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Stihl fs85r clutch slipping Need ADVICE please

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S man

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I was going to post this in Roger's thread about his stihl fs85 having a clutch problem and resolved it by putting in new springs, but I decided to start a new thread about my stihl fs85 having the clutch slipping and making a squeaky different sound from the usual bell tingling sound.

"I know this is an old thread but one of my fs85s is having a problem with the clutch and sounds like the spring prob you were having. But mine when warm will have the head spinning in idle sometimes. And it makes a squeaky metal sound without the tinging stihl clutch sound. When I hear the normal stihl tinging bell sound the head doesn't spin in idle. It seems like the clutch is messed up with these symtoms right? The trimmer is only a year old and is run without the guard and my dad was running it most of the time with extra string and not giving it full throttle giving it a bell sounding rough sound. Then after he was running it it started making the metal squeaky sound and having the head spin when at idle or when turned upside down for edging. Is this the spring problem or something else with my trimmer? It is at the shop again for repair for the problem. The first time I brought it in they took two weeks to look at it and then said it was fine and didn't fix anything. This time I want this legitimate problem fixed. It has to be warmed before it acts weird. Any ideas of the slipping clutch?"
 
#2 ·
If the head is spinning it ain't the clutch...
Because if the clutch was slipping the head wouldn't spin...

When's the last time you greased up the gear box?
Down by the head, there's a small bolt on the side...
You're supposed to grease this at least once / year, it usually doesn't take much but if they run dry...

Worst case you probably need a new head, but I had this problem 6 years ago on an fs-85 and the head is in use today (thou the engine was at fault, loss of compression).

So I'd check compression also.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I thought if the clutch was slipping the head would spin?? It off and on makes a metal queaky sound coming from the clutch and and head spins without triggering it. Is it really the head??? The sound is coming from the clutch.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
joesimoes2 said:
you need to replace the clutch assy.:waving:
Click to expand...
Isn't that stuff under warranty for life? I checked my manual and it is so the dealer will fix it. What gets me is why this happened the trimmer is only a year old. and I don't use it all the time either. I thought stihl had the best clutches? Never had a problem like this with redmax. Which I will be getting a 2601s soon.
 
#6 ·
S man said:
...The trimmer is only a year old and is run without the guard and my dad was running it most of the time with extra string and not giving it full throttle giving it a bell sounding rough sound. ...
Click to expand...
Perhaps this is a menu for excessive load on the clutch. Having extra string beyond what the guard would allow requires extra power. And, running at partial throttle means the driving dogs don't have the centrifugal force to engage as fully as at full throttle. Each of these factor could create a problem, and the combination can make the matter even worse.
 
#7 ·
S man said:
Isn't that stuff under warranty for life? I checked my manual and it is so the dealer will fix it. What gets me is why this happened the trimmer is only a year old. and I don't use it all the time either. I thought stihl had the best clutches? Never had a problem like this with redmax. Which I will be getting a 2601s soon.
Click to expand...
Redmax good choice.:waving:
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Roger said:
Perhaps this is a menu for excessive load on the clutch. Having extra string beyond what the guard would allow requires extra power. And, running at partial throttle means the driving dogs don't have the centrifugal force to engage as fully as at full throttle. Each of these factor could create a problem, and the combination can make the matter even worse.
Click to expand...
It seems like stihls clutches are worse than echo and redmax because I have ran both redmax and echo without guards and didn't have this problem with the head spinnin like crazy after one year of use. Also because it does have to be run at full throttle because you have to get over that clutch sound that makes some vibration at first. They say to run stihls at full throttle but sometimes when my dad uses the trimmers or have employees use them they don't run the units at full throttle at all times, so I'm suppossed to have problems in a year? the problem is actually worse with the guard on and short string running. My dad used the redmax at half throttle and never had the problems and clutch issues the stihl is having. We'll have to see what the dealer says.

joesimoes2 said:
Redmax good choice.:waving:
Click to expand...
I know I regreted selling my older one.
 
#9 ·
I have run both Echo and Stihl and I have never had to replace a stihl clutch although I only ran 3, but one was an 85. Running at low rpm and taking the guard off is not going to take out those clutches unless you ran it a long time in a failed mode. The spring that holds the clutch pads from rubbing at low rpm may have broke. This would account for head spinning at low rpm. And if you kept using the unit for a long time it may have damaged something.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
ed2hess said:
I have run both Echo and Stihl and I have never had to replace a stihl clutch although I only ran 3, but one was an 85. Running at low rpm and taking the guard off is not going to take out those clutches unless you ran it a long time in a failed mode. The spring that holds the clutch pads from rubbing at low rpm may have broke. This would account for head spinning at low rpm. And if you kept using the unit for a long time it may have damaged something.
Click to expand...
Thank you mr. Hess just the answer I needed. It sounds like the springs are the problem. Are they covered like the rest of the clutch under warranty?
 
