Makita Dcs 400 problem !

[MakitaDcs400]

I have a Makita Dcs 400 Chain Saw it has a 16 inch bar it has a 39 cc engine.   I was told the clutch was wore in it.   I find that the saw bogs in some cuts where as before it would rip through... This wouldn't be due to the clutch slipping would it ?   Im guessing if the clutch was slipping the engine wouldn't bog it would just rev out  ?   Any help is appreciated !
Thanks to all !

[Avalancher]

Its possible that the clutch is bad and that is your problem. Once the clutch starts slipping, the chain slows in your cut, and then the clutch will want to heat up and grip or seize again. This will bog the motor because by now the chain has stopped and lost its momentum in the cut. Do you see any smoke or smell anything getting hot?
For the clutch to be bad enough that under a load it would just want to peak out in rpm's would indicate that the clutch is not just worn, but completely shot, and I cant imagine that you would get any cutting done at all.

[JD_Kid]

Hi ya
how old is this saw ?? the smaller dolmars /makitas  seem to be a bit fussy  on chain tightening   ya can over do it  with then this will make them bog down  in cuts  ..also check your bar  on the tip  if it's woren  too much this will drag them down   ..they also love air  .. to me it sounds like a lot of drag on the chain  ..is it cutting  clean ? i have seen smaller saws bind in the cut  and bog the motor down  ..i have a dolmar 109  and i know if the chain is too tight ,bluntor cutting off track  it will get boged down  ..a slipping clutch will still bog down a saw a bit  but ya would have had to do a hell of a lot of cutting  my clutch in my dolmar 120si (1989) is still fatory  and it's been used in the bush logging for a few years
catch ya
JD  

[MakitaDcs400]

The problem with this saw is my brother owned it, and gave it to me and while he owned it he had a bar that was a bit big for the saw he had an 18 inch bar on it.    The bar and chain that are on it now are brand new.   When he owned the saw it pulled the 18 inch chain fine but over time im wondering if this has caused the clutch to wear.  When we had it to get the clutch hub replaced the guy said the clutch was a bit wore(the sprocked broke off the clutch hub).  The saw was bought about 6 years ago.   Thanks for the replies

[Lewis Brander]

Hellow. I find that on these smaller saws you have to keep the chain properly adjusted, sharpened and keep the revs up while in the cut. Let the saw feed itself through the wood or cut. If you try and force it or bear down on them too much your defeating your purpose. You have to operate the smaller saws different than the bigger ones, but the same principles apply. If you want faster cuts, then get a larger saw with more power to spare. Keep a properly adjusted and sharpened chain on it and have at it. JMO. Lewis.

[MakitaDcs400]

This saw used to be able to mangle the wood compared to now even if I did force it !  by bogging I mean sometimes the chain comes to a complete stop even with no pressure applied to the saw..   (My Poulan 2050 had more Power until it broke "other post" ).  When the Makita was good it could pull and 18 inch chain with no problems...

[Ianab]

If it starts and runs OK but has no power it sorta indicates the air / fuel mixture may be out. Check / clean / replace the air filter and I assume those saws have a filter in the fuel pickup someplace? Could also be the carb adjustments are way out, especially if some one else has been fiddling with it?

Ian

[JD_Kid]

Hi ya
i'm leaning to lanab's  idea  ..they should have a filter on the fuel line  . like i was saying they love air  my 109 will run like crap with a 1/4 blocked air filter  also idles rough  is the warning sign ...when it comes to a stop (the chain) whats the saw doing almost stalled ? or still got a few revs on ... if dropping in rpms  it maybe a combo of air fuel mix  and then dropping the forse on the clutch shoes   ..i'll try some thing later with my 109 and see what happens   ..oh yea any smoke or heat kinda smell from clutch area    could ya take the side plate off and look at the clutch shoes /gap to side  ( only if  shoes on out side  )  it maybe woren  or maybe needs a rough up  if it's got gummed up  ...just seems a tad strange
catch ya
JD
ok update looking at my 109 ya should be able to see the clutch  and shoes with the side plate off (just hopeing the 400 is the same )  look at where the shoes grip  on the drum and if there looks to be a lot of wear  in that area also  a bit of a blow out and clean of the clutch to make sure they can  move with out binding ...now other thing i did was  set it running  and have the chain brake on  mine picked up revs then get's to a point that the revs will not pick up IE the clutch and brake  are working against each other   the motor note is even  and sounds like it want's to rev but can't  ..if it sounds like the motor is realy working to  try to over come the brake  ..check plug/fuel filter and air filter  then check carb settings  ..only other thing i have had probs with is the fuel line  getting a crack in it   but it had a high idle and also a trend to want to over rev (running lean) ...hopefully some thing in the above  helps ya out
catch ya
JD

OK back again had a look and found this  just incase ya have not got the owners book  ya can down load the  owners book in a PDF file  off this page
http://www.makita.com/
in the serch put DCS401
(i know it's not a 401 but trust me on that one folks ;) )and roll down the page ya will see the link, the book covers a few models
it also has a few other ideas IE muffler blocked  so might help ya out

[MakitaDcs400]

Took the exhaust off the saw and the piston seems to be scored up pretty bad.   The saw starts and runs fine but has no power.   I got a better look at it and it appears the piston is ok.   I re adjusted the carburetor and now the saw has tons of power the thing is I can feel the clutch slip now whereas before it felt like the saw had no power (due to poor carb tuning)..   Thanks for all the help guys !