550xp mkii running on

[Darkslider]

1 hour ago, stewmo said:

So got the clutch off and needle bearing gone again.
Bought from L&S engineers so shouldn’t be eBay cheap surely?
And yes it’s jammed the clutch housing (if that’s what it’s called) onto the shaft.

So tips on how to get it off and...

What’s going to be underlying cause of two needle bearings going one after the other?

MS261s used to chew through these bearings, nobody ever really found out why but the official line was a bad batch of sprocket drums, though the suspicion is it was a bit more serious i.e crankshaft misalignment.

 

Are the needle bearings steel or composite caged? I've never found the plastic ones to last anything like as well despite being rated to sufficient temps and good quality i.e skf. Sometimes in a particular size though they're all that's available at the time.

[stewmo]

MS261s used to chew through these bearings, nobody ever really found out why but the official line was a bad batch of sprocket drums, though the suspicion is it was a bit more serious i.e crankshaft misalignment.
 
Are the needle bearings steel or composite caged? I've never found the plastic ones to last anything like as well despite being rated to sufficient temps and good quality i.e skf. Sometimes in a particular size though they're all that's available at the time.

They are plastic on this model.

But the first one last nearly two years and this a month.

So either I’m unlucky or something else caused the first failure and now this one.

[stewmo]

So I got the bearings etc off.

 

The clutch drum is marked on the inside by the needle bearing (see photo). That can’t be right can it?

 

Should it be replaced?

 

To my eye the clutch itself is fine.

 

Thanks

 

[peatff]

45 minutes ago, stewmo said:

So I got the bearings etc off.

 

The clutch drum is marked on the inside by the needle bearing (see photo). That can’t be right can it?

 

Should it be replaced?

 

To my eye the clutch itself is fine.

 

Thanks

 

That looks like it's been run for a long time with the brake on. I'd renew the lot, clutch, drum and bearing.

[Khriss]

Yr greasing that needle bearing yes? Got to ask cos was first thing in my head- do they grease from end of shaft still?  K

[spudulike]

Only seen that once before when the guy power jetted the saw and then left it and the needles rusted the crank.

Look at the clutch under a magnifying glass looking for damage to the hardened surface and feel for notches and if they are present, swap it out.

L&S do sell aftermarket parts but mostly for Stihl machines. If the spare came in a Husqvarna bag or it was advertised as being OEM then it will be. They are a reputable company purchasing from the manufacturers directly.

Do you over tighten your chain? Grease is usually thrown off the bearing in seconds so unlikely to be the issue. Most likely getting too hot because of leaving the brake on or excessive chain tightness.

[Stubby]

1 minute ago, spudulike said:

Only seen that once before when the guy power jetted the saw and then left it and the needles rusted the crank.

Look at the clutch under a magnifying glass looking for damage to the hardened surface and feel for notches and if they are present, swap it out.

L&S do sell aftermarket parts but mostly for Stihl machines. If the spare came in a Husqvarna bag or it was advertised as being OEM then it will be. They are a reputable company purchasing from the manufacturers directly.

Do you over tighten your chain? Grease is usually thrown off the bearing in seconds so unlikely to be the issue. Most likely getting too hot because of leaving the brake on or excessive chain tightness.

Chain brakes eh ? 

[stewmo]

Well I feel like I get chain tension right, I find it’s often running slack and nip it up but not too much.

Had a look at clutch and what I notice is shown in the photo below. No notches but clearly not flat. I presume it probably should be?

[spudulike]

It looks like the clutch doesn't completely sit in the drum from the wear on the clutch. 

[stewmo]

So replace the lot then?