Chainsaw Repair

Any of you Stihl repairers out there come across issues with the front handle/guard assembly breaking prematurely of the HS45 hedge cutter? Customer broke his original one, we fitted a new, genuine Stihl one two days ago and customer just rung me to say the new one has broken. All he was doing, was using it in the normal way and just stretched out forward with it to reach the far side of quite a wide hedge and it snapped (not sure where yet, as he hasn't dropped it back yet) Never had one just break like that in all my years from normal use- dropped or driven over yet, but not just being held.

Mod from CRG FB = I've had one for 8 years heavy commercial use. Been beat up and keeps on ticking. Every now and then carb needs rebuild or might need air filter cleaned, occasional spark plug. Anyways, my hand guard is still perfect
I got mine used also 8 years ago so no telling what it went through before me.

Yeah, i've never known one break through normal use hence the questions. I did notice the new replacement as made from what I would consider a more errr Chinesey brittle plastic, so may have something to do with it, but I can't be the only one with a customer who has broken one through normal use.....jeez he's only 5 ft 7" and about 9 stone...probably as much as he can do to lift it let alone break a handle.

another = I’ve had a couple in with snapped front handles however it’s not a common fault like the cradle on the HS81 and HS82
However I have noticed a couple of the plastic components I’ve bought recently haven’t been the highest quality I had a loop handle on a KM94 brought back to me a couple of days after I fitted it as it snapped The first time the guy tried to start it. I am also in the UK

Right..note for the future.....don't throw away the old handle without removing the old AV springs on the underside and transferring them to the new handle like I did. That was why the new one snapped so easily as it turns out.

To be fair I asked him to bring the machine back with his broken original handle, which he still had in the back of his van. When he came in Tuesday he then said it doesn't look like you've transferred the springs off my old handle- could that be something to do with it?

I told him to leave it with me for the morning and I would check (I knew that was the reason)

When he came to collect it, I was honest to admit my mistake- these two springs on the underside aren't actually AV springs, what they actually do it restrict the forward movement of the plastic handle when you push on it. Obviously with them not fitted it allows the plastic to flex too much and it snapped. Guy was really happy it wasn't something he had done- but still offered to pay for the new handle if I covered the labour. Naturally I couldn't let him do that.

Well worth remembering to remove them before throwing the old handle away when fitting a new one. It's easily done as you don't realise they are there on the underside.