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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Chain Saw should not idle?

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IaGuy

06-16-2004 11:51:45




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My little Stihl 017 has been the handiest tool for pruning and limbing larger downed trees. Recently the saw has taken to dying when I don't have my hand on the trigger, a real nuisance. When discussing this with a friend, the friend says no chainsaw should idle like mine does. (can walk away from it while repiling limbs, etc.) His "firm knowledge" is that the saw cannot develope full power at idle settings that allows idling for several seconds if not minutes. This was news to me. Anyone have experience with this subject? My saw is very small and I am not very macho about my woodcutting, but it seems to handle wide open cutting just fine.

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John Green

06-19-2004 17:25:37




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Maybe the spark arrester is dirty?



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DaveCA

06-18-2004 05:24:58




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Quote from a Stihl Owners manual for their professional duty chainsaws:
"After Long Periods of Full-throttle Operation.
Allow engine to run for a short while at idle speed so that heat can be dissipated by flow of cooling air. This protects engine-mounted components (ignition, carburetor) from thermal overload."
Stihl pro saws do seem to have good air flow, but I don't see why this wouldn't apply to all engines with any kind of cooling systems and other means to obtain idle speed.
Of course they say "for a short while", I think a minute or so. I think they run to cool for their own good when idling too long.

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Ron

06-18-2004 03:21:27




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Your friend is right but for the wrong reason. Some chain saws come with specific instructions to never let the saw idle for more than a few seconds. And many old-timers adjust the carburetor so the saw won't idle at all. The reason is simple, they are air cooled engines and because they are designed to operate at full speed they don't cool themselves well at idle and will tend to burn pistons.

Then there is the question of why would you want it to idle? So you can set it on the ground while you do something else and not have to restart it? That's just downright dangerous not to mention what it does to the saw chain and bar. I fell and buck 70' trees, never idle the saw, and never set it on the ground. My suggestion is that until you get to that point, turn the saw off, do what you have to do, and then restart it. One pull is all it ever takes to restart a warm engine.

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txblu

06-17-2004 09:24:37




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Bob is on to it somewhat.

Dirty air filter (but this would affect high speed worse)

Low octane gas (too old) (ditto on high speed)

Dirty spark plug (output voltage varies with rpm's. This could be the problem)

Dirty carb

Idle screw setting changed somehow.

Centrifugal clutch (drive part) clogged by chain oil and wood chip debris.

Centrifugal clutch sticking slightly. Does chain try to creep on you at idle?

FYI, I only use synthetic oil, now that it is available, and it makes a world of difference in performance and my gas doesn't have to be fresh for me to get the desired performance. Plugs stay cleaner longer also.

Mark

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Van in AR

06-17-2004 05:50:49




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Your friend is mis informed, if it dont idle, what good is it? Thats just what you need to have to keep your finger on the trigger walking around with the chain moving. If it wont idle I wont use it until I fix it. The idle circut fuel does add to the full power but has nothing to do with the high speed jet settings.
Van



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Shane

06-16-2004 20:29:30




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
I had an 029 do this too, ended up being a schorched piston. Hopefully yours is just a air or carb problem!



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jeff

06-16-2004 19:07:22




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
As click and clack say "booooogus". The stupid saw needs to idle and can do it for a while. The only thing is that the air flow is not as good and the engine will heat up a little more. If the saw is a few years old the pulse pump diaphram can be getting stiff. This and idle screw problems are the biggest pain in the old patoot. jeff



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BobMo

06-16-2004 16:56:18




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
IaGuy, your idle mixture isn't set right or you need to clean the intake filter. Refer to your manual. Your friend who says they shouldn't idle don't know squat.



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Stick

06-16-2004 12:12:34




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 Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to IaGuy, 06-16-2004 11:51:45  
Full power has nothing to do with the idle circuit. Any chainsaw should be able to idle. A lot of them won't idle out of the box until they're adjusted, but that doesn't mean to say they shouldn't. It is a major PITA to have one that keeps stalling. Been there done that, fixed them.



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stihltech

06-17-2004 18:56:58




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 Re: Re: Chain Saw should not idle? in reply to Stick, 06-16-2004 12:12:34  
A saw should idle as long as it has fuel. I sit them outside and idle a whole tank through to make sure they are right.



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