Stihl 028WB chain brake retro-fit?

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the westspartan

the westspartan

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I have an old 028WB that I bought to mess around with. Now that it is tuned up with a fresh chain on it, it screams! I would like to use it as a work saw, but I do most of my work in pretty thick bush, so I would really like to have a chain brake on it,(mine has the brake handle, but the brake is not functional), especially because the wife may use it from time to time.

I know that a chain brake was an option on some of these early 028s, anyone here have any experience retro-fitting the brake onto a saw that didn't come with one? Anybody know if there is an after makerket kit available for this, or is it a dealer only item?

Any info would be great.

Thanks,
Dan
 
Sounds like a rarity. Id check ebay, Plus call my dealer or an older dealer thats been around a while to know about them.Im sure more will be along to add their 2 cents.:popcorn:
 
I have a 028WB and it has the handle but no internal parts for the brake. I was at a repair shop and he told me about them not having a brake. He said the super or maybe the Mag (I cant remember) had one, but it was not a easy swap
 
There was no "Mag" version of the 028 as far as I know, but there was a Super... the very early models did not have a brake... then later on when the brake was offered Stihl had a dealer "kit" to fit a brake on the older model saws...

Finding one of those kits would be pretty tuff... I would just get a more modern saw for the wife to run. Get a saw she can have as her own... you'll score points with her, and get another saw in the proicess... :)

But keep that little 028... it's an awesome saw. I have one that was bought brand new by my dad around 1984, and it has a fully functional chain brake from the factory...

Gary
 
Last edited:
Thanks for correctin me, I do not like givin out false info. But the dealer showed me another 028 he had apart and there was nothin inside of it either. It would be nice to have a chain brake because I use mine alot, and feel more comfortable with one on the saw.
Not trying to hijack your thread, sorry
 
little possum said:
Thanks for correctin me, I do not like givin out false info. But the dealer showed me another 028 he had apart and there was nothin inside of it either. It would be nice to have a chain brake because I use mine alot, and feel more comfortable with one on the saw.
Not trying to hijack your thread, sorry
Click to expand...

That is the way mine is as well, a handle that moves but no brake mechanism. I have not had it apart to see what it looks like inside. I would realy like to use this saw more and a brake would be nice.

Also, is yours an anti-vibe model? On mike acres site, it lists the 028WB as a rigid frame saw and the 028AV as anti-vibe. Mine is an anti-vibe design, but says 028WB. I am wondering if mine has a replacement cover on it from a different saw or if his site is incorrect or if there are more options than his site lists.
 
Im not sure of the difference, I didnt tell any difference in the feel or movement of the 28WB or the 29 Super, or 38AV
What am I looking for?
 
little possum said:
Im not sure of the difference, I didnt tell any difference in the feel or movement of the 28WB or the 29 Super, or 38AV
What am I looking for?
Click to expand...

I believe anti-vibe means that the handles are isolated from the engine and cutting equipment (bar and chain) by springs or rubber bushings so that the vibrations from the running engine and the act of cutting don't get absorbed by your hands, like all modern stihls and most modern saws in general). A rigid frame means that everything is bolted solidly together as one piece.
 
oh, all I know is that it is a lot easier to run than the Homelite XP1000 which has no AV at all. I will look closer at it sometime when I have the chance. Good luck finding a kit for your saw.
 
I just went through this same problem. I tried to fit a chain brake to an early saw. The handle that is on the early saw is on a stud with a spring and only seems like a brake, it is not. The later model has a small metal plate bolted to the handle (different handle) and this works the linkage for the brake band. The place for the brake spring is there and the band will fit but there is no place to fit the fixed end of the band. There is no slot for the band with the cross piece and no stud for the band with the loop end. If there was a retro-fit brake, how did they afix the end of the brake band to the saw housing??????
I finally came to the conclusion you could not do that very easily.
 
I have the same problem and after checking quite a bit, I don't think it is possible to retrofit the old 028 WB's that didn't come with chainbrakes. If you find a way, I'll sure be interested.

I bought mine in 1980, it has low hours , looks great,and has been a wonderful saw. It now sits in a remote cabin and I don't plan to use it again. When I was using it, I usually didn't use any protective gear at all and used full chisel chain. Also I was often cutting brush in icy and deep snow conditions or in tangles. Never had a close call but I'm older and having seen some of the accident photos on the internet and having pro friends who got many stitches, it won't get used again.

I suggest making it a shelf queen.
 
Kogafortwo said:
I did a chain brake retrofit on my 028WB with parts I found on Fleabay. PES+ and some of the guys were very helpful as you'll see here.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=52843
Click to expand...

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is the info I have been looking for! My dealer has a parts saw with a chainbrake in it, but he will not sell it to me because he says it will not work! I guess I will have to look somewhere else, or risk P***ing off my dealer trying to talk him into selling it to me. He gives me good deals, but I have never had to talk a guy, in the business of selling things, into selling something!
 
the westspartan said:
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is the info I have been looking for! My dealer has a parts saw with a chainbrake in it, but he will not sell it to me because he says it will not work! I guess I will have to look somewhere else, or risk P***ing off my dealer trying to talk him into selling it to me. He gives me good deals, but I have never had to talk a guy, in the business of selling things, into selling something!
Click to expand...

I kept searching Ebay for Stihl 028 until the brake parts that matched popped up. If you look every few days, I predict you'll get what you need within about 3 months and pay about $50.

If you convince your dealer to sell the parts saw, make sure you pull the bar cover and clutch cover underneath it to compare to your saw. See the pix from PES+ in the old thread - there is an important difference.

Good luck!
 
OK everyone the stihl 028 wb 7 digit serial number on crankcase the hand brake was a option they switched to 9 digit serial number in 1980 and the 028 av wood boss came with the hand brake the chain brake if your saw has 7 digit serial number on crankcase the chain brake doesn't cross each other the brake kit part number is 1118 007 1001 or 1118 007 1002 the 028 was made 1979 and 1980 there were 4 models from 1979 to 1991 42mm 44mm and the 2 supers with 46mm piston most stihl dealers only know of the 44mm and 46 mm now like I said if your crankcase has 7 digit serial number it is a 028 wb and chain brake was an option people didn't think to much of one then intill realized how dangerous it was so if you want to rebuild your old 028 wb chain brake kit 1118 007 1002 is easier to find than the 1118 007 1001 kit and if any of you want the part numbers for the brake parts brake down I have all the part numbers from brake band to bolt spring etc even the hand guard and three differt levers so just hit me be glad to give you the part numbers or may post a list of the chain brake parts numbers if can't find the kit thanks The rubber duck.
 

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