MS 362 C-M Z Rod Bearing Failure

[jellycsc]

Everything is OEM on this saw. To my surprise, the p&c look perfect, no scores. What would cause this sort of rod bearing failure? Is Stihl quality slipping?

Story:
This customer is a general contractor, not a full-time tree faller. He said he only uses this saw at most once or twice a month if he gets hired to cut down big trees. According to him, it's a lightly used saw. Never been straight gas'ed.

 

[hacskaroly]

What would cause this sort of rod bearing failure? Is Stihl quality slipping?

This might be the one-in-a-million part failure (tell the customer he should go buy a lottery ticket!!). Without other damage to the saw (piston/cylinder..etc), I would guess a problem bearing to begin with. I have a Husky 372 crankshaft with the same issue. Not a logging saw, is used mostly during the summer and this one fell apart too.