How To Change The Chain Brake Handle on the STIHL ms500i Chainsaw

In this video I'll show you how to replace the front hand guard on a chainsaw.
In my case it cracked off when I tried to release the chainbrake on the 2.5 years old ms 500 i, but they often fail after being dropped or accidentally being hit by something so it's nice to know how to replace it.

[@KenDebono]

Great video, thanks. Tip 1: Cover the far end of the large spring with a cloth before prying up the end when removing it. The cloth stops it from flying across your shop and under the beer fridge. Tip 2: When stretching the large spring use a flat head screwdriver inserted between the spring coils right near the end (don't put it in the hook part. Tip 3: When installing the brake bar over the axle it may go over a lot easier if you remove the orange top cover first - at least on my MS291 that was the ONLY way to get it on.

[@mtnviewtow88]

I had a broken chain brake on my ms 500i thank's to you i was able to fix it with a new handle! without this video i would not been able to do it! we'll done lumber girl!

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’m so happy my video was helpful

[@aronkehlenbeck2117]

Nice video, like the way you explain things in down to earth terms. No technical mumbo jumbo. I've changed a few of those brake handles and usually requires a few " working words" to get that spring back in.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you! I’m glad you liked the video

[@EnduroAmerica]

Thank you for the great video! Got my ms500i back together because of you.

[@DWdansavage]

Thanks! Your video on the chain brake handle really helped me out!

[@Femalelumberjack]

Glad to hear that

[@dwaynebagby4845]

Just wanted to say your awesome, my ancestors were Danish and when I found your channel I was super excited. I’m from USA and do tree work also 👍🏼

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you very much! A fellow Viking then 😉

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

That was an excellent and very approachable demonstration of that repair! I'm used to doing that on older chainsaws, but never a brand new Stihl. Thank you so very much! 👍💪

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@andreagerola7759]

Good job! I have also been using chainsaws for many years and I must say that putting "that spring" is really uncomfortable. Good

[@mtbguidecoeurdalene2741]

Thanks for explaining! My ground guy tripped and accidentally stepped on my 500i yesterday, breaking the chain brake handle in exactly the same place as yours… kinda a bummer how easily this part breaks, it’s hanging out there and vulnerable. An aluminum cnc machined aftermarket replacement would be cool if it existed. It’s a more involved repair than I expected as well, of course it is a stihl… thank you for preparing me to execute this repair 🙏🏻

[@briancupp6767]

Firewood season fired up the 261 c-m. Makes day enjoyable thanks again for recommending it

[@Femalelumberjack]

You’re welcome. It’s a great saw

[@gracieshank]

Your video was super helpful with the spring replacement as I was not strong enough using other methods that men on KZbin used involving pulling the string spring back with a hook. Thank you!

[@dcvariousvids8082]

Thank you. Haven’t had to replace one yet but it’s good to know what to do.

[@charlesdarwin180]

Great inspiration video for us less mechanically inclined individuals.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you. Glad you like it

[@loggerjohn01]

Hope all is well, missed this video I guess. Excellent video. Merry Christmas from Canada

[@sebastianleicht]

Very informative and nice Video! Thanks for showing! To release or mount the spring of the chainbrake I made a little Tool from a steelpipe. Outer diameter 8mm inner 6mm. Little cutout on the front and you can easily set the cutoff to the rear bolt of the spring, turn the pipe and let the spring slide from the bolt. Installing in reverse order. No more snapping springs.

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’m going to make my own tool for it too :)

[@sebastianleicht]

@@Femalelumberjack Do you want a photo of the tool I made? The description above is quite fuzzy...

