Husqvarna 288XP - this is the best running "parts saw" I've ever had.

[@richardjones5033]

2 of my favorite saws, I've had my 181 for about 6 years and my 288 just came back to me after 16 years, she is in rough shape but I'll getter back in shape.

[@Revellersaws]

I know that laugh. When it first runs, the feeling that you have just gotten away with something deviously clever, yet somehow legal.

[@samishsawworks5870]

It is 100% uncontrollable in the moment haha. You hit the nail on the head! That's exactly what it's like.

[@larryreno8293]

Like a kid on Christmas morning! I love these type of finds. Picked up a ms460 with a bad motor, tore it apart and couldn’t find anything bad…. Great saw, Ben.

[@samishsawworks5870]

Nice find yourself! Yeah, even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while! I have a project ms440 in a crate I'm anxious to get to. I'm a husky guy, but lover of all saws. I really like the stihl ergonomics, I'm excited to get it done and compare to 372xp.

[@larryreno8293]

@@samishsawworks5870 I look forward to seeing it.

[@jimssawsnstuff8903]

Good to see you back on here Ben. That's a great find! I had a 288 a couple years ago, but had an airleak on the intake side. I see piston and jug kits at HLSupply for under $100, so it will still be a worthwhile project if it needs a jug when you open her up. Good luck😎👍

[@samishsawworks5870]

Cool! Yeah, all these "2 series " saws of this era with the intake blocks are notorious for intake leaks. That's good to know on the cylinders. Thanks for sharing!

[@Sensei948]

@@samishsawworks5870 1:33 oil mix ok?

[@samishsawworks5870]

@@Sensei948 33:1 is very rich mix to me. It would be fine if tuned properly for it. I personally run 40:1 ratio in all my saws.

[@Sensei948]

@@samishsawworks5870 It might be better 36: 1 .... can such a rich mixture damage the piston and cylinder by peeling off the carbon deposits?

[@larrywarner9314]

181, 281 288 , crankshaft in the 288 and 394 are the same , from my knowledge the 281 and 288 where the only saws of that era wirt that big spring on the dogs

[@samishsawworks5870]

10-4 thanks for the info

[@HabeasJ]

I saw an ad on Facebook marketplace: "Take Your Pick, $425 Each" with a picture of 3 Stihl chainsaws. Long story short, I paid $420 for an MS650 (85CCs) that just needed an air filter and tune. Possibly the best (modern) saw purchase I've made so far

[@zukiryder4006]

HOORAY 288!!!!

[@imperfectcuts7028]

If I remember correctly the 181se and the 288xp are the same chassis. However the factory jug for the 181se didn't have a decmop

[@w6qd]

Good find. I just locally picked up a 288 XP (1997 model) in pristine cosmetic condition , but I had to pay a "pretty" price for it. It seems like with the advent of KZbin and the internet, restoring older saws is in vogue and these older "turd" saws are demanding a hefty price (check out ebay). I'm going through my 288 right now to see what I have to do to it. It has a locked up chain brake and the only way I could get the brake to work was to replace the very stiff OEM spring with a FarmerTec aftermarket spring which is much weaker. Head scratcher. Keep us informed on what you do to this saw, I'm subscribed.

[@samishsawworks5870]

Hey thanks bud! Yeah, it's pretty nuts to me. I'm the "cheap saw" guy......... but there aren't any cheap saws anymore!! There are, but definitely farther and fewer between. I'll definitely keep you updated. I plan to clean it all up and run it just the way it is for now to get an idea of what they run like stock. Then we'll dive into it and give it a little more punch!

[@ocsplc]

Funny, a guy on EBay sold me a “running” 288xp which is the opposite of a parts saw in theory, except he had it backwards. I pulled the top cover off and the carburetor assy literally pulled off. It “ran” for about 4 seconds. Selling a saw “as is” is fine, but there is an implied warranty that it is a “running” saw. Anyway, I’ve literally have had to start a complete rebuild. The jug and cylinder are toast. I was able to rehab the muffler, but have had to pour more into it than I bought it for. Before any armchair lawyers tell me “caveat emptor”, that only applies after the basic premise of the “running saw” implied warranty is discharged. Since I wanted a vintage 288xp, I got a Hyway cylinder and pop up. No visible crank case or seal leaks. Filthy as h**l. I’d be embarrassed to sell someone a saw with years of filth caked into every crevice. Btw, 145 isn’t bad compression from an old saw. Id do a base gasket delete, go with a pop up, clear my squish and leave it at that.

[@jefferyboring4410]

Only thing about byway “pop up” is their not a cast pop up as we’d want their a regular piston with a turned down edge so u really need to machine the head or atleast base to get it like u want. Really need to cut the squish nice if it were actually made to raise compression without machine work .

[@yotaismygame]

Your subs have gone up quick.

