craftsman clutch assembly removal

[goose372]

i have an 18" 42cc craftsman chainsaw, model # 358.360150

i believe the oil pump has gone bad on this unit.  it appears that i need to remove the clutch assembly to get to the oil pump.

how do i go about removing that clutch assembly?

thanks in advance for your help!

[Al_Smith]

Most Craftsman saws ,which are rebranded Poulans,have a threaded clutch .Stuff a short piece of small rope in the spark plug hole  to hold the piston and turn the clutch off .This is left handed threads by the way . Lefty thighty,righty loosey .

If it doesn't have a nut machined into the clutch,use a hammer and a drift to knock it loose. A sharp hammer rap,not like driving a railroad spike .

[goose372]

thanks al.

i have heard of also using a long bolt with the same threads to hold the piston.  the rope method, my assumption is that it keeps the piston from mashing the top of the cyclinder or from reaching the top and recycling back down?  the rope is definantly more accessible (lying around in the garage)than the proper size bolt. 

you are correct that there is no bolt holding the clutch assembly on, and it does indicate on it that it is "left handed" ("off" direction arrow).

[sawmilllawyer]

Just went through this w/ a Poulan 2150.  If this is a rebranded Poulan, the clutch comes off like Gooose 372 said. I made a tool out of a piece of 1/2 pipe about 8 to 10 inches long welded two short pieces of 1/4 rod on opposite sides of the pipe. The rods protrude about 1 1/2 to 2 inches from the end of the pipe and act like short fingers. These fingers insert into the two holes inside the sprocket housing and engage the recesses in the clutch itself. Then simply turn the tool left and loosen up the sprocket. You may have to put a small pipe wrench on the pipe to break it loose. Then everything should turn freely. The oil pump is directly beneath the clutch assembly and is held in place by two small screws.  Had to build the tool because Poulan only sells the clutch removal tool to dealers, which i am not. While you are in there, depending on wear might as well change the sprocket and oil pump. When you order the oil pump there is a plastic tool that costs $1.98 which is helpful in re-installing the oil pump. Hope this helps, Andy.

[Urbicide]

Here is what you need.

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=31115&catID=95

I use an electric impact wrench on clutch removal tools that have a hex nut on them. Works great and you don't have to stick anything into the cylinder to stop the piston.

[Al_Smith]

thanks al.

i have heard of also using a long bolt with the same threads to hold the piston.  the rope method, my assumption is that it keeps the piston from mashing the top of the cyclinder or from reaching the top and recycling back down?  the rope is definantly more accessible (lying around in the garage)than the proper size bolt. 

That bolt thing is kind of mis information .The spark plug hole is 14mm ,1.25 .They don't make a bolt that size .

Years ago the plug sizes of 14 and 18 mm had special threads that the manufactures all agreed to use odd ball threads that only worked in this application . The tidbit of the day . Besides that a steel piston stop is not a very good idea .