Finally Bought a Stihl

[dirt ditch]

My dad had a Homelite XL and a big old McCulloch when I was a kid. We'd go out in the shelter belt and he would spend all day cutting firewood. When I was older I purchased a Homelight as my first saw. Dad's saws finally quit running so he kinda just stole my Homelite. That was ok with me, I went and bought a Poulan Pro. Used it for several years cutting firewood until my grandfather gave me his Stihl 180. That is how I caught the Stihl bug. Next saw, a Stihl 361 then right after that a Stihl 250. For me the 361 is big enough for anything I cut like trunks but it would tear me up to run it all day. The 250 is my go to saw for most work. If tendinitis or other age related affliction is bothering me then I use the 180.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Just read there was a deadly chainsaw accident in VA today.

 

[freewookie]

As dry as it has been in Oklahoma the last three or four years 8-10 months is plenty of drying. I've checked them with a moisture meter.

As for cedars, I'll push them over with the tractor and put them in the burn pile. Once they go through a bonfire I'll cut them into firewood. That seams to season them really quick.

 

[Creamer]

Yeah, the longer the better, within reason, but shoot if we could get everyone burning wood to season it for a full year, that'd be a huge improvement.

I could not agree more. The number of OWBs that continually belch black smoke is aggregious. That is what causes laws to get put in place - like we need more of those.

 

[motownbrowne]

I could not agree more. The number of OWBs that continually belch black smoke is aggregious. That is what causes laws to get put in place - like we need more of those.

Exactly!! Many of these guys rail against EPA regs, and then fail to take the simplest step to protect the air quality, and their neighbor's health. If they all burned seasoned wood, so many regulations might not be needed.

 

[Creamer]

For the most part in my area the OWBs are smudgepots not heaters because most people do not care how much wood they use. Consequently our small town banned them within a a 2 mile radius outside the town.

 

[Alien]

I've had a Husqvarna 141 for about 12 years and it never missed a beat. Still has the original spark plug in it. Anyway, my mate had a 18" Stihl 45cc that he always complained was hard to start so he bought a new one and gave me the old one. It still looks near new. Anyway I gave it a tug and away it went first pull.:thumbsup: Every time it was the same. It seems he didn't know how to work the choke properly. I scored a lovely saw. :thumbsup:
Now, you guessed it, he had trouble starting his brand new one... Yep, he didn't know how to work the choke on it either... I think I have him sorted out now... I use both saws as I love them both.

 

[dirt ditch]

Yep, at full choke miss that first burp when the engine tries to fire on a cold stihl and keep on pulling the cord it is easy to flood. Catch that burp, flip it to half choke and stihl saws start right up. We have a couple of guys at work that cant figure that out. They flood the saw every time they try to start it.

 

[turnkey4099]

Yep, at full choke miss that first burp when the engine tries to fire on a cold stihl and keep on pulling the cord it is easy to flood. Catch that burp, flip it to half choke and stihl saws start right up. We have a couple of guys at work that cant figure that out. They flood the saw every time they try to start it.

YEp, the 361 was notorious for that. My 361 doesn't even 'burp' but has only a slightly different sound. Pull one time too many and pay the price of many, many pulls to clear it.

Now the MS441CM has me puzzled how they do it. Full choke, pull, pull again and it is running..and continues to run even if left in the choke position. I suspect "choke" is not the correct term for the Mtronic carb.

I don't use the compression release on either saw.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

Yep, at full choke miss that first burp when the engine tries to fire on a cold stihl and keep on pulling the cord it is easy to flood. Catch that burp, flip it to half choke and stihl saws start right up. We have a couple of guys at work that cant figure that out. They flood the saw every time they try to start it.

YEp, the 361 was notorious for that. My 361 doesn't even 'burp' but has only a slightly different sound. Pull one wtime to many and pay the price fo many, many pulls to clear it.

Now the MS441CM has me puzzled how they do it. Full choke, pull, pull again and it is running..and continues to run even if left in the choke position. I suspect "choke" is not the correct term for the Mtronic carb.

I don't use the compression release on either saw.

Harry K

 

[sseelhoff]

Yep, at full choke miss that first burp when the engine tries to fire on a cold stihl and keep on pulling the cord it is easy to flood. Catch that burp, flip it to half choke and stihl saws start right up. We have a couple of guys at work that cant figure that out. They flood the saw every time they try to start it.

Never knew that. I have flooded my accidentally once or twice. Thanks for the tip.

 

[gsganzer]

Yep, at full choke miss that first burp when the engine tries to fire on a cold stihl and keep on pulling the cord it is easy to flood. Catch that burp, flip it to half choke and stihl saws start right up.

Husky's are the same way. I have a 550XP that has a little graphic telling what steps to do for a hot or cold start. If you follow them it starts trouble free, don't follow them and you'll flood and need to pull the plug to dry it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Never knew that. I have flooded my accidentally once or twice. Thanks for the tip.

At the Christmas Tree Farm we have several small Stihl gas saws... never fails when someone has trouble it's because they did not follow procedure...

I even bought a Stihl plug in electric to try for fresh cuts at the booth... so far it is still sitting in the box...

My thought is it would be more idiot proof and not as loud...

On a busy day... one gas saw might be started a couple of hundred times for 15 second cuts...

 

[Bigfoot62]

Picked up a MS251 this last week and used it all day today. Can't believe I waited so long to buy a quality saw. I used to hate trimming limbs and cutting firewood with the crappy Poulan I had. This should be the last year I have to buy firewood!

You won't be sorry!!!
I have 4 Stihl saws. Won't buy anything else. The 011 and 024 are about 25 years old. The MS 291 was bought last year. The 046 Magnum is about 12 years old. All are great saws and work whenever I need them.
I also have 2 Stihl trimmers.
Probably about time I bought myself a Stihl blower for Christmas.

 

[dirt ditch]

I suspect "choke" is not the correct term for the Mtronic carb.

Harry K

You are probably right. Stihl calls it the "cold start" position View attachment 450408 and the "warm start" position View attachment 450409

 

[TomSeller]

You are probably right. Stihl calls it the "cold start" position
and the "warm start" position

MTronics are different

 

[check]

You are probably right. Stihl calls it the "cold start" position <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/rural-living/450408-finally-bought-stihl-scs01-jpg"/> and the "warm start" position <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/rural-living/450409-finally-bought-stihl-sws01-jpg"/>

Interesting. I will have to try that out. I just use the cold start position for the first start of the day, and then after that I just leave it in the run position.

 

[dirt ditch]

MTronics are different

I am behind on Stihl technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIBdSURoAQ

 

[rekees4300]

I am behind on Stihl technology.

Microprocessor engine management system :confused2: Geeez you'd need a PHD in Electrical Engineering to fix it!

 

[turnkey4099]

Microprocessor engine management system :confused2: Geeez you'd need a PHD in Electrical Engineering to fix it!

The book gave specific insstrucations on how to use it first time. No WOT unloaded, make 3 or 4 cuts in a medium size log (I forget if that was WOT or baby it). Anyhow that all went out the window when the dealer fired it up and let it scream for several seconds no load. Don't they ever READ the manual?

Harry K