028 super clutch failure

[redline4]

I just picked this saw up today. Guy I got it from said it kept chewing up clutch drum needle bearings.
He was replacing them by removing the E-clip and tipping the saw until the old one came out, then sliding in a new one.
Anyhow, I pulled the clutch/oil pump cover and found the pump gear stripped, the pump "drive" unscrewed from the pump, and the clutch broken.
I have not been in too many saws and was wondering if this is a case of "it just broke", or is it a result of something else?
I assume I can turn the pump drive back in, replace the gear and be good to go there, or did it cause internal damage?

 

[Duane(Pa)]

I would give everything a thorough cleaning and careful inspection. That saw is well worth fixing correctly while you have it apart.

 

[Al Smith]

FWIW the 028,038 and 042/048 all use the same oil pump .The drive gear depends on what type clutch drive you have .There are several but the pump is the same .I've replaced a few on the saw models I mentioned and I don't think they cost that much .The mention of the clutch drum running eccentric will indeed knock out the oil pump drive .BTW the 028 is the smallest of that series but in spite of that is not a bad saw for a small displacement . It's a firewooder but you can add a can of soup to it if you want to .Like any of that series it takes to modifications very well .

 

[redline4]

Fixing it is already in the works. I was just wondering if anyone has seen a failure like this, and is it simply the clutch broke, or possibly the result of another underlying issue?

 

[a. palmer jr.]

Probably just broke, even Stihl stuff breaks once in a while. Grease the bearing when you put it in...

 

[Adirondackstihl]

FWIW the 028,038 and 042/048 all use the same oil pump .The drive gear depends on what type clutch drive you have .There are several but the pump is the same .I've replaced a few on the saw models I mentioned and I don't think they cost that much .The mention of the clutch drum running eccentric will indeed knock out the oil pump drive .BTW the 028 is the smallest of that series but in spite of that is not a bad saw for a small displacement . It's a firewooder but you can add a can of soup to it if you want to .Like any of that series it takes to modifications very well .

@spencerpaving has a badass 028 that I’m sure would smoke most ported 50cc saws

 

[Wood Doctor]

Fixing it is already in the works. I was just wondering if anyone has seen a failure like this, and is it simply the clutch broke, or possibly the result of another underlying issue?

I never had one fail on any of the six Stihl 028 saws that I have owned in the last ten years.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Check it over good for bearing play and seal leakage whilst the clutch is off.

 

[Al Smith]

Grease the bearing when you put it in...

Two trains of thought on this .One being that grease has a tendency to collect fine dust thus clogging the bearing .

 

[redline4]

It passed a vac/pressure test so I'm just going to fix it and run it.
I was able to stop at the dealer yesterday. He told me he has seen that failure before. Not often, though.
I work on cars for a living, so I always wonder, was this cause or result, and is it common!