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LazyKB

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Frustrated, frustrated, frustrated, aaargh! Six weeks ago I moved one of my deer stands. I took one of two of my chainsaws to clear some shooting lanes. I have a Stihl 031 AV and a small Poulan. I purchased the Stihl in 81, used it hard for three years and only occasionally since. I can't remember the last time I had it out. The Poulan belonged to dad and I don't remember him ever using it. It is a handy little saw for trimming. Well the Stihl was the only one I could get to start. I took it to the woods and it ran like a top for 30 minutes then it acted like it was fuel starved and quit.

Six weeks later I have gained enough experience working on these saws that I could open a repair shop, except that I haven't yet repaired anything. I checked the spark on each saw, good. Replaced fuel lines and filters on each. Cleaned the air filters. Bought a carb kit for the Stihl and tore the carb down and cleaned it twice, and installed new gaskets, diaphragms, needle valve and screen. Ran compression test on the cylinders; 120 on the Sthil, 90 PSI on the Poulan (probably too low).

I just came from the garage where I had reassembled the Stihl after the last cleaning. I got it to fire one time then pulled the dang rope out of it. All I wanted to do was cut some saplings. I don't use a saw often enough to buy a new one, but I hate the fact that I have two in decent shape that won't run. The Stihl really acted like it wanted to run. I now have about $30 in parts invested. The Stilh shop said with labor cost and parts it would be over $150 and no guarantee it would run. Most parts are obsolete. ARRRRGGH!
 
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I understand your frustration. It's one of the reasons I don't work much on engines any more. Have you checked out the magneto and your wiring to make sure you don't have something grounding out? After all your work on the fuel it sounds like it might be something electric related.....
 
I'm convinced those small engines often get "possessed". I have a weedeater that's been acting up two years now. I did the same as you, gone through and replaced plugs & lines.

it would run long enough for me to get a good ways from the house, then promptly quit and will not crank again. As soon as I get to the house, it would run again :confused:

Everytime I decide to buy a new weed-eater, the old one will decide to run perfect for a couple of uses, so I will put off buying a new one..

My neighbor up the road a bit, had one that would not run at all, except when he took it to a small engine repair shop. Then it would run perfect. Wouldn't hit a lick at home.. He did this twice and finally lost his cool, through it out by the shop and ran over it twice with his tractor :D
 
GTK, I subscribe to your "possessed" theory! Some time back I had a John Deere two stoke weed whacker that wouldn't run for me at all. I took it to one of the techs I worked with, & he started it up fine. I noted everything he did so I wouldn't have future problems. Next time I tried to use it...no go. I took it back to the tech, & again he started it first try. I tried it again with him watching, doing it exactly like he did it...nope. I handed it back to him...first try. I later gave it to my next door neighbor, & it works fine for him. That little green monster just didn't like me!:eek::confused::(:mad:
 
Chain saws

Had a Poulan. It started spitting screws out from day one. In general, unless you use saws all the time you have to tinker with them a half hour to get them started, then cut like crazy for a about 15 minutes then tinker another half hour if you need to go a second round.

I already have a bad taste for chain saws because I first started using one because of Hurricane Hugo and that was one of the most miserable times of my life.
 
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A couple of years ago I bought a new Stihl on a Fri. afternoon and took it home and it would not crank. Tried all weekend. When I bought it they told me if for any reason I wasn't satisfied within 30 days bring it back for a full refund. Took it back on Mon. and it cranked for them the first pull and then it cranked for me. I still refused to keep it and they gave me a new saw and I have been satisfied with it. We have a gas powered edger that won't crank for my wife but cranks good for me. Yes she will run it after I crank it. As has been mentioned earlier, I believe some small engines are possessed. Larry
 
Sounds like this would be less physical effort than what you're using.

image_16343.jpg
 
LazyKB said:
Frustrated, frustrated, frustrated, aaargh! Six weeks ago I moved one of my deer stands. I took one of two of my chainsaws to clear some shooting lanes. I have a Stihl 031 AV and a small Poulan. I purchased the Stihl in 81, used it hard for three years and only occasionally since. I can't remember the last time I had it out. The Poulan belonged to dad and I don't remember him ever using it. It is a handy little saw for trimming. Well the Stihl was the only one I could get to start. I took it to the woods and it ran like a top for 30 minutes then it acted like it was fuel starved and quit.

Six weeks later I have gained enough experience working on these saws that I could open a repair shop, except that I haven't yet repaired anything. I checked the spark on each saw, good. Replaced fuel lines and filters on each. Cleaned the air filters. Bought a carb kit for the Stihl and tore the carb down and cleaned it twice, and installed new gaskets, diaphragms, needle valve and screen. Ran compression test on the cylinders; 120 on the Sthil, 90 PSI on the Poulan (probably too low).

I just came from the garage where I had reassembled the Stihl after the last cleaning. I got it to fire one time then pulled the dang rope out of it. All I wanted to do was cut some saplings. I don't use a saw often enough to buy a new one, but I hate the fact that I have two in decent shape that won't run. The Stihl really acted like it wanted to run. I now have about $30 in parts invested. The Stilh shop said with labor cost and parts it would be over $150 and no guarantee it would run. Most parts are obsolete. ARRRRGGH!
Click to expand...

