Piston stop for Stihl 011 or other

[dwaugh]

Before joining this forum I bought a piston stop on Amazon so I didn't ask here. This is from China and all metal, it occurs to me that a metal stop might not be best. I have plenty of rope of different sizes and can buy something different if that would be advised. Any thoughts, should I avoid using this? The paint chipping is poor quality paint and bouncing around here....

 

[Franny K]

Quite a while ago I recall a guy who punched a hole in the top of a Stihl piston. think it was a 19x model like the budget top handle. It turned out the saw originally came with a piston stop that was supposed to be used at the edge of the piston not in the center. Stihl hides their parts sheets, so it is hard for me to know if that model has a specific piston stop. They don't hide the owners manuals but that is not current. If you have a tool to grab the clutch and an impact driver of sufficient size to drive it the inertia of the flywheel is all that is needed. Obviously must go in the correct direction first try. If the tool has the same size hex as the spark plug the scrench can be struck with a stick or similar while supported on the other end and the same result achieved. At least for an Echo 361p.

 

[SteveSr]

I use rope. It is MUCH safer. Just don't get the rope caught in the ports!

Also helps to put the bar on the saw and the bar in a bench vice to hold everything still while loosening the nut/clutch.

 

[Chainsaw Collectors]

I’ve been considering buying one as they seem convenient, but looks like I should stick to rope.

 

[Michael E]

I don't trust these metal piston stops because they seem to put a lot of pressure on a tiny section of the piston. I have managed to get rope sheared off in a port. I now use a Stihl plastic piston stop (google it, there are two models, old and new style). It's a plastic rod that you just stick into the spark plug hole. It's very inexpensive, softer than metal and distributes the pressure over a wider area.

 

[Squareground3691]

Just use rope , EZY-PZY saw builders use this method , just pull piston to almost to TDC and insert pull snug done .

 

[ZeroJunk]

Stihl makes a plastic tool that has tabs on both ends.

See no reason why they would not sell you one. And, you don't have to risk hanging a rope in a port.

If you do use a rope watch the piston and make sure it is coming up and above the port in which ever direction you are turning it.

Those Stihl plastic stops are on eBay cheap.

 

[dwaugh]

Quite a while ago I recall a guy who punched a hole in the top of a Stihl piston. think it was a 19x model like the budget top handle. It turned out the saw originally came with a piston stop that was supposed to be used at the edge of the piston not in the center. Stihl hides their parts sheets, so it is hard for me to know if that model has a specific piston stop. They don't hide the owners manuals but that is not current. If you have a tool to grab the clutch and an impact driver of sufficient size to drive it the inertia of the flywheel is all that is needed. Obviously must go in the correct direction first try. If the tool has the same size hex as the spark plug the scrench can be struck with a stick or similar while supported on the other end and the same result achieved. At least for an Echo 361p.

Thanks, I think I have the service manual so I will check if there is a specific procedure/stop for this saw. Not sure if my battery impact will be strong enough, I do have a larger air one though. Reading the other replies, rope would better than this metal thing.

 

[coffeebrk]

A couple of months ago I picked up a Stihl clutch at the dealership. Packed Inside was a plastic piston stop.

 

[Yukon Stihl]

I just use an impact to remove the flywheel nut or clutch
Leave the plug in