Husky 350 clutch spring replacement...ARRRGGHHH!

[DHansen]

I have noticed that some top covers have an adhesive foil adhered to the underside of the top cover.  It is about 3" x 4" and I would think this would help with the radiant heat that the top cover is exposed to in that area.  

[DHansen]

As for the clutch spring, a pair of snap ring pliers is affective and inexpensive.

[Spike60]

Thanks Dave. And you are correct that radiant heat, not exhaust gas can be an issue. 

The possibility I should have mentioned in my earlier post is that loose muffler bolts, and therefore a loose muffler will also direct exhaust gas straight up to the top cover. (and in every direction for that matter) But the outlet location isn't the problem. Top outlets are used on nearly everything in the catalog going on close to 30 years now. 

[Old Greenhorn]

Well here I am back again! Yesterday I was whacking up a dead fall that clobbered my fence (again) in a wind storm we had Thursday night. I noticed that the 350 was acting just a tiny bit weird and would stall if the chain stopped. It was quick work, a dozen or so cuts and then done, I just thought I would have to up the "L" screw a little bit.
 This morning I put it to work on another tree and same issue, plus I noticed a 'tingling' sound like something was loose. The stalling was bad enough that I quit the tree in mid felling cut to fix it. I walked to the shop and adjusted that L screw a bit, no joy and I noticed it stalled every time I hit the chain brake otherwise the chain wouldn't stop.  Also, that 'tingling' sound was more pronounced. I checked the muffler bolts (common issue on this saw) and some other stuff but nothing fit the sound I was hearing. Finally it hit me. Here we go again. I pulled the bar cover and the clutch spring dropped out on the floor in 2 pieces. Dang.
 I thought I had a spare from the last time and it wasn't where I expected or anyplace else I looked. I grabbed the 450 and finished the job after ordering a pair of new springs to get them on the way.

 After lunch I thought on it some more and was sure I had another spring and sure enough I found it and started the process of trying to get it in. It wasn't happening, same as last time. No way could I get that spring in. I walked away, then tried again, then repeated the cycle. The I remembered this thread and re-read it. @rusticretreater had made suggestions I never followed up on the last time because I fixed it with other means. He suggested some special type pliers and I thought I had a pair that would work, but never looked for them, today, in frustration, I did search and found just the right thing in my odd pliers drawer. They worked so perfect it was downright scary. These pliers I found would open when you squeezed the handles and the range was perfect for these springs. That spring dropped in so easy I had to look at it twice to make sure it as actually in, seemed way too easy. I have no idea what this tool was designed for, but it's a quality tool, I think it's a Williams.
 SO I put it all back together and checked it all out, no tuning required, all good. So now I have the perfect tool (I hung it up on my tool board) and the clutch removal tool I bought a few months back worked like a charm too, my first chance to try that out.
 Hopefully this is my last visit to this thread.