Rancher 455 Slow Oil Leak

[Wood Doctor]

This oil leak is rather odd. My friend's Husqvarna 455 Rancher has hardly been used and the engine has really good compression and runs fine. It's been resting in a garage with a slow oil leak that I estimate at one drip every hour, so figure about a half ounce or so a day.. The cap is fine and the case is OK, so I conclude that it has to be in the pump assembly. I ordered a new one because it's an inexpensive set of parts. Here's the Service manual illustration:

Here's a Pic with the side cover removed:

Overnight with the side cover in place, the saw leaked perhaps a quarter of an ounce. For the past seven hours with the side cover removed as shown in the pic, the leak has been zero. Gasp! That means to me that the pump assembly may be OK. If so, what is causing the slow leak with everything assembled? I'm stumped. Any suggestions?
TIA.

 

[EFSM]

When you say side cover, are you talking about the clutch cover or the metal shield that covers the pump and bar mount? The metal shield is what holds the grommet/oil pickup tube into the tank--maybe you could add a washer between the shield and the grommet to get a firmer/better seal. I've already added some silicone sealant between the crankcase and the pickup tube if I didn't trust the pickup tube to seal again.

 

[Wood Doctor]

When you say side cover, are you talking about the clutch cover or the metal shield that covers the pump and bar mount? The metal shield is what holds the grommet/oil pickup tube into the tank--maybe you could add a washer between the shield and the grommet to get a firmer/better seal. I've already added some silicone sealant between the crankcase and the pickup tube if I didn't trust the pickup tube to seal again.

Metal shield. That's a thin cover plate that is also removed in this Pic to reveal the pump. It's held in place by one machine screw. Seems to me it would leak faster with the shield removed. In fact, it quit leaking altogether with the shield removed. The shield may be doing something to the pump assembly to cause the leak. Not sure at all what that might be.

 

[hacskaroly]

This oil leak is rather odd. My friend's Husqvarna 455 Rancher has hardly been used and the engine has really good compression and runs fine. It's been resting in a garage with a slow oil leak that I estimate at one drip every hour, so figure about a half ounce or so a day.

Generally when people complain of oil leaks, its usually due to oil and crud (sawdust and dirt) that does not get cleaned off (on the saw body, clutch cover and any metal shields). Typically if I work on a saw that is dripping, then I will clean it really good and then let it sit on a piece of cardboard. I will check it after a few hours to see if it is leaking anywhere. If so, I wipe it again and put it on a clean spot of the cardboard. If after this it is still leaking, you can see on the cardboard where it leaked at and correlate it to where it came from the saw. That will help you narrow down where the issue might be. Out of all of the "leakers" I worked on, only one had a legitimate leak where the o-ring in the adjustable oiler broke.

Since yours is having issues when put together, give it a good clean and put it back together and then put it on clean cardboard/paper and then check if it then drips. If it does, you should have a better idea where the dripping might be coming from. If it doesn't show any dripping after together, you might try putting the bar and chain on and see if it will drip then.

Edit: Since you have the side off, remove the oiler and give it a good clean along with the area it sits.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Generally when people complain of oil leaks, its usually due to oil and crud (sawdust and dirt) that does not get cleaned off (on the saw body, clutch cover and any metal shields). Typically if I work on a saw that is dripping, then I will clean it really good and then let it sit on a piece of cardboard. I will check it after a few hours to see if it is leaking anywhere. If so, I wipe it again and put it on a clean spot of the cardboard. If after this it is still leaking, you can see on the cardboard where it leaked at and correlate it to where it came from the saw. That will help you narrow down where the issue might be. Out of all of the "leakers" I worked on, only one had a legitimate leak where the o-ring in the adjustable oiler broke.

Since yours is having issues when put together, give it a good clean and put it back together and then put it on clean cardboard/paper and then check if it then drips. If it does, you should have a better idea where the dripping might be coming from. If it doesn't show any dripping after together, you might try putting the bar and chain on and see if it will drip then.

Edit: Since you have the side off, remove the oiler and give it a good clean along with the area it sits.

Step 1 is complete. I cleaned the whole side using a solvent and a tooth brush, clean as a whistle. Then I installed the pump diver gear and the metal shield. I let it set for about three hours and not a single drop showed up. Hooray!

Step 2 is next. I'll install the needle bearing, drive sprocket, and clutch tomorrow. Frankly, I think this is fixed now, but I will report back tomorrow before I give it a run.

This is one whale of a busy weekend for me. I have to cut and split a load of firewood and deliver it on Sunday. Then LOML reported that our electric oven burner gave up and needs replacing. Gasp!

 

[hacskaroly]

Step 1 is complete. I cleaned the hole side using a solvent and a tooth brush, clean as a whistle. Then I installed the pump diver gear and the metal shield. I let it set for about three hours and not a single drop showed up. Hooray!

Step 2 is next. I'll install the needle bearing, drive sprocket, and clutch tomorrow. Frankly, I think this is fixed now, but I will report back tomorrow after I give it a run.

This is one whale of a busy weekend for me. I have to cut and split a load of firewood and deliver it on Sunday. Then LOML reported that our electric oven burner gave up and needs replacing. Gasp!

Step 1 - Awesome, good to hear.
Step 2 - Sounds good, look forward to hearing what happens. I would recommend giving it a good wipedown when you are done and then let it sit on cardboard, again to point out where any oil is potentially dripping from.

Good luck with the splitting and the electric oven, sounds like you will be busy!!

 

[old 040]

These saws had an update on the oil pick up tube, #2 in the parts list you posted. I replaced one earlier this year.

 

[EFSM]

Seems to me it would leak faster with the shield removed.

That depends on how full it is. If it is filled above the pickup line then it should leak out, but if it's below the hole (I don't remember how much room there is between the hole and the bottom of the tank), having the side plate off will keep the tank from building pressure and pushing it out through the oiler.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Saw is completely reassembled after the thorough clean-up. Stored overnight with the driver gear and metal shield installed, not a single drip occurred. Bar's lug nuts and the chain are tight. I'll let it sit awhile and keep monitoring it while resting on the short wood supports. Right now I am very optimistic. But the proof is in the pudding with a checkup after running the saw awhile. That will be step 3.

p.s. New electric oven burner is installed. The GE original lasted 13 years. The replacements are averaging 2 years apiece, all made in China of course.

 

[Wood Doctor]

That depends on how full it is. If it is filled above the pickup line then it should leak out, but if it's below the hole (I don't remember how much room there is between the hole and the bottom of the tank), having the side plate off will keep the tank from building pressure and pushing it out through the oiler.

I have to wonder if the oil tank is really full, syphoning action could be set up between the tank and the oiler slot. If that is the situation, that flow could cause the oil drips. We shall see.

My simple rule in the past was to never fill the oil tank to the brim after running the saw. Fill it before running, not after. That seems to reduce unwanted drips.