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Chainsaw Not Running...

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Mr Vaughan, Nov 30, 2020.

  1. So a while ago, we suffered a large storm, which knocked limbs off of our silver maples. now we need to cut them up. we have a stihl, which was in need of repair. we got new parts, but now it doesnt rev up. you can start it, but when you rev it up, it stalls. all that we put on was a muffler and a tensioner. thinking maybe either the muffler is restricting airflow or the chain is too tight. thanks in advance.
     
  2. ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Pull the air cleaner and see if it will rev with your thumb partially over the intake. This will force it to run richer. It sounds like a lean issue to me. Common with age, as fuel gums up the passages.
     
  3. take apart and clean the carb maybe? choking it doesn't do anything, basically does the same thing.
     
  4. Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Air to fuel ratio at the sparkplug. Makes me wonder if it is getting air through a break.

    Ideas = needs clean air filter, clean gas tank filter, clean carburetor in proper adjustment, fuel supply lines with no holes, no air leaks from carburetor to cylinder. And a reasonably clean spark arrestor at the muffler.
     
  5. dunno how to get to the spark arrestor, not even sure its got one. its an 041 from quite a while ago.
     
  6. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Spark arrestor could certainly be a culprit. If you're not sure if it has one see if you can find a blow-up online.
     
  7. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Try Sea Foam in the gas, sometimes it will help if the carb is a little fouled.
     
  8. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    This. If it will run at all mix some Sea Foam with the gas, maybe 10%. Give it some time and some running, it may very well clear up.

    Another thing would be to turn in the adjustment screws until they gently bottom, and then back them out again to the exact same number of turns.

    I recently revived a saw I hadn't used in 20 years by doing this.

    Of course, after trying the above, it wouldn't hurt to read the manual on how to adjust the carb. A tiny change can make a big difference, but guessing at it can ruin a 2-cycle engine. (Or clog the muffler...)

    Oh, and next time, buy a Husqvarna. :p
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2020
  9. listen here you little...

    anyway, it was cheap, so what can i say. but yes, if i had the option, i would go husqvarna
     
    PeteL likes this.
  10. Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    I work in the logging industry as a faller and so I work on these things and build on them all the time. I have about 15 of them right now. I can’t quite remember the 041 as it’s a little dIfferent than the newer saws but not THAT much different. When was the last time you ran it? Gas left in it for while works wonders to cripple a saw. I would try these things:
    -clean fuel tank
    -clean whole saw really well.
    - clean/blow out air filter
    -clean plug and check gap
    -check/replace fuel filter
    - check spark arrestor...if it has one. It will be a little screen at the muffler outlet. A wire brush may work. Sometimes I use oven cleaner. You may have to pull the muffler off the jug to get to it.
    -reset carb. First make sure it’s screwed down snug. There’s 3 screws on the side. High, Low and idle. Turn h and l screws in All the way. Then back them out 1 full turn.
    -fill 1/2 way with gas. Try to start...pull cord with it set on full choke and throttle lock on til it “pops”. If you keep pulling now you’ll flood it. Your saw does not have 1/2 choke...it has a throttle lock. Push the choke in and try starting it.

    if you cannot get it to pop, or run, then there’s a good chance you have an issue...could be many things. Be careful with carb tuning because you don’t wanna run it lean...you’ll blow it up.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2020
  11. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Stihl cheap?
     
  12. Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    If it Starts but bogs when you throttle up, It could be your carb settings. The L screw sets fuel at idle. The H adjusts for high RPM. In is less fuel (lean), out is more fuel (rich). If it idles, play with the L screw to get it to run nicely. Then to set H screw, throttle up to max a little bit at a time. You do not want it to scream at max. Find where it four cycles, and back it off some. This is where too lean can kill a saw.....Generally if you can get it to run, you’ll do these adjustments with it running.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2020
  13. let me direct you to the title.
     
  14. odd part is that it ran fine before, only a week ago. it may be spark arrester, though i cant see one on it. may have messed up the carb taking it out ti install muffler, but nothing that drastic. before the exhaust pipe was broken, so the muffler did about nothing. it may need tuning, will have to look into it later (morning, after a cup of coffee)
     
  15. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Worst case, a carb kit is about $15. Although I've had saws for 20 and 30 years that never needed one.
     
  16. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    BTDT :(
     
  17. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    A quick search makes it seem that the spark arrestor is part of the muffler. At least the description for a muffler combined spark arrestor with it.
     
  18. Zoomer

    Zoomer eJeeper (walking)

    Does it have a rubber intake boot between the carb and the cylinder? Is it ripped?
     
  19. 73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Here is how you fix that saw....

     
    Fireball and Twin2 like this.