Back about a month ago I picked up an XL-102 for what I thought was a decent price - $57.I got the saw & went through it briefly & didn't really have much hope for it.When I pulled it over the rings were so dry on the cylinder that it squealed.I quickly shot penetrating fluid into the cylinder & pulled it over & then shopt more into it.It quieted down considerably & later on I gave it a shot of fuel & pulled it over & it fired! I was amazed it even had spark.The fuel tank was another story,the fuel line had turned to black goo & dissolved in the fuel & left a residue all over the inside of the tank.I have a friend who suggested using Goof Off graffiti remover.I ordered a gal.on Home Depot.com & put about a cup of it in the tank & swished it around.The tank was like new in a matter of minutes.Next I pulled the carb for a rebuild & installed new grommets & a fuel line.I put the rebuilt carb in along with some fuel & had the saw running albeit briefly.The condenser decided to crap out on me.Off to eBay to buy a new condenser (not generally what I do as the condensers are generally unreliable there).I got 2 condensers for $3.00 each.One week later I got the condensers & I installed one,but I also pulled the points out to have a look & a good thing I did.The points were so pitted from the condenser breaking down that I had to put in a good used set I just happened to have on hand. I had to put a new coil wire in too because the boot & spring just pulled off along with a section of the insulation.All I had to do now was re-gap the coil & the saw would be good to go,or so I thought.I pulled it over & got nothing.I checked for spark & had one faint spark.I was suspicious that the switch was bad,but I pulled the flywheel off again & found the condenser screws were loose.
I tightened them down & checked for spark & had intermittent spark.I toggled the switch a couple of times & had good spark.I put the plug back in & ity fired right up & ran nicely.I shut it off & restarted it without a problem.I went to get a bar & chain & put them on & went to restart it again & got nothing.I pulled the recoil off & disdconnected the switch wire & wrapped the end of it with electrical tape so it wouldn't ground out & the saw started right up! I've got a new switch on the way.There were a lot of electrical issues with this saw & it was tough to sort them all out,but it's a nice running saw.
I've gotten to the point on these old saws to leave no stone unturned and treat them all as rebuilds. Spend too much time chasing your tail.