I hate chain saws even more

old

Well-known Member
So I o out and cut down an old dead oak. I start cutting it up and all at once the chain jumps off the bar. Bring it in and put on the spare chain since it is sharper then the one I was using. Go to start the saw and it fires up but give it throttle and it dies and will not run. Try new plug and yet no go. I had just filled it up when I went back out to cut but that was just what I needed to do any how. Saw was still pretty warm when it would not start. Gave up for the day and figure I'll try again tomorrow
 
I have an Echo saw that has done the exact same thing since new . Just can't start it hot . best fix I found was to walk away from it have a cup of tea then go back after a half hour and try again .
 
Old check the carburetor adjustment screws maybe you have to adjust the high low mixture, Maybe the carburetor is dirty, What kind of saw and carb is it, could be a number of things, hole in the diaphragm fuel line ect.
 
It is one of the Poulans I have. Ran just fine then went to restart it and no go. Used most of a tank of gas then the chain jumped off so went to fix that and then a no start. Been running just fine till today
 
Old I have a poulan and it did the samething. as it turned out it was a bad fuel line.( ive been running that bad gas I it) new fuel lines and it runs good now. Bob
 
If its a Poulan made in the last 10 years, I would check the compression. Put a compression gauge in and pull the rope until the needle stops going up.
If its less that 130 psi, when cold, she won't crank hot, because the compression will be even lower when hot.

p.s. If you are throwing the chain regularly, the bar may be choked up with sawdust and the chain may not be getting oil like it should.
 
I only run the good gas in it but who know what was run in it before I got it since I did get it used. Will try again tomorrow and if it does not run may take it to the local shop to have it looked at. Good thing is the local shop guy comes to me for tractor help so he cuts me a break
 
I had a Poulan once that did the same thing right when it was new. It would run for so long and quit. Leave it set for a half hour and it would start right up and run again.

I talked to a Poulan dealer and he said it was a bad coil. He wouldn't touch the saw, though. Said if he did warranty work Poulan would never pay him. He even told me where I could order a new coil on line for half of what he would have to charge me for the same thing.

It worked find with a new coil. I was kind of soured on the saw by then, so I bought a Stihl and when the tornado went through Joplin, MO several years ago and they were pleading for chain saws I donated it.
 
Same here. Echo. It'll run as long as I want it to. Turn it off and it will restart fine if I try within like 5 minutes. If however I leave it 15 minutes it will not start again until it completely cools. When it will not start the primer bulb fills with air and I can't get gas through it push as much as I want. Been this way since new. First time it did this to me I took it back to the dealer but they didn't find a problem. I have no clue what's wrong and it is frustrating.
 
Chris the Echo uses the fuel tank as a cooling reservoir for the exhaust . If you leave it too long the fuel boils and the lines fill with vapour . Once completely cooled everything calms down and the pump or primer bulb can do its job properly . My Echo has been a great saw , over thirty years old now and parts are nonexistent , if it wasn't for this hot start problem it would rate as the best out of the five or so brands , including Sthil ,that I have owned .
 
If you can, loosen the gas cap when you set it down hot. Keeps from boiling the gas and flooding the engine. Gas will still boil but will not force it into the engine and fuel lines.

Had an old Remington that does it, but loosening the cap works as it is on top.
 
I don't know which saw you're using but my Poulan Pro saws throw chains off fairly often. Makes no matter if the chain is tight. I just have to tilt the saw in a certain way while letting off the throttle while in a piece of wood and it flings off. Half the time I cannot put it back on until I file the drive-tang sides. Gets messed up when it gets thrown off. No big deal. I always have 3-4 extra chains with me.
I don't share any of your other problems. I think you need a new post-title. I.e. "I hate certain chain saws." They don't all behave like your's.
 
My dad had a huskyvarna, great saw, I bought one just like it, always a hard starter. I have his now and got rid of the other one.

I always shake the saw good before starting, same with gas before filling.
 
While I haven't loosened it when shutting it down and leaving it, I have loosened it when I wouldn't start but perhaps that is too late to loosen it--you reckon?. It's the one thing that drive me nuts with this saw.
 
