Stihl 045 - Fell in river

[WelshMan]

This is my "river saw" which I use for cutting fallen trees or floating logs caught up in my parents' river.

 

Unfortunately it got pinched up in a large log and I couldn't free it. I couldn't remove the saw from the bar because the sprocket is inboard of the clutch. So I tied it to the tree whilst I worked on the other end of the tree with another saw. When the trunk dropped from the bank to the river bed, the saw took a dip in the water. Luckily it wasn't running at the time and it wasn't completely submerged.

 

I've changed the fuel, air filter and plug, and tried to dry everything out.

 

Normally it's got very good compression, but after I cleaned it all up it felt slightly easier to pull over than normal. It wouldn't start though and I thought that I may have flooded it (with either petrol or water). So I changed the plug again and put some engine oil down the spark plug hole. I think that I put too much down because it's really difficult to turn over. I've done what I can to drain and soak up the excess oil, and pulled it over many times with the plug out but it's still really difficult to turn over with the plug back in. I'm thinking hydraulic lock.

 

Any ideas?

[Dinosaw]

Think we'd better turn it upside down to pull it over without the plug. You may have the crankcase full of water, which would give you the hydraulic lock. Best strip and clean carb at the same time.....

[spudulike]

The oil has sealed up the piston superbly and has now caused the compression to go up to OMG levels.

 

Blast a good bit of WD40 down the bore through the spark plug hole, pull it over fast a few times, turn it upside down, pull it over a few times and fast so all the oil and WD40 come out. Dry the plug out, heat it and stick it back in and drop start it with conviction.

 

It should go and start - do it quick before the water does any damage!

[WelshMan]

Thanks guys. I'll go and do it now.

[Haironyourchest]

Another great reason to avoid outboard clutch saws. Never again will I support the manufacture of those monstrositys.

[treequip]

Never again will I support the manufacture of those monstrositys.

 

Out of interest, what did you do previously to support ????

[Joe Newton]

Another great reason to avoid outboard clutch saws. Never again will I support the manufacture of those monstrositys.

 

 

Well you're stuffed for toppers then.

 

Daft comment.

[spudulike]

One of those drop your trousers so we can hear you moments:001_rolleyes:

[WelshMan]

The oil has sealed up the piston superbly and has now caused the compression to go up to OMG levels.

 

Blast a good bit of WD40 down the bore through the spark plug hole, pull it over fast a few times, turn it upside down, pull it over a few times and fast so all the oil and WD40 come out. Dry the plug out, heat it and stick it back in and drop start it with conviction.

 

It should go and start - do it quick before the water does any damage!

 

Thanks very much for the advice, Spud. I did all that and eventually it spluttered into life. It was really smokey at first but I gave it a good work out on some logs to get it nice and hot. It seems fine now.

 

Thanks again.

[spudulike]

Thanks very much for the advice, Spud. I did all that and eventually it spluttered into life. It was really smokey at first but I gave it a good work out on some logs to get it nice and hot. It seems fine now.

 

Thanks again.

 

Not a problem, always glad to help the forum:thumbup: