chain brake

[chainsawjunky]

Brief story of my life. I'm 18 and still a senior in high school. I'm taking a engineering class and I'm supposed to improve or invent something. I chose to do the chain brake on a stihl 044 chainsaw(as that's what is on my bench right now). Anyway I need a picture of the chain brake on any brand besides Stihl(poulan, echo, husqvarna etc.) as a comparison for market research. So if some of you guys out there with extensive collections could help me out with some pictures of the chain brakes on different manufacturers it'd be appreciated. Evan

Actually I also need a picture of how the clutch, drum, and sprocket are connected to the crankshaft. Unless most manufacturers do it all the same. But anything you take will be helpful.

P.S. My improvement was to eliminate the clutch and to have spacers between the drum and the oiler. Then the sprocket and drum would be connected by a piece of keystock either in a groove or straight through the crankshaft. Then when the chain brake is activated the keystock would break and the engine could turn freely without turning the chain. Clear as mud?

 

[Lakeside53]

Mud... and what's wrong with a clutch?

 

[chainsawjunky]

Nothings wrong with it I just couldn't think of anything else to do.

I was also wondering what would happen if you were to run a chainsaw full bore with the chain brake on, not that I'm gonna try it(on my saws that is ). Evan

 

[Streyken]

Maybe you should have chosen to improve the Husky brake. I have a few pics of good Stihl breaks, but... View attachment 49296

And heavens no, I would never work with them like that, thats why I have my Stihls.

 

[Lakeside53]

It won't rev much over 3500 rpm and will quickly burn out the brake band, clutch drum, clutch springs, and everything plastic in the vicinity... It gets tried often..

 

[chainsawjunky]

See,in my method nothings happens, all you have to do is replace a piece of keystock. :yoyo:

 

[Gologit]

Brief story of my life. I'm 18 and still a senior in high school. I'm taking a engineering class and I'm supposed to improve or invent something. I chose to do the chain brake on a stihl 044 chainsaw(as that's what is on my bench right now). Anyway I need a picture of the chain brake on any brand besides Stihl(poulan, echo, husqvarna etc.) as a comparison for market research. So if some of you guys out there with extensive collections could help me out with some pictures of the chain brakes on different manufacturers it'd be appreciated. Evan

Actually I also need a picture of how the clutch, drum, and sprocket are connected to the crankshaft. Unless most manufacturers do it all the same. But anything you take will be helpful.

P.S. My improvement was to eliminate the clutch and to have spacers between the drum and the oiler. Then the sprocket and drum would be connected by a piece of keystock either in a groove or straight through the crankshaft. Then when the chain brake is activated the keystock would break and the engine could turn freely without turning the chain. Clear as mud?

Mostly Mud. Do you mean that every time the chain brake is activated we'd have to put in a new piece of keystock before we could run again? Doesn't make a lot of sense. The present system seems to work quite well.

 

[Lakeside53]

See,in my method nothings happens, all you have to do is replace a piece of keystock. :yoyo:

You mean every day?

 

[Streyken]

You mean every day?

I think he means every time the brake is applied.

 

[chainsawjunky]

No only whenever the brake is activated. Yeah it isn't very practical on pro saws but it would kind of save some parts on a small homeowner saw where the person doesn't know what they're doing and ends up trying to cut with the chain brake on. Just a thought but I still have time to change ideas.

 

[Lakeside53]

I think he means every time the brake is applied.

Yes, everytime you finish a cut and are walking around with the running saw.. I automatically snap my left wrist forward and brake the saw...

 

[Gologit]

No only whenever the brake is activated. Yeah it isn't very practical on pro saws but it would kind of save some parts on a small homeowner saw where the person doesn't know what they're doing and ends up trying to cut with the chain brake on. Just a thought but I still have time to change ideas.

LOL...please change ideas. How about some kind of cleaner for gunked up torx head screws? Chain that stays sharper longer? Better AV? Forget this chainbrake idea. Wait a minute...How about some kind of change-over kit to change the Stihl flip caps back to something like the old style?

 

[chainsawjunky]

yeah I guess I haven't done enough cutting to realize that I should do that. So any other ideas of what I could improve on or should I move to something not related to a chainsaw. Thanks. Evan

 

[chainsawjunky]

LOL...please change ideas. How about some kind of cleaner for gunked up torx head screws? Chain that stays sharper longer? Better AV? Forget this chainbrake idea. Wait a minute...How about some kind of change-over kit to change the Stihl flip caps back to something like the old style?

Wouldn't the chain idea just be carbide. I was thinking about doing the AV idea. Yeah well thanks for the advice from everyone. Evan

 

[begleytree]

how about something on gear driven fuel injection? like the old vettes and ferraris had back before electronic carbs? or similar to the diesel injector pump. use a primer bulb to pressure the system for starting or something. more ecologically friendly, spray in the fuel after the intake and exhaust windows close for a more powerful and fuel saving burn. just pick something and have fun with it.
the chainbreak idea is not an improvement, imo. unless we are trying to improve the pay rate of the saw techs at the shops. the'yd probably quit tho before replacing 35 keys a day....
-Ralph

 

[Lakeside53]

Do the flip cap conversion idea, patent it, quit school and lie on a beach while you reap the royalites.

 

[B_Turner]

Yes, everytime you finish a cut and are walking around with the running saw.. I automatically snap my left wrist forward and brake the saw...

Me too. When I'm not cutting and the saw is running, the brake is on. It's habit now.

 

[B_Turner]

yeah I guess I haven't done enough cutting to realize that I should do that. So any other ideas of what I could improve on or should I move to something not related to a chainsaw. Thanks. Evan

I think if someone could figure out how to move more air through a chainsaw muffler without making it bigger or louder it would be great.

 

[58hydraglide]

Yes, everytime you finish a cut and are walking around with the running saw.. I automatically snap my left wrist forward and brake the saw...

+1
Hey, how about the wheel? Might be easier to improve on! Just kidding. I just ordered literature on a stirling liquid piston engine to play around with, Might want to check it out and see if you can make some changes to it. Looks really cool! I found it in the back of Mother Earth Mag. Might want to check it out! Trust me there's nothing better than stumpin' the Prof.!

 

[fubar2]

Invent a cheap detachable practical electric starter.