Couple of years ago I had a Stihl brush trimmer that wouldn't start (after sitting all winter). I cleaned the carb and tried again. No joy in Mudville. I went to the dealer and asked him how much a carb kit was, his answer was $18.00, then I asked him how much a carb was, his answer was $23.00. No brainer, I bought the carb, put it on, and it started first pull after priming the carb. Later I asked him why the prices were so similar. He said that the new gas screws up these carbs and it's cheaper and quicker to replace them since most of the time the gummed up passages can't be cleaned out.
 
I had the same problem with a weed eater that I bought at Sears one time. It would run for a while then quit and wouldn't start again until it had cooled off over night. I tried cleaning the carb, replacing the fuel line and changed the spark plug. Still it would run a while and then quit and wouldn't start. I could never finish trimming around the house before it would quit. I finally got mad and threw it over the creek in front of my house. My son went over the next day and retrieved it and has used it for three years now. It runs perfectly for him.
 
Say hello to ethanol gas. If you do not keep stabilizer in the gas forget it.

I also found out that my Echo calls for 89 octane not 87. Replace the gas, used their synthetic oil and stabilizer and away we go. Stringer trimmer and chain saw. If they sit, they die.
 
Stihl is a great machine, have 2 saws and no problems. You do have to be careful with all the ethanol gas. I use additive and only 93 octane gas. Good luck with yours.
 
Got 'em switched "ON"? Don't laugh...that was my problem one day after pulling a dang cord for 2 hours and then emptying the old gas and replacing with new.
 
I used to own a Mariner 2 hp single cylinder outboard engine. It did not have a reverse gear, the engine swiveled 180 degrees when the operator needed to reverse it. It was light, easy to transport. And it would run like a bat out of Hell if you could ever get it started. This is why Jesus learned to walk on water, He also had a Mariner outboard on his fishing boat.

One of my neighbor's father-in-law wanted that engine bad and perstered me to sell it to him. The last time he stopped buy to bug me, I pulled it off the engine stand and handed it to him and told him to NEVER come to my home again.

Bozo took it home with him to St. Simons Island, GA. Bozo installs the Mariner engine on his 8' Sears Gamefisher, eventually got it started, and headed out into the marsh. The engine quit on him and he spent about 30 hours in the marsh, nearly freezing to death over night before somebody rescued him.

Of course, the entire family blamed me for this incident.
 
Sthil, has a problem with muffler gettin clogged up on the 2 cycle engines, wouldnt hurt to pull if off and clean it, never know
 
It's likely the rubber suction line in the tank to the carb that has turned to mush and is collapsing. Had this happen more than once, leaving gas in the tank will cause it to deteriorate, with or without ethanol.

Had this happen on an old McCulloch and a Ryobi string trimmer.
 
My grandfather once sold me a mower he was frustrated with. I brought it home and discovered that the spark plug wire was slightly compressed against the engine cover, apparently just enough that it grounded out and wouldn't start. Fixed it and used that thing for several years.
 
Got this feeling that Ethanol has more to do with this problem of not starting with small engines then anything else. The alcohol will eat the day lights out of a carb.
 
ALWAYS use fuel stabilizer!
There are different formulas for 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines.

Install fuel shut-off valves where you can. Turn the fuel off and run the engine till it stops.
Otherwise - Drain the fuel from the tank when you're done for the day and then run the engine till it stops.
Fuel left in the carb WILL evaporate and leave behind a glue like substance. When that stuff finally dries it's like thick varnish and your *toy* is now toast.
Sure - The carb can be cleaned but why bother when it's WAY easier to just drain the fuel.

My stuff starts right up and runs great even after sitting all winter because the carb and fuel tanks are clean.
 
ive sold stihl and husky for 12 years ethanal is the killer no good for fuel at all ethanal can bind with hydrogen (the h in h20) with means it can draw water right out of the air. theres a product out there called startron it will prevent this from happening, just trying to help a few brothers out!
 
That's why I had an electric chain saw and a long extension cord. I only needed one on my 1/2 acre, not out in the woods. I understand they have nice battery powered ones now.
 
I use non-ethanol gasoline in all my small engines. I try to keep 30 gallons or so on hand because I have a generator that burns 5-6 gallons per 18 hours. I try to keep enough on hand for three or four days. I treat the gasoline with Seafoam. I usually pour what's left of the thirty gallons in the pickup every 90 days or so and replenish with fresh. I have two Husky and one Stihl weed eaters, and a Husky chain saw, as well as a couple of Snapper mowers with 12hp B&S engines. I have a man who operates and keeps up all this machinery, and have had precious little trouble. I don't always empty the weed eaters and mowers during the winter, and the treated non-ethanol gasoline seems to keep OK. I use Lucas Cylinder Head Lubricant and Injector Cleaner in my pickup. I try to treat a tankful (35 gallons) of gasoline at least three or four times per year. I run 10% gas in the truck, and the treatment seems to help.
 
Nine outboards,one victor airmotor(v twin), two Sea Doos, a honda spree, a pressure washer.... Tell me about ethanol in small engines, particularly carburated ones. The passages are so tiny they get clogged with their own aluminum oxide from the water the ethanol accumulates. It's an epic struggle in 98% humidity...
Fuel injection in all our outboards solved most of the hassles, the carburated stuff...endless hassle.:mad:
I have pretty good results with the treatment I buy at Academy( blue Sta-Bil). Startron works well too.
 
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Seems it may be a condenser issue. Parts no longer available. There is something about an electronic conversion that runs about $125 and is above my pay grade to install. Shame to lose the old saw. Over all condition is pretty good.
 
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