I can stop the chain while in a cut ..Is my clutch beat?

[yophilly]

I have an older echo 360t with a 12" bar and full comp chain. (ATV 'trail-saw') I keep it sharp and it runs well but I can stall the chain (not the engine) if I lean on it too hard. Is this normal? I admit I'm cutting wet, dirty trees--downed across a trail--and I'm also a novice. If I let off and take my time it WILL cut...am I just being impatient or is there room for improvement / worn-out parts? Is there a clutch shoe 'spec'? or minimum thickness of the shoes?

 

[madhatte]

Clutch is fine. Back off, let the chain do the work.

 

[nmurph]

if the clutch shoes/springs are shot you will not lose many rpm's when you stall the chain. the motor will continue to rev, but the chain will not turn. just like a clutch slipping in a car; the revs go up, not the vehicle speed.

 

[Hedge Hacker]

You have to listen to the saw. There is a fine line between pushing too hard and not hard enough. The more you cut the easier it will be to hear it.

 

[dingeryote]

It's just a little saw doin' it's thing.

Let it pull itself and don't force feed it.
Use your ears, when it starts loading up(Lower tone), ease up a smidge and keep going. Every saw has a happy spot, and after a while you'll get to know it by ear.

If it was the clutch, as noted RPM's, would rise with the chain not moving, and you would be able to smell it.

Just keep the chain sharp and tossing chips and keep at it.
Good luck to ya!!

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[yophilly]

Thanks for the tips, I am an impatient animal sometimes....just checking.....

 

[Scooterbum]

Make sure you don't have oil or grease on the shoes or inside the drum.

 

[yophilly]

Make sure you don't have oil or grease on the shoes or inside the drum.

Great tip, I have never cleaned the clutch.... I guess just spray some brake kleen in there and blow it out with compressed air ?

 

[GASoline71]

You can stop almost any saw but the big monsters... Easy to reef on them too hard and stop the chain. Like said earlier... let the saw (and chain) do the work.

Gary

 

[pgg]

There's never been and never will be an Echo built that doesn't run out of steam at the slightest of pressure applied, you've got two choices here

1: Throw the Echo into the nearest deep dark hole and buy a proper brand of chainsaw such as Stihl or Husky. (recommended)

Or 2: Just get used to the Echos normal weak-kneed performance... (not recommended)

umpkin2:

 

[CGC4200]

would not the saw engine stall too?

B&C oil or trash buildup between shoes and drum might cause problems too.