Found a decent deal on an 044

[Bounty Hunter]

Nice Score Brother! We loooooooooooooooove the 044/440s!

Why do you want to split the cases? Bad Bearings? Pressure leak?

Here's what we did, if you have to go that deep...http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=132792

If it's just the top end, For the best scream'in saw on the cheap: Bailey's BB kit, piston ring compressor, and a muffler mod!

 

[USMC0802]

Nice Score Brother! We loooooooooooooooove the 044/440s!

Why do you want to split the cases? Bad Bearings? Pressure leak?

Here's what we did, if you have to go that deep...http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=132792

If it's just the top end, For the best scream'in saw on the cheap: Bailey's BB kit, piston ring compressor, and a muffler mod!

So I shouldn't need to replace the crankcase gasket? I haven't run it at all with the piston looking like that. It doesn't seem to be leaking anything. With the guy having used the saw as much as he did, I doubt it was straight gassed unless he let someone borrow it, which I don't think that was the case either. I'm expecting a leak somewhere and it ran lean.

Here's my shopping list at Bailey's:
BB Kit
Gasket Set
Carb kit - is this the correct kit (http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=CRB%20K10%20HD)? Any reason why this saw wouldn't have a Walbro carb?
Fuel line
Fuel filter
Impulse hose
HD air filter
10 pack of e-clips

The cylinder has the opening for the decomp button. I have an 026 Pro with a decomp button and an 066 BB without. Recommendations on using the decomp button or should I just plug it? It's on $4.05 more for the button vs plugging it.

 

[fatjoe]

The only problem you might have is a bearing problem you can`t see.Were you able to get a good feel of the crank bearings?I found taking the coil, flywheel and clutch off really helps to get a feel of the bearings.How smooth and noisy they may or may not be.If you pop the oil seals out, you can see them a bit better also.I saw they were on your list, so I assume your gonna replace them too.There were a couple offers to help split a case on another thread.I would offer, but am very new and green about it myself.I`ve only done three case splits.I guess thats why I don`t think it`s as simple as some of the other members.It sure would be a nice start to start out with new bearings, although you may be fine with the ones you have. Good luck.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Even though the saw looks "high milage" it may not be over the hill yet...we have several 044s that have over 1000 hrs...one that had close to 3000 before its last rebuild...and that one didn't need bearings or seals.

Do you have a vacuum tester? There's great threads on testing...search the info if you are not familiar with the procedure. If the bearings and seals are good, your shoping list is OK except gassket kit you won't need, and I would get the piston ring compssor if don't have one.

 

[USMC0802]

The only problem you might have is a bearing problem you can`t see.Were you able to get a good feel of the crank bearings?I found taking the coil, flywheel and clutch off really helps to get a feel of the bearings.How smooth and noisy they may or may not be.If you pop the oil seals out, you can see them a bit better also.I saw they were on your list, so I assume your gonna replace them too.There were a couple offers to help split a case on another thread.I would offer, but am very new and green about it myself.I`ve only done three case splits.I guess thats why I don`t think it`s as simple as some of the other members.It sure would be a nice start to start out with new bearings, although you may be fine with the ones you have. Good luck.

When I pull the starter, it seems smooth. I'll tear it apart farther and see how it feels/sounds. I don't think splitting the cases sounds that complicated, I just don't have the tools to do it or the tools to make the tool.

Even though the saw looks "high milage" it may not be over the hill yet...we have several 044s that have over 1000 hrs...one that had close to 3000 before its last rebuild...and that one didn't need bearings or seals.

Do you have a vacuum tester? There's great threads on testing...search the info if you are not familiar with the procedure. If the bearings and seals are good, your shoping list is OK except gassket kit you won't need, and I would get the piston ring compssor if don't have one.

I don't have a vacuum tester or compression tester. It would be great if someone was local that had them. Now that I have an 026 Pro, 044, and 066, I don't know if I'll need another saw for a long time. If I was buying and selling saws on a regular basis, I could justify the expense, but do I need it for the couple saws I have? Maybe it goes on my list for Christmas. Maybe I can get a tach that way, too.

Piston ring clamps added, I knew there was something I was forgetting. It was on my list in my head, that's why I did the double check by posting.

What is the inspection criteria for the seals to know if I need to replace them?


Plug the decomp opening or use the valve? I'll need to cut the plastic to make room or buy plastics with the opening if I get the button.

