MS 290 Question, trouble starting.

[arminkropp]

So today I wanted to make a day of cutting firewood for myself. All was going great till after about 2 hours of cutting.
I stopped to have some lunch, go to start the saw, it runs for a sec and dies. turn off the choke, runs for a sec and dies again. I did this back and forth about 20 time before it finally started. The saw ran great after that. Luck would have it that I didn't need to stop it again till I was done. Any ideas as to why it did that? The saw isn't even 3 months old yet, and this was is first major run. It was also about 80 degrees outside today.

TIA

 

[Wood Hick]

Maybe a silly question, but did you change your shutter to warm weather operation? If not you may have overheated your new friend. Same principal as old farm tractors, they have an optimum operating temperature, controlled manually by the shutter. Too cold, they build up carbon and foul plugs, too hot they overheat!

 

[Ray Bennett]

I think you had it flooded, I have an old 029 that if you use the choke on it when it is warm it floods right out. When you finally get it started again it really blows out the blue smoke. It also could have been water or dirt in your gas, Have you been keeping your gas out of the elements and fresh?

 

[arminkropp]

yup, the shutter was set to summer. As for the gas, I mixed it a couple weeks ago and have kept it in my garden shed since.

When you finally get it started again it really blows out the blue smoke

I did notice that It did smoke a bit after it finally ran...although not lots of blue smoke. Maybe I did flood it........damn rookie! last chainsaw I used was an old pioneer about 15 years ago. If it didnt run my dad just got it going.

 

[Ray Bennett]

Maybe a silly question, but did you change your shutter to warm weather operation? If not you may have overheated your new friend. Same principal as old farm tractors, they have an optimum operating temperature, controlled manually by the shutter. Too cold, they build up carbon and foul plugs, too hot they overheat!

good call. +1

 

[THALL10326]

yup, the shutter was set to summer. As for the gas, I mixed it a couple weeks ago and have kept it in my garden shed since. I did notice that It did smoke a bit after it finally ran...although not lots of blue smoke. Maybe I did flood it........damn rookie! last chainsaw I used was an old pioneer about 15 years ago. If it didnt run my dad just got it going.

Smoked some when ya got it going, thats excess fuel being cleaned out. You have run into what I call the question mode, its not hot, its not cold. People tend to flood saws very easy when its at that point where the switch on start doesn't work and choke floods it. Solution, try one click up from full choke when its in the not cold but not hot either mode. Usually works like a charm....

 

[joatmon]

Smoked some when ya got it going, thats excess fuel being cleaned out. You have run into what I call the question mode, its not hot, its not cold. People tend to flood saws very easy when its at that point where the switch on start doesn't work and choke floods it. Solution, try one click up from full choke when its in the not cold but not hot either mode. Usually works like a charm....

Good call. From the East Coast rep for Stihl NUTS. (National Users Technical Service)

 

[Fish]

These guys are hardened Stihl nuts, do not listen to them. From the original post, it is hard to say, as far as the alternating choke and not and all.

 

[THALL10326]

These guys are hardened Stihl nuts, do not listen to them. From the original post, it is hard to say, as far as the alternating choke and not and all.

I wouldn't say we're hardened but I have started 100's of flooded saws brought in by customers who claimed they sit it down for abit and then it wouldn't start. They choked it and it flooded. I give them the same advice I gave in this thread and the feedback I get is it works. I got 26 Stihls of my own and yes I know it works as well, wink!!!

 

[Bowtie]

One other thing to keep an eye on is if your air filter is clogged, especially on a 290.

 

[Fish]

Thall, have you seen any trouble with Bosch plugs lately?
We have had several new units that we had to replace the plugs in, kind of
embarrassing to do this in front of a customer.............

 

[Lakeside53]

We've only used Bosch plugs for the past two years, and never have a probleme.. a few hundred or so a month.

What is failing on them?

 

[arminkropp]

Well Thanks for all the info/tips. I'll make sure to take a look at my air filter, although I would hope that after cutting for 2 hours it wouldn't be clogged.:monkey:

 

[Fish]

Bosch plugs in new stihl saws/trimmers, no sparky. Put new plug in, it runs...............................

I had similar problems in 2001, switched to Champion, cured problem.

 

[stihltech]

plugs

Figures, went away from Champions years ago for same reasons.

Think I'd rather use NGK or Autolite ( which is probably Motocraft now).

 

[NYH1]

I've been having a little trouble with my 021 lately. It's been hard to start hot, warm or cold. It's also been stalling every now and then. I replaced the spark plug late last season so it's pretty much brand new. I also replaced the air filter at the same time. I might take it to the saw shop and have them replace the fuel filter and check it on a tach. Or I'll buy a fuel filter and tach and do it myself. This saw has been pretty good to me and I use it quite often, especially around the house!