How bad are missing cooling fins?

[LAWN BOY]

Homelite 150 chainsaw, how bad is it that 2 cooling fins are broken off the flywheel like this?

 

[64poncho]

Homelite 150 chainsaw, how bad is it that 2 cooling fins are broken off the flywheel like this?

It would probably still move air over cylinder but I would be concerned with it vibrating from being out of balance.

 

[FederalQ]

Are you serious? I thought you were talking cylinder fins. It‘ll be out of balance.

 

[Moparmyway]

Break off the 2 fins on the opposite side, balance issues solved

 

[Ronaldo]

Definitely a balance issue that will not be good for bearings. Probably extra vibration too.

 

[heimannm]

The balance of a single cylinder two stroke engine is not very good to begin with. In all likelihood you will not feel the difference with the saw running, and unless you run it tank after tank on the hottest days of the year cooling should not be an issue provided you keep the saw relatively clean.

Mark

 

[EFSM]

The balance of a single cylinder two stroke engine is not very good to begin with.

Amen. If you're concerned, you could tap a hole in that area and add a bolt with a stack of washers for a weight.

 

[LAWN BOY]

I will keep the saw relatively clean and will not be using it very hard core by any means.

 

[pbillyi69]

Break off the 2 fins on the opposite side, balance issues solved

this

 

[pbillyi69]

or get a different flywheel

 

[Bill G]

Yes just replace it

 

[atpchas]

Homelite 150 Flywheel / Magneto | eBay

This part is in good working used condition. Parts may fit other models.

www.ebay.com

 

[Matts Mower and Saw]

Only logical answer atpchas !

 

[Sloughfoot]

Run it and find out.

 

[Bill G]

Run it and find out.

Well he will get an education that way

 

[jacob j.]

These little Homelites don't turn fast enough for there to be a major imbalance issue caused by the two missing fins on the flywheel.

When I was at the one dealership in the early 2000's, I would periodically service a company-owned Stihl 064 landing saw.
That saw ran with three adjoining missing cooling fins on the flywheel for twelve years in a landing environment, which is one of worst environments for a chainsaw.

What ultimately killed that saw was guys running it without an air filter of any kind.

 

[Ronaldo]

These little Homelites don't turn fast enough for there to be a major imbalance issue caused by the two missing fins on the flywheel.

When I was at the one dealership in the early 2000's, I would periodically service a company-owned Stihl 064 landing saw.
That saw ran with three adjoining missing cooling fins on the flywheel for twelve years in a landing environment, which is one of worst environments for a chainsaw.

What ultimately killed that saw was guys running it without an air filter of any kind.

Very interesting. I certainly expected there would be more of an out of balance issue.

 

[jacob j.]

Very interesting. I certainly expected there would be more of an out of balance issue.

It's intuitive to think that there would be more of an effect. These little saws are so crudely built though, like Mark said, there's not much balance there. The flywheel fins on an 064 are also pretty small and don't represent much mass.

It also has to do with how the bottom end is constructed. I believe these little Homelites use needle-roller main bearings, similar to the Stihl 020T/MS-200T, which are more forgiving of certain loads. Of course, they don't do as well at higher speeds like a caged roller ball bearing.

 

[pbillyi69]

i ran a work saw that was missing some fins and couldnt notice at all that they were missing. that saw was used every day by someone. it was an 026 and it lasted for the three years that i worked for that guy

 

[Woodwackr]

It's intuitive to think that there would be more of an effect. These little saws are so crudely built though, like Mark said, there's not much balance there. The flywheel fins on an 064 are also pretty small and don't represent much mass.

It also has to do with how the bottom end is constructed. I believe these little Homelites use needle-roller main bearings, similar to the Stihl 020T/MS-200T, which are more forgiving of certain loads. Of course, they don't do as well at higher speeds like a caged roller ball bearing.

So, I shouldn’t worry too much about this one 064 FW with a couple of missing fins…got it . It will go on eBay…last