How To Spin A Clutch On A Chainsaw

In the design of modern gasoline saws, the clutch is responsible for the continuous connection of the engine and the saw set of the garden tool. Like any other mechanism, the grip during operation of the saw lends itself to intense friction and increased loads. This accelerates the wear of the assembly, as a result of which cracks, chips and other defects appear on its main parts. A thorough inspection of the mechanism and timely replacement of its defective parts will help to fix the breakdown.

Chainsaw Clutch – device and principle of operation

Most modern chainsaws come with a centrifugal clutch. The operation of these mechanisms depends on the torque generated by the engine.

The centrifugal clutch device consists of a spring, sprocket and drum. These elements interact with each other according to a rather simple principle. During the start of the internal combustion engine gasoline saw parts freely moving in the radial direction, under the action of the springs begin to contract to the axis of the factory shaft. In this case, the rotational force from the motor is not transmitted to the drum, the drive star and the tire. Gradually, the pressure of the centrifugal force increases and displaces the force created by the springs. At this point, the clutch components lose their strength and begin to shrink near the inside of the drum. Under the action of the springs, the drum begins to unwind. Moving, he transfers the rotation to the leading star and the saw headset of the chainsaw.

The main advantage of centrifugal clutch is its instant slippage at the moment when the cutting organs begin to rotate more slowly. At the same time, the chainsaw engine itself does not lose its original speed and continues to move as smoothly as before. This allows you to reduce fuel consumption and reduce the risk of burrs in the CPG motor saw.

Common clutch malfunction

The clutch of a modern chainsaw has a fairly simple device, so with its independent repair there should not be a problem even for novice users of garden equipment. The most common mechanism failures include:

• sprocket wear. during the operation of the saw, the star plays the role of an intermediate link. She receives effort from the drum and transfers it to the saw headset of a gas tool. Accordingly, the drive sprocket is in constant rotation mode. At times when the saw set cuts hard wood, the star lends itself to increased loads. Over time, they lead to deformation or cracks in the teeth of the part. Even worse, if a plastic sprocket is included in the clutch device, it is not able to withstand even 5-minute operation in high load mode. In this case, it simply breaks into small parts. The result is “idle” pressures on the throttle lever, in which the tire and chain do not respond to operator manipulation. To solve the problem, you will need to completely replace the drive chain sprocket for the chainsaw;

• drum breakdown. this element is the first to receive rotational force from the engine and stabilizes it for further transmission to the drive sprocket and the saw set. The clutch drum for a chainsaw is a composite metal washer, inside which a spring is placed, and a drive sprocket is mounted on top of the washer. Due to the constant rotation and friction with the star, the metal casing of the element is intensely heated. Because of this, scuffs and burrs are formed on its surface, which lock the sprocket and the saw headset. To get rid of this problem, you need to replace the clutch drum on a chainsaw, without waiting for its further deformation;

• spring sagging. Another important detail of the standard clutch. It is located inside the drum, so during operation of the chainsaw heats up with it. As a result of this, the spring sags and deforms, as a result of which the mechanism of the gasoline tool cannot create centrifugal force sufficient to rotate the sawing organs at higher speeds. Remedy for this malfunction will help replacing the clutch spring chainsaw. During its implementation, you need to be extremely careful and carefully remove the old sagging part. Otherwise, the risk of losing small spring mounts will increase.

Video: How To Spin A Clutch On A Chainsaw

During the operation of the chainsaw, you need to remember that regardless of the quality and brand of the manufacturer of the gas tool, its factory clutch is regularly susceptible to stress and wear. That is why in the circles of experienced fellers and gardeners there is an opinion that one clutch should be replaced to replace two saw tires.

How to remove the clutch on a chainsaw?

To fix any malfunction of the drum or drive sprocket, the operator will need to remove the clutch from the chainsaw.

The procedure should be as follows:

1. First you need to loosen the chain and remove the entire saw headset;
2. Next, the operator must dismantle the air filter and the plastic cover of the standard clutch housing;
3. After that, it will be necessary to stall the crankshaft. as a result, it must remain stationary during the dismantling of the factory clutch. To block the crankshaft, you can pull out the starter housing cover and insert 2 small metal bolts into the rotor provided in the ignition system device. The second option is to dismantle the spark plug and then lower the piston and lock it. Most often, a coil of thin rope is used for this;
4. Then you can proceed to dismantle the clutch itself. To do this, use the tool from the saw set or the wrench to service the angle grinder, you need to carefully unscrew the clutch along the clock. It is important not to tear the mechanism from the thread;
5. Next, you need to dismantle the drum and the drive star;
6. In the next step, you will need to install a new clutch and tighten it on the thread against the clock hands until they stop. To do this, lock the crankshaft again. Otherwise, there is a risk of breakdown of the starter located on the opposite end of the crankshaft;
7. After that, you need to assemble the clutch on the chainsaw and finally tighten it. To do this, you will need to move the inertia brake handle away from you, start the ICE of the chainsaw and quickly return the brake lever to the reverse position.

After replacing the mechanism, you need to give it time to grind with other nodes of the saw. To do this, it is necessary to start a chainsaw and give it time to idle. After 5 minutes, slightly press on the throttle lever. Having performed 2-3 pressing the lever with an interval of 1-1.5 minutes, you can proceed to the further operation of a gasoline powered garden tool.