Stihl MS 461 clutch *drum* removal?

[CodeMonkey]

Last weekend I got my saw stuck in a log I was cutting for firewood.

I only tried to get it cutting again momentarily, but apparently that was enough to burn up the clutch; as I shut it down to remove it with force, I saw smoke coming out from the sprocket cover. Then when I got it unstuck and restarted it, the chain would not move and the engine would not rev up. So I shut it down, removed the cover and sure enough the sprocket would not move at all. I assume I burnt up the clutch.

So today I removed the clip and the sprocket and tried to remove the clutch drum.

I can't get it off.

I know I need to use a piston stop to remove the clutch itself (I think), but the outer drum cover should come off with a little persuasion right? Once the sprocket is off?

 

[hosspuller]

A few simple thoughts... Does your saw have a chain brake ? Did you reset it ? Did you remove the bar ? If not remove the bar and then check the sprocket again. The bar or nose sprocket may be crushed keeping the chain from moving

 

[CodeMonkey]

I do have a chain brake - I will check it. I thought I did, but I will check again.

I did remove the bar and chain. They are fine.

 

[CodeMonkey]

It appears it was the brake

 

[Jim Shooz]

Had the neighbour ring me early one morning last week (I was still in the sack) seems that he couldn't get the cover back on his chainsaw. I thought it might have been the two adjusting pins not locating in the holes in the bar. Went over to see him later and he was still swearing at it. Found the chain brake had been set, after the cover had been taken off. The saw had been run over by a fork-lift so it was a bit beat-up and many parts didn't fit too well. With the brake on the cover and the setting arm on the saw body it was a pr*ck of a job to reset. He owes me a couple of beers. :cool2:

 

[TreePointer]

For future reference, if you ever need to remove the clutch, the nut is reverse threaded. Some will feed some nylon/poly rope through the spark plug opening to the top of the piston to limit piston rotation when turning the nut. This works, but there are sometimes issues of getting fibers jammed or even bending the rod. The better alternative is to use an impact wrench on the nut, which prevents both of those issues.

 

[swines]

Some will feed some nylon/poly rope through the spark plug opening to the top of the piston to limit piston rotation when turning the nut. This works, but there are sometimes issues of getting fibers jammed or even bending the rod. The better alternative is to use an impact wrench on the nut, which prevents both of those issues.

The best way is to use a chainsaw piston stop tool. They're only $8.00 - $12.00 (depending upon the tool manufacturer) and provide an easy way to stop the piston. You remove the spark plug, and screw the tool into the head.

 

[dfkrug]

The best way is to use a chainsaw piston stop tool.

I agree, that's the best way. I made one from an old spark plug after knocking out the
insulator and electrode.

I used to use an length of nylon rope, but I once got some strands caught in one of the
scavenger ports. I have also used an impact gun, but you do not have enough torque
control when tightening it back up. Stripping out the threads are going to be a major
headache.

Most chainsaws do not use a nut to hold the clutch on, either. You need a pin wrench.

 

[Dewbie]

It appears it was the brake

I've been guilty of doing the same thing a few times too when I first started running chainsaws lol

 

[CodeMonkey]

FWIW I have been using the saw since this "episode" and it works fine.

Operator error.