Author Topic: Bar chain oil, not flowing?  (Read 533 times)

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Offline Le Maisonniau

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Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« on: April 15, 2016, 02:44:08 pm »
Hi Guys,
Following a small Tornado here at my home in France, I have an acre of woodland to sort out, so I am very busy with both my chainsaws - Stihl Ms271 & 390.  I have about 20 x 20meter Oaks to sort out, plus lots of chestnut and birch.
Firstly the 390 bar chain flow stopped, I cleared out all debris on the saw, oil flow holes etc on the bar, but no joy, so I got to checking and looking in the area of worm drive etc etc.
However, now the 271 oil has stopped flowing !!! the common factor is the same oil in both,
I bought 2 5 litre tubs of 'best green oil' last year when it was on offer, I am on my last tub - used about 10%.  The 'best green' oil is extremely thick and tacky !!!
I look after my saws and keep the resevoirs well filled and as clean as I can.
Questions, is it possible the oil has thickened so that it wont flow ?? -  Is it possible that it is too old and gone off?, I had it stored in a cool dry place for around 15 months.
Is it possible to add something to thin the oil down a little?. Is this sensible?
I can see oil at the bar point on the 390 if I remove the bar and run the engine, so dont think the worm drive is malfunctioning.
Grateful for any advice   ::)
Retired in France

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Offline dannyupsolate

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2016, 04:34:02 pm »
try some automatic transmission fluid for chevrolet or ford  cars if that won't clean it out you will have to remove oiler. use it straight until you get proper flow.

Offline deezlfan

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2016, 06:04:17 pm »
'Green' as in safer for the environment? Is this a vegetable based oil? Some of these do not store well and will congeal to the point the saw's oil pump can't move them anymore. I would wager that the oil has gone bad and you will have to remove it from your saw and clean out the pump and lines. Sometimes pouring out the old oil and filling the reservoir with kerosene or diesel [or ATF] and running it out works, but it may be so bad that you would have to disassemble the saw to get that mess out of there. 
We just drag them down..... Until they're just like us !!!  BNL

Offline jmester

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2016, 07:05:46 am »
Make sure the vents are working. If the tank builds pressure it will vapor lock. Also check and make sure that the spring on the worm gear is tight. I have seen the spin on the gear and not move the gear properly.
FEAR NO TREE. FEAR GOD.

Offline Le Maisonniau

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2016, 08:46:08 am »
Thanks guys,
I was helping a friend drop a huge Willow that smashed through his drains with its roots today, he also said to clear out the oil and run some diesel through - he is a pro woodsman and does this  every 3 - 4 months with his saws.

So thats my job this afternoon, will post back results.   :D
Retired in France

Offline Le Maisonniau

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2016, 04:16:14 pm »
Hi Guys,
Partial success:
Emptied both oil tanks and flushed them out with diesel,  half filled them with diesel and then ran the engines up and saw fluid coming out of both oil holes.
The 271 seems fine now, I am using the last 3 litres of 'Best green oil' with a 10% addition of diesel to thin it down a bit; I will dump the rest get some fresh.
The old oil is indeed vegetable, so I guess that it had gone off due to its age.

The 390, I flushed it out too, got diesel coming through, but seem to get quite a lot of air bubbles as well!!!, it pumps oil out when running (without chain) i.e. the reservoir fills up where the bar would sit against,  but I am not sure that enough oil is coming through and a bit worried about the air bubbles which I didnt see on the 271.
The oil only comes out of both when the chain guard is released !! this seems quite logical but is it right ?
The chain does not seem to get that oily - brand new bar and chain on, so no chance that the oil hole is blocked.

I will have a look at the filter on the end of the little pipe in the tank next, I guess this will mean I will have to strip it down a little.

I was thinking of blowing air through the outlet hole, but not sure that it is a good idea to put pressure through valves and worm drive etc.

Thanks for the replies so far, much appreciated
Retired in France

Offline sharkey

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2016, 08:27:18 pm »
I like that lift! 

I used to be a fan of canola oil until it set up on me.  It got hard like glue when exposed to air.  The other thing I learned about seed based oil is the spontaneous combustion fire risk, when using products like linseed oil.    Your mixing in of diesel (50/50) was the best thing that you could have done.  I would use 10-30 regular motor oil which should clean it out the rest of the way.   

Here is a short vid about the fire risk;

Offline Le Maisonniau

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2016, 04:27:54 am »
Hi Sharkey,
My lift is a real useful tool, It is a NiftyLift 120, manuf'd in the UK; I have had it for around 6-7 years, it only goes up to 12 meters high :o with a 6 meter outreach. Would like a greater outreach, but hey, its just one of my toys and the 'boss' wont let me change it :-\

That video about Linseed oil is scary, thanks for posting, will certainly be aware, though we use Danish oil and not sure if it has the same properties as Linseed.

I am going to disassemble the bar oil filter in the tanks first, hopefully it is that which is clogged and I wont need to go further, quite surprised at the price of a replacemtn pump though, I thought they would be a lot more expensive.
Cheers.
Retired in France

Offline Le Maisonniau

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Re: Bar chain oil, not flowing?
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2016, 08:11:07 am »
 ;D Hi Guys, success, thanks to Jason pointing me at the vent/valve.
390 Oiling away like a good-un.  I eventually found the pressurising valve and gave it a small blast of air as recommended in the manual and now it's working again. I put a new Oregon bar & Chain on as I had a bit of a mishap with the original  >:(.

Here are some pictures of my toils at the weekend, I am still clearing up after our mini Tornado in January, as you see, I have a LOT of firewood, It is a shame to cut up Oak 15 meters long into firewood, but our local Foresters have so much at the moment, they will only pay me firewood prices!!!  So I am harvesting and storing it my self.

Great forum this, I love it
Retired in France

 

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