Stihl 044 Kat

[elfinwood saws]

Just bought a stihl 044 kat that needs a piston and my question today is when i fit a new piston should i keep the kat or replace with a normal exhaust? Anyone use one with a kat ?

[swinny]

Any pictures? Sure mines just an empty can

[elfinwood saws]

I,l take some photo's this evening when i strip it down.

[wisecobandit]

Ditch the kat. It weighs a ton and is a glorified catalytic converter that stifles the engine. Ive only seen a few in the uk so assume they where off imported saws possibly.

Im not just saying that as I have a spare OE coated not painted 044 exhaust kicking around doing nothing either. :-p

 

Remember to measure the piston pin size before ordering a new piston as early ones where 10mm and later 12mm.

Edited November 10, 2013 by wisecobandit

[spudulike]

Yup, ditch the cat, it will kill performance. Put a dual port on it and open it up some more if you want a bit more go:thumbup:

 

You can take the cats out but it is a bit of a chore!

[swinny]

Ditch the kat. It weighs a ton and is a glorified catalytic converter that stifles the engine. Ive only seen a few in the uk so assume they where off imported saws possibly.

Im not just saying that as I have a spare OE coated not painted 044 exhaust kicking around doing nothing either. :-p

 

Remember to measure the piston pin size before ordering a new piston as early ones where 10mm and later 12mm.

 

Yes thats for the gudgeon pin. 10mm were said to be better saws.... these were the older ones

[peatff]

The cat is only a mesh inside the silencer usually. I'd try cutting it in two and removing the mesh then weld it back together.

[elfinwood saws]

Took the top end off last night and the piston skirt on the exhaust side was worn away to a knife edge, no wonder it had a terrible rattle.

[spudulike]

Ditch that exhaust, you can see it will stifle the saw just by all that gubbins in it!

 

Seen a couple of pistons like that, caused by piston slap at the bottom of the bore and will eventually shatter the skirt. It makes idle pretty "knocky". A new piston will bring it back to life:thumbup:

[elfinwood saws]

Stuck a Meteor piston in it last night and replaced the Kat with a normal exhaust, fired up first pull, adjusted mixture and tickover,taking it with me today doing a small clearfell. We will see how it performs.