stihl 025 sprocket problem

[talbertjm]

Hello,
I have a question about an older model stihl, 025, 18 inch bar chainsaw. Today I was cutting away and the chain locked up on me. The bar is brand new, stihl brand, chain is new also. I took the bar off and tried to spin the sprocket on the clutch. It is very, very, very hard to turn. I had to use a pair of pliers to turn it. Its not moving freely. Now, the chain was hot to touch, but not hot enough to where I COULDN'T keep my hand on it. I also ran the saw up against the wall to see how much oil was coming off, and it was noticable, but not pouring off. Like I said, the chain was hot after I was cutting, but I could keep my hand on it. Why did the sprocket lock up?

 

[Rookie1]

Is the chainbrake functioning properly?

 

[cus_deluxe]

sounds like clutch drum bearing is cooked. its one that rarely gets lubed and easy to forget about.

 

[cus_deluxe]

also pretty easy to replace

 

[cus_deluxe]

or the chainbrake

 

[talbertjm]

yes, the chainbreak was working, i just went out to check and now it is moving freely. I can attest earlier it was locked up. does the oiler work with the clutch? i feel like an idiot now. The chain stopped moving while I was cutting. Otherwise I wouldn't of took it apart to check it out.

 

[Rookie1]

Yes the oiler runs off the drum. I'd pull it apart and check it out real good to make sure all is right.

 

[cus_deluxe]

seriously that screams bearing issue. usually clutch drum bearings are lubed by squirting some grease in that end of crankshaft. try that and then run it again

 

[cus_deluxe]

the fact that he took b+c off and tried to turn clutch drum eliminates all other possibilities (except maybe sticky clutch shoes? very uncommon but worth checking i suppose)

 

[talbertjm]

Yes the oiler runs off the drum. I'd pull it apart and check it out real good to make sure all is right.

Okay thank you. I will take it apart and take a looksie. As far as the oil goes, one says its not oiling enough, and one says it is. How does everybody else's oil?

thank you for the replies!!!

 

[cus_deluxe]

with bar and chain, at WOT, with bar tip pointed at a surface a few inches away, (cardboard..) you should see a noticeable oil line after 10-20 seconds (assuming proper weight oil and whatnot).
Look for "blueing" of clutch drum and bearing when you take apart, which indicates it overheated.

 

[dboyd351]

Sounds to me like he just accidently put the chainbrake on. The solution doesn't necessarily have to be complicated.

 

[ray benson]

Sounds to me like he just accidently put the chainbrake on. The solution doesn't necessarily have to be complicated.

Easy to inadvertently bump the chain brake. But I would pull the c clip and remove the sprocket and inspect.

 

[talbertjm]

Took the clip off and inspected the clutch, the clutch hub, and needle bearing. No sign of bluing or overheating. The needle bearing was dry as a bone. Cleaned and greased, put all back together. Ran for awhile, and seems to be working okay. I may have tripped the chain break, don't think I did, but we'll see. Thanks for all the input, but this weekend

 

[talbertjm]

this weekend i have to cut some trees, so i'll get a better idea if it is running correctly. again, thanks for all the input.

 

[dboyd351]

I sold a saw to a guy a while back. Took it to his place and we cut up part of a tree together. Everything was fine. A few weeks later, he called me up and said the chain wouldn't move at all. I started asking him several things about whether it was smoking, whether the saw was running and revving OK, etc. Nothing seemed to make sense. Then it hit me. I asked him to pull the chainbrake lever back. It was off to the races!
Just hope that's all it is - a REALLY easy fix!

 

[talbertjm]

I hope your right, and I tripped the chain brake. I sure hate to have to go buy a new one. I love this saw, been such a good saw. The neighbor wants to use mine instead of his big husky, rancher 460.

 

[dboyd351]

To each his own. I've got a Ms250 and a Husky 460 Rancher. I'll take the Rancher any day.