The Technician

I couldn't agree with you more!! It's not that I was being offensive, but this is what the OEM's are trying to do with all this new technology coming out. I don't work in a dealership anymore and yes, I would be considered a back yard mechanic!! Most dealerships now, well, struggling to find people who know what they are doing! !!! And the people who knew the trade keep leaving. So the skills keep disappearing. I for one am looking at changing careers. You pay peanuts, you get monkeys. I'm not a monkey!

It was the disc cutter that was done first!!!!

Not really, but as a technician, I like to see what contractors, gardeners and tree surgeons talk about in the field. Sometimes I like to go with those in the field and get different opinions of what and how machines are used and what they want. It also gives me a break from fixing all the time!

The stats on the TS500I that came out in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2013 was that 700 were sold and 4 had problems with the Control box. When investigated, the sealing compound on the box was not right and it was believedthat moisture got in and shorted it out.I have since moved back to the U.K. in January of this year.

They came out in Canada in 2013 and that is where I worked on them! It was the TS500I that was the first.

Well, I am a technician and if people want their machines fixed, that is what I do!

Some were ok but most were not. All I am saying is that there were a lot of problems and of course design changes. Technology in small power equipment is constantly changing. I'll bet no one has seen the new (i) series come out by Stihl yet?? There is no carb or coil. They have a fuel injector and a CDI control box, which has a spark plug lead firing the spark plug. The power generator behind the flywheel is what generates the power for the control box. Good bye back yard mechanics! So that's the belief! I've already seen them and worked on them! All in all, I'm not here to criticise anyone or any brand. Some love certain brands others hate certain brands. I have seen technology change through the years, but the interesting thing, how technicians have all but disappeared. A lot of shops struggle to find people that actually know what they are doing. This is now a common topic at a lot of shows and factory meetings.

Check your fuel filter in the tank. It may be blocking up. So it's leaning out the fuel. You will need a new fuel filter if you can't blow into it easy. Part number is 0000 350 3500

The 500 series of the Husqvarna line has always been a problem from the get go. When they first came out they were blowing the engine within hours. If you look at them, you can see that they are skinny compared to other models and brands. What husqvarna did is put the crankcase seals in the bearings, rather than having a seal on its own. They realized what was happening and changed the seal Rubber composition so it would take the heat. To find out if your engine is shot, take the muffler off and look at the piston and ring (s) if you see "bar codes" your engine is shot and needs to be rebuilt. The 500 series also needs to have the crankshaft bearings changed as those are where the seals are, so that means splitting the crankcase. If you have no score marks, check your fuel filter in the tank. You should be able to blow quite easy in it with no resistance. If you need a new one, the part number is 503443201.

Did you check or change the fuel filter in the tank? The Stihl fuel filter is designed that if 2 drops of water hit it, the fiber swells and stops the flow of fuel. Take the fuel filter out of the tank and blow into it. It should be easy to blow in it. I recommend that you put a new fuel filter in. The part number is 0000 350 3500 or you can also use 0000 350 3518. If this unit is the m-tronic, did you remove the servo and check for dirt in it??

The seal is rubber and it touches the crankshaft it also has a coil spring around it. If you get heat from the crankcase or shavings that get to the seal to tear it, you will get an air leak. In the engine, the fuel, oil and air is in an atomised and pressure state. If a seal goes, air gets in and this state collapses, causing lack of lubrication around the piston, rings and cylinder.

You have missed the point. All 2 strokes have seals. The way it has been done for years was you had the crankshaft, 2 bearings and 2 individual seals. The space between the seals and the bearings was usually 5mm. This 5mm was for cooling. In the 500 series, they put the seal in the bearing. This is why they don't last. I had one last week. A 555. Pulled off the exhaust and score marks. Pulled off the clutch and the seal spring was wrapped around the crankshaft. It's usually the chain (PTO) side that goes as the shavings and oil get in it and the seal let's go.

As a technician that has worked on machinery for 30 years, I have seen technology change through the years. When Husqvarna brought out the 500 series, there was a design flaw. What they did is removed the crankcase seals and inserted the seal into the bearing on both sides. The composition of the rubber would not take the heat and engines were blowing up within the first few days of use. Since then, they strengthened the rubber of those seals, but over time the rubber will deteriorate and the engine will blow. A 2 stroke engine does what is known as scavenging with its heat. When the piston is moving back up, it blows the exhaust out of the exhaust port, but when the piston goes past and blocks the exhaust port, some exhaust goes down the intake port, which, this is how the heat gets to the crankshaft and to the bearings and those seals. In my view, you will have those who love Husqvarna and those that love Stihl and other brands. But with any 500 series Husqvarna, don’t be surprised if the shop says it has score marks and needs to be overhauled! With these, the crankcase also needs to be split and the bearings with the seals need to be replaced. If you would like your chainsaws repaired by me, feel free to get in contact. Dana 07858 579436