There you stand in the driveway watching new bar oil drip onto asphalt. Just minutes ago you poured a full tank of bar oil into reservoir and now there’s a slick black pool around the base of the chainsaw’s guide bar. If you’re like most chainsaw owners, your first thought was, “Oh no!
I’ve got a leak and my saw is shot!” Fortunately, that’s rarely the case. Even though Husqvarna is legendary for making tough saws, even the greatest design and construction can be undone by basic user error. The good news is that a leaky bar oil system isn’t necessarily an expensive trip to repair shop or dealership.
More times than not, it’s caused by something as harmless as a clogged pump or old gasket material. Knowing how and why the oil leaks allows you to address the problem quickly, this ensures your chain stays lubed for better cut quality and cleanliness.
Common Causes For Husqvarna Chainsaw Oil Leaks
First up, check the seal around the fill cap.
Check the Fill Cap Seal
The rubber gasket within the cap will eventually dry out, become brittle and lose flexibility. It’s particularly common on older units that may have been stored in a shed or garage for several months. If it’s the culprit, the vibration of engine forces oil past failed seal.
A replacement of the easy-to-get rubber cap costs pennies and typically ends problem right away.
Examine the bar rails themselves. The bars is designed to allow bar oil to flow to guide bar and then back up through chain.
Clean the Bar Rails
However, those passages can gets plugged with other types of material. Sawdust, dirt, and hardened sap collect in fine grooves on the bar’s surface. When this happens, passage gets blocked and oil will sit there building up and spilling out onto the rail.
You can unclog way for good oil flow by using a specific cleaning solution or just a wire brush.
The oil pump drive sprocket is another common culprit. This piece sit inside the clutch drum and grabs the chain to pump oil.
Inspect the Oil Pump Drive Sprocket
When teeth becomes worn down on the drive sprocket, it won’t be able to gets enough pressure to send oil up into the bar. The pump will battle a restriction and you can even notice some leaking oil coming from side of clutch housing. Checking the sprocket for any damage or wear are a critical part of your diagnosis.
Examine your oil hose running from tank to the pump as well.
Examine the Oil Hose
Over time, even rubber hoses will age and deteriorate. Bio based oils tend to attack rubber more rapid than mineral oil.
This can cause small pin hole type leak. Sometimes cracks or swelling can be seen just by looking inside hose itself. A new hose ensure a steady supply of lubricant to guide bar without external leaks.
The reservoir tank may also be leaking. This is usually due to a crack in plastic that was caused by being overtightened, or bumped into. Over time, this crack allow oil to leak out of the tank.
Check the Reservoir Tank
To determine if this is your issue, fill up the tank and see if you notice any leakage prior to putting everything else together. If so, you’ll need to replace the tank to avoid complete lubrication failure.
There’s not much to fixing a leaky Husqvarna chainsaw, except that it isn’t complicated surgery.
It’s typically just a matter of taking care of minor wear issues before they escalate into big ones. You should of checked earlier. Checking the pump drive, cleaning bar rails and checking the cap gasket save money and time.
Taking a few minutes to check things now can mean no stall jobs later. Your workspace will be cleaner and your chainsaw will run smoother than a moddern machine.