I just picked up a used 036 for what I considered a reasonable price. Unfortunately, I had to buy it sight unseen. Upon arrival, I've noticed a few issues, but I think they are fixable an it will still be a good purchase in the end.
First thing I noticed was that the butterfly on the carb doesn't close all the way when I turn the choke on unless I hold the choke/start/stop lever all the way down with my thumb. It wants to spring back up and allow the butterfly to open up over 1/4 of the way. I can't see what is supposed to keep the lever all the way down when the choke is fully engaged. This makes it a bear to start the saw when its cold. If anyone knows what keeps this down so I know where to look for issues, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I haven't tried bending the linkage any yet. No need to actually break anything right off the bat
Second thing I noticed was that the H/L and I markings on the side of the filter cover do not match up to their actual locations on the carb. I forgot to take a pic of this, but it looks like they are upside down. The cover has the Idle marked as being on the bottom, and the H and L jets being on top, but the carb is the other way around. I'll have to double check this and confirm it when I get home tonight, but that really struck me as weird. The cover fits the saw just fine other than that. The carb looks to be original with STIHL stamped on the bottom.
Third thing I notices was that the carb settings weren't where I would have normally expected them. L was backed out 2 full turns and H was only backed out 3/4 of a turn which seamed pretty lean. In that setting, once it warmed up, the saw wanted to scream, but had very little power. I opened it up to 1 1/4, and it runs okay there but it still seems fast (I am ordering a tach to check it for sure).
I also noticed that the little door/vent cover on the cylinder cover is missing. The one that you are supposed to open up when you're running the saw well below freezing. Seems like when the saw warms up, it's tune changes a LOT, and this might be why. Does anyone know where I can get a cover with this door in place, or a replacement door? If not, I'll fill it in so that I'm not sucking in hot air off the cylinder for no good reason.
Lastly, the ZAMA carb on this saw does not have the little square snorkel that sticks out the bottom. Can someone clue me in on what I should be looking for in terms of a replacement? If I replace the air filter (current one is worn out) along with the carb, can I go to one with the square snorkel without any other issues? The guy I purchased the saw from appears to be very mechanically inclined. I suspect that this might have been a saw that he built from pieces, or made some significant repairs to so the current carb MIGHT not actually be stock even though the bottom cover is stamped STIHL. While I believe that he's mechanically inclined, I'm CERTAIN that he didn't know anything about chainsaws just due to the conditions of the 6 safety chains and 2 bars that he included with the purchase. One bar was HEAVILY worn. The other is case hardened on one side. One of the chains is black, presumably from heat build up. NONE of the depth gauges on any of the chains have been lowered. Trying to cut was like skating on ice. Since they are Oregan safety chains, it took me 30 minutes to file the 2 depth gauges for each cutter.... Once I did that, the chains cut fine (actually great for a safety chain).
Anyway, I'd like to get the choke to work correctly, the vent door fixed, and put a new carb (and air filter) on it and then see where it goes from there. If anyone has suggestions for any of these, I'm all ears
Thanks,
Mark
First thing I noticed was that the butterfly on the carb doesn't close all the way when I turn the choke on unless I hold the choke/start/stop lever all the way down with my thumb. It wants to spring back up and allow the butterfly to open up over 1/4 of the way. I can't see what is supposed to keep the lever all the way down when the choke is fully engaged. This makes it a bear to start the saw when its cold. If anyone knows what keeps this down so I know where to look for issues, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I haven't tried bending the linkage any yet. No need to actually break anything right off the bat
Second thing I noticed was that the H/L and I markings on the side of the filter cover do not match up to their actual locations on the carb. I forgot to take a pic of this, but it looks like they are upside down. The cover has the Idle marked as being on the bottom, and the H and L jets being on top, but the carb is the other way around. I'll have to double check this and confirm it when I get home tonight, but that really struck me as weird. The cover fits the saw just fine other than that. The carb looks to be original with STIHL stamped on the bottom.
Third thing I notices was that the carb settings weren't where I would have normally expected them. L was backed out 2 full turns and H was only backed out 3/4 of a turn which seamed pretty lean. In that setting, once it warmed up, the saw wanted to scream, but had very little power. I opened it up to 1 1/4, and it runs okay there but it still seems fast (I am ordering a tach to check it for sure).
I also noticed that the little door/vent cover on the cylinder cover is missing. The one that you are supposed to open up when you're running the saw well below freezing. Seems like when the saw warms up, it's tune changes a LOT, and this might be why. Does anyone know where I can get a cover with this door in place, or a replacement door? If not, I'll fill it in so that I'm not sucking in hot air off the cylinder for no good reason.
Lastly, the ZAMA carb on this saw does not have the little square snorkel that sticks out the bottom. Can someone clue me in on what I should be looking for in terms of a replacement? If I replace the air filter (current one is worn out) along with the carb, can I go to one with the square snorkel without any other issues? The guy I purchased the saw from appears to be very mechanically inclined. I suspect that this might have been a saw that he built from pieces, or made some significant repairs to so the current carb MIGHT not actually be stock even though the bottom cover is stamped STIHL. While I believe that he's mechanically inclined, I'm CERTAIN that he didn't know anything about chainsaws just due to the conditions of the 6 safety chains and 2 bars that he included with the purchase. One bar was HEAVILY worn. The other is case hardened on one side. One of the chains is black, presumably from heat build up. NONE of the depth gauges on any of the chains have been lowered. Trying to cut was like skating on ice. Since they are Oregan safety chains, it took me 30 minutes to file the 2 depth gauges for each cutter.... Once I did that, the chains cut fine (actually great for a safety chain).
Anyway, I'd like to get the choke to work correctly, the vent door fixed, and put a new carb (and air filter) on it and then see where it goes from there. If anyone has suggestions for any of these, I'm all ears
Thanks,
Mark
