Spark arrester glowing red hot?

[sandspider]

Hi all

 

Running a newish Makita EA3500, logging up a big ash trunk, about bar length, and I noticed that the spark arrestor was glowing red hot! Is this normal? I stopped and let it cool for a while, but don't want to knacker anything.

 

I'm running 98RON petrol with Briggs & Stratton fuel stabiliser, and Husqvarna XP two stroke synthetic engine oil at 50:1. I did vaguely wonder if adding the stabiliser to the petrol before mixing the 2 stroke might make the saw run a bit leaner and therefore hotter? But it is only 50ml to 5 litres of petrol, so not a huge difference...

 

Thanks.

[Stubby]

57 minutes ago, sandspider said:

Hi all

 

Running a newish Makita EA3500, logging up a big ash trunk, about bar length, and I noticed that the spark arrestor was glowing red hot! Is this normal? I stopped and let it cool for a while, but don't want to knacker anything.

 

I'm running 98RON petrol with Briggs & Stratton fuel stabiliser, and Husqvarna XP two stroke synthetic engine oil at 50:1. I did vaguely wonder if adding the stabiliser to the petrol before mixing the 2 stroke might make the saw run a bit leaner and therefore hotter? But it is only 50ml to 5 litres of petrol, so not a huge difference...

 

Thanks.

Pull it out and bin it . First thing I do on a new saw . 

[sandspider]

But everything is so flammable here in soggy Wales! I'm not a monster!

[GarethM]

There be dragons, yours just happens to be made in Japan.

[sandspider]

So if I remove the spark arrester, it won't change how it runs? (No need to retune or anything) And it shouldn't get so hot in the exhaust regions?

 

Thanks.

[Ben_Mason_Arb]

Should run better without spark arrester, exhaust gases escape better.  Shouldn’t need to re tune, never run a Makita can’t comment on why the exhaust is heating up like that. 

[Haironyourchest]

Also check inside the muffler for a "catalytic converter". I remember reading something about makitas and cats. My McCullough blower came with one, looks like a wad of fairly thick wires kind of (not the same as the spark arrestor screen, this thing is big, and inside the muffler), not designed to be removed ever).

 

I noticed the cat would glow red hot after a short time... Had to force the flange oof the muffler with a hammer and chisel to open the thing and extract the cat. Putting the two halves if the muffler back together was an awful bodge, but it works.

[Stubby]

1 hour ago, sandspider said:

So if I remove the spark arrester, it won't change how it runs? (No need to retune or anything) And it shouldn't get so hot in the exhaust regions?

 

Thanks.

The whole saw should run slightly cooler and spin up slightly quicker , maybe not noticeable .  You wont ever have that clogged up spark screen to worry about .

[petercb]

Spark Arrestor fell off my 450e Husky, first I knew was back of my hand getting very hot and part of top cover had melted. Fixed under warranty.

 

So if it's getting hot the cause of that heat i.e. sparks will go to the next part in line whatever that is.

[spudulike]

If you take the CAT out, I would recommend retuning the carb in case the saw is over revving after removal.