Killing engine by choke

[DanMan1]

I have been procrastinating fixing the failed kill switch on my 357xp now since I posted the pics of the POS molding. I know.. I have to fix it, but I just bought an old tractor that I love, and that's taking all my attention.
In the mean time I have been shutting off my saw by choking it at idle. Do you guys know of any possible damage I could be doing to the engine by killing it by choking it? For sure it's not good for 4 strokes, but is it a problem with these 2 strokes?

 

[Lobo]

What is it with these controls that keep breaking on huskies !

I do not think it is a problem on 2 cycles, but heck what do I know !

 

[Crofter]

If you have to start it up again soon after, you are probably putting extra wear on the recoil mechanism. Could lead to fouling.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Frank,
How is shutting the engine down with the choke putting extra wear on the recoil system? I cant seem to figure this out.

 

[ehp]

Look on the top of your carb on your 357, there is a lip that your wire from your kill switch goes to it . the blue wire fits on to this lip that is made out of steel and when you turn your switch off that is what kills the motor . It will slide its self over so it doesnot ground itself out so just shove the wire back on if this is why it is not shutting off .

 

[sedanman]

Because the engine may be flooded and require a few extra pulls to get it going.

 

[Crofter]

If you need to start it again right away, you might pull on it for a while after you flood it down hot.

 

[DanMan1]

I'm concerned because when it's hot when I choke it, you can hear some burning, or air movement noise or something coming through the carb for a couple of seconds after it stops, and you don't get this when you shut it off by killing the spark. Makes me wonder.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Sedanman and Frank, Thanks for the explanation.

 

[clearance]

done it lots doesnt matter-fix it when convenient.

 

[Crofter]

The motor may stop with the piston in a different position when choked off than when killing ignition so you may hear base compression leaking past the piston. Also you would have that extra fuel and oil on the piston that may make that leakage noisier. If it were a straight gas four stroke it would not be a good idea because of washing down the cylinder, but I don't think it is very harmfull to your saw.

 

[stevephillips]

I've got a 2 cycle outboard motor that the only way to shut it off is choke it at idle. The owners manual tells you to shut it off that way.

 

[ScooterDrew1983]

I know on 4 storkes its hard on the rings. that would be my main worry about it.

 

[redprospector]

I got tired of replacing the kill switches on my 288, been killing it with the choke for years. Still runs strong, no problems.

 

[asharrow]

I keep having to fix the kill circuit on my Homelite 330. SO I kill it with the choke, but A soon as it is going to die, I flip the choke off again. I do that with the kill switch too when it's working. I like to think (hope) it clears some of the rich mixture so it will be easier to start.

Jim in Maine

 

[njforestfire]

The motor may stop with the piston in a different position when choked off than when killing ignition so you may hear base compression leaking past the piston. Also you would have that extra fuel and oil on the piston that may make that leakage noisier. If it were a straight gas four stroke it would not be a good idea because of washing down the cylinder, but I don't think it is very harmfull to your saw.

How can you determine that it would stop in a different position? I don't think one can tell it stops in the same position after using the kill switch or choking it to stop. Position shouldn't matter. I do agree that it does put extra fuel/oil mix on the plug and piston/combustion area...just might require some extra pulls to get it going. Could also foul the plug. JMHO.