look into that.

The plastic gear in there sometimes gets stripped.   You can also remove the oiler and spin it by hand and see if it moves freely with no binding of any kind.   
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 10, 2014, 09:42:15 pm
Considering the size of the installed base of 455's, there's not so many problems with them.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 10, 2014, 09:50:02 pm
Look here for the oil pump

http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/husqvarna/husqvarna-455/
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 10, 2014, 11:27:54 pm
If you need them, I have the service manual and parts lists for several different years. I can email them to you.

The linked to thread that has the oil pump stuff, that was the first 455 to come to town so it is a early one if that matters.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 11, 2014, 07:42:27 am
Cool, Thanks for all the info.  I have a 365 to finish first, then I'll get into the 455
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on January 14, 2014, 05:04:27 am
I just did a 455 ......
-New Caber ring (only 1 in there)
-Pulled the deflector off the muffler and peeled apart the 2 halves at the seam. Pulled out the division plate and the welded tube, then re-assembled the 2 halves and welded on a better deflector with a mucho larger opening.
- Slightly widened the ports, and chamferred anywhere that ring will travel


Different saw - even without a small port job, this saw woke up with the MM and a good tune !!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 14, 2014, 05:34:41 am
I was at a minimum going to do the muffler mod also after a glance at the itty bitty hole, I'll look in side the muffler also, Thanks
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on January 15, 2014, 05:10:23 am
Take your time with the muffler !!

 ..... about 1/2 an hour to pry apart the seam and split the muffler in 1/2.

The welded tube was welded pretty well, add 10 minutes for removing the division plate and that P.I.T.A. tube.

10 minutes to widen the hole at the top of the muffler and another 20 minutes to make and weld the deflector.

Now everything together and bend in the seams ............. about 90 minutes and only a trained eye can see the mod to the muffler
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun on January 15, 2014, 01:05:56 pm
Any pics of the inside of the 455 muffler?  Guy ask me about this the other day and I've never did a muffler mod on a 455.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 15, 2014, 07:20:09 pm
I did the muffler mod, there were no tubes or baffles in this one.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 15, 2014, 07:20:42 pm
Paint
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 15, 2014, 09:03:36 pm
Looks good.   :)
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on January 15, 2014, 09:06:32 pm
Must be nice to be able to weld stuff back.   Nice work and Thanks.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 15, 2014, 10:48:47 pm
Alan, +1 on the MM. Have you replaced the ring yet? Should go great for a home owner clam shell saw!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 16, 2014, 05:29:18 am
Waiting for the ring to come in, hopefully before the weekend.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 16, 2014, 09:50:37 am
Al, is that the paint with the powdered nickel in it? It looks pretty good!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 16, 2014, 10:12:39 am
Nope that paint is just some **** can hi temp paint. This is a guys work saw, nothing pretty needed he said. Just make it run good again.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 17, 2014, 07:38:09 pm
Saw is done, feels pretty good in wood, I never ran a 455 before so not sure how bad it was when I got it.  It is loud compared to a 372 with a ported muffler, maybe because the exhaust inlet is higher on the muffler, and right next to the big old hold I put in it with the MM.

Owner will get the saw on Mon and let me know I guess.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 18, 2014, 08:05:04 am
Great, are you going to post a pic of the finished saw? What was the problem with the oiler and what was the fix?
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 18, 2014, 08:25:39 am
Plugged oil intake filter in tank as far as I can tell..  I  blew air into the tank vent with the pump off, barely anything came out the feed line to the pump.  Then I blew air through the feed line with oil cap off, then blew air through vent with cap on again and had oil o plenty coming out.  Washed tank with gas, so far so good.

