A chainsaw is an indispensable tool not only for a summer resident, but also during construction work. If you need to stock up on firewood for the winter, then going into the forest without a chainsaw does not make sense at all. With proper use of the tool, it can last a long time, but in any case, sooner or later various types of malfunctions will occur. One of these malfunctions is a breakdown of the starter, as a result of which it is difficult to start the engine. In this situation, it is advisable to repair the chainsaw starter with your own hands. How to do this, we will find out in the material.
All types of chainsaws, both Chinese and European, are equipped with starters of an identical design and principle of operation. The universal design of starters allows the use of these devices both on branded chainsaws and on semi-official tools supplied from the Middle Kingdom. It is only important to note that domestically produced instruments have some distinctive features.
The chainsaw starter is a simple mechanism consisting of:
- Drum.
- Rope.
- Handles connected to a cable.
- Frame with return spring.
The principle of operation of such a device is also quite simple. When pulling out the handle, which is connected by means of a cable to the ratchet drum, it moves. The drum, when moving, engages with the splines of another drum, which is located on the shaft. Thus, manually moving the crankshaft of the saw, which makes several revolutions. As soon as the handle returns to its original position, aided by the return spring, the spline connection is lost, causing the shaft to stop. With each movement of the crankshaft in the cylinder, the amount of fuel-air mixture increases, which ultimately contributes to its ignition.
The greater the power of the tool, the more jerks the starter must make to start the engine. For the acceleration of the return of the drum to its original position, the return spring is responsible, the manufacture of which is carried out using steel with a high degree of elasticity.
Over time, with the constant use of the tool, there are problems with starting the engine, or rather, with the functioning of the starter. If such problems occur, the starter can always be repaired. If the principle and device of the starter is known, then repairing it with your own hands will not be difficult at all.
Typical breakdowns and repair of a chainsaw starter
Before carrying out repairs, it is necessary to find out the causes of the breakdown. Since the product is constantly subjected to dynamic and other types of loads, its failure is not excluded. Common causes of starter failures are: cable breakage, abrasion or chipping of several splines of the ratchet drum, damage to the spring, cracked pulley, and others. To determine why the saw does not start, you will need to conduct an appropriate revision of the starter mechanism. Consider the main types of malfunctions, as well as find out how to properly repair the product.
Cord replacement
The starter cord is a strong rope that is strong enough to wear out, but even its technical properties do not save it from damage. The rope at each start of the tool rubs against the body of the starter cover, which leads to its gradual chafing and wear.
If the cord is frayed, then to replace it, you will need to disassemble the case of this unit. After removing the cover, it is necessary to lift the drum, but only in such a way that it does not jump off its seats. It is recommended to carry out such work together with a partner who will fix the spring, and you will replace the cable. The remains of the old cable should be removed, and then fasten the new product in the handle and in the groove of the drum. After that, the cable should be wound on the roller, and finally the body should be assembled.
It is important to know! Before you fix the cable in the handle, you should pass it through the appropriate hole in the starter cover.
How to replace a chainsaw starter spring
If there is damage to the spring, which often happens on Chinese instruments, then the mechanism can be repaired only by replacing it. But if its damage occurred at the point of attachment, that is, the ear burst, then it can be repaired.
Spring repair is heating the fracture site to 600 degrees, after which it is slowly cooled to 100 degrees, at which the end is wrapped in the shape of a fragment. Thus, it will be possible to avoid the loss of elasticity of the product, which will extend its service life. Although most specialists simply replace the product with a new one.
The process of replacing the spring is carried out in the following sequence:
- Initially, the clip or drum of the mechanism is removed.
- There is a spring inside the drum. To dismantle it, you will need to fix its upper part, and then pull the starter handle to the side.
- When the old spring is removed, you will need to install a new one. In this case, it is imperative to clean the housing.
- When installing a new spring, insert it into the starter, and then get into the groove with the antennae.
- At the end of the work, you can put on the drum and install the starter cover in place.
The detailed process of replacing the spring is discussed in the video:
Replacing flywheel pawls
If it is necessary to replace the pawls or flywheel responses, then this is also not difficult to do. To do this, you will need to dismantle the flywheel, and then remove the dogs. Install new dogs should be exclusively those that were originally (plastic or metal). This is very important, since replacing plastic pawls with metal ones will lead to accelerated wear on the flywheel. The details of replacing chainsaw starter dogs are discussed in the video below.
