OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Two Stroke Trimmers & Brushcutters Kawasaki help needed please

My kawa KBL27 brushie isn't doing its thing.
Problem : engine is running perfectly, but making a loud,high pitched squeal and the head isn't turning. I've just pulled it apart, cleaned it then inspected what I can. It would seem to me to be the clutch - can you put new shoes on the clutch? I can't think of anything else but I'm no mechanic. I really need this going, its my main brushie.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Does the head turn freely by hand, when the motor isn't running? Sounds like either the shaft/bevel gears are locked up, or the clutch is broken. The squeal suggests it is more of a shaft problem than a clutch problem.

Yeah, the head is turning freely, when I rev the engine you can hear whatever is squealing slowly run down which I'm thinking is possibly the drum around the clutch?

Redeye,

The bet is it is either the the splined drive shaft or it is the clutch drum where the shaft goes into.

Good guess Bruce, the spline is worn on the shaft. I've reversed it and its working for the moment but will order one next week.
Happy New Year & Best Wishes for 2010!!!

I think Bruce did a lot more than guess. When you've seen a situation fifty times, the fifty-first one is pretty easy to diagnose. If you haven't been observing him long,Bruce's diagnostic accuracy seems like witchcraft.
Usually when a splined shaft is badly worn, the spline in the hub is not in great shape either. Putting a new shaft in a worn hub usually doesn't last anywhere near as long as a matched pair of new parts. Meanwhile with your temporary fix you will be damaging the hub at the bottom end of your shaft, by running the loose shaft in it.