I can post some pics later, Im off to Harbor freight to look at die grinders.  Wana try to make the 395BB kit look better, lol.   Then reorder some parts that a certain place fails to tell ya they are not in stock, hehehehe
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on January 18, 2014, 08:55:39 am
Cool, post another thread on cleaning up the 395 jug!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: farmboy on January 18, 2014, 08:56:36 am
On the early 455 the oil line pickup screen the slits were too large allowing trash to plug intake side of pump.  There is a SB and replacement part.  Don't remember PN.  My 455 is a 2002 model when I get round to it I'll replace it.  Thought about using a brass one from other models but brass one could rub hole in plastic tank that's probably why the pickup is plastic.  Could use one from a 350.
Shep
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 18, 2014, 10:26:11 am
On the early 455 the oil line pickup screen the slits were too large allowing trash to plug intake side of pump.  There is a SB and replacement part.  Don't remember PN.  My 455 is a 2002 model when I get round to it I'll replace it.  Thought about using a brass one from other models but brass one could rub hole in plastic tank that's probably why the pickup is plastic.  Could use one from a 350.
Shep

I don't know if I would worry about a brass pickup wearing into the plastic when it is covered in oil.  If it does I would say that oil is not doing its job.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: SawTroll on January 18, 2014, 03:51:22 pm
....  My 455 is a 2002 model .... 

 :-[ Oooops - Just realized this is about the Husky 455, not the Jonsered 455!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 18, 2014, 06:53:27 pm
Heres some pics of the 455, nothing special, but ready to go.   I finished a 365 today, ran it in some wood, I had to laugh, the 365 just blows the 455 away.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: SawTroll on January 18, 2014, 07:15:28 pm
Heres some pics of the 455, nothing special, but ready to go.   I finished a 365 today, ran it in some wood, I had to laugh, the 365 just blows the 455 away.
The 455 never was intended to be anything special, so nothing odd with that!
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 18, 2014, 09:12:27 pm
Heres some pics of the 455, nothing special, but ready to go.   I finished a 365 today, ran it in some wood, I had to laugh, the 365 just blows the 455 away.
The 365 is 10 cc larger
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 18, 2014, 10:53:03 pm
Heres some pics of the 455, nothing special, but ready to go.   I finished a 365 today, ran it in some wood, I had to laugh, the 365 just blows the 455 away.
The 455 never was intended to be anything special, so nothing odd with that!

I cannot argue with that.   I have 2 455's and happen to like them. 
One of these days I am going to take one and port it and drop the cylinder on it, MM it, advance the timing and then we will see what it can do.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 18, 2014, 11:15:20 pm
The 455 is pretty nice to work on also
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on January 19, 2014, 09:32:04 am
The 455 runs fine don't get me wrong, all saws have there place, just so happened I finished a 365 and fired it up and dam there was a difference, 3.3 hp vs 4.7 I think?

I think the 455 is a little harder to work on, not much, the handle setup and throttle linkage thingy.  I think you have to take the handle bar assembly off to get at the bottom two carb screws, I had to take the whole saw apart so it didn't matter.  There was a hole in the gas tank.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 19, 2014, 03:46:02 pm
There are somewhat popular saws that are a lot harder to work on than the 455.

Well actually, I'm a 365/372 man. They are my favorites. I use the popular 50cc saws for limbing or jump to the non XT 365/372. Every chainsaw should be made like them. They are my standard of comparison.

But I've looked into a 455 or two.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on January 20, 2014, 08:17:49 am
I cannot argue with that.   I have 2 455's and happen to like them. 
One of these days I am going to take one and port it and drop the cylinder on it, MM it, advance the timing and then we will see what it can do.

3000 fps,
You cant just drop the cylinder ....... its a clamshell design
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 20, 2014, 11:13:12 am
I cannot argue with that.   I have 2 455's and happen to like them. 
One of these days I am going to take one and port it and drop the cylinder on it, MM it, advance the timing and then we will see what it can do.

3000 fps,
You cant just drop the cylinder ....... its a clamshell design

Well I am sorry to disappoint you but I have dropped the cylinder on a clamshell before and I will do it again.
I have a Poulan 295 that I dropped the cylinder on by around .020 IIRC.   I also know that the 455 is a clamshell but thanks for the reply,  I realize you did not know.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on January 21, 2014, 05:16:16 am
Definately not a dissapointment, I am very happy to hear that you have already jacked up compression on a clamshell without using a popup !!
How did you re-cut the bearing and seal surfaces ?
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 12:16:52 pm
I made a drum sander to the size of the bearings and sanded them out.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on January 21, 2014, 12:52:45 pm
Roger can be very resourceful when repairing his chainsaws
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 02:08:18 pm
Well ever since I dropped the cylinder on a Poulan 295 which is a clamshell I have been wanting to do this to one of my Husqvarna 455.  First I want to show the weight of the saw just for the record.  The Power head has the chain brake and bucking spike attached.

