Profanity & nylon caged bearings...

[Mattyo]

And none of those reasons are enough to sway me towards having a saw with a $40 bearing that I can only buy from husky (not that stihl doesn't have the same problem)

 

[afleetcommand]

Either way it's a deal breaker for me. I don't care how good these saws are....they aren't for me if they have a bearing configuration like that.

Looks like your choice of saw brands got narrowed significantly! The OTHER major brand has used nylon caged bearings for years successfully. I think steel might help by expanding the performance envelope relative to heat and alcohol....but that is speculation.

 

[Mattyo]

....but that's just me...and I'm fully aware I live in fantasy land lol

 

[afleetcommand]

And none of those reasons are enough to sway me towards having a saw with a $40 bearing that I can only buy from husky (not that stihl doesn't have the same problem)

I don't like that concept either, but those saws are interesting and good enough for me to want to work thought it...just me. To each his own...thats why there are different brands out there. AND there are always the older one to rebuild...So I will try and figure out a workable solution. Part of the fun of this stuff.

 

[Mattyo]

I'm going to only own 350s 262s 372 and 394 ....they all have identical bearings for both sides....and I can choose my flavor for bearings ....again...this makes sense in my own mind hehe

 

[paragonbuilder]

I'm going to only own 350s 262s 372 and 394 ....they all have identical bearings for both sides....and I can choose my flavor for bearings ....again...this makes sense in my own mind hehe

Matty I don't get your thinking??? Truth is if you replace the bearing once in the saws life that would be the only time you do. Unless something else is wrong. Even in pro use they last a very long time if treated right.

 

[Mattyo]

Walts latest vid shows him replacing the bearing on a 2015 550xp. ....

My thinking is that I don't want to HAVE to use an oem proprietary bearing. There are TONs of proven standard bearings. To use anything but....is annoying at least. Again...just in my twisted brain

 

[Onan18]

Matty I don't get your thinking??? Truth is if you replace the bearing once in the saws life that would be the only time you do. Unless something else is wrong. Even in pro use they last a very long time if treated right.

I think I understand his logic of wanting to be able to easily (and cheaply) source spare parts, but I agree with you on the fact that bearing replacement is relatively uncommon. Now, I have one logging outfit that I refuse to repair their saws anymore unless they agree to a full case split rebuild up front because most of their saws are older high hour units, they run sub standard mix oil, and every single one I have cracked open has had a blown (or about to blow) PTO bearing, metal cage or not. Done two 51s, two 039s, three T 540 XPs, a 261 (converted to a 262 XP) an 064, a 385 XP, and a 272 XP. The 385 is where I learned my lesson, came in for fuel system issues, I wanted to split the case then but he said it was fine. A week later it was back in with an air leak, blown PTO bearing, never again.

Joe

 

[Mattyo]

You want my 385 joe ? Hehe

 

[Onan18]

You want my 385 joe ? Hehe

If I hadn't already bought five saws so far this year I might, but I am afraid that I am going to have to pass my friend. Besides, I already have that class covered, with a 288 XP.

 

[paragonbuilder]

Walts latest vid shows him replacing the bearing on a 2015 550xp. ....

My thinking is that I don't want to HAVE to use an oem proprietary bearing. There are TONs of proven standard bearings. To use anything but....is annoying at least. Again...just in my twisted brain

Ok, so just your eccentricity. I get that. Carry on Matt.

 

[Mastermind]

We sure have got some great members.

Excellent thread gents.

 

[67L36Driver]

From where I sit there is no clear advantage steel vrs plastic separator.

What kills a bearing is heat, lack of lubrication, excessive load and trash.

Steel separator provides a better cooling but as mentioned will kill the piston/cylinder when it fails.



Also:
When you are designing machinery to be manufactured in the tens of thousands of units (chainsaw powerheads) the bearing supplier will gladly supply any bearing configuration you desire. Hence the not so standard features.

 

[jacob j.]

There was a high rate of bearing failure in the 372XT when it first came out on the PTO side, and as mentioned earlier in this thread the stuffed crankcase combined with 50:1 mix likely played a majority role in that. Users were only getting about 80-100 hours on the saw before they needed a complete rebuild. All of the bearings were plastic/nylon cage style. For the loggers, I started taking the stuffers out during the rebuild and that has helped a lot with longevity.

I don't worry about the steel-caged bearings as all of the major OPE manufacturers used them for years with a high rate of success. I've seen Mac race saws running those bearings turning 16-18k.

 

[Mattyo]

Just so everyone here doesn't misunderstand....I'm not knocking anyone...least of all Walt. I have my own ideas and I think it's awesome that I get to express them here. Thanks yall for affording me that opportunity and I hope we can keep all learning from each other

 

[Mastermind]

Just so everyone here doesn't misunderstand....I'm not knocking anyone...least of all Walt. I have my own ideas and I think it's awesome that I get to express them here. Thanks yall for affording me that opportunity and I hope we can keep all learning from each other

This site is very important to me Matt. That's why I'm so quick to send negative and disruptive people away. Here I hope we can always disagree without anyone becoming overly disagreeable. If everyone agrees on everything though........no new ideas or solutions will ever become available.

I like to think that here we have a site that is built on our respect for each other.

 

[Mattyo]

Yup...

Carry on gents

 

[Mastermind]

Oh.......send me that 385 for disposal.

 

[Mattyo]

I have a guy that'll give me 500 for the powerhead. Problem with that is that if he breaks it....I gotta fix it lol

 

[Simondo]

I posted a while back about the 2016 yr 550 xp with less than 10 hrs time on it that had a total clutch side bearing fail.
Husq dealer confirmed that fuel was fine with no top end damage and that the clutch side 'Only" bearing had failed ...no further explanation was offered.
So it looks to me that this issue " could" be as much be about a fault with the component at install , a basic weakness in spec.. damage that can happen sooner in the saws life from heat /lack of lube.. pressure on the clutch side .. as well as by the ravages of time "Hrs of work" to produce a fail.