Chain saw bar plugging

[Russ from MN]

I am having problems with the oil hole plugging in the bar on a Jonsered 621. If I take the bar and chain off and run the engine it pumps oil well, but after about 1/2 tank of gas the hole in the bar is plugged and the chain is starving for oil, any ideas? Thanks!

 

[teddy52food]

Is your chain making chips or fine sawdust?

 

[Michael Soldan]

I used to keep an old hacksaw blade in my chainsaw case. It is ideal for cleaning out the groove in the bar where wood product builds up and starts plugging the oil hole. the hacksaw blade will clean the groove and the oilhole of all debris. cheap and handy to have along. In my experience some saws are worst than others for building up debris in the bar and plugging up that oil hole

 

[Greg1959]

teddy52food- That's exactly what I found when I encountered that problem. A good sharpening and making sure the 'rakers' were filed down to proper clearance.

 

[Russ from MN]

The chain seems to be sharp and makes nice chips in solid wood. Because this is my biggest saw with a 20 inch bar I use it for cutting mostly large dead trees, and with the rotten centers you get a lot of fine junk, and that is what plugs the oil hole.

 

[D beatty]

If I cut wood like you were I use an old bar and chain. That dirt is hard on bar and chain. I normally clean bar every other time it come back from a days cutting.

 

[Russ from MN]

In northern MN our trees are pretty clean as long as their standing, the only time they get dirty is if you skid them in the summer. Last winter I skidded some out with the JD 4600 and I packed down the snow a day ahead, then the trees never touch the dirt on the way out. I only have one long bar and chain as they last almost forever, I have one little saw that's 44 years old and has the original bar and second chain, I don't use it very much but at least a couple of times a year.

 

[Goose]

That was my first question. I once had a saw do that and the depth gauges on the chain needed to be lowered to make chips instead of saw dust.

 

[Shoprat]

Trade it for a Stihl. I have a 361 and a 362. No problems and they cut.

 

[ray_woods]

I started carrying a portable air tank to blow off my saw/bar and pant legs a while back.
Works well.
Might help you in this situation.

 

[Bret4207]

You can open the oil hole with a somewhat larger drill bit. That help if you're in wood that makes a fine dust even with a sharp chain. You can also use a thinner oil that helps wash the dust out.

 

[D beatty]

Air is good to clean saw but won't get into where he is talking about. You have to take bar and chain off to clean it right.

 

[D beatty]

You have to be careful drilling it out because you could run out of bar oil way before you run out of gas and run a dry bar. You can do the same thing with to thin of oil.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I've owned Stihl and Jonsered,I'll take the Jonsered any day.

 

[D beatty]

In this area Jonsered is like Husky they are sold in big box stores and they handle no parts or service. The dealers of those brands have went out of business around here because they couldn't compete with the pricing of big box stores. I am not say they are bad saws but it seams like all they are interested in is selling saws.

 

[bobfeather]

that's pretty helpful LOL

 

[Shoprat]

I'll add a little more. I have Husky with a 30" blade for my processor, bought it used, it is one cutting saw. The fellow I deal with for all my small engine needs just took on Johnsered, so if the Stihls or the Husky fails, I'm going to him for a Johnsered. I had three Lombards back in the day, they were good saws.

As far as D beatty's problem, I was wondering if there is some glob of some sort floating around in the oil tank.

 

[D beatty]

What are you talking about glob in oil tank ?

 

[Shoprat]

I've seen all sorts of thing accumulate in oil tanks and gas tanks as well, some kind of a sticky accumulation that may or may not plug the pick up. It sits for awhile, the stuff moves around and the unit performs until whatever it is gets drawn to the pick up.

 

[D beatty]

That's not possible because my saws get excellent care. Oil tank and filter get changed once a year. My oldest saw is 30 years old and outside of several small scratches it looks like new. The only wear you can see on my saws is the wear on bars. Every time I come back from woods they get cleaned ( blew out with compressed air) and checked to see if needs a tare down cleaning if needed. I use my saws but don't abuse them.

 

[IndianaSteve]

I have heard good things about Jonsered saws but I too have never had a problem with my Stihl

 

[2x4]

could only do that if it was the wrong bar for your saw.

 

[JDEM]

I have two John Deere CS56 saws and both did the same thing. They are pro saws made in Italy by EFCO. I found the oil holes in the bars to be too small. I reamed them out and never had an oil plugging problem again. In fact, these CS56 saws are the best saws I have ever owned in this size-class. Beats any Stihl I ever owned. I wish I'd bought more when Deere was having dealer-closeout sales on them.