Old, It seems to me you like have a constant source of aggravation, fixing old chainsaws. You keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time. Some day you may try something totally different.

Have fun cleaning your mile long drive. I would invent something to clear the drive while I'm sitting on a tractor seat. Backhoe does a good job this time of year. Push high on some small trees and it pops the roots right out.
 
old, When my stihls won't start I always take the air filter off and clean it. Thats pretty near always the problem. Try that. Good luck. Ed Will
 
Hello old.



Here are some hints:
Check the muffler screen. If it is easy, just take the whole muffler off. If that is the problem, it will start right up!. May be a bit noisy though. Solid state ignition will break down when hot, so make sure you have a good spark.
Gap that plug at least .030
Squirt some gas in the intake, see if it fire up.
Like I said before, you need patience. Very seldom, you will find only one thing wrong with them little things. Two or tree is more the norm..........


Guido.
 
jdemaris, it sounds like you have a worn drive sprocket and/or guide bar. If everything is in good shape, a tight chain will not come off that easy. Just a thought.
 
Fired right up today and cut just fine. Guess it just does not want to start when hot.
 
BIL has a Poulan Pro with a 20"bar .325" chain and it doesn't have trouble throwing chains. Not not a bad running saw but can't keep up with my Stihl and it's not even a pro.
 
I never said I had what I'd call "trouble." Just said either one of my Poulan Pros with 20" bars will do it now and then. None of my other saws will, not even my Stihl 045 Super with a 30" bar.
Both the Poulans have done it since they were brand new. Just have to rev it just right and tilt the saw at the right time and "off" if goes.
 
I have found that i always seem to hate whichever chain saw I happen to be trying to use on a particular day, Does not seem to matter if it is my Stihl, Poulan, Echo, or the old McCulloch, each and every one has it's day being the complete POS. Of all my saws, my oldest Poulan has really always been my favorite, unless the carb bolts are falling out, or the gas line breaks, or the air filter gets plugged... The worst one is the Echo, can not keep it running unless the throttle is wide open, have had it serviced 3 times, no one can get that one figured out. I have learned that my older saws seem to be much better than the new ones with all the new EPA regulated carb issues.
 
Hello old,

Sounds like the ignition is failing when hot.
Check the spark when it happens again,

Guido.
 
I would take it to a good saw shop and have them look at it.They may be able to tell you why its doing that because that is not normal for any chainsaw. It sounds to me like to me there is something wrong with drive sprocket or a problem with bar were chain starts into bar from sprocket.
 
(quoted from post at 10:03:24 01/28/15) I never said I had what I'd call "trouble." Just said either one of my Poulan Pros with 20" bars will do it now and then. None of my other saws will, not even my Stihl 045 Super with a 30" bar.
Both the Poulans have done it since they were brand new. Just have to rev it just right and tilt the saw at the right time and "off" if goes.

My 011 does it all the time. I hate that saw. I'd get rid of it but a very nice man sent it to me when I was "sawless", so it's got sentimental value.
 
(quoted from post at 16:08:21 01/27/15) Hello old.



Here are some hints:
Check the muffler screen. If it is easy, just take the whole muffler off. If that is the problem, it will start right up!. May be a bit noisy though. Solid state ignition will break down when hot, so make sure you have a good spark.
Gap that plug at least .030
Squirt some gas in the intake, see if it fire up.
Like I said before, you need patience. Very seldom, you will find only one thing wrong with them little things. Two or tree is more the norm..........


Guido.

Hey Guido, are you Guido Salvage on Aborist site?
 
Saw shop??? I was a Stihl, Dolmar, Echo/Kiortz and Homelite saw mechanic for many years - 1975 to 1992. Why the heck would I trust some bozo with likely a lot less experience and training then me - to look at one of my saws?
 
Hello Bret4207,

Never thought there were two of us! NO... that is not me,

Guido.
 
(quoted from post at 17:09:46 01/29/15) Hello Bret4207,

Never thought there were two of us! NO... that is not me,

Guido.

I didn't think there would be 2 of you either! :lol:
 

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