Pioneer 620 - pressure test fail

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cdahl383

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Picked up a Pioneer 620 saw about a month or so ago and have been working to get it up and running again. It has good spark and 150psi compression. I cleaned/rebuilt the carb with a new carb kit, new fuel lines and fuel filter, new spark plug, etc. Got it to fire and run, but it won't run very well. It will idle pretty good and it will rev up a bit, but it will not rev out when holding the throttle open. Figured my next step was to run a pressure/vacuum test.

I blocked off the intake and exhaust ports with some rubber gasket material and used a special fitting in the spark plug hole to pump air into the engine. I picked up a Mityvac 8500 a few weeks ago so I used that to run the pressure test.

Started pumping air into the engine and immediately after just a few pumps I could hear hissing coming from somewhere. No matter how much I pumped, it would only go up to 4-5psi and then drop within a few seconds. I sprayed soapy water around the intake and exhaust ports, the spark plug hole, and around the base gasket and head gasket. No bubbles anywhere. My assumption then is the leak must be coming from the crank seals. I figured I'd run the test first just to see if there was a leak and if it was something easier to fix. Turns out it's not haha!

My next step will be to pull the flywheel off and the clutch off so I can get to each crank seal.

My questions are:

1.) What part numbers are the crank seals (assuming there are no NOS Pioneer crank seals)? I'm sure there are some available somewhere with the correct dimenstions.
2.) Is the flywheel nut regular or reverse thread?
3.) Is the clutch nut regular or reverse thread?
4.) Is there a specific puller that would work best vs a cheap Ebay one?
5.) Is there a gasket between the flywheel case half? I looked in the parts diagram and I don't see one. Maybe I could use some gasket maker?

Appreciate any help or suggestions as this will be my first time replacing crank seals on a chainsaw.
 

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Hello you are way ahead of me......I've picked up a Pioneer 620 (trying to recreate a 600 looking chainsaw from my youth).....I need to find a bar hoping it to be about 24 inches and appropriate chain....not finding any Pioneer specific and confused with the new bar models out there....you have a working BAR on your saw....how is it identified so I can continue looking for one for my project.....thx...Bob
 

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Crank seals: CR6541 and CR6582, readily available.

My vague recollection is the flywheel side is left-hand thread and the clutch side is right hand. I could be wrong and don't blame me if you get heavy handed and break something. Use a light impact and try both ways. Seal is under the fan housing cover so you also have to pull the ignition and then pull/tap the fan housing off. Then, knock the bearing out and there's the seal.

You will need a harmonic balance puller and 3 long 1/4 NC bolts to pull the flywheel. The clutch is keyed to a straight shaft and will also need that puller and #10 screws. Sometimes the clutch slides off with minimal persuasion. I've been to thread short screws in amd lightly pry up to slide the clutch off. Pull the clutch, pull the key, remove drum, seal is right there.
 
The Pioneer bar is unique. Some mcculloch 10 series bars are close as are early Homelite XL bars with the 5/16 slot. You will have to match up the oil holes, bar tensioner pushes against the front of the slot. Look for older Pioneer bars from Hx series saws, 14xx, 32xx, 24xx, 700, 750, 1750, 1771. None of the P series bars fit.
 
Hello you are way ahead of me......I've picked up a Pioneer 620 (trying to recreate a 600 looking chainsaw from my youth).....I need to find a bar hoping it to be about 24 inches and appropriate chain....not finding any Pioneer specific and confused with the new bar models out there....you have a working BAR on your saw....how is it identified so I can continue looking for one for my project.....thx...Bob
Here’s a few pics of the bar for reference. It says 24” but when it’s mounted it seems more like a 22”. The chain is a .404 chain. I think they originally came with .400 chain though.

Hoping to get to the crank seals sometime soon.
 

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