After a full day of bucking firewood, I noticed my saw was giving off a smell like it was about to self-destruct. That was my cue! Let’s share some practical tips, quick checks, and smart habits to ensure the clutch stays cool and the cuts stay smooth without burning anything up.
Keeping your clutch from overheating during those long bucking sessions
- Thread starter Knot
- Start date
Leon Couper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2025
- Messages
- 127
Yes what STIHLTECH said is completely true. Also you will find using a
saw 60 or 70 even 80cc will help rather than using a 25 to 30cc thing and
make it struggle.
saw 60 or 70 even 80cc will help rather than using a 25 to 30cc thing and
make it struggle.
Whatever size saw you use, a sharp chain is key. Also no pushing.
OK, a quick nerd out.
The dull teeth make more heat than normal. This vaporizes the bar oil on the chain (more will not help).
You also are putting more pressure on the bar and chain. Causing MORE heat.
You are lowering the revs on the saw due to pushing. You would have to lower the revs to less that 4000 rpm to actually make the clutch slip. BUT, all that heat you are making on the bar and chain is transferring to the sprocket and clutch. If it gets hot enough, the surrounding covers will turn brown or melt. This same heat is also going into the crank and bearings. The lower revs start to build heat in the piston. In an extreme case, the piston starts to score.
So, yes, most of what we repair on a saw starts with a dull chain.
TMI?
OK, a quick nerd out.
The dull teeth make more heat than normal. This vaporizes the bar oil on the chain (more will not help).
You also are putting more pressure on the bar and chain. Causing MORE heat.
You are lowering the revs on the saw due to pushing. You would have to lower the revs to less that 4000 rpm to actually make the clutch slip. BUT, all that heat you are making on the bar and chain is transferring to the sprocket and clutch. If it gets hot enough, the surrounding covers will turn brown or melt. This same heat is also going into the crank and bearings. The lower revs start to build heat in the piston. In an extreme case, the piston starts to score.
So, yes, most of what we repair on a saw starts with a dull chain.
TMI?
