Homelite Super XL crankshaft bearings

[martind28]

I have enjoyed visiting this sight for years but this is my first post (I think).  I have tinkered with chainsaws for many years, primarily Homelite.  I always look for clean, original examples.  I have recently encountered three Super XL's that all looked practically new, all from different sources.   I noticed slight perceptible radial (up and down) play in the crankshaft bearings on all three saws.  All of the saws run like new.  I was surprised to find bearing play on saws with such little use, so I started doing some research, which suggested there should never be radial play, and some lateral play was acceptable.  I talked to a certified Stihl technician of 38 years who has considerable experience with Homelites as well.  He told me very slight play was common in some of the older Homelites and the play was likely present when the saws were new.  I have known this technician for years and trust his expertise.  I was curious to get some input from forum members on this subject.

[powerking]

Most vintage Homelite designs used a crankshaft clutch side ball bearing and and a roller bearing flywheel side bearing and will have slight radial run-out at this end thereof (by design). The XL-12 and some other saws use roller bearings at both ends of the crank, thus there will be some up/down/radial movement of the crank. I think with any saw design with roller bearings that it imposes excessive & uneven wear on the crankshaft seals (JMHO).

Tom(PK)