Thread: show us your chainsaws

OMG. Chinese parts...

Sorting out a MS360 at the mo, assumption that all would be somewhat OK in it considering where it came from - the engine runs mint and the rest of it is pretty good. A bit variable on carb, but hey it's probably 25 years old and the linkages etc aren't new.

Anywho, it's had a Chinese parts bin thrown at it as it 'wasn't pretty' and the guy who had it decided it would make a nice tart up project. New set of hoses, clutch kit and drive side freshen up - what a pain in the arse that has been.

Was running like a scaley dog so off with the carb, full of half a tree. Clean that up, back into it no stopped again wouldn't run at 1/3rd tank. WTF? Look in the tank, all parts there check. Hmm, let me look in there again, yep all parts check but fark me the inlet filter had dropped off so the thing was starving at 1/3rd of a tank. Lesson learned there, make sure the bits are attached not just a quick present-sweet as. Sort that out, retune, back into it. All good but it stopped oiling - by this time its the worst run I've had out of a Stihl I've done anything on - What the actual F?

So off with it's side and yep burned out the drive worm, Chinese part. I had a spare Stihl OEM, threw that in and nothing else fitted. The slinger washer was binding up on the worm and clutch. Hmm, lets have a look here - no, parts are in correctly but not fitting. Check the slinger washer out, Chinese and the part off a larger saw. Riiggghhhhtttttttt... Replaced that, checked it out again for clearance and still not enough clearance. Right WTF? Chinese clutch was the next culprit, comparing it the recess for the hub LH thread was cut deeper by about 1/2 a turn on the thread - just enough for it to screw in and bind up. Blue air moment. I had a worn out Stihl clutch with a good center spider, that fitted the Chinese clutch so made up a franken-clutch that sorted the spacing issue, reassembled and rechecked the clearances and finally right and working as it should. I don't know where those parts came from, but from my experience to date for Chinese clone bits is that they are usually identical to the Stihl versions but just not as nicely finished or as well marked. After this experience if I use any again I will be damn sure to double and triple check fitment that's for sure...