Husky 385XP Clutch Safety Issue

[jteneyck]

Thought I'd put this out so others are aware of a potential safety problem.  I have a 385XP that I use for milling lumber with an Alaskan Mill.  It is a great saw in all respects - starts easily, lots of power, no real issues in about 5 years of cutting trees and milling lumber.  But the clutch can get filled with enough sawdust during milling that it won't release when you let off the throttle.  If you don't look at the chain to verify that it's not moving there is a potential you could accidentally cut yourself as you remove the mill/saw at the end of a cut.  I know, it almost happened to me.  So now I either shut off the saw or engage the chain brake at the end of every cut before removing the mill/saw. 

I am very conscientious about maintenance, and clean everything out every day, but this problem happens during a day's use.  I've never had it happen when cutting trees/firewood, only when milling, so it's probably related to the the orientation of the saw and the amount of fine dust generated during milling compared to cross cutting.  It really packs into the clutch and you have to blow it out with compressed air to get it out. 

I'm comfortable now with my procedures.  I just wanted to make others aware of this potential safety issue. 

[Rocky_J]

Since the clutch assembly in the 385XP is not unique, I think this would be applicable to anybody using any big saw for milling.

And I find the same thing happens on my 346XP from regular use in my tree service. I've figured out that it is partially from overgreasing the clutch bearing. The extra grease gets into the clutch, then dries up and hardens. Blowing it out with air doesn't work, about once per year I had to take it apart and scrape out the black carbon crud so that the clutch shoes could fully retract. Since I quit greasing the clutch bearing so much it hasn't been an issue.

[jteneyck]

Thanks for the feedback about grease being a potential source of this issue.  I may be guilty of over greasing the clutch bearing, so I'll try using just a minimum and see if the issue resolves itself. 

[Rocky_J]

Like I said, the dried grease turns rock hard and the clutch needs to be disassembled and the crud chiseled out with a small tool (I used an old screwdriver and an awl). Once it's cleaned up the clutch can fully retract, but it won't clean itself out because the clutch shoes just keep packing it in tighter.

[GASoline71]

I only grease a clutch bearing on the rare occasion I actually have the clutch off of a saw.  Maybe milling with a saw you need to grease the bearing more... I dunno.  I have never had a bearing failure in a saw, and have only greased clucth bearings maybe... maybe a dozen times or so.

Gary