Why are stihl chainsaws so hard to start

Any thoughts? By the way, the application is cutting planks from logs using a ripping chain. Is you are chainsaw milling cutting planks from logs with a ripping chain , it's likely the chainsaw is getting rather hot. It's possible this is causing vapor lock: fuel vaporizing in places where it's supposed to be still liquid. The vapor in the wrong places can prevent the fuel from getting where it needs to go.

When you let the saw sit and cool down, the vapor condenses and the saw will start again. It's often not an issue when the saw is running, since the constant flow of fuel doesn't keep it in one place long enough to get so hot that it vaporizes though extreme cases can cause the saw to die while running. A couple of thing to try, in order of increasing complexity: Let the saw run without a heavy load for a while before shutting it off.

This will let it cool down a bit, hopefully preventing the fuel from evaporating in the fuel lines from the heat radiating off the engine. Tune your carb. This could be the reason for hard starting in general.

In addition, most chainsaw millers I know tend to run a hair on the rich side. This can help the saw run a little cooler but you don't want to go too far on this. Consider a muffler mod. Set the chain saw on a level surface and make sure the chain break is activated. Pull the wire off the spark plug and remove the plug with a spark plug wrench. Check the electrodes and wipe them off with a rag if they are full of fuel. Set the master control lever to the minimum choke -- or open -- position.

Pull the starting rope five or six times to clear fuel out of the combustion chamber. Replace the air filter and spark plug, and connect the spark plug wire. Leave the choke open and pull the starting cord several times.

The chain saw should start. Search Advanced search…. New posts. Search forums. Terms and Rules. Log in. Install the app. This is a repoistory forum and each new thread must contain the manual the thread is about.

Please read the sticky. This is a community effort so if you have a manual, please help. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Thread starter thetexasrat Start date Jan 26, Jan 26, It is hard to start cold. Once I do get it running it restarts the first pull.

When trying to start it I first set it to full choke and have to pull it countless of times before it will fire off and then die. Then If I set it to the high idle position it might start right up and start to rev high and then quickly die as if it runs out of fuel. Then by the time I try starting it in the normal operating position, after my arm is wore out, it will finally start and die time after time.

Once it starts and idles it has a problem of hesitation for a little while before it will rev up. Once it finally can rev then it seems to do just fine - until I let it sit for a while and then the problem starts all over again. The Dealer told me it was most likely flooding and tells me to pull the plug and blow air through it until all the excess fuel clears the chamber, but there is no fuel coming out the exhaust and I has blown air through it anyway and there is no fuel spewing from the muffler.

I can not see this as a flooding problem like the dealer says, it seems to me that it is starving for fuel. So an even worse problem begins, as for the next 4 years if I open it up to diagnose it right myself I void the warranty.

I am wondering if any one knows why a STIHL MS Farm Boss carburetor systems would be drained of fuel or take in excessive air after sitting-up a while so that I can tell the dealer to look into it and fix it instead of just giving me :censored: advice. Take it back and have him start it when it's cold. If he can start it with only a few pulls then your doing something wrong. When it won't start tell him to fix it or give you a different one. Click to expand Last edited: Jan 26, Joined Nov 8, Messages 1, Location Maryland.

I'd try just pulling it full choke 4 times, then go to high idle. If that doesn't work then I'd take it back. Sometimes the pop isn't much on those saws, maybe you're missing it, and it is flooding. It's your technique. You are flooding it by not recognizing the "pop" and immediately setting the choke to fast idle. Read the manual or get someone with experience to show you what to look and listen for.