Need Help with My Chainsaw

[Mass. Wine Guy]

I was sawing today with my Jonsered 535 and he saw got pinched in the limb I was trying to cut. After a while I got it free. But now the chain won't move at all. It feels like the chain brake is on and the plastic piece in front that activates the brake goes back a lot further than it normally does. I haven't yet taken things apart to see what I can do. Any ideas? Did the bar get bent?

I'd be very grateful for your help and suggestions.

 

[BobUrban]

Pics??

Pull the clutch cover off and remove the bar and chain - clean it all up and replace it. test for mobility. Likely it is just jammed up with chips and dust either in the tip or gear but tough to know without more details and pics.

Start simple and work your way out.

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Thanks, Bob. I'll disassemble and clean the saw and see what's what from there.

 

[thewoodlands]

I was sawing today with my Jonsered 535 and he saw got pinched in the limb I was trying to cut. After a while I got it free. But now the chain won't move at all. It feels like the chain brake is on and the plastic piece in front that activates the brake goes back a lot further than it normally does. I haven't yet taken things apart to see what I can do. Any ideas? Did the bar get bent?

I'd be very grateful for your help and suggestions.

Did you pinch the bar so bad that it pushed the groove in the bar closer together, that would cause the chain to be stuck in that area or stop it from rotating.

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Did you pinch the bar so bad that it pushed the groove in the bar closer together, that would cause the chain to be stuck in that area or stop it from rotating.

I wish I could answer that. It was really tight and I did twist the bar trying to free it, so who knows? Can these things be repaired? Probably not worth the cost.

Can anyone recommend a good narrow kerf bar (.50 gauge, .325 pitch), preferably machined, not laminated?

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Did you pinch the bar so bad that it pushed the groove in the bar closer together, that would cause the chain to be stuck in that area or stop it from rotating.

I wish I could answer that. It was really tight and I did twist the bar trying to free it, so who knows? Can these things be repaired? Probably not worth the cost.

Can anyone recommend a good narrow kerf bar (.50 gauge, .325 pitch), preferably machined, not laminated?

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Did you pinch the bar so bad that it pushed the groove in the bar closer together, that would cause the chain to be stuck in that area or stop it from rotating.

I wish I could answer that. It was really tight and I did twist the bar trying to free it, so who knows? Can these things be repaired? Probably not worth the cost.

Can anyone recommend a good narrow kerf bar (.50 gauge, .325 pitch), preferably machined, not laminated?

 

[thewoodlands]

I wish I could answer that. It was really tight and I did twist the bar trying to free it, so who knows? Can these things be repaired? Probably not worth the cost.

Can anyone recommend a good narrow kerf bar (.50 gauge, .325 pitch), preferably machined, not laminated?

When I did it I just took a screwdriver to open up the groove to the original size.

 

[BobUrban]

A new bar will run somewhere in the 35-50$ range so, although not a bank account breaker, more than just chump change for me. Like I mentioned, start with cleaning it up and if the bar groove is pinching the chain it will be rather obvious right away. If so, follow Zaps suggestion and ease it back open with a screw driver or your squench. May as well get it working if at all possible even if it just becomes a back-up bar. Having a second bar can be priceless when you get the new one stuck. Pull the head off and add the second bar and chain to cut the pinched bar out. Not as convenient as a two saw plan but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

I took my saw apart. The bar looks fine as far as I can tell (which may not be too far). The chain brake appears to be broken, as in when I put it together the brake handle doesn't move back and forth. Since my chain didn't move at all the other day, I'm thinking this is the issue.

Does anyone know a source that sells replacement brake assemblies for my 535?

 

[ScotO]

I took my saw apart. The bar looks fine as far as I can tell (which may not be too far). The chain brake appears to be broken, as in when I put it together the brake handle doesn't move back and forth. Since my chain didn't move at all the other day, I'm thinking this is the issue.

Does anyone know a source that sells replacement brake assemblies for my 535?

Here's one on ebay that should work on your saw....
(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/jonsered-455-chain-clutch-brake-handle-NICE-OEM-/261144958476?pt=US_Chainsaws&hash=item3ccd73d60c)

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Scotty, I can't thank you enough! That looks perfect.

 

[ScotO]

Scotty, I can't thank you enough! That looks perfect.

No sweat! Glad I could help. Keep us posted on the repairs....

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

I don't know how, but the brake mechanism must have become stuck when I pinched the saw. I took the saw apart, cleaned it and reassembled it. The chain went smoothly around the bar until I screwed the clutch cover/clutch brake on. Then it wouldn't budge. I am totally unskilled in mechanical things, so I could be missing a lot.

I sure wish I could afford a new saw and keep this as a backup. But I can't.

 

[BobUrban]

Another great, great place to get saw help is Arborist.com I can all but guarantee someone there in the chainsaw forum will know exactly what happened, how it happened, how to fix it correctly and have two or three McGyver tricks to get it through a day of cutting if necessary.

That place is to chainsaws what Hearth is to burning wood for heat.

IMO - if you are going to play here and more importantly play with the tools necessary to gathering the raw materials to play here - sign onto Arborist and get to know those guys too. It will save some headache from time to time.

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

You must mean arboristsite.com. The one with all the forums. Good idea. Thanks.

 

[MasterMech]

Another great, great place to get saw help is Arborist.com I can all but guarantee someone there in the chainsaw forum will know exactly what happened, how it happened, how to fix it correctly and have two or three McGyver tricks to get it through a day of cutting if necessary.

Not that we don't have a couple mechanical type individuals here on Hearth.

Any chance the brake is set and you just need to release it? I'm guessing the cover didn't come off/on easily? I would try to work the brake handle with the cover off first and make sure the band contracts/expands as it should.

 

[BobUrban]

I apologize MM - I am thinking I should have said, "there is a whole site full of MasterMechs" over there. And yes - that is the site.

 

[MasterMech]

I apologize MM - I am thinking I should have said, "there is a whole site full of MasterMechs" over there. And yes - that is the site.

It's all good. Just bustin' some chops is all.

Truth is, the AS crowd are true enthusiasts when it comes to chainsaws and many of them dig in deeper than even I go. My game is with stock equipment for the most part and I'm still a rookie when it comes to changing the internals for mo' power.