Mix and match Stihl crank case halves?

[Ronie]

Can you mix and match 440/044 crankcase halves or will there be alignment problems? The 440 I have is a little messed up on the clutch side and I've found a case half on ebay for a good price but I don't want to get it if others have had problems doing it. The ad says it will fit a 044 or a 440.

 

[jacob j.]

The Stihl cases don't match up as well as the Husky/Jonsered cases when mixing/matching halves. I've had some line up fine and some that didn't - It's a crap shoot.

 

[Ronie]

The Stihl cases don't match up as well as the Husky/Jonsered cases when mixing/matching halves. I've had some line up fine and some that didn't - It's a crap shoot.

Thanks, I think I'm going to pass on the case halve.

 

[Ronie]

I went ahead and got one for $80 shipped off ebay, I guess that's not to bad of a price.

 

[redline4]

It can be done, my 046 was nothing but a box of mismatched parts.
I think it was @huskihl who mentioned putting the halves together and using a razor blade as a small straight edge on the base flange to verify they line up.
That's what I did on mine.

 

[Ronie]

It can be done, my 046 was nothing but a box of mismatched parts.
I think it was @huskihl who mentioned putting the halves together and using a razor blade as a small straight edge on the base flange to verify they line up.
That's what I did on mine.

With my luck I'd end up with one that doesn't match. I was hoping to hear that they pretty much all match up, glad I asked before purchasing the case halve.

 

[redline4]

With my luck I'd end up with one that doesn't match. I was hoping to hear that they pretty much all match up, glad I asked before purchasing the case halve.

For what it's worth, there was 1 of 1 side and 3 of the other halves in the box of stuff.
I tried all of them, all lined up fine in my case.

 

[huskihl]

It can be done, my 046 was nothing but a box of mismatched parts.
I think it was @huskihl who mentioned putting the halves together and using a razor blade as a small straight edge on the base flange to verify they line up.
That's what I did on mine.

036 didn’t like the mismatching. Quite a ways off. 044’s have matched up so far. Small test sample though

 

[Ronie]

036 didn’t like the mismatching. Quite a ways off. 044’s have matched up so far. Small test sample though

You got me curios so I went ahead and bought the case half too, if it works I'll have a crankcase for a future build, if not I'm only out $32.

 

[Ronie]

I'll post how they fit together.

 

[Ronie]

As luck would have it, the mix matched crank case halves didn't line up, glad I also bought a whole crank case.

 

[jacob j.]

As luck would have it, the mix matched crank case halves didn't line up, glad I also bought a whole crank case.

View attachment 336930 View attachment 336931

That's exactly why I advise people to be careful when trying to mate Stihl case halves from different saws. The newer models might mate up better,
but the older models are only about a 50/50 chance.

 

[srcarr52]

As luck would have it, the mix matched crank case halves didn't line up, glad I also bought a whole crank case.

View attachment 336930 View attachment 336931

Wow, that's about the worst difference I've seen. I've had to deck cases to revive some of these older saws before.

 

[Ronie]

I wonder if the clutch side is is from a 044, the flywheel side is a 440.

 

[redline4]

That's like a full Sausage finger gap on that deck.

 

[Ronie]

I think I know why them two case haves don't line up, I believe the crankcase that I took the flywheel side from has been decked. I tried the clutch side with a different case half and it lined up in the front and was a hair off in the back.