In conclusion, it is important to note that you do not need to have special skills or experience to repair a chainsaw starter. All work can be done independently, if you take the repair process with all responsibility. Timely preventive maintenance of the chainsaw will avoid the occurrence of breakdowns when performing work in the field.
One of the most important components of any chainsaw is the starter. It is from his work that the speed of starting the motor and the subsequent operation of the unit depends.
A standard starter for a chainsaw is a mechanism from a coil with a handle (a cord wound around a pulley) and a frame with a return spring. The knot is activated by pulling the rope (the operator pulls the starter cord). When the handle is pulled out, the pawl clings to the ratchet of the drum, the flywheel spins, activating the crankshaft and starting the engine.
When the operator releases the handle, the return spring returns the starter to its original position.
Typical node malfunctions
Subject to the rules of operation and careful use, the chainsaw can serve the owner for many years. However, minor malfunctions and malfunctions still occur. Among the most common breakdowns are problems in the ignition system and starter problems.
The main causes of node malfunctions are:
- broken or burst pulley;
- breakage of the launch cable;
- broken starter spring.
Moreover, the owner of the tool can eliminate such breakdowns and install the chainsaw starter spring on his own. Following a certain sequence of actions.
Do-it-yourself chainsaw starter repair
A common question that arises among owners of gas tools is “how to assemble a chainsaw starter and troubleshoot it?”. The procedure is not as complicated as it might seem. It is enough to prepare all the necessary tools and follow the instructions.
First of all, you should remove the assembly from the chainsaw body. To do this, the bolts are unscrewed, and the side cover is removed from the tool. When the cover is removed and inspected, you can proceed to dismantle the starter. For a complete inspection and repair of the mechanism, it is necessary:
- unscrew the screw securing the starter;
- dismantle the clamp, soft start spring;
- release the pulley with the cord, in case of a complete or partial break, wind a new rope;
- inspect the pulley for cracks, damage to the rear, wear;
- detection of damage to the soft start spring (mechanical failures, fastening defects, damage to the tip of the spring);
- replace all damaged parts;
- wind the pulley;
- assemble the starter and install on the saw.
It should be remembered that you need to insert the spring into the starter before installing the pulley. It is also important to check the quality of their coupling.
Consumers who do not know how to assemble the chainsaw starter spring, or are afraid to do it themselves, can contact the service center.
A quick start of any chainsaw is not complete without a starter. During the operation of the tool, due to the accelerated cranking of the crankshaft, the fuel-air mixture is supplied to the engine, compressed and ignited. Based on this, a well-chosen starter for a chainsaw is able to guarantee a long and proper operation of the entire mechanism!
Device and principle of operation
Almost all well-known manufacturers of chainsaws supplement their own products with starters of an identical principle of operation. After all, it is not in vain that in any specialized store today you can find universal types of starters that are equally perfect for any chainsaw model, be it Makita, Husqvarna or Stihl, or even a semi-official fake from China under the above brands. Nevertheless, among domestic-made starters there are those that have their own unique features - Ural, Lesnik, etc.
The work of the starter is as follows: on the body of the chainsaw there is a handle through which a special cable passes, pulling and hooking the ratchet drum with a sharp pull. In this case, the movement is transmitted to the drum with splines on the shaft.
At this time, the crankshaft makes several full revolutions, as a result of which the working mixture is compressed between the cylinder head and the piston. If the handle is released, the contact between the splines and the ratchet will be lost, causing the shaft to simply stop!
The larger the engine of the chainsaw, the more fuel-air mixture will be required for further ignition. Based on this, to start saws of high power, as a rule, more jerks are needed for the starting cable. For greater convenience and to speed up the return of the drum, manufacturers began to use forced return springs from elastic steels.
Simplification of starting a chainsaw is achieved due to the following factors:
- The presence in the design of some models of chainsaws (for example, in Maxcut, Partner models of the S line, etc.) of a special pump that guarantees timely pumping of the fuel mixture.
- Mounting an additional spring, which provides easier untwisting of the crankshaft when the cable is displaced.
- Due to the preliminary enrichment of the mixture through the appropriate valve in the carburetor body.
- Accommodations automatic decompression valve, which will reduce the working pressure inside the cylinder.
Chainsaw starter repair
During frequent use, some components of the chainsaw may be subjected to constant dynamic influences, due to which, for example, at the most inopportune moment, the cable may burst, the shaft will begin to rotate at a much lower speed, or the teeth of the ratchet will crumble. Given this, the repair and revision of the chainsaw starter can be operations carried out even more than once during one working season!
