when the chain brake is off the chain does not move freely. When cutting, it starts to smoke and the chain is dragging, when I pull hard on the chain brake handle towards me, the chain then moves freely. What's wrong? Any suggestions would be highly appreciated

Helen Reichsrath, January 2006

I SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE THIS WAS POSTED BUT IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING I HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBABLEM.THE PROBLEM COMES FROM THE FACT THAT THE CHAIN BRAKE MUST PUT PRESSURE AGAINST THE PLASTIC CHASIS IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE.OVER TIME AND THROUGH USE OF THE BRAKE THE CHASIS IS WORN DOWN.THIS EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN AN INOPERABLE CHAIN BRAKE.AFTER MUCH TRIAL AND ERROR I HAVE DEVISED A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION.FOR THIS REPAIR YOU WILL NEED A SMALL PEICE OF SHEET METAL APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES IN LENGTH AND 3/8 INCHES IN WIDTH.BEGIN BY FOLDING THIS IN HALF BUT DO NOT FOLD COMPLETELY FLAT.AT THE BACK OF THE BRAKE HANDLE YOU WILL NOTICE THE TOP OF THE METAL BRAKE MECHANISM.IF YOU LOOK AT THIS AREA YOU WILL SEE WHERE THE BRAKE SLIDES AGAINST THE CASING.SIMPLY USE THE METAL STRIP BY SLIDING IT OVER THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE BRAKE MECHANISM AND THE CASING MAKING SURE THAT IT IS SECURE.THIS SHOULD SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE DO NOT HAVE THESE MATERIALS REDILY AVAILABLE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE YOU A KIT.FOR THIS I WILL NEED $3.00 TO COVER THE COST OF MATERIALS AND POSTAGE.IF YOU PREFER THIS OPTION SIMPLY E-MAIL ME AT two_cycler@yahoo.com.i have found this to be a very effective repair for this common problem but please note that this repair will not work if your case has already been damaged by extreme heat(melted)ALSO NOTE THAT IF YOU CHOSE THE KIT OPTION THAT I ACCEPT NO RESPONSABILITY FOR ANY POSSIBLE INJURIES DUE TO MISUSE OR ANY OTHER REASON.YOU WILL BE PURCHASING AND OR INSTALLING THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

DAVID J SELLERS, November 2006