MS 211 Start-up

[bower4311]

I have run a lot of saws, big and small. I know what a stihl saw starts like. But this saw is just not acting like every other stihl saw. Is it possibly the new style engine? I have a 441 with no problems whatsoever. The 211 sometimes takes 30 seconds of idle to get it to not stall out when I give it gas. What gives? I'm ready to give up the saw. Its 6 months old with a year and a half left on the warranty. I had the carb replaced at my dealer but he doesn't know what it is either. He said he had the same thing happen to one of his when he was going to sell it. He seems to say just let it warm up, something I"m not against, I always let my saws warm up longer than 30 seconds. It just scares me seeing this saw not act like the others. Should I be worried? I'm ready to drop the saw. Anyone else hear about this? Its hit or miss, sometimes it starts up fine, most of the time though I can barely give it gas without it stalling out.

Any ideas?

 

[hangfirew8]

I have run a lot of saws, big and small. I know what a stihl saw starts like. But this saw is just not acting like every other stihl saw. Is it possibly the new style engine? I have a 441 with no problems whatsoever. The 211 sometimes takes 30 seconds of idle to get it to not stall out when I give it gas. What gives? I'm ready to give up the saw. Its 6 months old with a year and a half left on the warranty. I had the carb replaced at my dealer but he doesn't know what it is either. He said he had the same thing happen to one of his when he was going to sell it. He seems to say just let it warm up, something I"m not against, I always let my saws warm up longer than 30 seconds. It just scares me seeing this saw not act like the others. Should I be worried? I'm ready to drop the saw. Anyone else hear about this? Its hit or miss, sometimes it starts up fine, most of the time though I can barely give it gas without it stalling out.

Any ideas?

It sounds like it is running lean, which might be EPA tuning or might be a vacuum leak.

Just for grins try running pure gas instead of E10.

HF

 

[bower4311]

I do run pure gas.

 

[hangfirew8]

Any new status on the 211?

 

[jimhoff]

Try a piece of duct tape over the air filter. If it runs better cold that's a clue.

 

[SawTroll]

It sounds like it is running lean, which might be EPA tuning or might be a vacuum leak.

Just for grins try running pure gas instead of E10.

HF

I don't think those saws need to be set lean to pass EPA, as they are "strato" saws.

 

[mikefunaro]

I have found that virtually all strato equipment I own has a longer warm up time. The MS 211 has a particularly long warm up time. If you want to make it go faster and start sooner (for better or worse), you can start feathering into higher rpm. Ive never actually timed it, so it might not actually be faster but I'm just occupied during the warm up period. Once its warmed up these problems seem to go away. I dont think it has anything to do with the tune (and chances are you dealer carefully tuned the saw if he replaced the carb).

It's a good idea to let your equipment warm up anyway (as you have noted), so I don't really see it as all that much of a deal breaker for the saw.

 

[7sleeper]

Kind of leads the epa requirements ad absurdum. If you have to let it warm up for a long time before cutting that is really going to save on fuel consumption and save the planet....:hmm3grin2orange:

7

 

[mikefunaro]

Kind of leads the epa requirements ad absurdum. If you have to let it warm up for a long time before cutting that is really going to save on fuel consumption and save the planet....:hmm3grin2orange:

7

Not to defend them outright, as this is not my intention, but the latest EPA regs, both for saws and diesel trucks, among other things, have focused on emissions more so than consumption. I'm under the impression that the requirements that led to the strato technology had more to do with cleaner combustion, lower NOx and SOx emissions, and CO emissions, etc.

I agree to an extent that these regulations which ultimately increase consumption are counter productive, however, I think overall it's a net + with saws at least.

To continue my rant, I have mixed feelings regarding a lot of these regulations. I went to replace a seized smog pump in my truck and at every step of the process I heard bull#### about how much everyone hates emissions regulations. The guy at the desk, his friend, my neighbor, my other neighbor, etc. And yeah, to an extent they are annoying. But get a bunch of vehicles from the 70s together and drive them around the road and I get a headache. Cant imagine being in an urban environment with streets full of them.

It's hard to argue that the EPA regulations aren't actually driving innovations with saws. Take a look at Stihl, they have procrastinated doing any product upgrades until they were forced to by the EPA mandates. In countries where there are no epa mandates, they dont even get the newer saws. While some initial reactions from the manufacturers have been flops, and have resulted in heavy and ungainly attempts to replace lean and mean predecessors, other attempts have been home runs in my book, and I'd much rather have a 562 xp rather than a 357 xp.

 

[7sleeper]

Mike I totally agree with you! My implication was ment to be humoristic, didn't formulate it to well obviously.

7

 

[saxman]

My 211 acts the same way. I can make it better by setting it more rich, but then it is so fat it won't rev up to cut. I just warm it up and feather it up to full speed. I have opened the muffler up and it cuts with gusto after it warms up. At least all the gusto it has

Steve

 

[LegDeLimber]

Just from looking at the design videos of stratos,
That looks like a lot more "intake tract" to get warmed up and stop chilling the fuel vapor.
as Fuel droplet size goes up (from chilling) it gets harder to set on fire.
so I suspect stratos will show a longer warmup vs any motor with a short intake.
if I'm correct then , yes tuning richer to get a shorter warmup
will keep you stuck with rich running afterwards.

 

[Sagetown]

I read on here awhile back of some 211's that shouldn't have been shipped.
I'd ask for a replacement. My new 211 works great. No different starting it cold than my other STIHL.

 

[retired and m liking it.]

I purchased a 211 several years ago for yard use. When l brought the saw home, tried to start it, almost broke my wrist. I have only used the saw twice since it was new. I contacted my local Stihl dealer. He stated that starts hard because it does not have have a decompresion valve. He suggested purchasing a stihl item that bolts on to reduce the depression problem, along with a new flywheel. Cost of $250.00. Also suggested selling mine on craigs list. He would offer to selling me a new saw , $350.00. Funny this figures the cost of his mods. Any suggestions would be greated appreciated.

I read on here awhile back of some 211's that shouldn't have been shipped.
I'd ask for a replacement. My new 211 works great. No different starting it cold than my other STIHL.

Sounds like one of the saws l purchased two years ago. When l originally purchased the saw, l almost broke my wrist trying to start it. Finally got it running worked great. I just tried to use it same problem. Talked to local dealer, he said because it did not have a decompression valve. He wanted to sell me $250.00 in new parts, he said that should slove the problem. His suggestion, sell it on craigs list, and.purchase a new one from me. The service that these guys give is needing improvement. Any one out there with the 211, having these problems. Open to suggestions. Thanks. Signed Retired and liking it.