Spring repair
With a low quality of the spring material, the latter tends to burst, and usually the rupture occurs in the area of contact with the drum, in the place where the loop is formed. In this case, it is not necessary to change the spring at all! It is quite enough to simply clean the surface well from the existing grease and dirt, and then carefully grind the area of destruction. At the end, the spring is released at a temperature of 600-650 degrees until the steel gets a crimson hue. The part should cool down gradually, where at 100-150 degrees it is already possible to carefully wrap the end of the spring on the inner surface of the drum in the form of a restrictive ledge so that the material receives the desired plasticity. In this case, the elastic characteristics of the spring will remain the same.
Cord replacement
If the cord is pulled out, the cable begins to rub against the starter housing. Replacing the cord begins with disassembling the body of the assembly, during which the ratchet drum is gently lifted so that the return spring does not slip from its seat. It is more correct and more convenient to do this together, where during the replacement of the cable the second one will hold the spring! After the cable is successfully fixed in the grooves of the drum and the handle, it is wound on the roller with the subsequent assembly of the body.
How to put a spring on a chainsaw starter?
It is difficult for even an experienced craftsman to place the starter spring in the required groove. First of all, the spring is folded to its original diameter, after which it is placed inside the cavity of the drum hub. The outer end of the spring is placed opposite the hole in the lock - for this purpose, you can use the hole! The outer end is located behind a limited ledge. Using the same screwdriver, the loop on the side of the inner end of the spring is aligned with the hole. The disk is lowered, after which its rotation is checked, as well as whether the ratchet pawl has risen correctly. The ratchet is being assembled.
After successfully replacing the spring, you need to adjust its tension. For this purpose, the cable is inserted on a circle into the groove, where a return spring is twisted onto it. Having removed the slack, it will be more correct to make an additional couple of turns when winding the spring, thus ensuring the necessary tightness of the part.
You should not try to repair the ratchet mechanism yourself at home, as for most moments CNC machine required! If you do not have it, then buying or ordering a new node in a specialized store will be a more justified solution.
To quickly start any chainsaw, a starter is required. With accelerated scrolling of the crankshaft of the tool, the fuel-air mixture supplied to the engine is compressed and subsequently ignited. Therefore, the normal operation of the starter for a chainsaw determines the performance of the entire mechanism.
Chainsaw starter device
Almost all leading manufacturers of chainsaws complete their products with starters of a similar principle of operation. It is no coincidence that specialized stores offer universal starter designs that are equally successful for both Stihl, Husqvarna, Makita chainsaws, and for Chinese semi-official fakes under the named brands. Some features have only domestic-made chainsaw starters (Lesnik, Ural and a number of others).
The principle of operation of a starter for a chainsaw is as follows. A handle is installed in the groove of the body, through which the cable is passed. If the handle is raised sharply, the cable is pulled out and engages the ratchet drum, which transmits the movement to the splined drum provided on the shaft. In this case, the crankshaft makes several revolutions, and the working mixture in the space between the piston and the cylinder head is compressed. Accordingly, when the handle is lowered, the contact between the ratchet and the splines is lost, and the shaft stops.
With an increase in engine size, the required amount of the fuel-air mixture necessary for its subsequent ignition also grows, so the number of jerks for the starting cable for high-power saws increases. Therefore, in order to accelerate the return of the drum, unwitting return springs made of steels with high elastic properties are used.
Facilitating the launch of a chainsaw is implemented in the following ways:
- Preliminary enrichment of the working mixture, for which there is a special damper in the design of the carburetor.
- Installing an automatic decompression valve that reduces the working pressure in the chainsaw cylinder.
- By installing an additional spring, which, in the process of moving the cable, facilitates the unwinding of the crankshaft.
- The presence in the design of some chainsaws (for example, Partner S series, Maxcut, etc.) of a primer - a pump that provides preliminary pumping of fuel.
Chainsaw starter repair
With frequent starts of the chainsaw, some parts of the starter are constantly subjected to dynamic loads. As a result, the cable may burst, several teeth of the ratchet may crumble, and the shaft will rotate at a much lower speed. Therefore, the revision and even repair of the starter are operations that are sometimes carried out several times per season.
Cord replacement
When it is pulled out, the cable constantly rubs against the starter housing. To replace, disassemble the body of the assembly, and carefully lift the ratchet drum in such a way as to prevent the return spring from jumping off its sockets. It is better to do this work together: the assistant fixes the spring while the cable is being replaced. After fixing the cable in the handle and in the grooves of the drum, the cable is wound on the roller, and the body is assembled.
