New saw - Husqvarna 55 + question

[NH_Wood]

Hi everyone,

Just scored a very nice - lightly used Husq 55 for $70! Compression is reading at 170! Actually, it's a bit of a bear to pull over with the compression so high - I think a decomp valve would lighten the strain on the recoil. The saw has no decomp valve now, but there is a machined opening in the cylinder to accept one (the opening is absolutely clean - I don't think there was ever a valve installed, but not sureh. I've see some 55's with the decomp valve- so........can I just buy a valve and install, or is there more work to do to allow the valve to work? Thanks! Cheers!

 

[MasterMech]

I've see some 55's with the decomp valve- so........can I just buy a valve and install, or is there more work to do to allow the valve to work? Thanks! Cheers!

Hmmmm. I remember the 55 as having a decomp but I started my career just as the 55 was being discontinued. I'd imagine you would have to drill through the cylinder wall to get the decomp functional unless there is a plug installed. If you have a plug, then just popping a valve in should work.

55 Rancher is a great firewood saw, better than it's replacement IMO, the 455R.

 

[mikefrommaine]

Some 55's had them. My 55 didn't.

But if you've got a threaded plug in the cylinder buy a decomp and throw it in. I wouldn't go through the trouble of drilling and tapping the cylinder unless you were breaking things.

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks guys - place for decomp already tapped - so, I'm guessing I can just install - wasn't sure if there was extra work to do before installing - thought that compression might be low if no valve was installed in a tapped space, but since the compression is so high, I figured there might be something extra to do. If I keep this saw, I'll likely by one and try it out - or, just get used to the compression - much harder to turn over than my 362 (without the decomp). Cheers!

 

[pen]

Thanks guys - place for decomp already tapped - so, I'm guessing I can just install - wasn't sure if there was extra work to do before installing - thought that compression might be low if no valve was installed in a tapped space, but since the compression is so high, I figured there might be something extra to do. If I keep this saw, I'll likely by one and try it out - or, just get used to the compression - much harder to turn over than my 362 (without the decomp). Cheers!

So there's a plug in the hole that is already tapped? If not, then it must not be open to the cylinder and would need to be drilled before installing a decompression valve.

 

[NH_Wood]

So there's a plug in the hole that is already tapped? If not, then it must not be open to the cylinder and would need to be drilled before installing a decompression valve.

No plug in the tapped hole, so that was my thought too - there would be low compression without the valve installed if the tapped hole was 'functional' for a decomp valve. But....I also wondered whether the opening has a mechanism that remains shut unless a decomp valve is present and pressed to release compression. If needs drilled, I'll deal with the high compression - for a smaller saw, it has the highest compression and is the most difficult to smoothly turn over that I've had, but I've only had up to 65cc saws! Cheers!

 

[pen]

But....I also wondered whether the opening has a mechanism that remains shut unless a decomp valve is present and pressed to release compression.​

I highly doubt this. If that were the case, it would make more sense for the company just to install the decomp valve on every unit.

 

[NH_Wood]

I agree - but, at the same time, why tap for a decomp and not install? Seems clear there was never one installed in this saw - the machining is spotless. Cheers!