Sprocket needle bearing cages (
9512-003-376) were no longer available from dealer for a Stihl 045 AVSE that I recently picked up off craigslist so I went to ebay.
Got one today from seller '
realstihl' . Because it was bone dry, appeared to have scoring and a built-up crud at one end of cage (see pic attached w both new and old cages), had no original packaging altho seller packaged it well (maybe Stihl shipped boxes of 10?), and fit has only slightly less wobble on old shaft and inside new sprocket than cage that was there, I am suspicious it's not new old stock as advertised but maybe used but decent condition.
I have no experience replacing this part of a saw so have couple of questions maybe someone could answer to help refute or confirm my suspicions:
1. Wouldn't a new needle bearing from factory have at least a light film of oil on it (granted this may be 30+ years old and that film evaporated...) ?
2. Would a new needle bearing fit snugly in a new (non-OEM, Oregon not Stihl) sprocket or would bearing just fall right thru?
3. Anyone here who bought from realstihl on ebay have any opinions?
4. Any simple advice for buying saw parts off ebay, new or used?
Thanks,
Myles