Ported saw results big gains

I made a post a couple weeks back getting opinions about porting. I've got a few saws mostly for my firewood needs. However I work for a tree service ( buddy of mine) couple days a week as a part time gig and I run my 2252 Jonsered as a ground saw on the job.

I made the decision to port the saw. I was on the fence about it but I use it as a work saw and a 50cc to 60cc is about right for the jobs we do.

Had a local guy do it. It's not his normal thing he builds motorcycle and race car engines but has done some 2stroke stuff here and there. Got the saw back and the results are better than I thought. The throttle response is much crisper and it revs so quickly I find myself throttling it just to hear the rpm speed. The power is greater. In all honesty I can't tell any difference in brush and small limbs. However when I bury the 18 inch bar in wood I can tell it's stronger than before.

Only dislike so far is the noise. It's too darn loud . Sounds like it has a hole in the muffler. Too loud for my tastes.

As for comparisons. These are just my impressions and gut feelings. No timed cutting or stuff like you see in videos. Just 2 guys cutting in the woods and playing with saws. So my impressions....

My big saw is a Jonsered 2166 with the transfer port ground down making it a 2172 ( Husky 372xp). Bucking white oak that's around 16 inches around this little 2252 is darn close to my 70cc saw. Yes the big saw is faster but it's darn close. Also Obviously my big saw ( or any big 70cc plus saw ) can cut much bigger wood and can run a much bigger bar ( I had a 24 inch on it for comparison ) but when cutting smaller wood they are closer than I thought they would be.

My neighbor has a older stock Stihl 036 in good low hour condition and a brand new Stihl 440. Both have 20 inch bars. We took a few trees down yesterday. No question in mine ( or my neighbors ) mind this little Jred is faster post port and muffler work in the cut than the 036. Again no timed cuts just impressions from trying them back to back amongst friends. The 440 only has a few tanks in it I'd say 6 or 7 tanks. The 440 doesn't feel as strong as my very well run in Jonsered 2166/2172 yet but I'll attribute that to still being broken in. The 440 and 2172 are pretty equal on paper stock to stock. My little 50cc Jred was just about as effective in some 14 inch to 16 inch white oak as the not yet fully broken in 440. Real close honestly. My friend and I were shocked. I think he wants to port his 440 now while it's still new. All at under 12lbs.

I'm very happy.

Best $150 bucks I've spent on a saw in a long time.

Dairyman said:

Glad you like it. FWIW a 372xt should have a little more torque than a 440. If you want to give your friends saw an easy boost mod the muffler.

Click to expand...

I do like it but time will tell if it remains a reliable saw. I just told him to do what he thought was best. I don't believe the compression was increased( decreasing long term reliability ) but the rope pulls much harder to start it. Seemed that way. So I'm wondering if compression was bumped up. I have no idea honestly I just trusted what he did.

My friends 440 will get stronger as it gets broken in some. It was a replacement for his older 036 and he wanted to get something a little bigger. It's pretty new still. The 440 was obviously stronger than the much smaller but ported Jred but it was shocking how close they were when cutting a smaller log.

I didn't know the 2172/372xp has more torque than the 440. Mine started life as a 2166. I made it a 2172 with the transfer cover grinding but the porting and muffler is still stock. It's a strong runner but the hours are getting up there on it. It's bulkier feeling than the 440 it feels like an older design but I suppose it is dated in design so it makes sense.