Aftermarket Clutch Quality

[MarcS]

Got a worn out clutch on a 2095. Thinking about picking up an aftermarket (Asian) version off eBay. Any reason to stay away from these or are they decent quality? Any particular vendor better than the other or is it all marginal junk? Lol

 

[Dub11]

Is they the same as the 394/395 and 288?

 

[MarcS]

Is they the same as the 394/395 and 288?

Pretty sure. That’s what I’ve been looking at for options. $15-20 vs $50 and up.

 

[T.Roller]

Pretty sure. That’s what I’ve been looking at for options. $15-20 vs $50 and up.

The only thing I've heard about them are the springs are crappy. Only personal experience I have with one is on my chinese 660 and is done exactly what it's suppose to do.

 

[redline4]

I thought I read some stuff about them by @Stump Shot
I cant find the thread though.

 

[Stump Shot]

It's the usual gamble, I've seen them with threads so bad they could not be installed to springs that flew off the first good piss rev. I have a C spring type on a ported saw that works flawless. Generally speaking, the worst is you have to replace the springs with OEM.

 

[huskyboy]

They are the same clutch type as a 394/5 I believe. The early 288/394 clutch is weaker but either one will bolt up.

 

[Wilhelm]

I wouldn't go AM on a clutch.
I'd spring the extra coin to make sure my saw can get the power to the chain.

But that's just me, not many AM options for my Dolmar saws anyway.

 

[srcarr52]

I wouldn't go AM on a clutch.
I'd spring the extra coin to make sure my saw can get the power to the chain.

But that's just me, not many AM options for my Dolmar saws anyway.

To be truthful, I use AM 394/5 clutches all the time and I've only had an issue with one. It was dragging a little at idle and I had to buff the high spots off the weights. Really they hold the torque just fine.

All of these have AM 395 clutches.

 

[dougand3]

The only thing I've heard about them are the springs are crappy.

Yup...at least on a Husky 55. A new 3 shoe clutch came out for $10. When I pulled it out of package, it went BOING. Complained to China seller and they sent another...BOING again.

 

[sawmikaze]

@jmssaws

 

[srcarr52]

I haven't had a problem with the ones from HLS.

http://www.hlsproparts.com/Husqvarna-181-281-288-390-394-395-clutch-p/h37288.htm

 

[huskyboy]

A 2100 clutch will bolt up too if you find a good used one for cheap as well. The 395 clutch is a little stronger built though. Lots of options either way.

 

[MustangMike]

I've been using AM clutches on 440s, 460s and 660s w/o a problem. I've even done a good deal of milling with the 660s.

OK, one problem, one of them lost the clip and I had to replace the spit bearing, but the clutch itself was fine. Was pulling a 36" bar in Hickory when it happened.

 

[BuckthornBonnie]

The springs are junk for sure. I’ve used 4-5 with no problems other than a broken spring that I had thought I replaced with oem (my usual first step after purchasing one). These were for 1128 and 1122 Stihls.
The metallurgy may not be perfect and the AM companies aren’t consistent so there may be bad batches out there.

 

[MarcS]

Thanks for the input guys, the knowledge and first hand experience on this site is great. As luck would have it there was a NOS OE clutch on ebay for a fair price so I went that route.

 

[huskyboy]

Thanks for the input guys, the knowledge and first hand experience on this site is great. As luck would have it there was a NOS OE clutch on ebay for a fair price so I went that route.

Good deal, you get what you pay for usually.

 

[MarcS]

Good deal, you get what you pay for usually.

I agree for sure. This was one case where I would’ve tried the aftermarket if the OE option wasn’t so close in price though. Got lucky.

 

[huskyboy]

I agree for sure. This was one case where I would’ve tried the aftermarket if the OE option wasn’t so close in price though. Got lucky.

The money the oem manufacturers want for a new clutch is just silly imho. Does make you wonder if they are charging a premium or if there is a special process to make them? They are a pretty important part that takes a lot of abuse.

 

[CR888]

I think AM clutches are one part that you can get away with using. But its hard to recommend AM parts as some can be great and some terrible, all we can do is offer up our experiences using them. Here when OEM clutches go for $35-70, an $8 job on the slow boat from Zhengzhou is attractive.