Save or scrap my Husqvarna 550 xp?

[cessna]

I have been told that the piston on my 550 xp is scored and so the compression is down,and probably the reason it wont start.

Do I spend money on it or put the money towards a new 550 ????

[openspaceman]

56 minutes ago, cessna said:

I have been told that the piston on my 550 xp is scored and so the compression is down,and probably the reason it wont start.

Do I spend money on it or put the money towards a new 550 ????

That would depend on what else is worn but not scrap.

 

Mk 1 or 2?

[gand]

I'd save it if you can. There's quite a few 550's come through our shop for similar reasons, and it usually works out lot cheaper than a new saw. 

[Mick Dempsey]

I had a 550 rebuilt for less than half the cost of a new one.

Lasted less than a month before going again, so I went and bought a new one.

 

Now I know that people will say that it was done badly or whatever, and they’re right.

 

But if you can afford a new one, get one is my advice.

[CaliforniaCrook]

5 hours ago, gand said:

I'd save it if you can. There's quite a few 550's come through our shop for similar reasons, and it usually works out lot cheaper than a new saw. 

Do you see many 572 failures?

[Stubby]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaCrook said:

Do you see many 572 failures?

Early ones had clutch cover crack but other than that a stonking saw .

[Muddy42]

10 hours ago, cessna said:

I have been told that the piston on my 550 xp is scored and so the compression is down,and probably the reason it wont start.

Do I spend money on it or put the money towards a new 550 ????

 

How bad is the loss of compression, will the starter cord support its own weight? Are you sure the non-running isn't something else - carbon/spark/air/fuel issue?

 

Sorry to be cynical, but I have been told this a few times about saws that are still running years later.  The worst are shops that want to sell you a new saw!  In my experience, bigger saws with a little bit of scoring and slight loss of compression can be fine, especially as a spare saw pulling a shorter bar.

 

 

[peatff]

11 hours ago, cessna said:

I have been told that the piston on my 550 xp is scored and so the compression is down,and probably the reason it wont start.

Do I spend money on it or put the money towards a new 550 ????

 

Have you taken the silencer off to look for yourself ? If it's scored badly enough to stop the ring moving it might go again with a piston and clean up the cylinder which is not going to be too expensive.

[gand]

15 hours ago, CaliforniaCrook said:

Do you see many 572 failures?

Not that many to be honest, but there is a damn site more 550's than 572's about. Had a 572xp in recently and that got a new piston, just need the cylinder cleaned up and job was a goodan 

[cessna]

Many  thanks for all your replies,as been so busy I have managing with my Stihl MS362.