Help needed with 242xp

[kentjames]

Hey chaps

 

My dad has had a husky 242xp for a number of years and its been going great guns. However it got hot the other day and I think probably lean seized up and since has no compression and requires a new piston / cylinder etc.

 

Any idea if the compatible ones found on the internet are worth while or is there a good source for these parts? I dont wish to spend a lot on it but it seems a shame for a good saw to go to scrap for this only.

 

Thanks in advance, James

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

DO NOT SCRAP THAT SAW!!! Any 242 is sacred! There are pattern parts and pattern parts; I think the meteor pistons and cylinders from MISTER and Garden Hire Spares on ebay are good. There are super cheap ones from Hong Kong / China i.e. £8.99 for the whole pot and piston kit - AVOID...

 

Husqvarna 242 242XP chainsaw cylinder | eBay

 

eBay My World - garden-hire-spares

 

HUSQVARNA 242 - 242XP PISTON KIT & RINGS (42mm) KOLBEN | eBay

[spudulike]

Personally, I always try to salvage the OEM cylinder and then get the best quality piston I can to fit it. The OEM cylinders are generally manufactured by Mahle and are top quality.

 

Piston wise, Meteor pistons are the best after OEM and retail for around £25, Episan are the next best and then Golf and then Chinese white box.

 

The after market cylinders are OKish for the price but have had issues in the past with poor piston to cylinder tollerance and low compression being just two of the issues. Garden Hire Spares are probably one of the better ones but still prefer the fit of a quality piston and OEM cleaned cylinder. The Chinese ones also tend to have rough cast finish on the base rather than machined so squish is variable and +1mm is common and not good IMO.

 

I am doing a Stihl 066 at the moment and will put pictures up on my "Whats on your Bench" thread, looks bad but hopefully will clean up.

 

Basically, if the cylinder is to be re-used, ALL the aluminium transfer needs to be chemically removed, the cylinder is lightly abraded and as long as the area above the exhaust port is relatively undamaged, it will be a runner:thumbup:

[Chris Sheppard]

What you should do is sell it to me

 

I've not tried one of the non gen kits for a 242 yet but I'm guessing there won't be many closed port ones about. Open port will still be OK but effectively make it run like a standard 42 - so just not quite as revvy. From what we've worked out between us, the only part number difference between the two is the barrel and the difference being close or open ports.

 

I did price up a gen Husky pot and piston for one a while back and got the dealer down to about £170 ish I think.

 

If it's a really tidy one, I'd be half inclined to pay the bit extra for genuine (if it does need both)

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Bidding war for the 242 !

 

Awesome saws, never bettered tbh.

[Chris Sheppard]

Bidding war for the 242 !

 

Awesome saws, never bettered tbh.

 

I've one I'm chasing locally at the mo that looked in better condition than my 550 does now, but he seized it on neat fuel. He's diggin his heels in but I'll get it eventually that and the 288 he's got that went the same way

 

I think the 550 feels like the modern equivalent in handling wise, but with a bit more midrange. Hoping the new 543 when it comes out will be the new must have tiny saw.

[kentjames]

Thanks guys for all your advice

 

It was the Meteor pistons that i was looking at so i think once my new workshop is finished and up and running I will take it apart and have a look at whats needed.

 

I like the idea of reusing the cylinder spud but fear it may be beyond my technical abilities

 

Thanks again

James

[spudulike]

Thanks guys for all your advice

 

It was the Meteor pistons that i was looking at so i think once my new workshop is finished and up and running I will take it apart and have a look at whats needed.

 

I like the idea of reusing the cylinder spud but fear it may be beyond my technical abilities

 

Thanks again

James

 

Do a decent picture of it once stripped down, I may be able to tell if it can be done or just send it over to me if you are stuck and I will see what I can do if it helps- the choice is always yours:thumbup:

[kentjames]

Cheers spud, will do

[kentjames]

Well... I finally have a work bench... yayyy

 

The saw is coming apart this week for a proper look, hoping to have it back up and running, keen to have a project on the go on the new bench lol

 

Will post up some pics this week. J