Chainsaw Clutch worn or too much rakers removed?

[CobyRupert]

Recently when I cutting through a log, the chain will bite/stall (slip the clutch), until I back the bar off and get the rpms wound up again.

How can I tell if I've taken down the rakers too much or if my clutch is worn (slipping too much)? Perhaps wait until I've sharpened (lowered) the cutter and see if it still slips?

I have a '97 Husky 55. Been a great saw. I switched it to the bigger 3/8" pitch chain a few years back and it became twice the saw that it was, with no problems turning the bigger chain.

Most of the time I'm sawing 12" diameter or smaller fire wood, except for the few cuts one makes on the trunk of something bigger.

I hand file, and after a few sharpenings when I see the cutters getting shorter I'll take the rakers down with a dremmel. (Also I use a straight edge to see how they compare to the cutters.) Being impatient, I only want to spend time taking down the rakers as few times as possible, so maybe I tend to take off more than I should knowing that with a few future sharpenings, the cutters height will get back to normal as compared to the rakers.

 

[motownbrowne]

That is a normal operating feature of the saw. You can pretty much bog down any saw with a sharp chain if you are levering on the handle. Whether it's bogging down to easily is hard to say from what we know. Maybe go buy a new chain for it and try that out. If the saw is sharp, you shouldn't have to lever on it much and it shouldn't have much trouble keeping it's RPMs up.

 

[jpm1]

Sounds to me that you got a good grind on your chain this time. Its just "hogging in" i like it when my chains do that!. Im a professional firewood cutter and cut a lot of it either with a chainsaw or processor. I do all of our chain sharpening with a grinder. Usually from 6 to 30 chains a week. Very seldom do i cut the rakers down in the chains early life, usually after the cutter is about 50 percent, then i will take it down about .030 below the sharpened cutter. On frozen timber, which it is now, i'll cut them way down, just have to hold the saw back a little, you get a big chip that way. If you can , take a picture of a couple of cutters on your chain and send me a PM, i might be able to see whats going on .. . Good luck , John

 

[kenmac]

I have a 55 . If your 55 has a 20'' bar/chain it will bog with a sharp chain especially if you grind down the rakers like I tend to do. mine does. If you have a 20'' bar/chain try an 18'' .. I upgraded to a husky 372xp and haven't had any bog down issues

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes, I definitely noticed it more when I took the rakers down, but was wondering how does one know if the clutch is worn?

 

[yomax4]

You will know if it's the clutch because it will wind up the RPM's but the chain hardly moves.. The clutch pads can expand a quite a bit and it takes a boat load of cutting to wear out a clutch. Oil in the clutch is a different story..I spray my clutches with a little solvent every time I pull the cover off.

 

[TomSeller]

it takes a boat load of cutting to wear out a clutch. .

Then I am glad I never cut up a load of boats.

 

[94BULLITT]

You need one of these to file the rakers properly.

Depth Gauge Tools - Chain Saw Accessories | STIHL USA Mobile

 

[CobyRupert]

You need one of these to file the rakers properly.

Depth Gauge Tools - Chain Saw Accessories | STIHL USA Mobile

Hmmm. Will check these out. Thanks.

 

[94BULLITT]

Hmmm. Will check these out. Thanks.

Lowes carries the Oregon brand depth gauge.

 

[arrow]

Rakers filed too low can cause a host of clutch problems if run for too long. If you look at the clutch, it s composed of several pieces that are held in by springs and retainers. Check for broken springs or missing retainers. A clutch that "chatters" as a result of filed down rakers if run too long, will show uneven wear on its shoes with most of the wear on the ends. Look for "grooves" where the springs are fastened to the shoes as another sign of wear. In other words, a wearing clutch can be spotted before a clutch break down. I also had cut professionally and most clutch issues had to do with big saws running long bars. Its a popular move to put on 3/8's chain on the 55 and it will pull it as its a saw with a high compression engine, but its wise not to use too long a chain and bar in this conversion.

 

[radioman]

Hmm - no one mentioned worn sprockets.

 

[CobyRupert]

Thanks. Good info here. It does seem to be grabbing less (stalling chain) as I get 4 or 5 sharpenings away from when I ground the rakers down.
I'm going to check the clutch as Arrow indicated. On one hand it is 14 years old, on the other hand I'm only running a 18" bar with the 3/8" chain.

Radioman: Are you talking about the bar sprocket? Other than checking that it turns freely and hitting it with some oil, is there something else to check?

 

[kenmac]

1 way to find out if it's the clutch is to buy a new chain and try it. If the cutch does the same thing, then look at the clutch. If not, it's the way you ground the chain

 

[radioman]

Thanks. Good info here. It does seem to be grabbing less (stalling chain) as I get 4 or 5 sharpenings away from when I ground the rakers down.
I'm going to check the clutch as Arrow indicated. On one hand it is 14 years old, on the other hand I'm only running a 18" bar with the 3/8" chain.

Radioman: Are you talking about the bar sprocket? Other than checking that it turns freely and hitting it with some oil, is there something else to check?

The sprocket where clutch is. not the bar. I dont know if you are running a power mate or old school sprockets. the old school sprockets wears out and should be replaced if it catches and adjusting the bar tension doesnt work. sometimes the chain jumps from worn sprockets.

Not the bar sprocket. The

 

[CobyRupert]

If it has a floating rim (sprocket) does that mean it's a Powermate?
If so that's what I got when I replaced the .325" with 3/8" pitch chain/bar. Sprockets only 1-1/2 chains old. This thread just reminded me again I need to get a raker guage. And maybe a tank vent filter (other problems).