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General Forestry => Chainsaws => Topic started by: Greenerpastures on March 04, 2019, 05:26:54 PM

Title: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 04, 2019, 05:26:54 PM
Hi everyone.
I got a CS-352 with a 14 inch bar and 91 vlx chain.
Ran just over a tank of fuel through it, let the saw run before shutting down.
The saw being new, I pulled the plug to ensure all was well.
First off I never felt as hot a plug or engine top.
There was a hint of oil on top of the piston.

I put a tach on the engine and it tops out at 10,800, spec says 12,500 max,
so am on the safe side regarding fueling, the seller said not to open
the saw up much above 11,000, as they do run very hot, and the more rpm 's
the hotter they get.

Wondering what you all recommend.

This is the only saw I have with a cat, am quite sure its contributing to the rather
hot running, but its new and I am hoping there may be things I can do other than
removing the cat.
Though I would like to hear how to address the cat for later, does it need to be cut
out, or is a large hole drilled through it enough.

The plug has only a shadow of black near the bend where it
connects to the threaded part of the plug, everywhere else looks good, a small blotch of
black on the piston near the outlet, looks odd that its only in one spot, the rest looks
dry all but a very slight glisten from what must be oil/fuel on the piston, only looked
through the plug hole, very difficult to take a picture, only got a phone.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: lxskllr on March 04, 2019, 06:08:36 PM
I'm *not* the person to get tuning tips from, but I'll address the cat. Assuming it's like my cs400, it's pretty easy to gouge out using something like an old screwdriver. Once I got ~60% removed, I turned a drywall screw into it, egged out the hole, then gouged some more with the screwdriver. Altogether, I think I spent .5 hours on it, Not bad for using only manual tools. You'll probably want to remove the limiters(maybe H only) to get more adjustment on the carb.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 04, 2019, 07:38:47 PM
Thanks lxskllr
I will probably have a go at the muffler in due course,
It would be nice if a non cat one could be obtained, it must be quite a job
to get on opened up.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Allar on March 05, 2019, 03:21:20 AM
People buy echo's because of the their warranty. I'm not sure if your dealer is going to be happy if you start poking holes into your muffler.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 06:48:29 AM
Quote from: Allar on March 05, 2019, 03:21:20 AM
People buy echo's because of the their warranty. I'm not sure if your dealer is going to be happy if you start poking holes into your muffler.
Hi Allar
He may not be happy, but this saw is not able to breath.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: lxskllr on March 05, 2019, 07:37:09 AM
Quote from: Allar on March 05, 2019, 03:21:20 AM
People buy echo's because of the their warranty. I'm not sure if your dealer is going to be happy if you start poking holes into your muffler.
Reading around, their warranty isn't all that. They'll do everything they can to beat you out of it. Still a good saw, and I'd buy one again, but I consider the warranty invalid. Better to roll the dice, and do what you think is best for the saw imo.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Rebarb on March 05, 2019, 09:06:51 AM
I personally do a muff mod on every new saw I buy and Echo's respond very well. 
I don't use warranties and never had to.

All different types of mufflers but they can be opened up with a little creativity. I leave the arrestor screen in but take a dremal to the arrestor plate.

Remove the limiters with a wood screw and retune.
With full tank of gas and clean air filter, turn idle screw until chain starts to move than adjust L by finding highest idle " sweet spot" then turn the L counter clockwise until you hear the saw slightly back off some....done.

Adjust the H in wood, it's easy.
You want to hear 4 stroking at wot then clear up in the wood....done.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Allar on March 05, 2019, 09:17:46 AM
The best solution would be to buy another muffler and muffler mod it. And if something happens with the chainsaw, you'll just throw the factory muffler on it and take it to a dealer  ;)

Just sayin'.



Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: ladylake on March 05, 2019, 09:51:47 AM

Most likely will never need the warranty if tuned good with the muff opened up. As with most Echo saws the Cs352 gains a lot with the muff opened up.  Echo clogs them up the get by EPA regs.  Steve 
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Inaotherlife on March 05, 2019, 10:49:18 AM
I'm guessing this is the 352 with the cat, listed as 1.78 horsepower.
CS-352ES| All Products | PRODUCTS | ECHO | YAMABIKO CORPORATION (http://www.echotools.com/products/category_detail/id=3589)

And this is the one without the cat, listed at 2.16 horsepower.
CS-353ES| All Products | PRODUCTS | ECHO | YAMABIKO CORPORATION (http://www.echotools.com/products/category_detail/id=3590)

That's a pretty good increase if that's the only difference.

I pulled the cat and limiters out of my CS-346 that I bought used, and it runs real good.

Haven't gotten around to pulling the cat out of my CS-361P yet, but it came from the dealer with no limiters in place.
It runs good too, and was a tad rich as received. I left it rich as I think as it loosens up it'll begin to make use of the extra fuel.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 05:44:59 PM
Quote from: Inaotherlife on March 05, 2019, 10:49:18 AM
I'm guessing this is the 352 with the cat, listed as 1.78 horsepower.
CS-352ES| All Products | PRODUCTS | ECHO | YAMABIKO CORPORATION (http://www.echotools.com/products/category_detail/id=3589)

And this is the one without the cat, listed at 2.16 horsepower.
CS-353ES| All Products | PRODUCTS | ECHO | YAMABIKO CORPORATION (http://www.echotools.com/products/category_detail/id=3590)

That's a pretty good increase if that's the only difference.

I pulled the cat and limiters out of my CS-346 that I bought used, and it runs real good.

