cleaning a chainsaw

[Dilz]

- SOoooo this may sounds a bit dumb - but my limited past experience has taught me that an airline just isnt enough to get years of crud off a saw (not always my saw!) before I attempt to fix it or at least dismantle it and forget about in a box for a year....

 

I live in a flat - and chainsaws are banned from the kitchen table. my workshop which is down the road also has no running water. So pressure washer isnt really an option.

 

Was considering chucking the saw in a bucket and giving it a blast at the 'wash it yourself' car wash I take my van to - is this indeed a dumb idea?

[openspaceman]

 

Was considering chucking the saw in a bucket and giving it a blast at the 'wash it yourself' car wash I take my van to - is this indeed a dumb idea?

 

I don't like pressure washing machines as it gets in the electrics and drives dirt into seals and bearings.

[Dilz]

fair point - any tips on cleaning a saw prior to dismantle would be much appreciated.

[stihlmadasever]

Airline should be enough to get most of it off,the hardend stuff can be removed in a petrol bath.

[openspaceman]

fair point - any tips on cleaning a saw prior to dismantle would be much appreciated.

 

 

I scrape or blow the loose stuff off and occasionally use a spray kitchen cleaner. The main thing is to stop stuff falling into the crankcase. I have taken a dremel to the fins of a badly encrusted cylinder.

[peatff]

Brake cleaner aerosol and airline, wear glasses and keep your mouth shut.

[spudulike]

Brake cleaner can give you issues like heart palpitations, I use white spirit, paint brush and compressor - will shift much of the crud apart from dried oil.

 

Don't use water - it will corrode and rust parts!

[bmp01]

Damn !

 

I was really hoping there was going to be a magic answer to save me from my least favourite chainsaw job. .... really disappointed

 

I've found a bucket of hot water with a splash of car wash stuff (traffic film remover) does a good job of softening the goo and breaks down the oil - plastic parts only, honest . Often need a bit of a brush as well, and an airline.

 

Parafin works too, leaves it a bit oily though.

 

bmp01

[Richard Thompson]

I use carb cleaner or neat acetone for the tough stuff and an airline for the loose stuff.

i sometimes use white sprit/petrol if i have to off site or if I'm out of the proper stuff

[AllyH]

Wouldn't really recommend pressure washing it as like someone else said it could drive water into electrical components. Brake cleaner too can quickly deteriorate plastic and rubber hoses. I generally keep mine clean and give it a good clean with hot soapy water once a week and rise with clean water.

 

 

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