Husqvarna 3120XP Fuel Filter Replacement

This Husqvarna 3120XP fuel filter is the in-tank pickup filter for the largest saw in the Husqvarna lineup. A 118.8cc engine pulling a long bar burns a lot of fuel, and a partially clogged filter will starve it under load.

Signs the filter is clogged

A big saw that starts and idles fine, then falls on its face when you bury the bar in a large trunk, is often short on fuel. The filter is the first and cheapest thing to check. Running lean under load is hard on any two-stroke, and on a saw this size the repair bill adds up fast.

Debris gets in from dirty fuel cans and from chips around the cap when you refuel on the stump.

Crews running a 3120XP usually save it for the largest trunks, stump flushing and big hardwood. That means the saw may sit for weeks between jobs, and stale fuel left in the tank leaves varnish that can coat the filter. Drain the tank before storage or run pre-mixed fuel, and swap the filter at the start of the season so the saw is ready when the big wood shows up.

Changing it

Drain the tank, then fish the fuel line out with a hooked wire, taking care not to stretch or tear the line. Pull the old filter off, push the new one on firmly and let it drop back to the bottom of the tank. Inspect the fuel line while it is out and replace it if it is hard or cracked.

Clean the area around the cap before opening it and mix fresh fuel in a clean can. More tune-up items are in our chainsaw parts section.