Oiler Spoiler

Dave Clarke

I went out to chop a bit of firewood after work today (Stihl 390)
after 10mins or so i noticed the bar looked a bit dry, checked oil level, it had gone done, must be ok, keep going...
Nah... its still dry, stripped down, the bar oiler hole was blocked, cleared this out, about now i noticed a lot of bar oil just under the muffer.
Back together, still no oil on the bar, lots just under the muffler.
Pulled the bar off and just ran the power head, no oil coming out the oiler hole, but still come out somewhere under the muffler.

So... before I start pulling things apart, any takers as to what i should be looking for?

thx
dave

windthrown

I would pull the muffler and look for a crack in the case. Chances are that there is a crack in the case where the oil pump pumps oil through to the bar. May also be a leak in the oil tank, but less likely. If nothing shows there I would pull the oil pump and check for a clog in the line through the case, and also pull the oil tank feed line out and check that. They both require pulling the clutch off.

Dave Clarke

When I pulled off the muffler for a look, I've found a machined hole in the casing that looks out of place (see pic).

I suspect there should be something in there, I rang a couple of stihl dealers, one suggested it was a "breather hole" with special cap, the other said it was just a plug hole from the machining process and I could just bung it up with a bit of rubber.




whatdoyathink?

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Dave Clarke

Got some time to go into the Stihl dealer today. Looks like it should have a small orange bung in there. They looked it up on the computer, its called a "plug" - very helpful.
Anyways they don't have any in stock and have never seen one come out before.
I'm going to stuff something in there to see if the oil will start coming out the right hole.

KiwiBro

Just had a look on my 310 and snapped a pic of that "plug".

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Dave Clarke

I had a dig around in the shed, found a "goof plug" from an old irrigation system and stuffed that in.
Oil's coming out the right place now, ran through a tank of gas ringing up some firewood with the 25" bar on. There was a build up of some black dirty looking bar oil dripping down inside the clutch cover when it first started, but after a spell it appears to be good as new. Chain and bar is lubed.

I'll have another run tomorrow just to check, but I think its all go again.

KiwiBro

Noice.
I guess there's a fair bit of vibration so I wouldn't mind seeing if there is anything special about the plugs that are supposed to go in there that helps lock 'em in good. Bugger Stihl, we'll fix it Kiwi-style.