Stihl Part # Needed

buckwheat · May 21, 2002

I'm rebuilding the top end on my 044 and I am having trouble getting the correct part from the dealers around this area. I need the needle cage pin bearing that fits between the piston pin and the connecting rod. Most of the Stihl drawings don't show the bearing, or they show it as an integral part of the connecting rod. I'm looking at a picture in the repair manual that clearly shows the bearing, along with instructions on installing it, but there are no part #'s.
The dealers have been playing Goldilocks with me... the first one was too big.... the next one was too small.... Now I'm tired of wasting time and I want the one that is just right.
Any help in getting the correct part#, or the correct part, for that matter, would be heartily appreciated.

George

motorhead · May 22, 2002

Buckwheat, I just happen to have a spare parts list for the 044 - it's dated 1997 so if your saw was manufactured after 1997 there may have been a change made. For the parts list that I have, the wrist pin needle bearing part number is given as p/n 9512 003 3061. The part description is given as 'Needle cage KB 12x1x15' where 12 is the length of the bearing in mm, 1 is the bearing thickness, and 15 is either the bearing o.d. or i.d. (I'm not sure which). Also listed is a wrist pin bearing for 'Previous Models' so Stihl apparently made a change to the bearing design sometime prior to 1997 on the 044. The p/n given for 'Previous Models' is p/n 9512 535 2340. The part description is 'Needle cage KB 10x14x13' where 10 is the bearing length in mm, 14 is the bearing o.d. and 13 is the bearing i.d. Comparing the two bearing sizes, it looks like Stihl increased the wrist pin bearing size sometime prior to 1997 most likely to increase saw durability and reliability. Take the bearing that you took out of your saw and measure it and then compare it with the dimensions given above to see which bearing you need (again, as long as a change hasn't been made after 1997 to the wrist pin bearing). Hope this helps.

Steve

buckwheat · May 22, 2002

Steve:
You have provided more information than two local dealers, who both seem completely lost on this one. Part of my problem is that the old bearing self-destructed, so I don't have it to take in and say this is what it looks like. I'm going to take your numbers and the saw first chance I have and get that part.
Blessings to you, your children, and their children. May your saw always start on the first pull, and may your neigbor's back yard be filled with diseased redwoods.
thanks,
George

stihltech · May 22, 2002

044

Show these guys something. When they look at the parts breakdown, look at the bottom of the page. There are parts for previous models. Ther are 2 piston pins, small and large. Some also list in the upper picture also. Measure your pin, in metric.

I really hate it when a dealer can not read a parts breakdown. Stihl even teaches us how to read it. Guess you have to listen to learn. :angry:

motorhead · May 23, 2002

Stihl Part # Needed - CORRECTION

Buckwheat, I gave some incorrect information in my last post - the part numbers are ok but I incorrectly described how to interpret the dimensions. For the current p/n (current as of 1997 anyway) p/n 9512 003 3061 there is a typo (in the Stihl Parts List Manual - not my typo) for the description of the dimensions - instead of 'Needle cage KB 12x1x15' it should be 'Needle cage KB 12x15x15' where 12 is the bearing i.d. in mm (not the length as I stated previously), 15 is the bearing o.d. and 15 is the bearing length. So the bearing dimensions are given as i.d. x o.d. x length (not length x o.d. x i.d. as I stated previously). For the p/n for 'Previous Models' p/n 9512 535 2340 the description was previously given correctly as 'Needle cage KB 10x14x13' however, 10 is the bearing i.d. in mm (not the bearing length as I stated in my previous post), 14 is the bearing o.d. and 13 is the bearing length. To figure out which bearing you need and since you don't have the old needle bearing, just measure the o.d. of the wrist pin (or piston pin as it is also called) - this is the same dimension as the needle bearing i.d. - if the wrist pin o.d. is 12 mm then you need the current p/n (at least the current p/n as of 1997) which is p/n 9512 003 3061, if the o.d. measures 10mm, then you need the p/n for 'Previous Models' which is p/n 9512 535 2340. I have a piston kit for a Jonsered 2065 (65cc's) laying around so I took a look at the wrist pin and needle bearing - the wrist pin had an o.d. of 12mm - the needle bearing measured 12mm on the i.d., 15mm on the o.d. and 15mm in length so the needle bearing dimensions would given as 12x15x15 which is the same as the current (again, as of 1997) Stihl 044 needle bearing so it appears to be a common needle bearing size. Sorry for the confusion and sorry for not getting this correction posted sooner - I had to watch my beloved Red Wings squeeze by those pesky Avalanche tonight.

Steve

buckwheat · May 23, 2002

I stopped by the shop this morning with the saw and all of the parts, as well as the numbers provided here. The first week, they had provided me with the pre-1997 part, which turned out to be too small to fit over the wrist pin. The second week, I took the Bailey's kit in and they dug out a bearing that fit over the pin, but did not fit in the connecting rod, which I had left at home. This morning, I gave them your part number - they went right to a manual, agreed that it looked like the right one, then said they don't stock it - it will take a week. If it turns out to be the wrong one, I'm going to a friend who runs a machine shop and see if he can't find it since we have the measurements.
I can understand not wanting to stock parts that don't move, but it seems to me that the 044 is a common saw, and rebuilding top ends isn't that rare. Maybe big saws just aren't that common in my area. Good thing I have two other saws and I don't have to make a living off of this one.
Again, thanks for the help.