Makita chain oiler problem

[TomW]

I have a Makita DCS 540 that has started feeding the chain oil into the sprocket / bar area instead of into the bar and chain. The bar groove and oil holes are clean. The bar is the original Makita and the oil hole appears to line up. No holes are apparent in the rubber oil feed line. Running it without a bar, it pumps oil out the end of the feed tube as it should. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom

 

[howellhandmade]

I have a Makita DCS 540 that has started feeding the chain oil into the sprocket / bar area instead of into the bar and chain. The bar groove and oil holes are clean. The bar is the original Makita and the oil hole appears to line up. No holes are apparent in the rubber oil feed line. Running it without a bar, it pumps oil out the end of the feed tube as it should. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom

My Makita 6401 had a buildup of crud behind the guide plate, allowing oil to seep behind the plate. It didn't completely stop oil to the chain, but it reduced it. Sounds like it might be worth a look.

Jack

 

[rScotty]

I have a Makita DCS 540 that has started feeding the chain oil into the sprocket / bar area instead of into the bar and chain. The bar groove and oil holes are clean. The bar is the original Makita and the oil hole appears to line up. No holes are apparent in the rubber oil feed line. Running it without a bar, it pumps oil out the end of the feed tube as it should. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom

My Makita XCU electric chainsaw does the same thing. Surprisingly useful saw. It cuts nicely but with the exact same oiling problem. Without a bar it pumps like it should. Even the rate adjuster works. But put on a bar and chain and the chain stays bone dry while the sawdust in the sprocket area becomes saturated.
Everything seems to fit fine. Oil is being pumped, just not onto the chain.
I cannot figure this one out in spite of a lifetime of mechanical work. I've been hand oiling it, but that's hard on bars.

All my other saws are Stihl, but I do like this Makita electric. Much better saw than I expected.

 

[hwrdpromac7900]

My Makita XCU electric chainsaw does the same thing. Surprisingly useful saw. It cuts nicely but with the exact same oiling problem. Without a bar it pumps like it should. Even the rate adjuster works. But put on a bar and chain and the chain stays bone dry while the sawdust in the sprocket area becomes saturated.
Everything seems to fit fine. Oil is being pumped, just not onto the chain.
I cannot figure this one out in spite of a lifetime of mechanical work. I've been hand oiling it, but that's hard on bars.

All my other saws are Stihl, but I do like this Makita electric. Much better saw than I expected.

Welcome to the chainsaw madness!

 

[pioneerguy600]

The bar must seal tightly to the bar pad on the chassis, many times little pock marks happen,even paint chips on the bar pad can allow bar oil to flow down between the bar and the pad. Make certain the bar pad itself is perfectly flat and smooth, no divots,pock marks or paint chips. Make certain the bar itself is flat sided and can seal tight to the bar mount pad.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Bar oiling and bar oil leaks are a problem on Makita chainsaws. Both my 6401 and 520i leak bar oil when not running and at rest, even though they oil the bar OK when running. When not in use, I have to store the saws on their side, flywheel side down. All my attempts to fix the leaks have failed. It's a PITA.

 

[pioneerguy600]

The 540 is somewhat like the Sachs Dolmar 115, they both have rubber lines that get the oil from the tank to the oil pump, I have seen many that leak badly where the line comes out through the tank wall, the line is just a friction fit there with a sort of molded in grommet. The grommet like plug shrinks over time and gets too lose to seal the oil into the oil tank. Line replacement is the best solution but I have had the need for a on spot fix so a judicious cleaning to get all oil off the rubber parts plus the hole the rubber seals into, black Permatex sealed it up and its still not leaking 5-7 years now.

 

[Wood Doctor]

The 540 is somewhat like the Sachs Dolmar 115, they both have rubber lines that get the oil from the tank to the oil pump, I have seen many that leak badly where the line comes out through the tank wall, the line is just a friction fit there with a sort of molded in grommet. The grommet like plug shrinks over time and gets too lose to seal the oil into the oil tank. Line replacement is the best solution but I have had the need for a on spot fix so a judicious cleaning to get all oil off the rubber parts plus the hole the rubber seals into, black Permatex sealed it up and its still not leaking 5-7 years now.

I have already tried to use a gasket sealer but I believe I have to try again by following your advice. To get to that grommet connection I have to remove the clutch/housing and pursue "judicious cleaning" to get all the waste oil cleaned off before applying the sealer. It's worth another try. This saw is worth it because the engine still has good power and the bar and chain are excellent. The oil leak at rest at this point is its only Achilles heel. Thanks a bunch!

 

[pioneerguy600]

I have already tried to use a gasket sealer but I believe I have to try again by following your advice. To get to that grommet connection I have to remove the clutch/housing and pursue "judicious cleaning" to get all the waste oil cleaned off before applying the sealer. It's worth another try. This saw is worth it because the engine still has good power and the bar and chain are excellent. The oil leak at rest at this point is its only Achilles heel. Thanks a bunch!

Yes,super clean and dry is the most important on any area the Permatex needs to seal on, the hose was the easiest to clean up, the oil tank at the junction between the grommet and tank wall takes some careful cleaning, the oil will try to creep back to that area so clean those surfaces well back away from where the gasket sealer will contact the tank. I have done this seal up on 3 different saws to date and all have been successful with several years on them all, earliest fix is more than 7 years now, I have the replacement hose I ordered for that saw still here as the saw owner did not want to wait til the part came in, he was anxious to get back to cutting up his firewood. I fixed it with the offer to replace the hose if it leaked, just come back and I could install the new replacement, never heard back that it was leaking,I see his brother frequently and he tells me the saw is used every fall to cut up 5-6 cords of hardwood for the furnace.