JDBRIDER

Member
Nearly every chainsaw I have ever used has often been difficult to start after running it out of gas. Doesn't matter if its a Homelite, McCulloch, Husqvarna, or whatever. Often they will refuse to start so I'll set it down and maybe split or load for a while then often the saw will start on first or second pull. Does everyone else have this problem too or is it just me.
 
If you totally run them out you have to get gas mixture back into crankcase and that takes a few pulls and will need full choke till it fires . Saws with primer bulb are a little easier to start.I know my saws well enough that when they start to run out I shut them off making it easier to start after refueling.
 
When I had 2 cycle saws, I would have a small plastic oil bottle with a small hose on it filled with mixed gas. I had a small hole drilled in breather cover to give the saw a few drops of gas to start it.
 
Fuel line gets sucked dry so yes can be hard to start due to the fact it has to spin over a number of times for the fuel pump that is part of the carb to suck gas back in. If it has a prime bulb that helps a lot but may take more then the normal 3 pushes to do that job
 
Hello JDBRIDER,

It is normal. It takes quite a few pulls to get gas to the carburetor. You can use full choke for a couple of pulls, that helps a lot. Or you can make up a starting aid like the one I did. Any two cycle mix will do. It will work on anything that needs a little help,

Guido,
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Yup..they usually will give you a little hickup or lean running sound before they totally crap out. Fill the tank to the top, full choke, start position on the trigger, and pull a few times. My 610 and 650 McCullochs have the Walbro carbs and start pretty easy after a run out. Have two Monkey Wards 610 saws built in the mid 80s {they are orange} and they were special ordered with Zama carbs. Ethinol destroys the diaphrams and I rebuilt both. Those carbs are real sweet little carbs when they are all fixed up!
 
I'm using an old Sthil 045 Super 74 ccs, a fairly new 56 cc EFCO, two newer Dolmars (51 and 64 ccs).
Also a couple of el-cheapo Poulan Prosw with 42 ccs and 48 ccs.

I run them all until out of gas. Refill the tank and start right up again. NO issues. If they don't start first pull, I hold the throttle on "full" and they start right up.
 
Yep, got an Echo (I know, but I don't use it enough to buy a Sthil), don't dare run it out, or even low! It will refuse to start, priming, choking, nothing seems to work other than let it sit for a couple hours, then it starts as always.
 
I think the secret is when they start to run lean like they usually do just before they quit shut it off. My newer ones have a primer bulb that pretty much eliminates the restarting problem. And remember, when you run them out of gas they are out of engine oil too!
 
(quoted from post at 11:41:51 01/26/15) Nearly every chainsaw I have ever used has often been difficult to start after running it out of gas. Doesn't matter if its a Homelite, McCulloch, Husqvarna, or whatever. Often they will refuse to start so I'll set it down and maybe split or load for a while then often the saw will start on first or second pull. Does everyone else have this problem too or is it just me.

I have had a chainsaw or two and when I run out of gas I fill it up and put on the fuel cap and twist and shake the saw which causes the gas to expand and pressurizes the carb and gas line. It only takes four pulls to start my .029 Sthil on full choke pull till it fires (usually 3 pulls) then slip to high idle and one pull she's running. Same procedure as when it is cold.
 

Turn it so muffler is up then dribble a little gas in. A short cut to the combustion chamber. Then pull it over one time slow.
 
(quoted from post at 19:15:55 01/26/15) Yep, got an Echo (I know, but I don't use it enough to buy a Sthil), don't dare run it out, or even low! It will refuse to start, priming, choking, nothing seems to work other than let it sit for a couple hours, then it starts as always.

There's nothing wrong with Echo Steve. Don't let the feed store loggers tell you that.
 
I have a top handled Echo (3400 model). It starts better than any of my other saws. It can set for months and start by the third pull.
 
What I used to suggest to all my customers, back when I was in business, was to get in the habit of shaking all two stroke fuel. Do this before pouring from can and shake the chainsaw trimmer or whatever vigorously before attempting to crank.
You are accomplishing two things--mixing the fuel and building a small amount of internal pressure.
Probably the reason it would start later, is that the pressure had built up in the fuel tank and forced the fuel to the carburetor.

One chainsaw that I really like is my Makita DCS 520i.
The "i" stands for injection--the carburetor has a "start jet" and injects gas into the carburetor, just like priming with fuel.
In most cases it will start with ONE pull and occasionally Two.
Our wonderful EPA disallowed it, so back to regular choke!
 
I don't have a problem starting any of mine after running after gas. I just make sure I put gas in them before I try to restart them. :D
 
When I had a McCulloch it didn't matter if you ran it out of gas. Then I had a Poulan chainsaw it might take days to get it running if you ran it out of gas. I now have a Stihl MS 280 and it might take 10-15 minutes to get it started if you run it out of gas but that seldom happens. Usually when it gets down to about 1/4 tank it dies. It's still harder to start even when full than either McCulloch I had.
 
Been doing it for many years, I sure thought it worked.
You can see for yourself by simply shaking the saw and loosening the cap.
It is vented to pull air in. If it was vented to let pressure escape, it would leak fuel.
Now the EPA certainly wouldn't like that --would they??
 
No problem with my Stihl 029 Farm Boss. Just refill and a couple pulls it's running. The first cold start in the morning can take several pulls but once warmed up.... it runs good.
 
(quoted from post at 21:46:59 01/26/15) Been doing it for many years, I sure thought it worked.
You can see for yourself by simply shaking the saw and loosening the cap.
It is vented to pull air in. If it was vented to let pressure escape, it would leak fuel.
Now the EPA certainly wouldn't like that --would they??

Like SWING BLADE,Did You Put Any Gas In It :?: :lol:
 
Back in the 80's I use to cut new right-away and trim old right-away for the local power company. I can remember the Shill
I used would not start after a tank of gas. It had the old type CID ignition. We had to have two saws which is a good idea but two saws to have one just sucked.
Each saw is different even if they come out of the factory next to each other. I think a lot to do with it is the way it is broke in and how many people operate the saw. The more people that operate a machine the shorter life span that machine has.
 
(quoted from post at 23:59:25 01/27/15) SLING BLADE? Like the movie?
"[i:491996a8a6][b:491996a8a6]Some calls em Kizer blades, I calls em Sling blades." Mm hum[/b:491996a8a6][/i:491996a8a6]
 

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