How to remove the clutch on a STIHL chainsaw

Clutch Mechanism Repair. Spring Replacement

Do not rush to change the entire mechanism, as the clutch malfunction can be eliminated by replacing the defective part. The most common cause of failure is the spring, which is stretched and can be damaged. A spring that is already stretched is faulty. If the spring is damaged, it can be replaced to restore the functionality of the tool. Replacement instructions depend on the design of the mechanism, since compression devices are of different types, but they all need to be replaced. This procedure is not so much complicated as it requires special care and adherence to the sequence of actions. How to replace the spring on the chainsaw coupling is shown in detail in the video clip.

If the friction lining is damaged, this part can also be replaced. Replacement of the part is also necessary in case of wear of the threaded connection, which happens with frequent removal and installation of the coupling in place. To understand the cause of the malfunction of the part, you will first need to make a visual inspection. If the sprocket teeth are worn out, then it should be replaced. Fixed sprockets must be replaced with the drum.

Replacing the clutch

When replacing the clutch, we do not recommend using metal or plastic objects as a stopper. The former can scratch the cylinder, the latter can litter it.

  • Turn on the chain stop brake, remove the protective cover and dismantle the saw headset;
  • We remove dirt, sawdust, dried grease, if any;
  • Remove the air filter and candlestick;
  • Using a candle wrench, unscrew the candle;
  • Rotating the crankshaft, we bring the piston to the top point, then set it back by 6-9 mm;
  • With a rope, 7-8 mm in diameter, we lock the piston in the upper position;
  • Unscrew the nut on the clutch with a special puller wrench.

Most of the moving parts of a chainsaw are right-hand rotation. Therefore, the nut on the clutch has a left-hand thread. It is necessary to remove the cover by turning the key clockwise. It is forbidden to carry out this operation with a hammer and a chisel. you will knock down the edges!

  • Remove the cover and drive sprocket. We diagnose faults and assess the wear of parts. Assessing the condition of the needle bearing;
  • If necessary, we replace parts with new ones (most often the leading sprocket needs it);

The installation of the chainsaw clutch system is carried out in the reverse order, however, you should pay attention to some features.

When a coupling replacement is needed

Removal and replacement of the chainsaw clutch is carried out in the event of a mechanism malfunction. Such malfunctions include:

  • Damaged spring. Depending on the model of the tool, the spring can be of two types. coil (tape or single) or steel plate. The spring is damaged by stretching, disconnection, or mechanical defect. To determine the cause of the malfunction of the entire mechanism, you will need to remove the protective cover and drum
  • Drum damage and depletion. Breakage of this part is often associated with chipping off pieces. In case of such a malfunction, you will need to replace the drum. The inner part of the drum also wears out, so the part also needs to be replaced. If the drum is blue, it means that it has been overheated and should not be used further.
  • Development of the mechanism. It is primarily associated with the stretching of the spring, which can be replaced. The threaded connection will also wear out. With such a breakdown, you will need to replace the entire clutch.
  • Sprocket wear. Depending on the type of sprocket (collapsible or non-collapsible), it is replaced together with the drum and, if necessary, the clutch

The service life of the clutch mechanism depends not only on the quality of the components, but also on the correct operation of the tool. To extend the service life of the chainsaw clutch, you need to pay attention to signs that reduce the resource. These features include:

  • Frequent seizing or biting of the chain in wood. In such situations, the clutch takes over the entire load, thereby protecting the engine from seizure.
  • It is forbidden to increase the speed when the handbrake is on, which also leads to wear of the mechanism due to overheating
  • The use of low-quality oil, the wrong choice of tires, chains, etc. All this also affects traction, increasing the load, and thus reducing the service life.

Determining the malfunction of the device is quite simple. To do this, you need to cut the workpiece. If during the sawing process there is a decrease in the speed of rotation of the chain or it stops when the load increases, then it is time to check the grip. How to remove and replace the clutch on a chainsaw, we will consider in detail in the next section.

Chainsaw clutch replacement

Chainsaws, for various reasons, need to be repaired from time to time. Of course, you can contact a service workshop or an experienced mechanic. However, many problems can be fixed at home with only a minimal set of skills and tools.

Answering the question of how to remove the clutch from a chainsaw, we note that this is not a difficult operation, if you adhere exactly to the disassembly technology. Owners of the tool may face certain difficulties if the chainsaw has been in use for a long time, and the clutch parts have become attached to each other. However, in this case, disassembly can be done by hand.

Chainsaw clutch replacement review

Clutch repair: the nuances of the process

When servicing clutches yourself, you need to know that:

CHAINSAW CLUTCH REMOVAL EP.05

  • several saws have a washer that sits between the sprocket and the clutch and the sprocket and the motor. Consider this when repairing;
  • the special spring of the oil pump drive must not be damaged during disassembly, and must also be returned to its original position. Otherwise, the chain will receive less lubrication or no longer lubricate at all.

