My saw is broke....

[ultrarunner]

where is that 110 octane fuel? my 454 GMC gashog would love that! not that I could afford it at 10 miles to the gallon,lol
I always RUN my 2 cycle's out of fuel if their going to sit, same with the generators & SuperA. local Stihl / marine dealer has seen lots of gas related issues this year since 10% ethanol in all gas.
I agree on dumping mixed gas into something else

The Speed Shops sell it here in jugs and drums... also, there is a local boutique fuel blender in the area that has been quite busy the last few years to keep up with non-highway applications.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

It has been a while since I have been on... anyway I got my saw back and fired it up last week to find out it is doing the exact same thing it was doing before.... On top of that my brand new little saw that I bought is broken also, needless to say they both went back to the dealer! The little saw just wont run and there is gas running out of the muffler. And the big saw will run for a bit and shut off. I'm starting to think the big saw has a bad coil?? I have 5 tree tops sitting in my yard and no way to cut them up!!! Good grief!!!!!!

 

[xyz123]

You want me to send you a good real Poulan (not todays junk sold) or Husky to get your stihl work done. Just joking with you and if I was in your shoes I would be as heck. The 192 seem to be hit or miss on getting a problematic one. Let us know what they say.

The 361 should have been tested before giving back IMHO. Ran till good and warn cut after cut. They prob put carb on it in shop, start up and said good to go. :ashamed:

 

[Gobblin Tom]

You want me to send you a good real Poulan (not todays junk sold) or Husky to get your stihl work done. Just joking with you and if I was in your shoes I would be as heck. The 192 seem to be hit or miss on getting a problematic one. Let us know what they say.

The 361 should have been tested before giving back IMHO. Ran till good and warn cut after cut. They prob put carb on it in shop, start up and said good to go. :ashamed:

Yeah I heard them fire it up the day I went to pick it up, getting it started was only a small part of the problem... It just seems like it was pinging while running and then it slowly dies off and quits... That's why I was thinking it was the coil, when it starts to warm up it quits.... The new saw (192) I just don't know what to say, it wasn't cheap and I would think I could get more than 6-7 uses out of it..... I actually ripped the skin off my hand from pulling it so many times!!! Im about to get rid of all of them and go to tractor supply and buy a store brand husky....

 

[xyz123]

I'm not sure on this anymore. But stihl used to warranty the coils for the life of the saw if you are the original owner that bought it new. Might check into that.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

I'm not sure on this anymore. But stihl used to warranty the coils for the life of the saw if you are the original owner that bought it new. Might check into that.

I'm definitely the original owner! I'll take a look at their website also....

 

[xyz123]

#2 section D http://www.stihlusa.com/STIHLInc_LimitedWarranty_10.09.pdf

it has changed some.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Talked to the dealer yesterday about my saws, he said he ordered a new carb for the 192..... Makes me wander after only using it a few times what could be wrong with it?? My big saw they said they haven't found out what is wrong with it yet... So I am just thinking I will have problems with both these saws as long as I have them.... Maybe I should send Stihl a nice email.... I dont know...

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Well got the saws back again, the 192 is running better than when it was new... Must have had a junk carb on it... I have not run the big saw yet, he ran almost a tank of gas thru it cutting up pallets and didn't have any problems he said?? He did say he turned the idle up little bit...

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Well I tried to run the MS361 yesterday........ That's right TRIED..... After getting it back from the dealer last week and them saying they cut up bunch of pallets with it and it ran fine..... I pulled it around a 100 times yesterday, it would idle and quit, it would idle and stay running then I would give it gas and it would quit.... One time I got it half throttle for about 30 seconds and it quit.... Then one time I had it full throttle and it was barely running at idle speed...... Then I just threw it on the ground and fired up the little saw! Is it just me or what? I have had this saw since new with no problems till this year, the dealer charged me over $100 to have fixed it but every time I try to run it, it does the same thing! I am out of answers, I gave it to my buddy that works on small engines etc to take a look at it, I figured it couldn't hurt! I have been dealing with this way to long and I am working that little saw like crazy to make up for it.... Maybe I should try I new carb, new coil? I just don't know what to do......

 

[RobertN]

Take it back to the dealer and make them stand behind their work. And, make them let you start and test the saw before you accept it.

I just don't know what to do......

 

[irwin]

I've got several saws but use two fairly often.. A Stihl MS361 and an Echo CS370. Those are my go to saws and will get 4-6 hours of use most weeks. I had some trouble with the Stihl starting if I let it sit over a week, but only 2 times did I have to pull the plug (clean or replace) and pull the cord a few times with plug out.. Put back together and it would start and run fine... The Echo would also occasionally stall or be hard to start.

I haven't had any trouble since I stopped using 10% ethanol (premium). I only use the ready mix cans now. This stuff Amazon.com: Arnold Corp 0125638 Oil And Gas Pre-Mix (Pack of 6)

My saws run better, idle smoother, start easier (2 pulls with choke it fires, 1 at 1/2 choke and it's running, after it's warm a half pull will restart it)... The difference is obvious. I'll never use ethanol laced gas in my chainsaws again...period.

 

[JimRB]

I thought I read high test has no ethanol in it. No idea if it is true so maybe it is folly on my part. I started buying high test for all my gasoline powered things. My car, truck and tractor are all diesel so I don't really have to buy all that much high test.
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Well im gonna do another compression check on the ms361 for a double check?? My buddy said it was at 90psi but he don't remember if the decompression was activated or not... From what I have read it should be 160-180psi if it is bad rings I might go to a big bore kit for the saw.... Has anyone ever put one of these kits on a saw?

 

[xyz123]

If your oem top end is usable I would go OEM. JMO. Heck if it just needs rings re-ring it, lot cheaper then a afm kit.

Whats it look like with the muffler off?

Whats the carb setting at, was it you or them ??

If you want me to look at it pay shipping both ways and I'll give it a look. Just PM me for a # if you want a look see.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

If your oem top end is usable I would go OEM. JMO. Heck if it just needs rings re-ring it, lot cheaper then a afm kit.

Whats it look like with the muffler off?

Whats the carb setting at, was it you or them ??

If you want me to look at it pay shipping both ways and I'll give it a look. Just PM me for a # if you want a look see.

It didn't look bad when I had the muffler off, the carb I was just trying to adjust it to get it to run... I did have a bunch of chain oil leak in my truck bed though... I will probably try and get it going myself, I can't learn unless I try and it looks like I have some good support here.... but at least I know of a good back up plan!! I did watch a video on YOUTUBE of a coil being bad on the 361....

 

[xyz123]

Yep best to learn on your own and with help from a website or friends if you need it. :thumbsup:

Have owned a few in that size in the past.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Yep best to learn on your own and with help from a website or friends if you need it. :thumbsup:

Have owned a few in that size in the past.

That's awesome! I have only had stihl saws to date..... What is the best saw in you opinion made today?

 

[xyz123]

To many variables to pick just one saw. Depends on job at hand. Climbing, trim work, bucking, ripping etc.

You have a great choice for a firewood saw IMO. My 361 ran 16" 3/8 050 RSC and loved it.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Well I did a compression check on the ms361 today. It came in cold around 120psi which from what I understand is way to low. From what I could find on the internet it should be around 150-180psi. It seems to me that the dealer should have checked the compression. Now I am considering a new piston and rings or the big bore kit with new cylinder. I guess it all depends on what the cylinder looks like maybe just some new rings? I guess I can start there....???? Any input anyone??