Then I took a measurement of the squish and the compression.
The squish was at .035"
The compression was at 129 psi.   at around 6000ft above sea level.
This saw has very low hours with no scoring and is in really nice shape.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 02:13:58 pm
Then the tear down.   I took a bunch of pictures of this so that if no one has ever seen one they will know what it looks like.

If you have never seen one apart the handle and bar come apart from the rest of the saw in one piece.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 02:16:14 pm
More pics of the 455 tear down.

I have read where people say that the crankcase is plastic, but that is not true the bottom half of the crankcase is aluminum and is pressed into the plastic and when it is taken apart it stays with the body of the saw.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 02:19:33 pm
I wanted to show here some pictures of the transfers and how they are set up.

The next thing for me to do now is to start modifying the cylinder since that is where all the work
is that needs to be done.   I will half to take some measurements and then make a new sanding drum
from round stock aluminum.   It looks like I will have to do the bearings and seals separate.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 21, 2014, 02:20:40 pm
Roger can be very resourceful when repairing his chainsaws

Thanks for that.   This is the redneck chainsaw repair after all.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on February 25, 2014, 11:37:42 pm
Any progress ?
Pics maybe ??
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 26, 2014, 01:31:43 am
Any progress ?
Pics maybe ??

I went out to my garage and could not find the tooling for my lathe.   I just moved here and still have a lot of items packed away.   It has also been really cold and I do not have a heated work shop yet.

What I have done so far is to open the transfer ports some and widen the exhaust port and the intake port.   I advanced the timing a couple of degrees and modified the muffler to open it up.   I put it all back together for now and went out and cut up a Siberian elm with it.    I still had the 20" bar on and had it buried in the wood a few times.   Though it was not the fastest it did pretty good.   I have now changed it over to a 18" bar and will keep that on it.   

I still plan on dropping the cylinder by .015" but not until I can get to my lathe and find the tooling.   Heck I could not even find the chuck key.  It is a bit frustrating right now.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: SawTroll on February 26, 2014, 08:46:47 am
I made a drum sander to the size of the bearings and sanded them out.

Sounds a bit "risky" to me?
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 26, 2014, 12:05:02 pm
I made a drum sander to the size of the bearings and sanded them out.

Sounds a bit "risky" to me?

I agree it is not the most precise way of doing things but I have done this before with success.   So I will try it again in the future.

I forgot to mention I did put a plug in for the decomp.   
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 27, 2014, 03:01:56 pm
I took the 455 out today and cut up a little wood.   I have the 18" bar and chain on it now and I like it much better than the 20" that was on it.    I can bury the bar on it now and it still cuts pretty good.   I still plan on dropping the jug but for now I am pretty happy with the performance.

Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: alsled on March 01, 2014, 05:35:38 am
Are you running forester chain on it?
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 01, 2014, 11:13:52 am
No the chain is chisel, 68 DL, .050 round ground.    I believe it is Carlson.     It was some chain that I already had.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 01, 2014, 11:38:10 am
Dang that 455 is clean.

Whats the story, trade in straight gassed etc?  Just cant see you buying one even used with all the saws you have.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 01, 2014, 11:39:56 am
The 455 I service for a firewood cutter wears 20" 3/8. Sure wish he would go to the 16" but he needs the 1 saw do everything.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 01, 2014, 11:45:45 am
I just backed up to read to catch up on thread. I see you have 2 455.  :o

Also very nice breakdown pics.  Never been that far on one yet. Thanks for sharing Roger.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 01, 2014, 11:52:50 am
Dang that 455 is clean.

Whats the story, trade in straight gassed etc?  Just cant see you buying one even used with all the saws you have.

I bought that saw brand new and had not used it a lot.    But it is going to get worked out now.   

It is the only new saw that I have ever bought.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 01, 2014, 12:15:47 pm
I wonder how those newer autotune 455 compare to the 455 we are talking about.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 01, 2014, 12:45:52 pm
I wonder how those newer autotune 455 compare to the 455 we are talking about.