The tool that has been repaired must be checked for the reliability of the bolt ties, the supply of lubricant to the chain and the serviceability of the motor (it must turn on smoothly and work smoothly). Only then can it be exploited.

One of the most important parts of a chainsaw is the clutch or clutch mechanism. During the operation of the tool, this part may fail, which will entail the impossibility of carrying out work on sawing wood. If the clutch mechanism is out of order, then the question immediately arises of how to remove the clutch on the chainsaw. This need arises when you need to repair or replace the device. How to do this is described in the material.

Removing the clutch on STIHL and Dolmar chainsaws

You’ve probably noticed that chainsaws can have different designs of transmission devices. Above are instructions for removing the clutch with a drum on which the sprocket is on the inside. This device is found on most chainsaws, but not on STIHL tools. Chainsaws of a well-known manufacturer are equipped with a drum that has a sprocket on the outside. It looks like this, as shown in the photo below.

A different sprocket arrangement does not mean that the tool has a different clutch mechanism. However, this suggests that the principle of clutch removal is different from the above instructions. Therefore, we will find out how to remove the clutch on STIHL, Dolmar and others chainsaws, on which the sprocket is on the outside.

  • To begin with, you must also remove the casing and the tire to provide access to the clutch.
  • Unscrew the spark plug and lock the piston with a special wrench or cord
  • Next, we proceed to removing the sprocket and the drum. To do this, pry the retaining ring with a screwdriver and remove it
  • Dismantle drum with bearing
  • Using the “19” wrench (supplied with the tool), unscrew the left-hand threaded nut connected to the mechanism. Unscrew in a clockwise direction
  • After that, you can carry out the appropriate repair or replacement of the part.

Installing a new or repaired part is the reverse of removal. The procedure is almost identical to the first option, with the exception of some peculiarities. If it is necessary to replace only the drum or sprocket, then it is not necessary to dismantle the clutch, in contrast to the version with the internal arrangement of the sprocket.

remove, clutch, stihl, chainsaw

Nuances when installing the clutch system:

  • On some chainsaw models, there may be a washer between the drive sprocket and the clutch. Pay attention to which side it faces to the engine;
  • Some oil pump drives are equipped with a special spring (whisker), which is responsible for transmitting rotary motion from the drive sprocket to the oil pump. It is important to adjust the spring so that its free end (whisker) falls into the corresponding groove on the sprocket housing. Otherwise, the saw head will not be lubricated;

Important: after dismantling and assembling the clutch, be sure to check the operation of the automatic oil supply system.

remove, clutch, stihl, chainsaw

How to Change the Clutch on a Stihl MS170 | L&S Engineers

When the coupling needs to be replaced

Removal and replacement of the chainsaw clutch is carried out in the event of a mechanism malfunction. Such malfunctions include:

  • Damaged spring. Depending on the tool model, the spring can be of two types. coiled (tape or single) or steel plate. The spring is damaged by stretching, disconnection, or mechanical defect. To determine the cause of the malfunction of the entire mechanism, you will need to remove the protective cover and drum
  • Drum damage and depletion. Breakage of this part is often associated with chipping off pieces. In case of such a malfunction, you will need to replace the drum. The inner part of the drum also wears out, so the part also needs to be replaced. If the drum is blue, it means that it has been overheated and should not be used further.
  • Development of a mechanism. It is primarily associated with the stretching of the spring, which can be replaced. The threaded connection will also wear out. With such a breakdown, you will need to replace the entire clutch.
  • Sprocket wear. Depending on the type of sprocket (collapsible or non-collapsible), it is replaced together with the drum and, if necessary, the clutch

The service life of the clutch mechanism depends not only on the quality of the components, but also on the correct operation of the tool. To extend the service life of the chainsaw clutch, you need to pay attention to signs that reduce the resource. These features include:

  • Frequent seizing or biting of the chain in wood. In such situations, the clutch takes over the entire load, thereby protecting the engine from seizure.
  • It is forbidden to increase the speed when the handbrake is on, which also leads to wear of the mechanism due to overheating
  • The use of low-quality oil, the wrong choice of tires, chains, etc. All this also affects traction, increasing the load, and thus reducing the service life.

Determining the malfunction of the device is quite simple. To do this, you need to cut the workpiece. If during the sawing process there is a decrease in the speed of rotation of the chain or it stops when the load increases, then it is time to check the grip. How to remove and replace the clutch on a chainsaw, we will consider in detail in the next section.

Preparatory stage

Repair of any equipment should begin with the preparatory work, and the STIHL 180 saw is no exception. At the preparatory stage, before the STIHL 180 chainsaw is disassembled, it is necessary to remove the side cover, chain and tire from the chainsaw. Further, using a compressor and a brush, you need to clean the chainsaw from dirt, sawdust, oil drips and other things.