[@tammotenter3249]

A small advise my from my side, it's a little bit easier to put the big spring on if you put the chain break in. You don't have to pull it that far. I hope you get what I tried to tell you👍🏼

[@braddempsey6930]

Im very glad I found this video of yours, I've just replaced the same part on my ms500i while watching . Im of the opinion that the chain brake lever breaks on 500i because of the exhaust gases escaping so close to that part of chain brake lever. I wish Stihl made the part out of a more heat resistant material or had a better muffler design to prevent the damn thing from breaking in the first place. I actually modified the muffler mine by pop riveting a small piece of 1mm stainless sheet steel over the exhaust outlet to help push the gasses forward instead of sideways which does seem to have worked quite well.

[@fordraven5884]

I'll be looking forward to where you disassemble the whole chainsaw put back together

[@marcocanchola7880]

Thank you , for the tutorial ,👍🇲🇽

[@Femalelumberjack]

You’re welcome

[@Thetreefella]

Thanks for taking us along Mrs femalelumberjack,hope alls well in ya'lls neck of the woods.🌳💚🌳🌳👊👍🌳💚🌳💚

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thanks

[@DJC995]

Nice Job I have changed the springs on my old 021 before Thanks again

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@danielpadgett2831]

Great video excellent explanation 👍

[@davesfarmforestvideos8395]

11:47 is my favorite part! That is some good wrenching, not everyone could have fixed that.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thanks 😊

[@shadovanish7435]

"You might be swearing a bit" getting the spring back on -lol! Great video; very detailed instruction steps. Cheers

[@jeremybrain5774]

Thanks for the informative video

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@billyshumate853]

Great vidja and good job young lady. I agree with you about the swearing putting the spring back. Timber looked happy having mommy home. Take care and have a blessed day and I'll see you on your next vidja. The only thing that was missing was the bloopers 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Femalelumberjack]

I was too good this time 🤣 no bloopers

[@billyshumate853]

@@Femalelumberjack 🤣🤣💜

[@StrayWolfForge]

Thank you Very informative video. I have swore at a spring or to before lol.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Lol right. Thanks

[@mihaelaclaudiap..2]

I will never be able to use a chainsaw, but love watching a woman hands on, on one! Well done, you make honour to us ladies! xx

[@lexluthor6497]

Of course you can learn.Just start with a small saw and someone that knows what they are talking about helping you.This lovely danish lady looks strong and it helps alot.

[@timberray9572]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4K3eH-hjpueq5I

[@shaunryan1077]

Thank you for other great video. Can't wait to see more

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thanks! Glad you like them

[@canamrider7195]

You must be stronger then you look. 💪 Broke the chain brake just by pulling it back. Wow!

[@Femalelumberjack]

You’d be surprised

[@bernddreisbach4537]

Großartig! ! Viele Männer trauen sich das nicht zu! Ich denke das einsetzten der großen Feder ist das schwierigste weil die etwas Gefühl und Kraft braucht! Ganz toll gezeigt! Mach weiter so, ich freue mich schon auf weitere Videos!

[@Femalelumberjack]

Dankeschön!

[@bernddreisbach4537]

@@Femalelumberjack 💪💪👍

[@nathanyoung2311]

Thanks for the video I've never done one on a 500 Thanks n b safe

[@michaelsnell4034]

I believe they make a tool for putting springs into car brakes that would work. If I remember correctly, they are C shaped in cross section. You put the spring end on the outside and the inside around the post then lever away from the spring. the spring slides down and catches. Save your fingers from getting hit if the spring pops off.

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’m going to make my own tool for it

[@stefanotugulu1982]

Ciao Felixia, sempre bella e brava.. grazie

[@stefank264]

great job thank you

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thanks

[@raydurni1175]

"there's always a lot of screwing goin' on" love that little joke Awesome video as usual. Try a little snap ring pliers on the spring to avoid swearing🍺

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’m going to make my own little tool for it 😊

[@raydurni1175]

@@Femalelumberjack my kind of woman. Wish I was 40 years younger 😉

[@chuckuu9294]

Great rebuild video.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@user-chainaw]

Такая симпатичная и на вид хрупкая девочка занимается ремонтом бензопил и прошу заметить не маленьких бытовых а профессиональных круто очень круто Я восхищаюсь

[@timberray9572]

When people hear lumberjack they immediately think of big ugly men, like myself. Your channel should be called tree cutting goddess.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Lol thank you

[@prescribedfire1953]

Well done Felixia!

