Think I just broke my saw....Stihl 015

[sthomas77]

Hi,
I have a Stihl 015 with a 15" bar, I was cutting up a 8-10" piece when I got it bound up. Shut it down immediately, and used my wedge to get it out. Fired it up again, and now it doesnt seem to have any strength in it...chain runs and all, but will also move freely by hand (with the saw off of course), which it wasnt doing before (sharpening is a pita). Could I have burned out a clutch or something? The saw is 30+ years old and wasnt taken care of for several years before being handed down to me. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! I have been unsuccessful in getting a service manual from Stihl being that the saw is so old. Thanks!
Sean

 

[Saw Dr.]

Hi,
I have a Stihl 015 with a 15" bar, I was cutting up a 8-10" piece when I got it bound up. Shut it down immediately, and used my wedge to get it out. Fired it up again, and now it doesnt seem to have any strength in it...chain runs and all, but will also move freely by hand (with the saw off of course), which it wasnt doing before (sharpening is a pita). Could I have burned out a clutch or something? The saw is 30+ years old and wasnt taken care of for several years before being handed down to me. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! I have been unsuccessful in getting a service manual from Stihl being that the saw is so old. Thanks!
Sean

It is not unlikely that the clutch burned up on that saw. Pul the cover off, and lets have a look in there to see what is going on. Does the saw engine still run and idle properly?

 

[sthomas77]

Yes, the engine still runs just fine. B200, you are right in that the clutch does seem to be working fine, but the outer ring that it engages to, and the chain rides on is loose. It seems to have side to side movement of about 1/8-1/4 inch and spins freely. Is there a bearing or something that it rides on inside the body? I took a pic of it with the cover off. Thanks!
<a href="http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/thom1048/?action=view&current=DSCI0445.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/thom1048/DSCI0445.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Saw Dr.]

The outer "ring" you speak of is actually the clutch drum. That assembly is also what drives the chain, and a gear in behind there, which in turn drives the oil pump. There is a bearing on that shaft in behind the clutch. First thing I would check is if the chain is properly engaged in the drive teeth of the sprocket. If it has a rim sprocket, it is very easy to get things mis-aligned. There does not appear to be anything amiss with that clutch picture. If the bearing were very bad, the clutch drum would be resting on the clutch shoe. The shoes do not appear to be worn badly either, and they're not blackened, which they tend to do after being overheated from clutch slippage.

Do the engine revolutions drop off when you say it wont cut, or is it reving freely, and nothing going on at the chain?

 

[sthomas77]

No, the chain is spinning, but it didnt seem to want to bite into the wood. I need to reassemble the saw and will run it again today (hopefully the rain will hold out). I didnt think to try on a different piece of wood. I was more concerned with the chain moving freely, which it hadn't before. I am wondering if there was some gunk built up in there that finally blew out, and thats the cause. Is the chain supposed to move freely, with no resistance? No one else I know has a stihl for me to compare. I also had ruled out a dull chain since I was getting good chips and very little dust, but will sharpen today as well. Im starting to think that the saw is a bit too small to be my only one. There is alot of sentimental value to this one, but a second is always better! Once its back together i'll post another update. Thanks for the advice!
Sean

 

[welder15725]

The outer "ring" you speak of is actually the clutch drum. That assembly is also what drives the chain, and a gear in behind there, which in turn drives the oil pump. There is a bearing on that shaft in behind the clutch. First thing I would check is if the chain is properly engaged in the drive teeth of the sprocket. If it has a rim sprocket, it is very easy to get things mis-aligned. There does not appear to be anything amiss with that clutch picture. If the bearing were very bad, the clutch drum would be resting on the clutch shoe. The shoes do not appear to be worn badly either, and they're not blackened, which they tend to do after being overheated from clutch slippage.

:agree2:
Clutch looks fine. Maybe you hit a nail or fence in the log you was gettin bound up on. Sharpen your chain and try that.

 

[blackoak]

The outer "ring" you speak of is actually the clutch drum. That assembly is also what drives the chain, and a gear in behind there, which in turn drives the oil pump. There is a bearing on that shaft in behind the clutch. First thing I would check is if the chain is properly engaged in the drive teeth of the sprocket. If it has a rim sprocket, it is very easy to get things mis-aligned. There does not appear to be anything amiss with that clutch picture. If the bearing were very bad, the clutch drum would be resting on the clutch shoe. The shoes do not appear to be worn badly either, and they're not blackened, which they tend to do after being overheated from clutch slippage.\

+1 on checking to see if the chain is on the rim sprocket, if it has a rim sprocket. I had a guy bring in his saw. He said the chain stops as soon as you put it in wood. The chain had come off the rim and was in between the rim and the case. There was enough tension to move the chain, but when you put it to the wood it would stop. He was lucky that he stopped trying to use it

 

[sthomas77]

Ok, so I reassembled my saw yesterday, cleaning out years of gunk and sharpened the chain. And it is running well. The chain still glides easy, but based on the crap that was built up in the case, I wouldn't be surprised if that was my problem. Fortunately, I was able to convince my wife that an 015 is not good as my only saw, so im in the market for a new tool! YEAY! Thanks for all the input!!!

 

[welder15725]

Ok, so I reassembled my saw yesterday, cleaning out years of gunk and sharpened the chain. And it is running well. The chain still glides easy, but based on the crap that was built up in the case, I wouldn't be surprised if that was my problem. Fortunately, I was able to convince my wife that an 015 is not good as my only saw, so im in the market for a new tool! YEAY! Thanks for all the input!!!

Congrats! You know stihl has the 362 out, right??

 

[alpinecrick]

Ok, so I reassembled my saw yesterday, cleaning out years of gunk and sharpened the chain. And it is running well. The chain still glides easy, but based on the crap that was built up in the case, I wouldn't be surprised if that was my problem. Fortunately, I was able to convince my wife that an 015 is not good as my only saw, so im in the market for a new tool! YEAY! Thanks for all the input!!!

Another testamonial to cleaning your saws.........it can do wonders...

My dad uses an 015 to cut EVERYTHING--I mean no tree is too large for that saw as far as he's concerned....:blush:

I just gave him another 015 and took back the one he absconded with 10 years ago...........to say there is a lot of side play in the crank is an understatement. Anybody know where I can find new crank/case bearings for an 015? .........sheesh--I can't believe that saw still was running.



Casey

 

[soccerhead1]

i am looking for a stihl 015 service manual.
do you have one that you can email me?

 

[Bounty Hunter]

i am looking for a stihl 015 service manual.
do you have one that you can email me?

Hey Brother,
Go back to the Chainsaw forum, and see the title "Stickies" there?
Click on it and seek the "Beg for Manuals" thread...Post there and some kind soul will set ya up...

Take care and Saw Safe

 

[Farm_Boy_61]

015 parts saw..

I have an 015 sitting on my work bench, the only thing wrong with it is the starter spring is out and my big hands can't get it back in. It has a 14" bar with 3/8 lp chain. If anyone is interested send me a message and price.

 

[soccerhead1]

I have an 015 sitting on my work bench, the only thing wrong with it is the starter spring is out and my big hands can't get it back in. It has a 14" bar with 3/8 lp chain. If anyone is interested send me a message and price.

i was told to go to a stihl dealer, ask for the clip that the new coil springs come in. then wind your spring into the clip holder and install.
they throw away thes clips, they come with every recoil spring they install