Chain brake activating often while idle.

[Lorgar]

I've had my little Oleo Mac 937 chainsaw for about 18 months and it's been working great, I took her out at a trip on the weekend for the first time in about a month and I'm finding the chain brake is activating while idling for no real reason.

I'll unlock it, rev it to find the brake is on and have to click it again a few times. Once the saw is powering it stays off, but doesn't seem to be sitting right normally or something and I suddenly find it is on.

I've removed the blade, cleaned it etc. everything is as it should be as far as I can tell. Wasn't used out of the ordinary last time out, wasn't dropped etc.

Not sure where to look next if anyone has any suggestions.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

Take it to a shop you dont want to find out the hard way it doesn't work when you need it

[BBJ]

When was the last time you gave it a proper clean?

A full strip and degrease?

Easy for crap build up around the chain sprocket and brake area. If you're just wiping down the exterior and not giving the thing a full once over every now and then it can build up on there to cause brake issues.

[Lorgar]

Could be.

I gave it a full clean before heading out over the long weekend. Didn't have the need to use it in the end so it ended up just spending the weekend in the truck.

I'll give it another shot on the next trip now that it's had some attention and failing all else take it to the shop.

[BBJ]

My money's on crap through the sprocket and brake assembly.

[Growler]

Remove the sprocket and clean the crap off the clutch shoes

[Lorgar]

So yeah... long story short my own fault for being a bit slack on the cleaning

Fired up and worked perfectly for a fair bit of work on the last outing.

I always give it a quick wipe down after uses but clearly need to do a full degrease and bring it back to being nice and shiny clean more often.