Haven't gotten around to pulling the cat out of my CS-361P yet, but it came from the dealer with no limiters in place.
It runs good too, and was a tad rich as received. I left it rich as I think as it loosens up it'll begin to make use of the extra fuel.
Hi Inaotherlife
That is some difference in the two saws, this thing has a huge cat, no wonder this saw is hot.
There was no limiters on my saw at all.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 05:50:56 PM
Quote from: ladylake on March 05, 2019, 09:51:47 AM

Most likely will never need the warranty if tuned good with the muff opened up. As with most Echo saws the Cs352 gains a lot with the muff opened up.  Echo clogs them up the get by EPA regs.  Steve
Echo may actually not want customers screwing with their
settings, though there is no directive that I can see that says you can't.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 06:06:05 PM
Quote from: Allar on March 05, 2019, 09:17:46 AM
The best solution would be to buy another muffler and muffler mod it. And if something happens with the chainsaw, you'll just throw the factory muffler on it and take it to a dealer  ;)

Just sayin'.
The only mufflers I found so far are costly, but they are straight through, maybe 
the echo dealer can sell me one, as long as it wont void that precious warranty
just in case she takes a ceasure, its nuts how they tell you 50:1 is to be used,
when there is plenty of evidence that more oil in the mi is better as long as the
engine is tuned a little richer, that way it still gets the correct amount of fuel to air,
and a little oil to help all round, its the emissions think I imagine, why not fry a saw
and make it again and again, that sure helps the environment.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Inaotherlife on March 05, 2019, 08:13:19 PM
It's the oil. Some 2-stroke oils are rated for 100:1.

Extreme 2 stroke 100:1 Oil mixture KTM 250 XC- AMSOIL - YouTube (https://youtu.be/IDB4N0MsJC0)

AMSOIL Tech Tips: SaberĂ¢,,¢ Two-Stroke Oil Mix Ratios - YouTube (https://youtu.be/6HQwmbj31jc)

Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Inaotherlife on March 05, 2019, 08:38:10 PM
Quote from: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 05:50:56 PM
Quote from: ladylake on March 05, 2019, 09:51:47 AM

Most likely will never need the warranty if tuned good with the muff opened up. As with most Echo saws the Cs352 gains a lot with the muff opened up.  Echo clogs them up the get by EPA regs.  Steve
Its a little more complicated for me, Echo do not want customers screwing with their
settings, then on the other hand, I walked out of the dealers with a saw that had a
slight bog, the dealer told me he sold a lot of this model, so as he was standing there
listening to the engine, I was left with the impression he heard the same as I did, and
yet never commented or offered to adjust anything, so I took the saw home and proceeded to work, the bog was still there, so I took it to him today, he leaned the H,
no bog now, but that thing runs hot, not what I like to see at all. When I get my job done with this saw, I will evaluate a muffler mod, or just sell it on and get a non cat
saw.
If you sell it you'll lose $100.
If you want a saw with a little more power that runs cooler, then don't let the man hold you down.
Born On The Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival - YouTube (https://youtu.be/pAVhKjsImeI)

It ain't Echo's saw. It ain't the dealers saw. It's yours. You bought it.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 06, 2019, 11:05:05 AM
Not happy, had to order a plug, dealer said the old one was ok yesterday, and added that a new one was costly, regardless of cost, a new saw that messes a plug is really not up to me to replace, when I heard that comment about the price of a plug, I got a glimse of what lays ahead, was there a reason for not changing the plug.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: ladylake on March 06, 2019, 11:22:16 AM

 Sounds like you're running up against the limited coil, most of these saws come set lean and your dealers made it leaner. Throw away the tach, pull the limiter caps off and open up the high until it slows down quite a bit, then cutting big wood gradually back in until it cuts the fastest.  These are good saws when tuned right, I have several and them around the mill a lot.  Steve
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 06, 2019, 11:41:21 AM
No limiters on this saw.
I have never removed a cat, do not even know what the material is like to drill with
a hole saw, am hoping its not too tough, does it drill cleanly, or role in front of the
cutter like aluminium can do, would be nice if the cat was on its own frame that was
just spot welded in, removing the spots would be cleaner, just weld up the holes after.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Inaotherlife on March 06, 2019, 11:06:32 PM
Quote from: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 06:06:05 PM
its nuts how they tell you 50:1 is to be used,
when there is plenty of evidence that more oil in the mi is better as long as the
engine is tuned a little richer, that way it still gets the correct amount of fuel to air,
and a little oil to help all round, its the emissions think I imagine, why not fry a saw
and make it again and again, that sure helps the environment.
So what mix are you using?
Too much oil can gum things up sometimes.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Air Lad on March 07, 2019, 04:53:08 AM
Quote from: Inaotherlife on March 06, 2019, 11:06:32 PM
Quote from: Greenerpastures on March 05, 2019, 06:06:05 PM
its nuts how they tell you 50:1 is to be used,
when there is plenty of evidence that more oil in the mi is better as long as the
engine is tuned a little richer, that way it still gets the correct amount of fuel to air,
and a little oil to help all round, its the emissions think I imagine, why not fry a saw
and make it again and again, that sure helps the environment.
So what mix are you using?
Too much oil can gum things up sometimes.
Did see a youtube vid where Donnyboy added a capfull of extra oil in the tank for run in purposes
He said one more in the next tank and then go to normal
What ever that is    ??? ::)
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Greenerpastures on March 08, 2019, 04:06:42 AM
Hi Air Lad (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=43116)
No did not see the video. Wonder if the saw he used had a cat
in it. I would tend to agree with a little more oil to be on the safe
side, but given this 352 has a cat, and is under warranty, I am not
far off the 50:1 maark.
Title: Re: Echo CS 352 tune and possible Muffler mod
Post by: Air Lad on March 08, 2019, 05:09:15 PM
I think it was a ms260 . He had just fitted a new cylinder and piston .
Cheers