Spring repair
If the material of the starter spring is of poor quality, the spring breaks (usually at the point of its attachment to the drum, where it forms a loop). In this case, it is not necessary to replace the spring. It is enough to thoroughly clean its surface from dirt and traces of grease, gently grind the place of destruction, and then release the spring at 600 ... 650 ° C (the spring steel should acquire a crimson color). It is necessary to cool the spring slowly, and at 100 ... 150ºС it is already possible to carefully wrap its end in the form of a restrictive ledge on the inner surface of the drum (the steel will acquire the necessary plasticity) and insert it into place. The elastic properties of the spring will not change.
How to put a spring on a chainsaw starter?
Putting the starter spring in the right groove is not an easy task even for an experienced user. First, the spring should be twisted to the previous diameter and installed in the cavity of the drum hub. The outer end of the spring is fixed by the restrictive ledge, and the outer end with a screwdriver should be placed opposite the hole in the lock. The loop at the inner end of the spring is combined with a screwdriver with a hole, after which the disk is lowered. By rotating the disc, check whether the ratchet pawl is in place. Next, the ratchet itself is assembled.
After installing the spring, it is necessary to adjust its tension. To do this, a cable is inserted into the groove on the circumference, and a return spring is twisted around it. After eliminating the slack, it is better to wind the spring a few more turns to ensure the required preload on the part.
Repairing the ratchet itself at home is not recommended, since many operations will require the use of a CNC machine. It is easier to purchase a new node in specialized stores.
The chainsaw has become such a familiar tool in any type of backyard that you experience real discomfort in the event of a breakdown. You can immediately take the tool to a service center and part with a certain amount of money.
Or calmly figure out the causes of the malfunction - and make repairs yourself.
The advantages of this approach:
- you save a lot of money, the work is free, you are looking for spare parts on your own, having the possibility of price maneuver;
- the chainsaw device is no longer a mystery to you, you understand all the processes taking place inside;
- your pride celebrates victory, friends look at you respectfully;
- the situation when the chainsaw suddenly “stands up” in a forest clearing 50 km from the nearest settlement will not take you by surprise.
What you need to know to repair a chainsaw with your own hands, and what tools are required?
First of all, you need to understand the kinematics of the device. Superficial knowledge like: “gas tank, motor, start cord, shaft, chain” is not enough. Study the technical description of your instrument, read specialized literature.
When carrying out warranty service (during this period, it is better to entrust the repair to the service), do not hesitate to ask questions to the masters, try to delve into the chainsaw device. Moreover, it is better to do it preventively, without waiting for the first breakdown.
Important! If you know the principle of operation of a chainsaw, the probability of a breakdown approaches zero. The owner who “sees” the tool through and through will not allow an emergency situation leading to the failure of the mechanisms.
Standard tool for work:
- A set of socket and open-end wrenches;
- Candle ring key;
- Quality screwdrivers;
- Pliers, tweezers, side cutters;
- Retaining ring removers;
- Soldering iron, tester.
A welding machine is not required, since case failures entail the replacement of elements. Even repairing a chainsaw tire with mechanical damage is undesirable.
What are the most common faults and how to fix them?
Chainsaw starter repair
A fairly common nuisance during operation is a breakdown of the starter mechanism.
He may not grab the shaft, not wind the cord after a jerk, or even jam. This is normal during heavy use. The main thing is not to panic, just unscrew the side cover and inspect the mechanism. When disassembling, be sure to clean all elements from dirt and dust.
Inspect the starter clamp, shock dampening spring, and start cord attachment. On the ratchet mechanism (white gear in the illustration), the teeth for setting should be of the same size, without chips or cracks.
Under the starter cover, the chainsaw start mechanism
If defects are found, replace the assembly. It is easier to buy it ready-made, since the manufacture of such a part on a CNC milling machine will cost a pretty penny. A broken spring can easily be replaced, this is not such a responsible unit. Attaching the cord is a no-brainer.
Then remove and check the condition of the pulley.
This element bears the greatest load, so it can break first. Unfortunately, it is also beyond repair, so if it breaks, buy a new one.
Sequentially disassemble the starter mechanism
Check the function of the return spring. It can be selected by diameter and force.
Assemble the mechanism in reverse order, remembering to lubricate the friction surfaces. Check functionality. With a high degree of probability, the chainsaw starter repair will be completed successfully.