So to add a twist to the conversation. One of my test saws came back from full time logging work.....with an air leak under the clutch to the point a shot of brake clean just instantly stopped the saw when sprayed there. It was a HyWay 52mm popup on AM cases with an OEM crank and OEM XT carb ...muffler mod. No base gasket. Basically ALL AGAINST the ONLINE expert grain. Had the Chinese bearings and seals that came with the AM cases..did a video a while back documenting that saws birth. Strong runner..until it started going lean. Had to use a plastic hammer to bust that 1184 seal...like usual. NO leaks there!
So folks....it wasn't the bearing that failed. Bearing is just as smooth as it always was and no discernible change in clearances. Crank end was wobbling in there when I pulled off the clutch and oil pump..was pretty certain it was a bearing! And BTW the top end survived as well....so caught it before it went catastrophic...
It was the bearing pocket that opened up to the point that bearing slid out with my finger on tear down. Didn't spin or anything like that....just opened up! Case must be soft. It's in the scrap heap now! Building it back with ANOTHER set of AM cases to see if this is a trend. Going to re-use that same Chinese bearing in the second iteration. ( Video to come with the analysis and build in a week or three. )
So folks....it wasn't the bearing that failed. Bearing is just as smooth as it always was and no discernible change in clearances. Crank end was wobbling in there when I pulled off the clutch and oil pump..was pretty certain it was a bearing! And BTW the top end survived as well....so caught it before it went catastrophic...
It was the bearing pocket that opened up to the point that bearing slid out with my finger on tear down. Didn't spin or anything like that....just opened up! Case must be soft. It's in the scrap heap now! Building it back with ANOTHER set of AM cases to see if this is a trend. Going to re-use that same Chinese bearing in the second iteration. ( Video to come with the analysis and build in a week or three. )