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@scooters10000]

Very informative video. I have been subscribed since you started and always enjoy your vids and Instagram posts. I have an unrelated question for you. Your English is exceptional, did you learn it as a second language in school or are you self taught.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you. I had english in school from 4th to 9th grade

[@timothyaldrich4926]

Hi my daughter loves chainsaws a lot every time i watch any of your videos and she hears the saw she come running to me saying chainsaw! She is 2 years of age! I saw a video with you and your adorable kids with their toy chainsaws doing maintenance on them was wondering where can i get one for my daughter?

[@Lifeinthe906]

Great video as always. Those springs definitely can cause a bit of swearing!!

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you. Glad you liked it

[@davdlm5661]

hello super video a bientot

[@kellybelanger5836]

Would the place you got saw from cover your repair cost. I got a 2 year warranty on my new 362 ms. They gave me a extra year if I use hp synthetic oil.

[@joshsweet5373]

Hello I just love to hear you talk...I wish I could train my wife to sound like you lol....I would love to see you .....doin a review on the laser thing

[@refaiabdeen5943]

Cheers Mate!

[@Femalelumberjack]

You got it

[@Arboristlifestyle]

Just did this on my 044, what a pain in the butt.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Hahaha 😊

[@sjekkie8299]

nice you make those vids and i like to watch them, but i got a little question, your dogs breed i like to know, ( i like that brown one) keep on buckin👍

[@Femalelumberjack]

Glad you like my videos 😊 My dog is a Finnish lapphund

[@stephenjohnferneyhough504]

Another great video well done hope u well 😉

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@stephenjohnferneyhough504]

@@Femalelumberjack no problem from rainy Staffordshire England where's the sun gone lol 😡

[@MrLiusz]

Hello ! You are very good :) have a nice day :)

[@bobtomlinson8247]

The skall shaft that holds the tiny spring under the lever is missing on my Stihl MS391. Is that important shaft available at a dealership or online ?

[@1fromtheroad]

There is a tool for doing old drum brakes on cars that I think would make that spring easy to put in. Now I have to go take one apart. Ha.

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’m creating my own tool for it 😉

[@1fromtheroad]

@@Femalelumberjack mass produce them and make a buck or two.

[@Femalelumberjack]

😆 we’ll see

[@michaelsnell4034]

I commented the same. think I'm going to go get one as they should only be a few bucks.

[@beerayfarms7979]

@@Femalelumberjack Stihl makes one, you can find it online, usually about 25 dollars US, worth every penny!

[@timothyrake1971]

Nice tutorial. Curious what the issue is with the donor 500?

[@Femalelumberjack]

It had some starting issues and when that was fixed the heating in the handle won’t turn off

[@kilowatt02]

Show the details of that stihl multi tool. I wanted a 500i but ended up with a 400cn.

[@malikrameez703]

U are awesome

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@dmalloy96]

I just replaced one of those about a month ago the worst part was putting it back together

[@Femalelumberjack]

That’s were the fun begins 😆

[@johnkowlok3231]

Greetings from Wyoming, USA. I just ordered a light 40 bar for my MS 261 from a company in Ireland! Stihl dealers don’t sell them here. I am also considering an MS 462 C-M or MS 500i for bucking logs. Mostly pine and aspen here. (I love the 261 for felling and limbing, but maybe want a little more hp for bucking) Do you have a preference?

[@Femalelumberjack]

I prefer the 500i. It’s a great saw and I use it almost daily

[@johnbrown8627]

thanks for a very good video, ps stihl is best saws

[@Femalelumberjack]

You’re very welcome

[@jaydwelley8043]

When are we going to see you doing tree work again? Miss it.

