"hard to start"

[edgarrian]

So in a thread guys talk about how there saws are hard to start and i was wondering what does that mean for most people. Anything over three pulls, anything over 6 pulls

In my eyes anything over 4 or 5.

My stihl 261 starts pretty easy.

This topic struck some curiosity in the subject as i have never really contemplated how hard a saw is to start

My dad and grandpa had some poulans when i was a kid. So a few decades ago. one was hard to start and the other wasn't

 

[mrmikey]

In my case with an Echo CS370, it's anything over4 pulls. 3 shots with the primer + choke, 2 pulls and it'll pop, push in the choke and 2 more and she's going. Pretty much same with my PAS 266 weedeater and my hedgetrimmer.

 

[xyz123]

IMHO hard to start is due to owners lack of how to tune or lack of maintenance on their OPE.

Some die hard friends one stihl one was husky. The stihl ones were the worst. The pull and pull and it stihl wont go.

I would walk over to my poulan 65cc to 83 saw grab one that hasnt been started in a week or more. If I was good and fast that day I could catch the pop on first pull hit choke in and keep it running. I just smiled at the guy with his stihl 440.
He was ready to throw his saw on the ground at my place. I was like nooooooooooo thats a costly good one right there.

30mins of cleaning and checking tune the 440 was great startling again.

To me 2-3 pulls better pop. 1-2 more better be running is good enough.

 

[xyz123]

I made this for my friend with the 440.

 

[xyz123]

The husky guy was he just couldnt pull a 272 over fast enough to get it to fire off and it would flood it.

I took the same saw and couple pulls popped and next one running and turned and smiled. Nothing was wrong with saw or tune. It was owner.

 

[Runner]

Hard to start for me: Brand new Homelite would not start...ever...I mean, new, out of the box, could never get it to start. Took it back to Kmart went and bought a Stihl O11T which always started in a couple of pulls for 20 years and ran great until stolen.

Husky 435 usually cold starts in 3. Hot starts, anywhere from 1 to 8 pulls. Sometimes just let it sit, go back and try later.

Echo CS271T cold starts in 2, hot starts 1. Always.

 

[xyz123]

Cheap saw guy been using for years. He stated never started easy. Always a struggle.

Then it would always bog going full throttle and into cuts.

This owner was a auto mechanic older then me even. So I know he is good on this stuff because I get him to do stuff for me I wont do anymore. Since he has the racks and right tools.

All it was was tuning from factory was so off. I had to pull carb to just make sure kit was good etc still. Because he runs ethanol mix. Stiff dias same symptoms. But being he said since new I was betting not. But have seen aftermarket kits be stiff from new.

He got that saw back and couldn't believe it and was all smiles.

He was like your getting all my saws from now on.

He went and got a echo from a stihl dealer that been ripping him off for over a year and brought it to me. Told him what it wouldnt start in seconds.
Stihl dealer charged him for new carb, new coil, new lines, new flywheel. The saw wasnt worth the cost of parts.
I ended out parting that saw. I showed him the scored piston and stuck ring. SMH at rin od dealer tech.

 

[Runner]

RE: The Husky 435, I will have to say I think the "problem" is that, for some reason, it seems to be very easy to flood it out. You have to be right on top of it and, at the first sign of "hard starting", hold the throttle wide open and that usually does the trick.

So I guess I'm saying that in some cases (not the Homelite) it is more a matter of perception and becoming one with the saw.

 

[xyz123]

435 ones I get in always needed fine tuned for starting.
They were always lean on L sides. So between that and not hearing the pop could be your 435 issue.

 

[Runner]

435 ones I get in always needed fine tuned for starting.
They were always lean on L sides. So between that and not hearing the pop could be your 435 issue.

It's funny on that saw, since it was inconsistent on starting, I never tried to dial on it, just assumed it was "me". Lately, it started misfiring at high speed and wouldn't idle, so I broke down and bought the carb adjusting tool (didn't realize it was anything special until I tried to adjust with a screwdriver - what the he!!?).

Turned the idle up a little and messed with the high jet and seems to be good. Now, if I can just figure out were it's leaking gas when turned on its side... Got to be one of the hoses, but I can't see anything wrong with them....

 

[xyz123]

It's funny on that saw, since it was inconsistent on starting, I never tried to dial on it, just assumed it was "me". Lately, it started misfiring at high speed and wouldn't idle, so I broke down and bought the carb adjusting tool (didn't realize it was anything special until I tried to adjust with a screwdriver - what the he!!?).

Turned the idle up a little and messed with the high jet and seems to be good. Now, if I can just figure out were it's leaking gas when turned on its side... Got to be one of the hoses, but I can't see anything wrong with them....

If on side when refueling? Bet tank vent. They will lose the center or fall out.

One I put in my 359. Same for 435 I think too.

 

[xyz123]

Here it is when fall out.

 

[dodge man]

For me it usually takes less than 6 pulls on my MS250 and MS261, and more like 3 or 4. If it’s sat for several months maybe 10. I use ethanol free fuel also.

 

[Runner]

Here's mine. Everything looks good in there to me and I can't see where the gas is coming from. Only when on its side.

 

[xyz123]

Here's mine. Everything looks good in there to me and I can't see where the gas is coming from. Only when on its side.
View attachment 5473730

Turn on it's side like I showed above and look for tank vent I showed.

 

[Runner]

Turn on it's side like I showed above and look for tank vent I showed.

Everything looks good there too. Turned it on its side on the work bench and no leaky, but in the bush, it leaks when filling the tank.

 

[xyz123]

@Runner WAG = Where the tank vent goes into the tank over time can become loose. I had to use Sealall when installing my new tank vent into my last 359 so it wouldnt leak around it.

Could be that. The area of the tank lose it's shape.

With tank pressure of using builds up, if the tank vent going bad might cause what your saying.

Pop the line off and check it. If your tank vent has a line on it.