Chain Won't Spin - McCullough 3516

[BobAFromNC]

I have a McCullough 3516 chain saw. I took a big pine tree down with it and was in the middle of cutting it up, when the chain stopped spinning on the bar. When I give it gas, it just bogs down the motor and the chain won’t spin. I’m thinking it’s either the clutch or the chain break got jammed somehow. Since it’s bogging down when I give it gas, I think it’s more likely the chain break is jammed. Does this sound right or could it be something else? Does anyone know how to get the break free? I tried taking the chain, bar, and cover by the clutch off and cleaning everything out, but it didn’t help. Nobody around here will work on McCullough because they can’t get parts. Thanks in advance.

Bob

 

[GASoline71]

Pull backwards (towards rear of saw) on the brake handle... it will click off.

Gary

 

[ciscoguy01]

Brake

Did you take the physical cover off the chain to make sure the brake wasn't on??? do that, remove the chain and bar and pull it to see if the clutch is spinning, be careful not to rev the motor with nothing on it... if it's spinning, it could be the bar, or even a burr perhaps on the bar making the chain stick... Also, did you pinch the bar perhaps??? make sure the bar isn't binding the chain up... Let us know eh?

 

[Fish]

Is it me, or is this post/poster a tad "squirrelly"?

 

[Fish]

Sorry, my bogus meter just went off, by accident.

 

[scottr]

Is it me, or is this post/poster a tad "squirrelly"?

Fish , he is a programmer so maybe he doesn't know that the bar sprocket tip can get clogged up and you can free it by pulling the chain backwards on a log .

 

[ciscoguy01]

ohhhhhh yeaaa

Fish , he is a programmer so maybe he doesn't know that the bar sprocket tip can get clogged up and you can free it by pulling the chain backwards on a log .

I didn't even think about the tip. Damn that tip... I've never had one jam up, but I know of alot of people that have... opcorn:

 

[GASoline71]

I still wanna know if he pulled the brake handle rearward to release it.:biggrinbounce2:

Gary

 

[BobAFromNC]

Update

Please forgive my ignorance in these things – I’m learning as I go. I verified that the brake is not binding up. After looking at it, I could see how it works – it’s a strip of metal that wraps around the clutch to stop it from spinning when the brake is on. I took the cover, chain, and bar off again. The clutch spins freely and the chain seems to move on the bar with no problem. I thought there might be something wrong with the chain, so I put an old chain on but it didn’t help. It seems to bind up when I put the chain on the shaft by the clutch. At this point it seems like it must be something to do with the clutch.

 

[ericjeeper]

The clutch

either engages or doesn't. If it engages and bogs.. something, bar ,chain or sproket tip is hindering the rotation. if it won't engage the engine will just rev. good luck

 

[rreidnauer]

A piece of something got crammed in behind a guide plate and is jamming the chain perhaps? Does the 3516 use a rim sprocket. If so, assure that the chain is actually IN the spocket, not next to it.

Drawin' at straws here....

 

[Pilsnaman]

With the saw turned off and chain brake disengaged can you move the chain back and forth with you hand? Be sure not to cut your fingers when doing this.

 

[TALLGUY]

Hmmmm
Long before I found this site this happened to me and it turned out I had run the rim sprocket so long I had actualy cut it in two. Everything was running but there was nothing left to pull the chain? I actualy ran all the way thru the drum and left a mark on the crank. Good thing I found this site to teach me the correct way to maintain my saw.

 

[scottr]

Please forgive my ignorance in these things – I’m learning as I go. I verified that the brake is not binding up. After looking at it, I could see how it works – it’s a strip of metal that wraps around the clutch to stop it from spinning when the brake is on. I took the cover, chain, and bar off again. The clutch spins freely and the chain seems to move on the bar with no problem. I thought there might be something wrong with the chain, so I put an old chain on but it didn’t help. It seems to bind up when I put the chain on the shaft by the clutch. At this point it seems like it must be something to do with the clutch.

Bob , the chain goes on a sprocket on the drum that the clutch engages not a shaft . Maybe Tallguy has the answer that you might have worn your spur round or away .

 

[NovaMan]

be careful not to rev the motor with nothing on it...

Why?