[@Femalelumberjack]

I’ll make a vid soon 😉

[@kingofthetrack]

You are very smart and interesting and oh so pretty.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@wyatt091]

I’m curious about what meter per second class chainsaw trousers you use when cutting with the 500i? I believe that most people I see using them use class 1 20 m/s and the 500i is rated at 28 m/s, class 3 trousers would be the preferred chainsaw trousers. Thanks in Advance

[@garybenedict8513]

Hey girl great video. Can’t get a 500 in the USA where I live.

[@viperstrike3827]

Its hard to get any Stihl chainsaw in south Mississippi right now, accept for the small ones. People panic bought them after hurricane Ida.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Maybe you need to check out of state shops?

[@viperstrike3827]

@@Femalelumberjack Thank you for the reply. I have an ms311 and it is more saw than I need. I went to a local shop to pick up some mower blades.I just happened to notice that there were ZERO saws on the shelf.

[@markmacdonald6452]

Expensive parts saw. What are the issues with the other ms500i? You usually are talking about how great the 500i is, must be serious problems if your ribbing parts off a $2000 saw?

[@marinetrooperlawyer]

You are such a pretty girl!

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you

[@kobusklaassen8943]

I totally got freaked out by the statue to your left at the corner.... I hate instaling those springs, but tje small e clips, i hate them more....

[@ninjas11ful]

Where you buy from?

[@tybetnew6633]

You have multiple Timber sports banners in your background. Have you competed?

[@Femalelumberjack]

Not yet

[@tybetnew6633]

I just cut a tree with an axe and have realized how much skill and stamina is required for the underhand chop. The chainsaw makes life a lot easier! My dad and I would love to see you compete after seeing your skill with the saws up to this point.

[@carllatta871]

I just think you are gorgeous. And you have some great content.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thank you very much

[@user-xg8js2cl9w]

Будем вмести, STIHL разбирать и собирать🤣

[@redman715]

YAY!!!

[@Femalelumberjack]

😉

[@blleidblleid7280]

Like 🙋🏻‍♀️ 😍 😍 🤗 🤗

[@Femalelumberjack]

Thanks

[@nickjames4497]

Great job …… could have checked the brake band wasn’t worn too thin ….. they can wear through and fail …

[@ussgear]

Femalelumberjack: "it's ok to have favorites" ...... Me: You're my favorite 💓! Be safe, don't work too hard! 💘😍😍😍💘

[@Femalelumberjack]

Aww thank you ☺️

[@ninjas11ful]

Breaks right by the muffler every time, very conspicuous

[@georgecrinnion2131]

Do you heat at home with wood?

[@Femalelumberjack]

Sadly not but I do have a lot of bonfires and cook on the bonfire in my garden

[@georgecrinnion2131]

@@Femalelumberjack With all that wood available to you you could save so much on heat if you get a nice wood stove :) Nice Video, as always BTW.

[@fordraven5884]

👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤜🤛😊

[@pavelkysa9907]

Ahoj Femalelumberjack supr akce 🐑😆🍗😛🤗🐻🚜🎻😝🌽🐙♥️😀😅💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@melnickharris1177]

It's a stupid spot to put the muffler out let on that side pointing at the chain brake omg why I'm replacing mine at the moment as it's been getting hot and melting come on stihl 🤔

[@gadavr]

Так а сцепу сразу попутно снять и там почистить... туда грязи набивается капец сколько

[@user-nt1su9pq4l]

Hi female super still500i

[@kencanoe]

Stihl saw having issues? impossible

[@fredcrum1]

This, that, little guy and metal parts have names. You should take the time to learn the name of the parts.

[@Femalelumberjack]

Keeping it as it is

[@maeynassar9788]

Im afraid of chainsaw😬

[@davidlarson3920]

Hmm where is the female lumber j

[@madmax04121980]

You married? Ask for a friend. 🙂