chainsaw quits running

[Clay45]

Heck, just be happy you can get them to fire and run for a little bit. If they have a filter/clunk in the tank it may be best to just replace all the fuel line and clunk on the machine. The bulb may have a pin hole or hairline crack and its a good time to change it out too. Unless you've done it recently even thought it runs a little bit why not install a new properly gapped plug. Take the bar off and clean the bar inspect the track groove closely. Lube the sproket in the tip if it has one. Clean, lube and sharpen the chain. Clean all the nooks and crannies on the powerhead and be certain the chain oiling port is clean and clear. Install new air filter.

As pointed out above; make sure gas cap is clear.

Now try and run a tank thru it without cutting anything. Run it completely dry and watch for oil spray coming off chain. Once it dies let it cool down and then fuel it back up and add chain oil as it should be almost empty too.

I don't do this every year because I don't use my saw all that often. But if it still runs and is cranky I do the above to be sure I've done all I can before I take it to a mechanic for service. Sometimes its a combination of small things working against you in concert that bring it down. Instead of guessing and wasting a bunch of time I've done this and have more than once had a saw suddenly just "clean up".

 

[mccash40]

Look at the exhaust ports. They sometimes plug up.

This turned out to be my problem. I was cutting cherry that had a dead center and the powder was clogging my exhaust port. A little cleaning and I was good to go. Thanks.

 

[Egon]

This turned out to be my problem. I was cutting cherry that had a dead center and the powder was clogging my exhaust port. A little cleaning and I was good to go. Thanks.

Your welcome.

Many others have mention plugged exhaust ports over the years.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Knowing that saw, I'd suspect it's overheating and about to seize up. Either that, or the bar/chain may be messed up and binding with heat. I had a neighbor with one of those saws, and it behaved the same way. Could not cut more than about 10 minutes before it would need to cool down. It's just not a real good saw.

Have to agree with s219. I burned out/seized up like 3 of those small saws until I wised up and got a commercial logging one. No more problems, and the added bonus is I don't have to lift weights at Planet Fitness with that arm anymore.

 

[Buggs67]

Well I tried all these things and it still cuts out and won't rev. Thinking it's fuel starvation. The carb was rebuilt once. Was thinking of buying a new carb on e-bay. It's an 025 Stihl that's about 20 years old. I just got a new Farm Boss but I like having a small light weight saw for limbing and medium logs.

 

[Egon]

My son once dumped a box of jello powder into my saw fuel tank. That was interesting.

 

[MossRoad]

Need to hear more on that story! :laughing:

 

[Threepoint]

Yep, pls. tell us your son was under six at the time. :laughing:

 

[Egon]

He did survive

He was three at the time. Had to take the saw apart to get a proper clean up. It was just after he used a hand saw to practice on freshly installed drywall.

Now, he has his own similar problems.

 

[MossRoad]

He did survive

He was three at the time. Had to take the saw apart to get a proper clean up. It was just after he used a hand saw to practice on freshly installed drywall.

Now, he has his own similar problems.

What goes around comes around I guess. :laughing: I remember when I was about 3, I was bugging my dad constantly while he was trying to add on a dormitory to the back of our house (5 kids in one bedroom, so he added 4 bedrooms and a bath). To keep me busy, he gave me one of those little hand-crank drills, a small bit, and a block of wood to play with. Well, I got pretty good, I guess, because I graduated from that block of scrap to the redwood trim around the door frames.... put a hole in each one of them. :confused3:

 

[Mysfyt]

Well I tried all these things and it still cuts out and won't rev. Thinking it's fuel starvation. The carb was rebuilt once. Was thinking of buying a new carb on e-bay. It's an 025 Stihl that's about 20 years old. I just got a new Farm Boss but I like having a small light weight saw for limbing and medium logs.

The first chainsaw I bought was a used Stihl and it was acting just like yours. It turned out that the flywheel magnets were weak and would lose their magnetism when they got warm. Took the dealer a while to find that one!

 

[Buggs67]

The first chainsaw I bought was a used Stihl and it was acting just like yours. It turned out that the flywheel magnets were weak and would lose their magnetism when they got warm. Took the dealer a while to find that one!

I'm debating if I should take it to the dealer, try a new carb or just write it off.

 

[Mysfyt]

I'm debating if I should take it to the dealer, try a new carb or just write it off.

I hear ya! Back then,(1973) you didn't have much choice vs the price of a new one. Now days you can get a saw off the shelf such as a Husky for $400 and if the dealer has a $60-80 labor rate, it won't take but several hours of labor and you might as well buy a new one. That applies to many things you buy now. Puts you in between a rock and a hard place.

 

[Buggs67]

And since I have a Farm Boss 20" for the heavy duty work I could spend about $200 for a smaller saw. I'm just not a disposable kind of guy. I like to repair and keep using equipment.

 

[xyz123]

New carb for your 025 250 with H and L $21 at dealer and can do it yourself to install.

 

[Buggs67]

New carb for your 025 250 with H and L $21 at dealer and can do it yourself to install.

H and L? That's why I was thinking of trying it. When I pulled the exhaust to make sure it wasn't plugged the piston looked ok. I see some carbs listed on Amazon but they aren't Walbro

 

[xyz123]

High and Low needles for full adjustments. Some just come with L

 

[CobyRupert]

I messed around with a saw all summer with similar problems. Started checking & replacing plug, fuel lines, filter, intake gasket, carb kits, then a $40 carb, Finally, I got it fixed when I spent another $120 getting the jug and piston replaced.
I should of spent $40 right off the bat on a compression tester that would of told me right away.
I wonder if my problems started with a bad carb pump or leak ( too lean), but during the time I was messing around with everything did I burn the piston up? Without the tester I'll never know where I was starting from. The Husky 55 is 19 years old so I don't feel too bad spending a little money.

 

[Buggs67]

High and Low needles for full adjustments. Some just come with L

Right. The one I have now only has a low. It's a Walbro. Are the aftermarket carbs as good? Because they are cheap. I've seen them for $12-13 on Amazon and e-Bay. DO you have a preferred brand?

Thanks for the help.

 

[crazyal]

For $12 to $13 can you go wrong? The last carb I bought was off ebay for my 357xp. It wasn't the original brand but has worked just fine for years now. For the price I would just replace it vs rebuild it. Of course with ethanol being a way of life and it seams to find it's way into every gas tank I own carbs just don't last very long.