Idle oiling/storing saws

[Can8ianTimber]

Everytime I go to use my Husqvarna 3120 I have a big puddle of bar oil where it was sitting. The oil is not coming from the cap being loose. It is coming from where it feeds the chain. My questions are
1. Is that normal for a bigger saw (yes there is a lever on the handle that you can click in for more oil and no it is not stuck on).
2. Is there a way to store it so that it does not leak bar oil. Right now it is just sitting on my workbench or on the floor. Should I hang it on the wall by the handle?
3. Can you store a saw the wrong way. I am thinking if I stored it on its side (oil cap down) so that gravity kept the bar oil from the chain.

Getting tired of the mess and wasting bar oil. Thanks

 

[gr8scott72]

Huskies don't leak, he's just marking his spot. lol

 

[BobL]

1. Is that normal for a bigger saw (yes there is a lever on the handle that you can click in for more oil and no it is not stuck on).

2. Is there a way to store it so that it does not leak bar oil. Right now it is just sitting on my workbench or on the floor. Should I hang it on the wall by the handle?
3. Can you store a saw the wrong way. I am thinking if I stored it on its side (oil cap down) so that gravity kept the bar oil from the chain.[/QUOTE]

It's not not normal for any saw to continually leak oil. The only time you should see excess oil is if you are running the saw out of the wood. The fact that is is leaking suggests your oil tank vent valve is stuck. I had the same problem on my 660 but when I replaced this valve he oil leak problem vanished.

 

[BIG JAKE]

My 066 used to leak oil just sittin'. The oil pump didn't put out enough oil either so I decided to replace the pump with the HO australian version for milling. When I pulled the old pump I checked it out-had alot of side play or lateral slop. In other words it was worn out. The new oil pump solved both problems.

 

[Backwoods]

I have been having the same issue with my old 288, I keep a plastic bag under it because it leaks so much, and I will blow out the tank cap after I unload it tomorrow after I finish milling some Oak. The truck is still loaded from milling up a redwood tree today. I put the long bar (60”) to good use today, by making a bench out of a 5’ section of crotch wood. Three cuts, flatted the bottom, cut a seat 6” up from the bottom and then cut down to the seat at a 15* angle for the back of the seat. Put the rest back on the woodmizer and make 1” boards out of it. We used every bit of that no metal yard tree to make something useful. Thanks for the tip on why my saw would be leaking a big puddle after every use, it makes sense, since after the saw sits for a while the puddle stops growing.

 

[Philbert]

Diapers

In my mind there are 2 kinds of chain saws: those that leak, and those that have never been filled with oil.

A lot of 'leaking' oil is residual oil dripping off the chain and bar. Like a water drip, some of it will follow the bar until it drops off at a low spot.

I use oil absorbent pads ('chain saw diapers') in my saw cases, or anywhere I store saws. Works better than newspaper, paper towels, etc. Started a thread on this some time ago: http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=73699&highlight=chain+diapers

They work well and last a long time. Fairly inexpensive (50 cents each?). You can get them from many industrial supply houses. Only problem is trying to buy less than 50 at a time. I tried to get my local saw shop to sell them retail, onesey-twosey (Bailey's - are you listening?).

Ask an auto mechanic friend or someone who works in a factory if they can get you 1 or 2. Otherwise, split a bundle with a friend.

Philbert

 

[RPM]

Oil tank vent +1....my 394 leaks like a sieve.

 

[BobL]

In my mind there are 2 kinds of chain saws: those that leak, and those that have never been filled with oil.

Well I have to say I surprised myself, recently I took a mates 660 that had generated puddles of oil for years and bunged in a new vent valve and it stopped immediately.

Sometimes saws will continue to ooze oil for some time when one stops cutting because of a bit of over pressure in the oil tank. If you have to store the saw right away without giving it a chance to cool off just crack the oil tank cap to release the excess pressure.

For those old saws that leak no matter what you do I use shallow plastic potplant drip trays to catch the excess.

 

[LAndrews]

My 395 has one of the muffler bolt holes stripped out from the PO. Naturally, it's the one hole that goes through to the oil tank. It leaks slowly until it gets below the hole and then stops. <shrug> Feh. I keep the saw in a box with a bag in the bottom to catch the puddle.

Looks like I'll be putting in a 4mm helicoil this winter.

 

[BobL]

My 395 has one of the muffler bolt holes stripped out from the PO. Naturally, it's the one hole that goes through to the oil tank. It leaks slowly until it gets below the hole and then stops. <shrug> Feh. I keep the saw in a box with a bag in the bottom to catch the puddle.

Looks like I'll be putting in a 4mm helicoil this winter.

Helicoil and blue loctite should do it.

Cheers!

 

[hazard]

My stihl 044 leaks oil in the winter. I started storing it on its side once it gets cold outside. It has been doing this for probably 10yrs. I will have to look into changing the vent valve

Thanks
Chris

 

[Can8ianTimber]

My stihl 044 leaks oil in the winter. I started storing it on its side once it gets cold outside. It has been doing this for probably 10yrs. I will have to look into changing the vent valve

Thanks
Chris

Yeah, I think I will try just storing it on its side.