Chainsaw Repair

Hi,im builting a saw from a box of parts. It is a 181 se. I did put new crank bearings and seals on it. The problem is with the pto seal(oil pump side). When i did install the oil pump with the seal already in it, i had to force it more than normal, when in place it looks like it is stretched a lot,the crankshaft is hard to turn over. I looked many parts diagrams and i found no one that indicates 2 different crank seals.   Any ideas?

              I have a 181 also that I need to redo with new bearings & seals, and I have read that there are 2 different sizes of both bearings and seals for the early 181se.    To talk to the guy, go to e-bay at auction #281336771058.    His username is "tylerwitty".    He just might be able to help you.  Good luck!

To my knowledge the seal that was different on the early 181's was the flywheel side seal. The oil pump side seal should be the same for all years of this model which is the same as the 281/288.

Like Al said, there is a step on the crank which you have to get the seal over, you can create a funnel with a thin piece of plastic or carefully use a pick to get the seal lip over the step on the crank.

You're 100% correct.  The PTO side seal is the same for all saws in the 181-288 series.  FW side seal on early 181's is smaller (same seal as the 61-272 saws).  Later 181's and all 281/288 have a FW side seal that's the same as the PTO side seal.

@HolmenTree = The 181 SE was called the "new concept" saw when introduced in 1982. One of the best if not the "highest power to weight ratio" saw at the time, with all the good handling ergonomics and thermal efficiencies with their new "power flow" piston. It wasn't until 4 years later in 1986 that Stihl answered with their 064AV.
But if we go back to 1976 the saw that revolutionized the chainsaw industry was the Husqvarna 162 SE. From the outside it looked exactly like a smaller version of the yet to be born 181 SE. This saw came from before the 1978 AB Electrolux acquisition period and along with the 2100 introduced in 1975 was solely Husqvarna. Some say the fire that heavily damaged Husqvarna's plant and then moving into a newer larger $3 million plant in 1974 changed the companies future for the good.
 Another note when everyone else was thinking about installing chain brakes the 2100 and 162 already had the best design fully adjustable chain brake even compared to todays  standards.

Willard.

@Spike60  = Willard is right about the 181 and 162 being groundbreaking designs. They both had 20 year runs, and their basic design philosophy is still being used today by most everyone. I don't think of these saws as "old", but as still comtemporary designs that are a generation or two back. I think in terms of Modern, Old, and Antique.

It's kind of like Weimedog pointed out; so much of this discussion depends on what you mean by "old", and most of us have a slightly different view. To me, a Jonsered 49SP could be called old; due not just to it's actual age, but to it's basic design architecture. But run one, (and I do regularly), and it really doesn't feel like an old saw. Some saws like the 630/670 and 266/272 family just hit the mark so well that they are still held in high regard. But it's not necessarily an old vs new thing; it's just a great saw. I think the 2171/372 family that replaced it was a noticeably better design. Guys absolutely love them, and I never hear them wish they could still buy 670's and 272's. That's not always the case. The 385/390 is a great saw, but guys who ran 288's still mourn the fact that they can't get them anymore. So a 372 guy would say that the newer stuff is better, while a 288 guy would say he prefers the older saws.