When cleaning the saw, pay special attention to the place where the chain saw drive sprocket is located, since this is the most polluted area.

STIHL MS170 180 Chainsaw Clutch Removal & Installation

remove, clutch, stihl, chainsaw

In places with a large accumulation of oil, can be washed with clean gasoline.

Assembling the STIHL 180 chainsaw

Assembling the STIHL ms 180 saw back is quite simple, the main thing is to adhere to the following algorithm:

  • Install the piston on the connecting rod, the arrow on the piston should point in the direction of the STIHL 180 chainsaw, and the side of the crankshaft, which is intended for installing the flywheel, is located to the left of the piston;
  • Carefully insert the piston back into the cylinder, the place for mounting the coil should be on the side where the flywheel is installed on the crankshaft;
  • Install the bearings, oil seals, circlip on the shaft and lower the entire assembly into the seat in the cylinder;
  • Next, degrease the installation site of the crankcase and the crankcase itself, then grease with sealant and, setting in place, tighten 4 fastening screws;

To reassemble the STIHL 180 saw after the engine is assembled, follow the reverse sequence of disassembly. It is important to treat the process carefully and do not forget to install the rods on the carburetor, and connect the ignition wire.

Below you can see the disassembly of the STIHL 180 in a video, it was made for inexperienced users, it shows the whole process in detail.

Dismantling the STIHL 180 chainsaw and assembling it, if you have some experience, is quite simple, the main thing is to thoroughly clean the saw before work and not to rush. In order for small parts not to get lost, you need to use containers in which, in the process, it is worth laying out spare parts.

The design and principle of operation of the chainsaw clutch mechanism

Most sawers do not understand how the chainsaw clutch works. When working, it is not necessary to know the principle of operation, but when malfunctions occur, in order to eliminate them, you will need to find out the design and operating features of the chainsaw clutch.

Modern chainsaws are equipped with centrifugal clutch mechanisms. Centrifugal clutch. This means that its performance depends on the torque of the engine. The main purpose of the clutch on a chainsaw is to ensure the transmission of torque from the engine crankshaft to the saw headset (chain). The device works in automatic mode, and how this happens, we will find out in detail.

The clutch mechanism consists of the following structural elements:

  • Drum with removable or non-removable sprocket. is a transmission mechanism
  • Friction linings. move under the influence of centrifugal force, engaging with the drum
  • Spring. ensures that the linings are pressed against the crankshaft

Now about the principle of the chainsaw clutch. When the tool’s two-stroke engine starts up, the crankshaft starts to rotate. A coupling is attached to the shaft, to which the chain is connected using an asterisk. When the chainsaw is idling (shaft rotation speed up to 2700 rpm), that is, the accelerator trigger is not pressed, the spring presses the friction linings, as a result of which the torque is not transmitted to the drum.

As soon as the sawer picks up the tool and starts to increase the speed (maximum up to 14000 rpm), the chain begins to move along the tire. This happens due to the fact that the speed of rotation of the crankshaft increases. Due to the inertial force, the friction linings (also called counterweights) move and engage with the inner walls of the drum. As a result, the drum moves, which is connected to the sprocket. The rotating sprocket drives the chain.

The principle of operation of the mechanism is simple, due to its simple design. If this part fails, then the chainsaw will not work accordingly. A detailed description of the principle of operation of the chainsaw clutch mechanism is described in this material.

Vlad, Odessa:

“In the process of repairing a chainsaw, I had the following situation: the clutch did not give in at all, did not want to be removed. Jammed, in a word. This “old-fashioned way” helped: the location of the thread was slightly heated with a burner, very carefully so as not to damage the oil seal. And everything worked out. Maybe someone will find my advice useful. “.

Replacing the clutch

When replacing the clutch, we do not recommend using metal or plastic objects as a stopper. The former can scratch the cylinder, the latter can litter it.

  • Turn on the chain stop brake, remove the protective cover and dismantle the saw headset;
  • We remove dirt, sawdust, dried grease, if any;
  • Remove the air filter and candlestick;
  • Using a candle wrench, unscrew the candle;
  • Rotating the crankshaft, we bring the piston to the top point, then set it back by 6-9 mm;
  • With a rope, 7-8 mm in diameter, we lock the piston in the upper position;
  • Unscrew the nut on the clutch with a special puller wrench.

Most of the moving parts of a chainsaw are right-hand rotation. Therefore, the nut on the clutch has a left-hand thread. It is necessary to remove the cover by turning the key clockwise. It is forbidden to carry out this operation with a hammer and a chisel. you will knock down the edges!

  • Remove the cover and drive sprocket. We diagnose faults and assess the wear of parts. Assessing the condition of the needle bearing;
  • If necessary, we replace parts with new ones (most often the leading sprocket needs it);

The installation of the chainsaw clutch system is carried out in the reverse order, however, you should pay attention to some features.