Saw won't go back to idle

I finally found time to properly try out my 970 in some dead Pecan with a 20" bar and sharp semi-chisel chain. It was awesome! I love it! :hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange:. After using my 260 with a 20" bar, this was unreal (the 260 now wears a 16" bar - like it should have in the first place - and it now seems like a new saw!). Right now I think I have the perfect 2 saw combo (50 and 70 cc class) for my firewood needs. A extra 24" bar for the 970 is next. I do have one problem with the 970 - sometimes when I get off the trigger, it won't come back down to idle. It stays at full throttle until I turn the idle adjustment screw clockwise - sometimes just a hair of a turn and sometimes it takes a few full turns - to get it down to idle. I'll make a cut or two, then it's the same thing all over again. Would the idle adjustment screw be turning by itself for some reason? Anybody experience this before and know of the proper fix? Any help will be much appreciated! I'd like to cut this afternoon if I can get this problem fixed.

Kevin

Is the idle screw for sure turning ? Is it in a different position when you have to re adjust ?

Newfie_1986 said:

Is the idle screw for sure turning ? Is it in a different position when you have to re adjust ?

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Yes. Even with the saw running wide open, I can still get my screwdriver in the hole, feel for when it is in the screw head, and make the adjustment.

Kevin

KMB said:

Right now I think I have the perfect 2 saw combo (50 and 70 cc class) for my firewood needs. A extra 24" bar for the 970 is next.
Kevin

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Hey Kevin,

Your combo sounds fine , I was thinking of a 70cc saw to add to my firewood combo ,(50cc with 18" bar & 95cc with 24" bar).
What's the weight of the 970? Could you use this one (70cc) specific without going to the smaller saw for the light stuff?

Paul

Paul61 said:

Hey Kevin,

Your combo sounds fine , I was thinking of a 70cc saw to add to my firewood combo ,(50cc with 18" bar & 95cc with 24" bar).
What's the weight of the 970? Could you use this one (70cc) specific without going to the smaller saw for the light stuff?

Paul

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Hi Paul,

Nice to hear from another fellow Canadian (presently I'm calling 'Ar-kansas' home), but Canada is truly home.
According to the specs my 970 weighs 14.3 - powerhead only. A 70 cc saw for the light stuff? Depends on the individual. If they feel strong enough to use it as a limbing saw all day, that's fine. Depends on the average size of wood you'll be cutting. My 260 was my first saw, but after finding this forum and starting to cut bigger wood, I decided I needed a bigger saw to be productive. I was going to go to a 60 cc saw (Stihl 036Pro, 360Pro) but I got some advice here about going to a 70 cc (or bigger) - the difference between 50 cc and 60 cc was not much. I wanted a Stihl 044/440 - but I still would have been trying to save the money for a 'clean' 044/440. Along came my 'like new' Olymypk 970 for a steal of a price ($175). Except the problem with it not coming down to idle (which I think I got figured out), it's been a great saw. Would have liked a 044/440 to match my other Stihl, but for now I'm happy with what I got. My 260 with the 16" bar is perfect for the light stuff. It's also handy for trimming around the yard. It can handle bigger bars, but the 16" just feels right.
I like the idea of 20 cc jumps between saws. I've been toying with the idea of a 30 cc saw (Stihl 018/180) for really light yard work and trimming in the woods around deer stands etc. I don't have a very good excuse for a 90 cc saw - besides having a bigger saw . I like to have a little bit of reason regarding my saw buying . Hope this helps.

Kevin

Never said nothing to me about being Canadian ? Whats up us Newfoundlanders are not Canadian any more ? Or are we only Canadian When those big fat oil revenue checks from Hibernia and Terra Nova come in ??? Damn mainlanders !!!!


LOL im only messing with you you probably didnt see that I was from Canada.
LOL bet I got a bit of a rise out of you though. I hate the fact that Ontario seems to have something against Newfoundland though.

Well anyways back to the saw !

It sounds as if it is vibrating out of adjustment. I believe I read about that happening on here, and someone said that the spring on the adjustment screw may be weak causing the saw vibrations to turn the screw out of adjustment. The spring is there to keep tension on the screw to keep it from vibrating out of adjustment.

Well hope I was of atleast some help
And have a good nite
Darryl

Newfie_1986 said:

Never said nothing to me about being Canadian ? Whats up us Newfoundlanders are not Canadian any more ? Or are we only Canadian When those big fat oil revenue checks from Hibernia and Terra Nova come in ??? Damn mainlanders !!!!


LOL im only messing with you you probably didnt see that I was from Canada.
LOL bet I got a bit of a rise out of you though. I hate the fact that Ontario seems to have something against Newfoundland though.

Well anyways back to the saw !

It sounds as if it is vibrating out of adjustment. I believe I read about that happening on here, and someone said that the spring on the adjustment screw may be weak causing the saw vibrations to turn the screw out of adjustment. The spring is there to keep tension on the screw to keep it from vibrating out of adjustment.

Well hope I was of atleast some help
And have a good nite
Darryl

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Man, I am so sorry about that! I totally missed that (you being Canadian) :blush:.
You are Canadian - mainlander or islander - it don't matter . My wife and I had our belated and short honeymoon on PEI. We loved the island and hope to go back there with some of our friends. I would like to visit the other islands (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick) next trip. I like the western part of Canada - mountains, prairies, great hunting and fishing. I'm from Alberta, but if/when I go back, it'll be to Saskatchewan.
I think I agree with you on the weak spring causing my problem. I have it adjusted pretty good right now and did make a few cuts this afternoon (was supposed to cut on a downed oak - but it turned out to be not worth my time or energy - instead I chose to sink my truck almost to the doors in some decieving looking muck ), but I think a longer cutting season will bring back the problem.
I hope it's just a matter of unscrewing the screw and putting on a new spring - or is there more to it? Anyone?

Kevin