Dolmar PS 540

[mcourtney]

I just traded for a Dolmar 540 , do they all leak oil just sitting on a bench? This saw is like brand new and seems like a pretty well made machine.

[Andyshine77]

Many saws leak bar oil while sitting, the 540 is one of them, great saw nevertheless.

[redmule]

 mcourtney  Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn about saws and share what you know. Dolmar makes a very good saw.

[ancjr]

Is this because they use a "drip" chain oiler... or...?

[NCFarmboy]

Is this because they use a "drip" chain oiler... or...?

Oil is fed by a positive displacement pump driven by the clutch side of the crankshaft.  Older models were driven directly from crank so it oils all the time the saw is running.  Newer models are driven by the clutch drum so it only oils when the chain is turning.
Shep

[SawTroll]

Many saws leak bar oil while sitting, the 540 is one of them, great saw nevertheless.

Well, it is a lesser model ("semi-pro"), based on the 115.

[ancjr]

Is this because they use a "drip" chain oiler... or...?

Oil is fed by a positive displacement pump driven by the clutch side of the crankshaft.  Older models were driven directly from crank so it oils all the time the saw is running.  Newer models are driven by the clutch drum so it only oils when the chain is turning.
Shep

Thanks!

[Jiles]

I have a 540 and two 520i. One of the 520i leaked oil from where the feed tube goes through the case into the oil tank.
I simply removed the feed tube, cleaned it and the case mating surface, with lacquer thinner and replaced using a product called SEAL-ALL.
SEAL-ALL is a fantastic liquid sealer that different fuels and oils won't harm, and it is a little expensive.
After use, I store in my refrigerator.

[SawTroll]

The 520 was another "semi-pro" in that saw family, same as the Dolmar 111. The real pro versions were the Dolmar 115/ Makita 5200.

[woodheater]

I love my 115i so much, I overlook it.  I try to get as much oil out as I can before storing.  Replace the OSB slab it sits on every so often.  Maybe I will get around to trying to fix someday.