STIHL MS661 CASES CRACKING & CLUTCH SIDE COVER CHANGE

[thechainsawguy]

Anyone in the US seeing problems with the MS661 cases cracking near the bar bolt holes? Seem to be a few happening in my area and Stihl Canada has removed the first side sprocket cover and is now selling with another model cover, modified to fit the MS661.

 

[blsnelling]

This is the first I've heard of it. I've not seen mention of it on the forum here. Is the different side cover supposed to help some how?

 

[thechainsawguy]

Yes Brad, all the MS661's for the last few months now come with a modified 441 cover. I am thinking this was to stop the cases from cracking. Not sure as how it prevents that. All the MS661's from Stihl Canada are coming with this cover. A work in progress to fix a problem is what my shop is saying.

 

[gunnusmc03]

Do you have pics of the cracks?

 

[Rockjock]

Yes Brad, all the MS661's for the last few months now come with a modified 441 cover. I am thinking this was to stop the cases from cracking. Not sure as how it prevents that. All the MS661's from Stihl Canada are coming with this cover. A work in progress to fix a problem is what my shop is saying.

Got 4 units today old bar covers. This is news to me, I was just at Tech school and we talked about recalls etc and not a word was mentioned. The units we have in the field all look just fine, covered in ash chips but good.

 

[thechainsawguy]

Got 4 units today old bar covers. This is news to me, I was just at Tech school and we talked about recalls etc and not a word was mentioned. The units we have in the field all look just fine, covered in ash chips but good.

What area of Canada?

Dave.

 

[Rockjock]

What area of Canada?

Dave.

Ontario

 

[thechainsawguy]

Here are the two pictures from a couple days ago

 

[Rockjock]

I have seen cracks like that before but not from a clutch cover. I have had several tree guys bring me in saws that workers had pinched saws and yanked them free. At second blush those look like north south cracks to me. I dunno my friend... if it was a defect they would have done a goodwill repair, gratis parts you foot the bill for labor.

I suggest your dealer contact Stihl Technical and they will sort it out right quick.

 

[gunnusmc03]

They think the clutch cover itself is responsible for these cracks?

 

[thechainsawguy]

They think the clutch cover itself is responsible for these cracks?

To fix the cracking problem, they are using a modified cover. I don't have any on hand, but here is a saw that I had in December, you can see the cover is a bit different.

 

[thechainsawguy]

Got some pictures in, old style and the replacement or temporary cover.

 

[Rockjock]

whats the part number on the replacement. I will ring stihl and get some for the ones I have in the store. I just can not see how the cover could cause that damage.

 

[funky sawman]

like I said before, "It will be a great saw once all the bugs are worked out of it"

 

[thechainsawguy]

whats the part number on the replacement. I will ring stihl and get some for the ones I have in the store. I just can not see how the cover could cause that damage.

That's the strange thing , so far you only get the new cover when you buy a new saw. My shop asked if they could order in some of the new covers, but they only have the old style in the bag as replacements for now.

 

[IH3444]

Chainsawguy, is the top photo the old cover, and the lower picture the newer cover with the Artic Stihl sticker? Looks like the inner side has the plastic button removed on the top picture, and the mounting surface machined down for a closer fit to the case. The top photo seems to be modified, hence my bit of confusion as to which is the modded 441 side cover. Thank for posting. needed info.

 

[redbull660]

I got a 2nd arctic from dave with this cover. Here's some pics.

Full disclosure, I sent this "new" cover back in exchanges for the "old" cover. I like the "old" cover. Personally, I have my doubts that the cover causes the cracks in the case. But I guess on the flip side I can't rule it out either. Yet I have never seen nor heard of this happening. Anyway here are some pics to aid further discussion.

part # on the "new cover" = 1138 648 0460 this comes up as a MS441R cover. as you can see the one sent with the saw has been milled/modified.

part # on the "old cover" = 1144 648 0461 ...1144 is 661

 

[redbull660]

more pics. 661 "old" cover on saw . then 441 modified "new" cover on saw

 

[pro94lt]

like I said before, "It will be a great saw once all the bugs are worked out of it"

How long has the 661 been out?

 

[Spectre468]

This time, since November of '14, in the US..