[@samishsawworks5870]

Yeah, I don't have notifications of it or anything like that. I don't really follow the count to be honest........ until someone says something about it haha. Thanks! I had no idea to was to that point. Pretty fun

[@yotaismygame]

@@samishsawworks5870 I’m the same way. It’s not about subs but I do notice them from time to time. Heck my page is really a resume for myself. Any plans to port this saw? Those 288s port soooo good.

[@samishsawworks5870]

@@yotaismygame you know how it is......H.P. is a powerful drug. It'll go under the knife. I'll clean it and run it/get bugs worked out, then dig in. I have a ms310 to 390 conversion, a 359, a 2159, and a Stihl 075 to do before I get to this one. I'm excited though! Never had one or even ran one for that matter. From everything I've seen/ read/watched..... yours included...... shows They're good runners!

[@yotaismygame]

@@samishsawworks5870 you interested in a bunch of 266 parts/saws. Or even 056 parts/saws?

[@samishsawworks5870]

@@yotaismygame Always! If not me, I know a few that would be. I thought I had your number, but I don't. If you're up for it, Shoot me a text if you still have my number, if not shoot me an email [e-mail] thanks bud.

[@kristmadsen]

Any idea how or if I can put a full wrap on a husqy 235? Just buy a new saw

[@JandSChainsaw]

181 281 52mm no decomp 80cc 288 54mm with decomp 87cc its funny 288 is what's on my bench...

[@samishsawworks5870]

Thanks! I've never owned one or even ran one for that matter. I'm curious. From what I read, if this IS indeed a 181, they have a nice tight combustion chamber. We'll see.

[@samishsawworks5870]

So after talking with a few other people "in the know" I've found that the early 288xp 54mm kolbenschmidt (KS) cylinders didn't have a decomp. I'll measure bore to make sure, but I thought I'd pass the info along to you. Thanks again for the comments and help.

[@JandSChainsaw]

@@samishsawworks5870 👍👍

[@timberray9572]

I too had some luck and found a 288XP, mine is the low top and I just got the half wrap. Plugged the decomp and opened the exhaust a bit. studio.kzbin.infoxUPatGcYulM/edit

[@jiminy293]

I am new to re-building old saws. what is the 48 thousanths squish measurement? sorry....I am a rookie

[@samishsawworks5870]

Hey, no worries. We all started somewhere. "Squish" is the distance between the top of the piston and the squish band. The squish band is the thin raised ring around the outer edge of the cylinder walls at the very top of the cylinder just below the dome of the combustion chamber. .048" or 48 thousands squish is that distance in inches. Most saws stock will be in the area of .030" - .050" squish. Most when modifying saws for better performance will shoot for somewhere in the .020" squish distance. Tightening up that distance gives you more compression. More compression generally equates to more power. That being said, there are plenty of saws running a larger squish number (greater distance between piston and cylinder head) around in the .040" range that are great runners. They just might not be as "crisp" on the throttle response or pull quite as hard as one with a tighter squish number. Generally speaking .020" is a "safe" number. Any smaller squish number than .020" (i.e. .015") you better know what you're doing as the tighter you get the more prone you are to having the piston meet the cylinder head. Not good.

[@samishsawworks5870]

Good luck and Keep on rebuilding those old saws! We have to keep them alive!!

[@alexnapier6060]

It's got 288 cabrator

[@iraagans3144]

Does the 385/390 full wrap fit these?

[@samishsawworks5870]

I have no idea nor do I have one I could try, otherwise I would let you know. If YOU happen to find out though, let me know.

[@iraagans3144]

@@samishsawworks5870 will do

[@iraagans3144]

@@samishsawworks5870 ok, so after a little searching, it doesn't really fit. But prosaftey makes a nice looking one.

[@samishsawworks5870]

Good to know. Thanks. Yeah pro safety makes a really nice one. Problem is, where I'm at, they're $200!

[@larrywarner9314]

181 shouldn't have the high top cover or that big air cleaner plus the 288 should have a decomp

[@samishsawworks5870]

I'll check bore size soon. For now, with the cylinder on it having no decomp, you're thinking the same thing I am then?........... Someone swapped over a 288 starter, intake horn, air cleaner, and high top cover, and front spring mount onto the 181?

[@samishsawworks5870]

So after talking with a few other people "in the know" I've found that the early 288xp 54mm kolbenschmidt (KS) cylinders didn't have a decomp. I'll measure bore to make sure, but I thought I'd pass the info along to you. Thanks again for the comments and help.

[@larrywarner9314]

@@samishsawworks5870 that's cool I've owned 2 of those 288 s one was the 288 lite the other was the high top like the one you have but I have seen them without the decomp .

[@larrywarner9314]

@@samishsawworks5870 it's possible someone could have took a couple saws and made one good saw out of them , I'm not sure but I think they made a thin ring and thick ring like the 2100 witch I'm not sure .

[@samishsawworks5870]

@@larrywarner9314 no doubt that's exactly what's happened. It's pretty common here especially with saws of that era that have been in "loggers hands." Make due with what ya got right? 😁 Is pretty crazy some of the field fixes and crazy saw "concoctions" I've come across. It's pretty cool really.