Stihl MS 291 burnt out after 1 hr

[Weesa20]

Show pics of the side of the sprocket drum where the chain brake band rubs and the chain brake band. A monster saw like the 291 will easily pull through a baby spruce with the chain brake engaged, even faster if it has the FARM BOSS sticker!

 

[pro94lt]

Just put it on eBay as a parts saw probably bring more than you gave for it lol

 

[Stihl99]

The sap heats up and the water is " boiled " away and it just become harder, coats the brake band and slowly builds up. gets hotter and then begins to bind things up. a good cleaning, perhaps place the power head in a plastic bag and then place it into the fridge get the nice and cold the sap will break off easier. then make a list of the parts you need. I do not blame Stihl as much as I would blame the dealer. If you identify the problem correctly then you can easily get the issue solved. The dealer is asked what they think happened to the unit, Stihl can only base if the saw is worth repairing from what they said. A good cleaning will show you pretty quickly if it is indeed melted or just coated in sap. From the photos I can see you need a new oiler gear, dunno if the brake band is toast, clutch may need a good tear down and cleaning. If you are very lucky all that would be needed are a few parts and a good cleaning.

That is exactly what I was thinking, Stihl or any OEM for that fact relies on info sent to them through their authorized dealers, reps, and repair centers, so the big question is what did your dealer tell Stihl their diagnosis was?
If I was you I would demand to see the dealer's diagnostic report they sent to Stihl.

 

[pantelis]

That is exactly what I was thinking, Stihl or any OEM for that fact relies on info sent to them through their authorized dealers, reps, and repair centers, so the big question is what did your dealer tell Stihl their diagnosis was?
If I was you I would demand to see the dealer's diagnostic report they sent to Stihl.

Burning saw from an unkown reason, the heavyweight 90% fall to the customer . now you see diagnostic report

 

[AKDoug]

I should just stay out of this, but none of the scenarios listed in this thread are Stihl's fault. They cannot control how clean a customer keeps a saw or if it's filled up with junk. From the picture evidence that I can see, it needs a new bearing, brake band, worm gear and probably and oil pump. 15 minutes of work and $60 worth of parts. This is a good case of why it's a good idea to inspect and clean saws when they are being done being used, particularly with sappy softwood.

 

[Definitive Dave]

Hmmmmm....

brand new saw out on it's first rental from a local company, he cut the tree down with the brake on
just sayin
Dave

 

[Nitroman]

Okay, that prolly won't buff out...

 

[pro94lt]

Op so it's possible you ran the new saw with brake on?

 

[rmh3481]

Is it possible the brake hit while you were running it and you didnt catch it?

 

[Weesa20]

Is it possible the brake hit while you were running it and you didnt catch it?

That's why I want to see the side of drum and the brake band....it will be clear if it was left on and the heat from the brake plus the sap could easily damage the plastic as in the picture. I have abused the **** out of a MS290 and it keeps coming back for more. I have a 291 in the garage and it is built similarly to the MS290 (drive line anyway, engine is completely different). I'm usually anti-corporation in these scenarios, but I can't imagine another scenario that could result in the damage...

 

[Definitive Dave]

the modern saws have a lot less travel in the brake handle so they trip quick enough for the regulations
Dave

 

[beermeatguns]

I see it atleast once a month, it happens more frequently in the winter when guys
are out cutting with gloves on. They bump the chain brake and fry the drive side of the saw.

 

[Nitroman]

Yikes. My first post on this thread, I was dubious that could happen, in that the saw would still turn the chain over. I was wrong. My 394 and 3120 won't move the chain at all when the brake is on.

 

[RandyMac]

typical inboard clutch design flaw

 

[SteveSS]

Hard to tell from the pics if it's accumulated tree sap that boiled and burned, or if it's blistered plastic from running with the brake on. If I were a claims adjuster at Stihl Corporate, I'd need more definitive proof. Like, toss it in an ultrasonic cleaner and show me before and after pics to prove the tree sap theory. Without real proof like that, I'd be in the "ran it with brake on"camp. Not saying that the OP is a doofus though, because like someone else said......winter time, gloves, loss of sense of feel, etc. It happens. I'd be more inclined to fix it myself than pay labor fees though.

 

[banana boat]

My ms460 will not move the chain if the brake is on even if the saw is at full throttle, how could you cut with the brake on? Actually now that I think of it the manual says to test the brake ingage the brake while the saw is at full throttle and it should stop the chain immediately, never tired seems like it would be a lot of stress on parts.

 

[lone wolf]

Yikes. My first post on this thread, I was dubious that could happen, in that the saw would still turn the chain over. I was wrong. My 394 and 3120 won't move the chain at all when the brake is on.

That explains w

My ms460 will not move the chain if the brake is on even if the saw is at full throttle, how could you cut with the brake on? Actually now that I think of it the manual says to test the brake ingage the brake while the saw is at full throttle and it should stop the chain immediately, never tired seems like it would be a lot of stress on parts.

Then that puts Stihl in a bad position now dont it! It aint supposed to do it but they say he did it.

 

[ckelp]

my aunt let a "friend" barrow her 391. her friend let the day labor run it, he ran it with the chain brake on for two cuts and did identical damage.
id take pics of the saw but i'm watching the kid and i'm lazy

 

[juttree]

Dull chain+sap+no bar oil= melted plastics. POS saw not worth the plastic it was molded in.

 

[jughead500]

Ooooooo the New Stihl's. Don't ask me about the low hour 311 i bout a while back with non existant Main Bearing cages and 4 BB's bouncing around between the bottom and top end.