OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters McCulloch Trimmers & Brushcutters Tighten Bolt

This bolt will not tighten. I`ve tried extra washers-new spring washer even at both ends. It`s supposed to tighten the yellow motor part to the silver shaft. The whole thing is loose between yellow part and silver shaft. Any ideas? :cheers

Terrace,

You will not be able to tighten the bolt up as the gap between yellow is not wide enough to clamp on the shaft.

I would put some rubber around the shaft and then slide the shaft back into the motor housing and it should stop any movement.

Thank You. Does that shaft come right out? Now i`m not sure what rubber to use, maybe like bicycle tube? Have to be pretty thin eh?

Yes the shaft comes out and the bicycle tube should be ok.

Thank You Bruce looks like the yellow cover has to be removed and i guess the wires disconnected? Maybe a techs job i`m only an amateur.

Terrace,

It is not hard to do as you only need to undo the cable nut and remove the cable then just disconnect the wire which has a pull apart fitting which will be under the tape. The other wire will come off when you undo the nut holding the throttle cable to the body.

Why pay someone $25 for a few minutes work when you can do it yourself.

Thank You Bruce. I`ve removed the main bolt and tried to pull the shaft out but it only moves a little, about quarter of an inch, and then shows resistance and won`t go any further.

Have you removed the cable and wires?

Not yet but there seems to be something stopping the shaft from moving very far. I don`t think the cables are stopping it.

Yes Bruce i see now, learning all the time. I got the wires off and pulled the shaft out and the diameter of the shaft is just under one inch. Now i`ll have to find a sleeve rubber not too thick that will fit over the shaft and slide inside. Do you think i`ll need something to go right round the shaft. I looked at bicycle tubes and they seem a bit thick.

Ok Bruce got the shaft out and cleaned it up. Tried insulation and other types of tape but that just gets pushed back when putting the engine over the shaft. Latest i have applied some Selleys adhesive silastic on the shaft and it seems stable but lets see when i want to use the brushcutter. If that doesn`t work i`ll get my son to bring some Sikaflex home from work, that`s supposed to glue anything. Other than that maybe a couple of self tapping screws through the yellow part into the shaft, what do you think?

Terrace the screw will work as well.

Thanks Bruce. I`ll keep the screw option as well. I`m thinking maybe the head of that bolt has bitten into the yellow housing and therefore reduced the tightening purchase ability onto the shaft. After thinking about it there must be something that has caused the thing to loosen. I`ll check further.

Just check for wear on the alloy shaft because if it has been loose for some time it will wear.

Another thing you might be able to do is open up the slot of the yellow housing so that when you tighten it up it will close more on the alloy shaft.

Thanks Bruce i`ll try that