031av need help or info please

[murrdog]

i bought a 031av from an older gentleman this summer, i couldnt get it started with out putting mixed gas in the carb, and then it would run Strong on half choke, but only on half choke, so today i rebuild the carb, and cleaned the screen i went to fire it up, primed it started roughly and then revved up and died, did i mess up on rebuild? and is there a rule of thumb to get it running so i can fine adjust the carb. and is there any thing else i need to check or watch for? any fuel filters? any help or info on saw would be appreciated, this is my first saw

 

[no longer collecting]

Many questions to ask......
This is an old saw what is the compression? pitted points??? Seems it was running Lean before on half choke......Did you try adjusting the carb before dissambly?
If it worked before on half choke maybe there is an air leak on a seal somewhere. You need to pressure test the base.???????
What about the boot between head and carb....check for rubber cracks???
When you bought the saw did it sat unused for a long time....fuel line could be restricted.
When you put the new carb kit...how was the old one ...cracked or hard...if it had the same texture as the new one maybe the carb is not your problem.
As per adjustment.... tighten to seat lightly the H & L needles and back out 1 turn. Start the saw on idle and adjust the L side first IN till it start to buck and OUT till it start to buck then find the middle spot between the 2 positions.
Then adjust the H the same way and give it 1/8 turn more OUT to richen mixture.
Make sure there is no restrictions on the fuel hose system and muffler blockage.This should work but i know those carb are very sensitive.

Maybe other members could help you with more suggestions..

 

[no longer collecting]

Forgot...The "H" adjustment should be done at "WOT" (wide open throttle).

 

[Fish]

You need to remove the screen and the needle/spring on the other side
and make sure the passage between the two is clear, hold it up to a light.
If the screen was full of sawdust looking stuff, that is probably the remains
of the fuel filter's foam insert. So that needs replaced as well.

 

[murrdog]

the old gasket seemed ok, the rubber boot was ok, i ended up taking off the outer cover then handle, and the rubber boot to get the carb off, i have broken to many bolts on carbs on cars, so i didnt want to pry on carb to end up i didnt pull hard enuf, the fuel line was ok i cleaned it and also there is a line that mounts under the boot whats that? and the metal mesh in carb was clogged. ill do a compression check today and adjust carb if i can keep it running, and how do i pressure test the base? and i didnt try to adjust carb b4, i thought it needed to be cleaned any way from sitting i understand he used a month before i bought and then sat for 3 years. really sorry to ask a lot of questions, but really want to learn

 

[PES+]

You might try pouring some transmission fluid in the base through the intake and let it sit for an hour or two than drain it out and rinse it with pre-mix. That should help lube the case seals.

The screen which you said was clogged is most likely your problem. The other hose is the pulse hose that makes the fuel pump in the carb work.

Make sure that hose is in good shape and seals well on both ends and has no cracks or kinks.

 

[murrdog]

ok the pulse line, that was in good shape , this is an older saw, but i dont know year and its a elcectronic , i took to a stihl dealer in la grande oregon, and he looked at piston and plug said it was a strong saw, but he wouldnt show me any thing on it, guessing he was very busy

 

[PES+]

They are pretty good saws....strong runners I have several out here still going strong with just new rings.
Enjoy it

 

[murrdog]

what general maintance should i do to a saw that has been sitting, its prety dirty had caked on dust, are these saws good at keeping dust out of places they shouldnt be>? and what do u use to clean saws ?

 

[PES+]

Depends....those saws do not like to stay clean so I just use compressed air to blow off all the crud.
I am not nor have I ever been a chrome and shine kind of guy .
I am a performance and longevity guy

 

[murrdog]

i like sleepers, or flat black, as long as clean, and i love performance, but this saw it doesent look very well taken care of, but it ran , and i figure i can make better , should i do a good clean job on it? and if so what places do u focus on?

 

[PES+]

Make sure you blow out all the cooling fins of the cylinder and make sure you clean all the mud and such from under the side cover. Another spot on those saws that can cause trouble is the handle. Take off the screw under the back of the handle and make sure there isn't tons of crud packed inside the handle....I have had them come in so packed up that the throttles stuck

The other place to pay close attention to is the recoil assembly take it off and clean well and oil only with a light oil and sparingly...While you have the recoil apart it is a good idea to check the spring and the cup that the spring is in they can can cause all kinds of frustration

 

[murrdog]

ok ty for all ur help so far the suns finally comming up so ill get to work, and the recoil area is that for the pull rope? is that why when u pull it doesnt hook up like it should? :monkey:

 

[PES+]

Most likely yes......but you may need a new part or two on the recoil......take it off and you will see......I bet it feels like you are pulling syrup when you pull out the rope....that is old lube that set up or pitch residue

 

[murrdog]

ok ty well i will be back on with some kind of resutls

 

[murrdog]

well i messed up put all back together and pulled the robe and broke it, so now going to fix that tomorrow

 

[cbfarmall]

The other place to pay close attention to is the recoil assembly take it off and clean well and oil only with a light oil and sparingly...While you have the recoil apart it is a good idea to check the spring and the cup that the spring is in they can can cause all kinds of frustration

Every now and then my 031 starter would lock up and I found that the 2 screws securing the starter dogs/springs had worked loose. Think I used a little blue loctite to stop that.

Yep, these recoils can be somewhat finicky.

Chris B.

 

[Lakeside53]

Yep, these recoils can be somewhat finicky.

Chris B.

And the outer housing are no longer available from Stihl, so all that are left are from the used market, and not cheap now either. Treat them carefully.