Stihl MS260 clutch issues?

[NJA]

I haven't seen it yet but ms260 apparently hasn't been used for a while and just tried using it again.  Engine runs fine and revs up but when you start cutting even quite small stuff the chain is slowing/stopping even when on full revs?

Any ideas, anything obvious I should look for?

Sounds like clutch issue to me?  But why would it just start suddenly?  Any ideas/fixes much appreciated.

I'll try and look at it later today or tomorrow. 

[GarethM]

How old

[NJA]

Probably 12+ years.

But not had regular use at all few days a year on firewood

[GarethM]

Could be one of the early ones with the worn crank shaft output, you end up with a wobble that binds when the clutch is spinning.

[outonalimb]

Crank problems were with the 261 not the earlier 260. Possibly clutch springs, a new clutch and drum is not the end of the world. A very reliable saw worth a bit of TLC.

[spudulike]

If the saw is holding decent revs in the cut but the chain is not spinning then the clutch is slipping.

If this is the case, the clutch may not be opening up as it should or the shoes/drum may be worn...sometimes the friction surfaces wear unevenly. Probably best to strip the thing down  and inspect it.

If the saw is bogging in the cut then that may be a carb or engine issue.

 

[pleasant]

Consider checking the chain drive sprocket before doing any intensive investigation work. It may well be possible it has worn so badly that the underside chain drive links have cut a slot in the sprocket teeth, so under no load condition the chain will rotate, but as soon as a load is applied the chain drive links just slip through the wear slots cut in the sprocket teeth.

 

Edited 8 hours ago by pleasant

[spuddog0507]

8 hours ago, NJA said:

Probably 12+ years.

But not had regular use at all few days a year on firewood

last 260s made where in 2009, the 261s where 2010 onwards, the 260 is a cracking little saw and last for years, your problem is probably the clutch and a saw well worth spending a few quid on,, 

[Dan Maynard]

2 hours ago, pleasant said:

Consider checking the chain drive sprocket before doing any intensive investigation work. It may well be possible it has worn so badly that the underside chain drive links have cut a slot in the sprocket teeth, so under no load condition the chain will rotate, but as soon as a load is applied the chain drive links just slip through the wear slots cut in the sprocket teeth.

 

That is special! How the hell do you keep on using it that long without thinking something is odd?