McCollugh McCat Super 16 chainsaw oiler issues

[MOSNKSCJS]

Hi Everyone,

I recently obtained a McCollugh MCCAT Super 16 chainsaw for a very reasonable price (it cost me the gas to go pick it up :) ).

When using it, the oiler hole in the bar gets plugged with saw dust and the chain runs dry. I have tried cleaning the area around the oil hole in the bar and have tested the oil pump by starting the engine without the bar attached and it pumps oil fine. Have also verified that the chain is on correctly.

One thing I noticed is the chain appears to be stretched considerably. This causes the bar to be adjusted way out, and could be leading to the dust plugging the hole because the chain doesn't clean it out. I am on the verge of buying a new chain and bar for the saw, but wanted to see if anyone else had run across similar issues and how they fixed them.

Many thanks!
Nathan

[grumble]

Good deal on the saw!

I don't know your experience with chain saws, so please don't take offense at this. Are you sure the chain isn't getting enough oil? The chain doesn't need to be wet to get enough oil, and if it pumps oil at all, it should be enough to seep through the sawdust and wipe the chain.

Another thing to consider is the sharpness of the chain. A dull chain will make small sawdust, and sharp one will make bigger chips. The fine dust will plug up more than the bigger wood chips.

When you get the new bar and chain, don't trash the old one. You can just remove a link from the stretched chain and have a good spare.

Good luck with the saw, Nathan!

[MOSNKSCJS]

Hi Grumble,

No offense taken at all. I asked myself the same question. After checking it closely I can say without a doubt that the bar is not getting oil.

I think you may be onto something though. The dust blocking the oil hole is very fine dust. I wasn't aware that a dull chain made fine dust versus a sharp chain and big chips....it makes sense, but I had never thought of it. Think I will give sharpening it a try first, before buying the new parts.

Thanks for the suggestions Grumble!

Nathan

[grumble]

Not to belabor the subject (well, ok, I'm belaboring it...), but when you sharpen the chain, be sure to also check the depth blades (the little bumps in front of the cutting edges) to make sure they are a couple thousandths (1/32" if I recall correctly) below the cutting edge. An often-sharpened chain will lower the cutter height, and the depth blades will prevent a proper depth of cut even with sharp cutters. You should be able to find tons of info on the net for rejuvenating old chains.

[cinok]

A new chain for an saw like yours are pretty cheap at a big box store. Depending on how dull the chain is it my cost more to have it sharpened correctly.

[Axehandle]

The chain you have may not be the correct one.
If the drivers (the links on the underside of the chain) are too short,they will not keep the guide bar channel clean.
The chain may be the right pitch but made for a different saw with a shallow drive sprocket.

[MOSNKSCJS]

Grumble -- I will definately google rejuvenating saw chains. It has been several years since I have had the need to work on a chain saw, so I am little rusty on the whole sharpening thing.

Cinok -- I agree that the cost is not bad for a replacement, and it would not be a bad idea to get one to have as a spare just in case. Will probably pick up a spare bar to have around as well. They won't hurt anything hanging from a hook in the garage :wink:

Axehandle -- I hadn't thought about that, but that is also a distinct possibility. The guy that gave it to me never mentioned replacing the chain, but that doesn't mean it wasn't changed at some point. He is a really good guy, but not exactly mechanically inclined, so would have gone with whatever the salesman told him he needed.


I appreciate the help. It has been a long time since I have had a need for a chain saw, so even though I maintained them in the past, I am more that a little rusty. It is nice to need one again though. I spent the last 3 years in an apartment in Washington DC...so it feels good to be back in God's country working on my own property.

[grumble]

" I spent the last 3 years in an apartment in Washington DC..."

Oops, sorry. We didn't know we were dealing with a mentally handicapped person! Happy to hear, however, that you survived the lobotomy. if we'd known that, we'd have used smaller words!

Just pulling your leg. Welcome back to the real world!

[MOSNKSCJS]

I was suppossed to get the lobotomy upon my arrival in DC, but the paperwork got lost. Seems they were having the Social Security Admin process the lobotomy forms after the postal service delivered them. They were supposed to fix the problem in a week...so that gave 3 me years to plan an escape. :sarcastic:

Seriously though, I had NO desire to live there, but that is where my job sent me. Did my time, and then transferred to another position in TN. Much prettier country, much nicer folks, and no warm breezes carrying the smell of BS.

[MOSNKSCJS]

Just an update. The new chain and bar fixed the issue. Replaced them today and it works perfectly. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions that ultimately lead to the solution!