MS341 idle problem?

[Tir]

Hi Folks,

 

This is my first post on here so go easy. I am not a professional user and I appreciate that you guys are generous with your time and knowledge on here and I hope you might be able to give me a little advice.

 

I recently purchased a MS341 second hand via a well known auction site. It arrived as a non runner although in sales description it was running fine so I had my local garden machinery specialist take a look at it. He fitted a new ignition coil and fitted a carb kit and the saw came back to me in working order. To be fair to the vendor he reimbursed the cost of the new ignition coil without hesitation.

 

I noticed on the the saws first few uses that the chain was creeping at idle speed so I did a bit of research lurking round here that the saw may have been idling too high which was causing the clutch to disengage and the chain to rotate. I checked the tension of the chain and adjusted the idle speed but couldn't get the chain to stop rotating without the saw dying out. So following further research I put in a new set of clutch springs which seemed to slightly improve matters. I also used a tachometer to set the idle speed and high and low jets to the recommended RPMs or as close as I could get to them at any rate erring on the rich side for caution.

 

However the last time I used the saw in earnest I noticed that the chain would start to creep after some heavy cutting when I set it down for a moment but I am convinced that the saw was holding a slightly higher idle speed than it should which meant the clutch didn't engage but after a short while the revs would settle to what I would call the proper idle speed and the chain would stop creeping. I was going to just go the whole hog and change the clutch entirely but I am no longer sure that this is the root cause of the problem and I am now thinking there may be an air leak somewhere.

 

I could leave the saw up to my local repair shop again but I'd like the opportunity to try and resolve the problem myself if possible.

 

Any help or advice on you might be able to offer on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[C.J]

Clutch bearing ?

[spudulike]

If the chain is spinning or creeping at an idle of circa 3000rpm then something is wrong, if the springs have been changed then it could be a bad needle bearing, crud in the clutch or twine wrapped round the clutch drum.

 

What does the saw do when you use the chain brake - does it stall?

[Tir]

Everything appears fine with chain brake engaged. Doesn't stall although sometimes rev's do drop very low but this also happens when the brake is not engaged at idle.

[peatff]

How does the oil pump drive on those saws. I had a similar problem with a saw and it was the oil pump drive sticking on the crankshaft.

[StevenA]

Maybe something simple like chain being too slack. Like you said after heavy cutting it creeps maybe the chain is stretching.

[wisecobandit]

With the saw running on tickover hold it upright and then turn it and put it on both its sides and notice is the idle speed changes just to help indicate crank seal issues. The chain/sprocket side usually goes first so with that side facing upwards especially listen for the possibility of an engine note change.

[Tir]

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

I can't here any real difference in the idle speed no matter which way I hold the saw. It certainly doesn't race or stall in any position. As the chain is new I was checking and adjusting it pretty regularly as I believe they are prone to stretching when new.

 

I did notice there is a small fuel weep by the petrol tank cap so I presume a new fuel cap is called for. I also noticed that there seems to be an audible whirring sound when I put on the chain brake it's not a loud sound but it is there and i don't here it on my other saw when I put on the brake. I am not sure if this is relevant.

 

Thanks for now.

[C.J]

Did you check and grease the clutch bearing when you replaced the clutch springs ?

[Tir]

I didn't grease it. It appeared in ok condition to my untrained eye but I can take it apart and check it again and grease it when I am in there.