Clutch-brake assembly cleaning question

[AussieSawyer]

I have my clutch assembly cover off after throwing the chain late on Saturday (a long day of work). (Husky 455 Rancher).

I am cleaning the general area under the cover, using 2 types of brushes. Is it okay to apply a cleaning liquid in there to assist getting trapped gunk out?

A brush dipped into gasoline might be a good choice - but wondering if any residuals after it flashes off would be likely to affect the brake band area.

(staying at an Airbnb, and hoping that the owner doesn't discover that I am using some of the floor space as a workshop area... you gotta do what you can!).

 

[Mad Professor]

Scrape the thick crud out first, then a stiff parts brush and toothbrush using diesel/kerosene as solvent. You can do this over a plastic tote. I save the diesel and cut it with gasoline to light brush piles

Then use warm solution of dish soap to get the diesel stench off.

 

[AussieSawyer]

Answered! (I did a 2nd search here and found references to brake cleaning fluid).

But a follow up question - The 455 has a 24" cutting bar on it, which I also cleaned and inspected, flipping it over for its next round of duty. I am finding that the chain glides along for a bit, hits resistance..... I can roll it back and forth and this keeps happening, without regard to different chain tension settings. I am watching for any stiff links as they pass over the nose of the bar, but nothing looks amiss.

Does anyone know what I might have going on here? Now I am wondering if throwing the chain at the end of yesterday might be related to this (er, beyond not keeping up on chain tension as the hours flew by). I did just take the cover off one more time to verify that the chain motion over the sprocket felt free & smooth. Puzzling....

 

[AussieSawyer]

Thanks MP. We were both actually posting at the same time.

 

[Mad Professor]

Answered! (I did a 2nd search here and found references to brake cleaning fluid).

But a follow up question - The 455 has a 24" cutting bar on it, which I also cleaned and inspected, flipping it over for its next round of duty. I am finding that the chain glides along for a bit, hits resistance..... I can roll it back and forth and this keeps happening, without regard to different chain tension settings. I am watching for any stiff links as they pass over the nose of the bar, but nothing looks amiss.

Does anyone know what I might have going on here? Now I am wondering if throwing the chain at the end of yesterday might be related to this (er, beyond not keeping up on chain tension as the hours flew by). I did just take the cover off one more time to verify that the chain motion over the sprocket felt free & smooth. Puzzling....

Check for burrs on the drive links that get hung up in the bar groove. Common problem when a chain gets thrown.

Can file the burrs off with a flat file.