So much for chains saw maintenance

[Auggie56]

This in my second Stihl and they have served me well until recently. The clutch flywheel/sprocket that drives the chain is ceased on the crank shaft. There is a caged needle bearing that it turns on and the crank shaft that more than likely why it's ceased. The You Tube gods must have read my mind as a video covering this assembly showed up a week latter. The presenters assembly wasn't ceased but the flywheel/sprocket had worn oval necessitating replacement. He said in the video it was a much over looked part to grease and there is a chance the crankshaft is damaged as well. An expensive repair if the crank is damaged.

 

[Mopardrew]

What model number? How old of a saw. I’ve got 361,440,and 460. Only brand I buy. Have seen some of the newer models and there starting to use a lot of plastic. Looking cheaper.

 

[Auggie56]

RS251C May have a twenty inch chain bar. The crank in thirty nine dollars plus the flywheel/sprocket plus the bearing. It's been a good saw the only thing I don't like it that there is a delay in the clutch mechanism before the crank turns over after you pull the rope. Just makes it a bit hard to start.

 

[65Bel]

Agree it sounds like a lube related failure. Always keep my chain lubed but never thought about the sprocket bearing. Will make a point of squirting some oil around there in future. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[3sloppydogs]

Think twice before you lube this bearing. The oil can pick up debris and hold it in suspension then it can damage the bearing. This is similar to lubricating the slide on a backhoe extension with grease. The grease picks up the dirt or contamination and holds it. Then as the slide moves in and out the wear plates prematurely fail.

 

[69bird]

Don't put oil around there you will have a mess to clean up I have a few sthils (ms170, ms200t, ms250, ms251, 2 ms391s, ms661, 036, and a 054) I take clutch cover off every once in a while and use silicone grease on the needle bearings roll it around in your fingers don't use alot or it will get on clutch and won't hold a little goes a long ways

 

[Prologger]

Don't put oil around there you will have a mess to clean up I have a few sthils (ms170, ms200t, ms250, ms251, 2 ms391s, ms661, 036, and a 054) I take clutch cover off every once in a while and use silicone grease on the needle bearings roll it around in your fingers don't use alot or it will get on clutch and won't hold a little goes a long ways

Your right..Don’t use wd-40 anywhere around there either.