Garden Hose to Remove Sand from Saw?

[Paul Bunions]

I was losing my mind trying to get my muffler-modded CS-590 tuned. I had lots of trouble getting it to start, and then it would not idle. I got it going and turned it while goosing the throttle. I was turning it to get at the idle screw. Dirt flew all over my shoes, and I realized the chain had gone in the dirt.

This saw is really oily because the clutch cut the oiling pipe, and I had to replace it. Oil was going everywhere but on the chain, and any kind of dust stuck to the oil. I didn't think air would get sand out of the saw, so once I got it tuned well enough to run, I blasted the bar with the hose while the saw was running. Then I took the clutch cover off and blasted whatever I could get. I also wiped whatever I could reach.

I ran the saw to get it hot and dry up the muffler and other parts that might rust up.

Is this an acceptable way to handle this problem? I plan to take the chain off tomorrow and give it a better cleaning.

This poor saw has really suffered since it fell into my hands.

 

[lone wolf]

I was losing my mind trying to get my muffler-modded CS-590 tuned. I had lots of trouble getting it to start, and then it would not idle. I got it going and turned it while goosing the throttle. I was turning it to get at the idle screw. Dirt flew all over my shoes, and I realized the chain had gone in the dirt.

This saw is really oily because the clutch cut the oiling pipe, and I had to replace it. Oil was going everywhere but on the chain, and any kind of dust stuck to the oil. I didn't think air would get sand out of the saw, so once I got it tuned well enough to run, I blasted the bar with the hose while the saw was running. Then I took the clutch cover off and blasted whatever I could get. I also wiped whatever I could reach.

I ran the saw to get it hot and dry up the muffler and other parts that might rust up.

Is this an acceptable way to handle this problem? I plan to take the chain off tomorrow and give it a better cleaning.

This poor saw has really suffered since it fell into my hands.

Just don't get water in the muffler or carb, control where you spray. If you really want it clean, use Castrol super clean and get a black rubber hose and hook it up to the hot water spigot for your washing machine. I have an outdoor hot water spigot and it cleans great! Trucks, bikes, etc!

 

[Mad Professor]

Diesel fuel then dish detergent to get oily gunk off. Use a parts brush and old toothbrush

 

[MacAttack]

Oil with sand mixed in is nasty.... if it was my saw I'd probably try blasting it clean with cans of Brake Cleaner and compressed air.

 

[Paul Bunions]

The wood dust is like snuff soaked in canola oil.

 

[telecasterfool]

If you are asking the best way to clean a saw that got dirt and sand mixed with oil all over it and in the bar and chain, please take as a general rule with machinery: Water does very little to clean oily messes. Hot water is better, chemicals and "mechanical" cleaning are better still. Mechanical means take it apart, and wipe with rags, brushes, tiny screwdrivers, etc. I believe your choice of running the saw wasn't the best. You ran the bar and chain around and around with sand in them. Machinery's moving parts love to be cleaned and lubricated. Disassemble, clean, lubricate, reassemble. Do the work. Start over! Haha!

 

[Paul Bunions]

I was mainly concerned that water might cause some problem I had not foreseen, but it looks like it won't.

I am thinking maybe I should put soapy water in a bucket and run the saw for a few seconds with the bar dipped in it. That ought to get any remaining grit out of the chain and front sprocket. Then I can take the chain and bar off and wash the chain in a utility sink.

My method was not great, but I figured I should do whatever I could at the moment.

 

[lone wolf]

The wood dust is like snuff soaked in canola oil.

If it's pine sap you are in for hours of cleaning.

 

[dankas]

I should put soapy water in a bucket and run the saw for a few seconds with the bar dipped in it. That ought to

...to "sand" - as in 'grind off' - all the metal surfaces, including bearings you cannot see...

I've been troubled using a 590 & 620 on rainy/high moisture days...had to do disassembly (including carb) to get all the moisture out & running again. disassbled & separately I use Purple Power solvent, almost straight- 10% dilution- to clean chains & bars.


@telecasterfool had good advice...

 

[Mad Professor]

If it's pine sap you are in for hours of cleaning.

Yup, diesel fuel.....standby in the big sawmill I worked in for pitch rinsing/removal

 

[farmer steve]

This is my favorite for cleaning saws and bars. Cheap at the dollar store. Full strength cuts oil,grease and sap. Hose off with water.

 

[Paul Bunions]

Oil got all over this thing. Sides of the bar. Inside the rear cover. Between the air filter and the cylinder. Underneath.

 

[farmer steve]

Oil got all over this thing. Sides of the bar. Inside the rear cover. Between the air filter and the cylinder. Underneath.

See my post above. I use that stuff on anything oily. Just cleaned 10 years of oil and grease off my old international tractor with it. Water won't hurt your saw. Block off the intake to the carb that's all.

 

[Paul Bunions]

I could not find any sand or even sawdust on the sprocket drum, so it must have been the only clean part of the saw. If the drum was clean, the clutch bearing should be clean, too. I don't believe I risked bearing damage by running the saw briefly. If it turns out I'm wrong, I know how to replace the bearing.

I went ahead and ran the saw with the tip in soapy water for a few seconds because I could not think of a better way to get the majority of the sand out of the front sprocket. I dumped the chain and clutch cover in the water and let them soak. I still had to use brake cleaner, a rag with rubbing alcohol, and Q-Tips to get the stuck-on sawdust/oil mixture off well enough to where I was willing to call it good.

The bar did not yield to soapy water, so I used solvents on it to get the sticky oil off. I found some built-up stuff around the nut slot (both sides), and it turned out to be corrosion, so I had no choice but to fire up the pedestal buffer and use the wire wheel. This stuff was rough, so it must have been making it harder to adjust the bar length.

I used the saw grease gun on the bar and put everything back together.

I am tempted to give this thing a couple of gentle shots with the pressure washer eventually.

Anyway, it's not disgusting any more.