Cracked 562 clutch

[Acerforestry]

A few days back I went to replace the drive sprocket on my 562, not a particularly old or well used saw and used the same lazy method that I've generally used - big screwdriver or similar on the appropriate groove on the plate, decomp out and whack with a maul / mallet. Except this time it's cracked it, and at 50 odd quid for a replacement pretty annoying for trying to save a few minutes of time. Deffo the last time, as a 550 or 60 (I can't remember which) suffered the same fate a few years back, so i should know better. What I'd like to know is, is there any reason an Easyweld brazing rod can't make a decent repair? You can apparently use them on cast alloy, low melting temp, no special equipment required and the resulting bond as strong as original material. Be interesting to see if it works, as the brazing rod has just arrived

[adw]

This should be interesting to see, just remember if you cause an imbalance on this clutch it won’t be just a new clutch you will need.

[Paddy1000111]

I'd be concerned about balance. Especially at high rpm. The crack could propagate and then you will be needing a lot of new bits

[Acerforestry]

Ok fair enough but what if each of the segments weighs exactly the same, on a set of digital scales. The way in which the 3 are pulled tight together by the springs freqently seems to form a less than perfect disc, so if you can get the weight correct I can't so much see an issue?

[Paddy1000111]

Personally I would replace it if it's cracked. Clutches don't form a perfect circle like you say but they symmetrical which means that they are ballanced. 

 

I would be concerned about it personally. The difference between welding and brazing is with brazing you aren't melting the base material meaning the crack will still be there. It will probably propagate.

[adw]

I have stooped using the hammer and screw driver method on the later clutch, i now only use the service tool, there is a different tool dependent on which clutch you have. which clutch do you have??

 

[5thelement]

I modified a socket from an old set and put it on an impact gun, works a treat without putting too much load on the clutch, just remember not to depress the decomp button.

[Acerforestry]

5 hours ago, adw said:

I have stooped using the hammer and screw driver method on the later clutch, i now only use the service tool, there is a different tool dependent on which clutch you have. which clutch do you have??

 

I could make one of these as other blokes have but would possibly be easiert to just buy one - but where did you get it? I've had a look for something like this and drew a blank

[Acerforestry]

Its the right hand version, the 04, cheers

[adw]

Must say I have seen the early clutch break, more the later version ,anyway the tool is part number 575251401 .