hard starting stihls

[Justin Garrison]

I agree it is normal and some saws are diffrerent I just put on full chocke keep pulling till it pops if quick enough slide up to high idle and then click the trigger to set her down. Let it warm up and cut away. Cabelas is an awesome store, I have never heard of the others mentioned.

 

[stump doctor]

My 028 used to take forever to start. It just needed a good cleaning air filter/muffler spark plug. It was three pulls till she popped everytime after that when cold and one pull when warm. The 044 takes a bit longer to start and is much harder to pull.

 

[oldsaw]

My 066 usually takes 3-4 pulls before it "barks", knock the choke off, and it usually starts on the next pull. However, due to an incredibly stiff work schedule and weather not cooperating...it may be tougher next time.

BTW, for you Minnesota boys. I grew up 25 miles out of Detroit Lakes. Spent some time in Walker, Brainerd, and Bemidji. Know the area very well. Haven't lived there for nearly 20 years though, but covered the area as part of my sales territory for a few years. The Duluth to Moorhead run always brought back a lot of memories.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Cabelas is an awesome store, I have never heard of the others mentioned.

They're regional phenomenons. Gander Mountain used to be a full on catalog like Cabela's up until a few years ago when Cabela's bought out the mail order portion of it, and they were limited to the retail stores. They're a small semblance of what they used to be.

Jeff

 

[Gark]

When cold, my MS290 takes 6-8 pulls on full-choke to cough. Then 1 or 2 to run. When warm, it starts first pull. It's always been like that since new 3 years ago. Doesn't matter what gas is in it, 87, 89 or 91 octane.

 

[ross_scott]

my saw which is an 034 converted to 036 coughs on the third pull(sometimes will do it on the second) on full choke and comes to life on the second(and sometimes the first) pull on half choke when cold after that it is one pull each time even after giving it time to cool down before refuelling. also I have an MS440 sitting beside me(belongs to a training centre I am studying with) which behaves the same I have never had to give more than the amount of pulls I have already mentioned to start both of these saws. But in saying this each different saw likes to behaves differently whether it is a stihl, husky or jonsered. the most problematic saw that I have ever come across to start is a poulan wildthing

 

[SawTroll]

Try to move the switch to fast idle after 3 pulls, even if it hasen't popped.
This works both on my Stihl and my Husky.

 

[NorthWoods]

BTW, for you Minnesota boys. I grew up 25 miles out of Detroit Lakes. Spent some time in Walker, Brainerd, and Bemidji. Know the area very well. Haven't lived there for nearly 20 years though, but covered the area as part of my sales territory for a few years. The Duluth to Moorhead run always brought back a lot of memories.

I actually grew up (some would rightfully dispute that) on a farm in NW Minn. near a town called Ada. Went to college in Moorhead. Had some fun in Detroit Lakes (about an hour's drive from the farm) during the summers.

 

[4pwr]

Does the fuel/oil ratio have anything to do with hard starting? Does a 50 to 1 ratio start better than say 36 to 1? Will a different spark plug other than specified help starting. How about a new coil? I really do not understand why with good plug,good spark,fresh fuel,a saw will take many pulls to start. Do any saws have a reputation for easy starting?

 

[CNYCountry]

They're regional phenomenons. Gander Mountain used to be a full on catalog like Cabela's up until a few years ago when Cabela's bought out the mail order portion of it, and they were limited to the retail stores. They're a small semblance of what they used to be.

We're seeing Gander Mountain stores popping up here all over the place in small town Syracuse/Utica area in NY.

 

[Butch(OH)]

All of my Stihl saws have the same manners, my brother in law has had a few Stihls and they too all started just like mine. Warm they start on pull one. Cold you set the choke, pull 4-6 times and they will pop and try to start but before you can get the choke off they die from over choking. You then unset the choke and pull them 2-4 times to unflood and start. From hanging around my dealer and watching them set up new saws and work on used ones this is pretty standard fare for all of Stihls saws. Once in a great while I can get the choke off before it dies and get one running in 2-4 pulls from cold but not very often. I never considered 6-10 pulls from cold to be hard starting but what do I know? My best starter is a throwaway model 1838 MAC that will start in the first pull cold about 50% of the time.

 

[stihltech]

hard start

I gues my next question is, what has been done to repair the starting problem?

 

[ShoerFast]

Cold Start,,,,,say a one week since last use,,,,

Stihltech
Is a cold 6 pull to start a problim? What would you do , if I may ask? if this is sub-standerd. Most post here are saying there are no other problims once the saw is warm.
Assumeing the inlet valve is ok, I like your post, and its my guess that you can measure this by tapping on a bar nut by now! (grin)

 

[smcowboy1974]

In cold weather here in Wisconsin, I shut my stihl's off on choke. HIT the throttle a little and move the on/choke switch to the choke position stalling out the saw. Next time it starts with 1-2 pulls LESS!

 

[ol'homey]

Does the fuel/oil ratio have anything to do with hard starting? Does a 50 to 1 ratio start better than say 36 to 1? Will a different spark plug other than specified help starting. How about a new coil? I really do not understand why with good plug,good spark,fresh fuel,a saw will take many pulls to start. Do any saws have a reputation for easy starting?

The pulls done to get it to pop on a cold start are operating the fuel pump in the carb to purge the air out of the line and get a solid column of fuel going to the carb. The purpose of the closed choke is to help pull fuel through the line. Once the carb has fuel you have to take the choke off or it will flood. When warm it will start on the first pull if the fuel hasn't had time to drain back into the tank and let air in the line. Carbs designed with a primer bulb allow you to purge the air from the line by pushing the bulb instead of pulling the rope. Saws with a primer bulb might be considered easier to start since pushing a bulb is easier than pulling a rope.

 

[GASoline71]

All my Stihl saws start differently. These are all cold starts. The 028= 2-3 pulls, the 032= 3-6 pulls, the 041= if I pick it up and talk nice to it, maybe even blow it a kiss, 1-2 pulls, if it is pissed off at me for no apparent reason, 6-12 pulls. It still suprises me that the ol' dinosaur 041 sometimes starts easier than my others. The Mac starts in 3-4 pulls, but who cares.

Wow the world gets smaller every time I turn around. My family is originally from Bemidji, MN.

Hey Jeff, been awhile since I've been here.

Gary

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

The Mac starts in 3-4 pulls, but who cares.


Hey Jeff, been awhile since I've been here.

LOL! Inded Gary, my friend. It is good to see you back on here. Did you see that Dean posted the date and location for the GTG? Will I see you there?

Jeff

 

[GASoline71]

Did you see that Dean posted the date and location for the GTG? Will I see you there?

Jeff

Hey bro, Yup... I saw that post, and I will be there. I'm really lookin' forward to it.

Gary