#11 ·
No disrespect, but I think this repair matter is being made much larger than reality. For a couple of dollars, you can get new springs. Getting them installed is a few minutes of time. I think you will spend far, far more time trying to process a warranty claim than if you just get the springs, install them, and go on about your work.

If only most repairs were this simple ....
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Roger said:
No disrespect, but I think this repair matter is being made much larger than reality. For a couple of dollars, you can get new springs. Getting them installed is a few minutes of time. I think you will spend far, far more time trying to process a warranty claim than if you just get the springs, install them, and go on about your work.

If only most repairs were this simple ....
Click to expand...
I'm actually on the phone right now with my dealer and they said it's fine and couldn't find anything wrong. I'm holding for the owner and maybe I can this this thing fixed or get the springs to do it myself. If the trimmer is making a squeaky noise and the head spins and I can hear the clutch is letting it go without stopping there is a problem right?? My dealer said it's fine.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Fisher40037 said:
If your dealer is stupid enough to say he will cover it, then go for it.

Running any trimmer without the guard will void any clutch warranty.

It sounds like you are mis-interpreting the problem/and/or failure anyway......
Click to expand...
I keep the guard on most of the time and sometimes take it off once in a while. The trimmer had the problem with the guard on and it is under warranty. The clutch is warrantied for life and it doesn't matter if that guard is on there 100% of the time. It really gets annoying after awhile.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
ed2hess said:
If it is not the spring ....then keep in mind if the idle is set high it will spin the head all the time. This noise change sorta tells me it is still in the clutch.
Click to expand...
The idle speed where the head doesn't spin when idle under normal circumstances so I definitely believe it is the clutch especially because the sound is different than the normal bell sound and it spins the head fast like the clutch isn't grabbing or the pads/springs are loose. But when the idle is really low is seems the prob is the worst. When the idle is set a little faster the clutch grabs better and doesn't go nuts as easily.
 
#17 ·
Well ok, if there are defective parts in the clutch then it could grab when it shouldn't, I didn't think about that because I was thinking strictly in terms of a worn (or slipping) clutch... But, it could be the springs.

As for your dealer saying 'nothing wrong with it,' that's code for "I'm not dealing with this," and I'm sorry to be blunt but when it comes to warranty repairs much further than say 30 days beyond the date of purchase man I have done heard them all (another good one is, "it's shot, nothing doing"). But what can you do, that's the way they are and the reason not all Lco's are but so fond of the dealer, still we need their support so I just take that crap best I can.

I don't like it, but I can see their point... If I'm not wanting to fix it that's code for "it's not worth it" so why should they?
I'm just throwing my liability their way, even thou it is under warranty, but I can kind of see where they're coming from.

Because in the end the choice is simple:
1) Take it apart and in some kind of timely fashion see if you can fix what's wrong with it, probably worth 1-2 hours labor, maybe.
2) Buy another one and keep this one for parts.

That, unfortunately, is what it always boils down to.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
topsites said:
Well ok, if there are defective parts in the clutch then it could grab when it shouldn't, I didn't think about that because I was thinking strictly in terms of a worn (or slipping) clutch... But, it could be the springs.

As for your dealer saying 'nothing wrong with it,' that's code for "I'm not dealing with this," and I'm sorry to be blunt but when it comes to warranty repairs much further than say 30 days beyond the date of purchase man I have done heard them all (another good one is, "it's shot, nothing doing"). But what can you do, that's the way they are and the reason not all Lco's are but so fond of the dealer, still we need their support so I just take that crap best I can.

I don't like it, but I can see their point... If I'm not wanting to fix it that's code for "it's not worth it" so why should they?
I'm just throwing my liability their way, even thou it is under warranty, but I can kind of see where they're coming from.

Because in the end the choice is simple:
1) Take it apart and in some kind of timely fashion see if you can fix what's wrong with it, probably worth 1-2 hours labor, maybe.
2) Buy another one and keep this one for parts.

That, unfortunately, is what it always boils down to.
Click to expand...
I put in up for sale with my snapper commercia 21" and have someone coming to look at them tomorrow to buy. I will be replacing with a redmax 2600s.
 
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S man
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