That would be an interesting comparison.   That auto tune better work good because the 455 I have now works great.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on March 01, 2014, 04:07:56 pm
After being around a lot of different chainsaws and in particular home owner types, the 455 is made pretty well and a reasonable chainsaw to work on.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 01, 2014, 06:51:20 pm
After being around a lot of different chainsaws and in particular home owner types, the 455 is made pretty well and a reasonable chainsaw to work on.

Also every one likes to make a big deal out of clamshell designs as if they are so inferior to split crank cases.   I know the split case designs are easier to modify, but an open port clamshell, or an open port split case, is there really any difference in their performance when stock.   Now durability might be a different case because there is less plastic that things attach to on a magnesium case.   But I do agree the 455 does look strong and durable.   I also would rather replace the main bearings on a clamshell then on a split case.    I think they are easier to do.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on March 01, 2014, 07:05:32 pm
There's a lot of 455 parts on the Bay right now
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 12, 2014, 04:57:08 pm
I wonder how those newer autotune 455 compare to the 455 we are talking about.

That would be an interesting comparison.   That auto tune better work good because the 455 I have now works great.


Finally found the post to put spike's info on this.

Quote from: Spike60

 Husqvarna 455 autotune. I've got them for $419. They are snappier than a regular 455. And obviously don't have to be tuned out of the box. Regular 455's pretty much MUST be tuned when new or they are sure to disappoint. But the difference between the 2 saws is slight. By no means is it in the "OH WOW!" territory.

Sometime soon, new 460 and 465 Ranchers will be coming out. Both also auto-tune. 65cc on that frame could be an interesting saw and seems more in line with the size of the thing than the 56cc of the 455. Don't know when or how much yet.


Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on March 12, 2014, 05:03:27 pm
I am wondering if the 465/460 AT saws will be clam shell saws?
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 12, 2014, 05:16:51 pm
There is a 460 already and I thought it was just bigger bore 455. Sort of thinking this is huskys answer to the 290 310 390.  455 460 465.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on March 12, 2014, 05:28:12 pm
Well you are probably right, I was wondering if HVA may do a redesign when they release the AT versions.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 12, 2014, 07:13:56 pm
There is a 460 already and I thought it was just bigger bore 455. Sort of thinking this is huskys answer to the 290 310 390.  455 460 465.

I would bet they are still clamshell.   I am wondering what the weight would be if they kept the basic frame of the saw the same.   I wish they sold more huskys where I work, but most of what they have are Echo.   They do carry Husky cutoff saws new and sell them.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: Moparmyway on May 18, 2014, 10:11:38 am
Its just easier to get more compression, vs. staying with the stock compression - (unless plans for pro help are intended)
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on May 18, 2014, 10:56:18 am
Its just easier to get more compression, vs. staying with the stock compression - (unless plans for pro help are intended)

Agree.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: SawTroll on May 18, 2014, 12:18:25 pm
There is a 460 already and I thought it was just bigger bore 455. Sort of thinking this is huskys answer to the 290 310 390.  455 460 465.

I would bet they are still clamshell.  .....


I'm sure they are.

Some (more or less preliminary) info from the Norwegian 2012 Husky catalog:

 - The 460 Rancher II is listed (wasn't here before), but now with 64cc 3.0kW (vs. 2.7) and Autotune. The 455 Rancher II is also listed as AT.

 - Totally new is the 465 Rancher II, also 64cc, but 3.2kw. Another AutoTune.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 660magnum on May 18, 2014, 02:17:34 pm
The old 455 and 460 were bundled together in the service manual.
Title: Re: 455 Rancher ?
Post by: 3000 FPS on May 18, 2014, 02:32:00 pm
There is a 460 already and I thought it was just bigger bore 455. Sort of thinking this is huskys answer to the 290 310 390.  455 460 465.

I would bet they are still clamshell.  .....
I'm sure they are.

Some (more or less preliminary) info from the Norwegian 2012 Husky catalog:

 - The 460 Rancher II is listed (wasn't here before), but now with 64cc 3.0kW (vs. 2.7) and Autotune. The 455 Rancher II is also listed as AT.

 - Totally new is the 465 Rancher II, also 64cc, but 3.2kw. Another AutoTune.

I guess it will not be long and Husqvarna will no longer have any regular carbureted saws.