 

[Brian13]

Even if you dont plan on buying and selling saw, if you plan on your own maintenance and troubleshooting the compression tester and vac gauge are good tools to have around. On top of that it is a good idea to check your work with a vac gauge after a rebuild. They are pretty cheap insurance for diagnosing problems before they are problems. Just my .02.

 

[USMC0802]

Even if you dont plan on buying and selling saw, if you plan on your own maintenance and troubleshooting the compression tester and vac gauge are good tools to have around. On top of that it is a good idea to check your work with a vac gauge after a rebuild. They are pretty cheap insurance for diagnosing problems before they are problems. Just my .02.

Sold.

 

[USMC0802]

Any links or product numbers for the vacuum gauge?

I see this, but there's no description or picture or anything:
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=ECP+91024&catID=


How often should the air filter be replaced? Or can they be washed and cleaned indefinitely?

 

[longbar]

Any links or product numbers for the vacuum gauge?

I see this, but there's no description or picture or anything:
http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=ECP+91024&catID=


How often should the air filter be replaced? Or can they be washed and cleaned indefinitely?

This is a great vac guage: http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv8500.aspx

 

[USMC0802]

This is a great vac guage: http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv8500.aspx

Can you use that as a compression gauge?

 

[Brian13]

That one should do a pressure test, but not compression. There is this one at Baileys, http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=G+320HD&catID=233. Or you can go to a Harbor Freight or even Ebay. It just has to have the schrader valve.

 

[USMC0802]

I ordered a compression tester with my stuff from Bailey's and um hyping to order the Mityvac kit. A local NAPA place has it for $70. I might just grab it there for the $15 more and support a local business.

 

[USMC0802]

That one should do a pressure test, but not compression. There is this one at Baileys, http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=G+320HD&catID=233. Or you can go to a Harbor Freight or even Ebay. It just has to have the schrader valve.

That's the one I ordered.

Here's my shopping list...

CARB KIT WALBRO HD 044/046/440/441/365/372
BLACK FUEL FILTER FOR STIHL
FUEL LINE 044 046 MS 341 361 440 460
IMPULSE HOSE FOR STIHL 044 046 MS440 MS460
COMPRESSION RELEASE FOR STIHL (BLACK KNOB)
CYLINDER ASSM (52MM) 044 MS 440 NiSi BIG BORE
PISTON RING CLAMP KIT
COMPRESSION TESTER
AIR FILTER (HD) 044 046 064 066 084 088 441

I'm going to pick up the Mityvac vacuum test at some point. I obviously won't need that until I get the saw rebuilt.

I'm going to work on pulling it all apart tomorrow, I hope. I had a bunch of split wood I wanted to stack tonight before the rain started this evening.

I need to look for some replacement plastics for the decomp button...off to eBay after giving the baby a bath.

 

[Brian13]

Have fun with the rebuild and post pictures. My 044 had been the most fun to rebuild so far. They seem to come apart and go together pretty easy. Are you goint to replace the seals too?

 

[USMC0802]

Have fun with the rebuild and post pictures. My 044 had been the most fun to rebuild so far. They seem to come apart and go together pretty easy. Are you goint to replace the seals too?

I thought the suggestions were saying I didn't need to replace the crankcase gasket, so I removed that item and the seals were in that kit. I'll have to see if I can get those added on before the order ships tomorrow.

 

[USMC0802]

The service manual has a Stihl puller tool for the seals. Recommendations on how to pull them without the tool? I'll try a search here/Google.

 

[Brian13]

Crank case gasket should be good. A lot of people replace seals when rebuilding just to know they are good. If you dont have the saw apart yet, you can seal it off and do a pressure test at about 5 psi or so and check the seals to see if they are leaking. If one is bad its usually the clutch side first.

 

[oscar4883]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lisl...Z360245095552QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

May need to be slightly modified. I have one I got after seeing it here and it works pretty good.

 

[Brian13]

The service manual has a Stihl puller tool for the seals. Recommendations on how to pull them without the tool? I'll try a search here/Google.

If you do a search here you can find a lot of different pullers people have used. I used paint keys and a two bolt puller. A variation of a setup I saw here. This may help. http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=115857&highlight=seal+puller

 

[USMC0802]

Crank case gasket should be good. A lot of people replace seals when rebuilding just to know they are good. If you dont have the saw apart yet, you can seal it off and do a pressure test at about 5 psi or so and check the seals to see if they are leaking. If one is bad its usually the clutch side first.

I guess I'll be picking up that vacuum/pressure gauge tomorrow...what are you using to seal the exhaust and intake ports on the cylinder before pumping pressure or creating a vacuum to test?