Chainsaws won’t work in the heat

[sean donato]

wasn't really sure what was in it to be honest. I think it is great stuff but people usually cheap out and buy regular pump gas. I tried the vp and it worked so well I kept buying that stuff for things that I have sitting before I put them away.

I go through too much fuel over summer to buy it faithfully, however I store any equipment I don't run for more then a month with trufuel/vp/ what ever canned fuel I can get on sale. Good stuff. Try to convince the people I do work for to buy it. Carb problems are the most issues I see, and usually during spring. Some listen, some don't.

 

[huskydave]

I kept that jar with the vp in it for a few years in the sun and it still looked good after 3 years. I use it in the genset the snowblower lawnmower skidoo trimmers saws when I put them to rest, never had a fuel issue. I run premium non ethanol in everything and rotate my cans. I put the older fuel in my vehicle. I don't want to wrench on my own stuff because Im always fixing other peoples equipment and I see what happens.

 

[oldbuzzard]

Non-ethanol, WaWa 89 works fine here in florida, along with Red Armor or Amsoil Sabre 44:1 and a tuning screwdriver. Typically 90 and above. If I run a tank of fuel out of a saw, I grab another fresh saw and let the last used saw cool down, readjust chain if needed and refill oil and petrol. No issues.

Wawa 89?
You live in FL and your altitude probably never changes 100’, and your temps are always warm to hot. I live in CO and my hometown is 5000’. This weekend I was cutting at 8000’. Temp was comfortable but it isn’t unheard of to get snow in June - or it could be 90 degrees plus. Much harder here to keep your carb right on the money, and at these altitudes your saws performance starts getting marginal anyway so tuning is important. I used to live in S Georgia and you could just dial the jets to mid-range and forget about them - permanently. That won’t work in the mountains.

 

[9050LX]

WaWa is a gas station chain. They carry 89 octane non-ethanol.

 

[Mac&trees]

I run several 261 saws and have trouble in the summer with this issue.

Refineries mix fuel in a lighter blend in the winter to be thinner and volatilize more quickly due to the cold.

Opposite as well, in the summer they mix it thicker to slow the evaporation.

So in the spring when we get some of those summer temps and the fuel station still has a tank full of fuel that was blended for the winter the fuel will vapor lock much quicker than mid summer when fuel is being blended for the heat.

This is especially so for 91 grade fuel that usually doesn't get sold as fast as the 89 fuel.

Stations will tend to have this 91 winter blended fuel on hand longer than 89 since fewer people use it.

As was mentioned, open the fuel cap and let them fume off and rid that vapor lock.

Sometimes I need to hot start them. (Hate to do it, too dangerous)

Thats my 2 cents!

I usually poor water over the carb and fuel lines to break the vapor lock. Make sure my saws and fuel are in the shade when not in use.

 

[oldbuzzard]

Wawa 89?
You live in FL and your altitude probably never changes 100’, and your temps are always warm to hot. I live in CO and my hometown is 5000’. This weekend I was cutting at 8000’. Temp was comfortable but it isn’t unheard of to get snow in June - or it could be 90 degrees plus. Much harder here to keep your carb right on the money, and at these altitudes your saws performance starts getting marginal anyway so tuning is important. I used to live in S Georgia and you could just dial the jets to mid-range and forget about them - permanently. That won’t work in the mountains.

Non-ethanol, WaWa 89 works fine here in florida, along with Red Armor or Amsoil Sabre 44:1 and a tuning screwdriver. Typically 90 and above. If I run a tank of fuel out of a saw, I grab another fresh saw and let the last used saw cool down, readjust chain if needed and refill oil and petrol. No issues.

What model saws are you running?

 

[9050LX]

Husqvarna 346,350,353,359,372,288,makita 6401,Poulan Countervibes, Handful of Stihls,Currently.All carbureted saws. No vapor lock issues whatever the temps here, Been 90 plus degrees for a month, humidity is finally creeping up here and thank God it is finally raining.

 

[oldbuzzard]

Some of my favorite saws, I still own 346/350/353/357/359 before getting in to Autotune. Husky 350 was my first saw and I bet it is still running somewhere in Georgia. I still recommend straight carb saws if someone is working primarily in one spot, like say their farm, and not moving around to changing weather and altitudes.

 

[9050LX]

Threebond the plastic case to the aluminum riser, threebond the manifold to the cylinder.loctite or drill cylinder exhaust for 1/4 inch bolts, and don't pinch the saw too often, the 350's seem to live pretty good. I have 3 or 4 Frankenstein 350's, cause I find them cheap.I will buy almost any saw if they are cheap ,lol.Something to work on I guess. Sorry for another hijack guys.