(quoted from post at 15:33:54 01/10/15)
(quoted from post at 19:09:37 01/10/15) Thanks for the tips - these saws get used at least twice a week. The local dealer that I bought them from grouses when I mention how they cold start - he wants me to let him tinker with them. Well, he tinkers with them and is real proud that they start on the first pull, but by then he's got the cold start behind him. Tomorrow morning it will still take 12 cranks for a cold start and one crank for subsequent starts. And yes - one of the ropes was showing stress, so I changed it before it failed. Both saws are reliable, but it takes (count 'em) 12 cranks cold. I could win a bet with them, ha.
I have advised several people, with similar problem, to shake the saw vigorously before trying to start. Nearly every one said that it worked.
This does two things, it guarantees a thorough mix of fuel and oil, and it builds a small amount of fuel tank pressure to help the tiny carburetor diaphragm to pull fuel from tank.
See for yourself---shake and then observe the pressure buildup when loosening the fuel cap. If it doesn't, you have other problems.
If it has a "primer bulb", it's purpose is to pull fuel to the carburetor and this shaking is probably unnecessary.