How to remove bar retaining bolt?

[rwh963]

Took this craftsman 42 cc special edition home from the dump. See that one bolt is missing it’s nut, the other is tight on the bolt and the bolt has been chewed down with pliers probably trying to remove the bolt it nut.

So, how do I remove the complete bolt/nut to free the bar, etc?

 

[Dennisthemenace]

Stilsons

 

[ammoaddict]

I had an older one with stripped and bent studs. The studs had square heads that fit in slots in the oil tank. I just took a hammer and punch and drove them out and shook them out of the oil tank. You will have to get that nut off before you can get the stud out.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Well, that stud is pooched anyhow, so I would grind two opposing flats on the stud so it could be held with adjustable wrench or similar and use an open end wrench to force the nut up the boggered thread until it was high enough to cut below it to remove, then punch the remains of the stud into the oil tank (as suggested above) and replace both along with new flange nuts.

 

[rwh963]

, ok, so the bolt have heads that are inside the bar oil reservoir? i hoped it could be backed out. looks like the PO tried to hold the bolt to turn the nut but failed and just stripped the threads.

 

[ammoaddict]

Yes. The heads are in the oil tank in plastic slots. They are pressed in. You have to take the nuts off and drive them into the tank. A nut splitter might work on that nut if there is room to get it on there.

 

[sean donato]

Bit tedious, but a dremel with a little cut off wheel to split the nut.

 

[9050lx]

wonder if you could clamp the stud in a vise and still reach the nut?Maybe put on a box wrench 6 point then clamp in a vise. How strong is your grip?Maybe a pair of vice grips on the stud.It may just spin loose with a powerful impact wrench and impact socket.

 

[rwh963]

looks like my big issue first is the other bolt is in the way of a wrench handle. what's the removal process, just use a punch on the bolt top and it falls into the oil tank?

 

[sean donato]

looks like my big issue first is the other bolt is in the way of a wrench handle. what's the removal process, just use a punch on the bolt top and it falls into the oil tank?

I would be replacing both of them, so I'd just hit it with the hammer, but yeah hammer/punch will do it.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

What he said^^

 

[HarleyT]

From the looks of the stud length, I would say the the studs have been pulled through the crankcase because of over torquing

 

[Mike Ray]

deep well socket, impact wrench( variable power)

 

[OM617YOTA]

From the looks of the stud length, I would say the the studs have been pulled through the crankcase because of over torquing

This is it, right here.

I had a few of those Poulan/Craftsman saws. Some of them had completely non functional chain tensioning systems. One was built into the bar? Didn't matter how much you tightened the bar nuts, the chain wasn't staying tight. I'd bet a cup of coffee that's what happened here.

 

[ammoaddict]

From the looks of the stud length, I would say the the studs have been pulled through the crankcase because of over torquing

They do look pretty long don't they. Probably why it was in the dumpster

 

[Mike Ray]

well the price was right

 

[ammoaddict]

Anybody that would tighten a bar nut enough to pull it through the crankcase has no business using a chainsaw. I'm amazed at how stupid some people can be. I went and looked at my little poulan. The studs are sticking out past the nuts a 1/4" at most.

 

[HarleyT]

The most common reason is that the saw owner is running a shot drive sprocket and they are desperately trying to keep their chains tight. They are assuming that the bar nuts are not holding the bar in place.

 

[rwh963]

Sounding more and more that I should part this thing out. It’s not a great saw. Could be best used as a parts donor saw.

 

[9050lx]

Yeah, but now we all want to know how you got the bar studs out.