044/046 Discontinued O-Ring. Need advice here.

[thomas1]

I think you're referring to the "snap ring" that keeps the oil pump worm gear at the correct height in the 046/460.

Yes, the early 044s came with a rubber o-ring under the bushing but what Stihl engineers discovered is that after the saw has about 30 hours of run time on it or so, the o-ring hardens and is basically useless.

However- those bushings do wear and eventually don't seal correctly, but that takes a lot of hours of run time.

It doesn't hurt at all to put an o-ring in there, but you still need to ensure the bushing is a good fit.

Do you ever get tired of beating your head against the wall?

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

Unless the OP was talking about something special,an o-ring as we know it is simply that,an o-ring .Stihl didn't make it in the first place .

As an example the 0-ring for a flippy cap which normally is why they fail I found the generic metric size from a British supplier and got a bag full of them at work .Even if I had to buy the thing a bag full would be cheaper than the entire cap assembly from a dealer . So it's an option.Either a 3 dollar bag of o-rings in the tool box or half dozen 9 dollar caps in case you break one because given enough time they all fail .

Stihl used a square type o-ring so it would form to the shape of the collar better.

 

[Mastermind]

I use a oring that must be stretched pretty good to go over the crank. Too large and it will crack the bushing. I've seen several that leak without the oring.....so I started using one in all 044/440s.

 

[thomas1]

I use a oring that must be stretched pretty good to go over the crank. Too large and it will crack the bushing. I've seen several that leak without the oring.....so I started using one in all 044/440s.

Sigged

 

[5000+]

A very small wipe of sealer around the lower end of the crank stub before the bushing is installed will work. A non worn bushing probably would not leak. Anyone ever check one that leaked w/o the clutch then recheck after the clutch is tightened.

 

[Mastermind]

Sigged

GFY with a oringed bushing.

 

[5000+]

Husqvarna 371/372 family of saws have the same setup.

 

[Brian Simonseth]

The three I've put together I didn't put any on them but the oldest one was a 1992

 

[jacob j.]

Do you ever get tired of beating your head against the wall?

Oh, sometimes. It's new faces, but the same old issues.

I've built and rebuilt probably 300 044s/440s over the years and never once have I had to use an o-ring and never once have I had that area present with an air leak afterward. Same thing on the 365/371/372s.

 

[PA Dan]

I built my first 044 using grease. Then I was reading this manual and thought I forgot a part!