MS310 failure

[turnkey4099]

Okay, okay, it is problem with my eyes more than the the 310.

Going great guns blocking a good sized log. Set saw down to load split and load some. Pick up saw to block some more. Over do it on the single lever thingy and wind up in CHOKE. No, no, I don't want that. Hold trigger down, can't get back off choke. Try two handed - same.

Take cover off and try inspection. Now I jiggle it and it is off choke, have to fiddle with it to get the axle shaft back where it belongs, cover back on. Back to cutting.

Ready for more split/load but now the $*@ won't go into OFF...and same for CHOKE. Reaching for the scrench to pull the filter and choke it to death when it dies by itself. Had enough sweat and frustration for the day anyhow so quit with only 3/4 of a load. Off to the dealer (25 mile drive) tomorrow. Hoping nothing broke and it just needs re-install somehow that my eyes ain't seeing.

Probably caused somehow by an incident about 30 minutes earlier when the cover fell off while in a cut. Apparently a twig must have hit the latch just right as the knob was in the open position when I picked it up. Maybe I screwed the linkage when I replaced the cover.

Harry K

 

[Lawn Masters]

Probably something is either broken, or bent.I dont know quite what, but I'm assuming thats whats wrong with it.

 

[sedanman]

Despite how some feel, I am a fan of the master control lever. The key to its use is not to force it, if the lever won't move, operate the throttle. Ham fisted operation will usually pull the lever out of its seat, a simple fix.

 

[DanManofStihl]

Yeah the master control lever is pretty simple I would say that you might have broke the little spring on their or the piece came out of the holder. I doubt it would be any more the a $5 or 10 dollar fix at the dealer.

 

[sedanman]

Any dealer that charges 5 or 10 dollars for a repair deserves to go out of business. The absolute minimum is a half an hour. That said, it's still not a bank breaker.

 

[Lawn Masters]

Well, if its broke, just pick up a new part, and do it yourself if you're a cheap guy like me, if not, well, let the stealership do it for you.

 

[DanManofStihl]

Yep oldsaw that is my point exactly I would rather do it my self and ask questions hear and maybe buy the part from my dealer then go in their and have their techs work on it. The He!! if I would spend $30.00 bucks to find out that a little piece poped out of place I would be livid.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I agree entirely with sedanman. I like the lever, and the only way to deal with it is with finesse. You may have to jockey the throttle around, but it'll go. I'd guess it's out of it's channel somehow, and that'd it'd be an easy fix. I'd give it another look over before you take it all the way to the dealer. Or if you can get a pic and post it here for us to look at.

Jeff

 

[buckwheat]

I've have this occassional issue with my 026, although its rare. The lever appears to ride up and down on a small metal slide under tension. That piece will get encrusted with dust and lose its shape periodically, causing the lever to bind. Its a pretty quick fix to just remove the cover, wipe things out, and then manually finesse the lever into position. I suspect it happens from a combination of dirt, flipping the lever with too much force, and maybe my hand banging up against it during cuts.

I like the Stihl master lever, but I like Dolmar's better. It's easier to access and less susceptible to damage.

 

[turnkey4099]

I agree entirely with sedanman. I like the lever, and the only way to deal with it is with finesse. You may have to jockey the throttle around, but it'll go. I'd guess it's out of it's channel somehow, and that'd it'd be an easy fix. I'd give it another look over before you take it all the way to the dealer. Or if you can get a pic and post it here for us to look at.

Jeff

My 310 has always, from day one, been hard to take off of choke, takes two hands usually as I can't get my thumb enough on the lever. Getting it into OFF one handed is also an iffy proposition. I think it was an uneccesary complication of carb linkages.

Oh yeah it was out of its channel! I found out that there is a fail safe there. You can't (or I couldn't) put the cover back on unless it is replaced. That I did but still had the problem as described.

I have given up doing my own maintenance. Eyes just don't get it any more.
Still do filing but more by touch.

Harry K

 

[Chris J.]

Turnkey--You may've tried this, but I'll mention it anyway, especially since I'm considering buying one. You can get a large magnifying glass that is attached to an adjustable floor stand, & I've seen one that also has a light. I'd guess that they're also available as table top models. Of course it wouldn't do you much good out in the field, but might be useful in your shop. My mother-in-law bought a fancy one, but she paid a premium price. I'm going to do some checking around for a simpler one designed more for the workshop than the sewing room.

Just a thought.

 

[sedanman]

OSA, The use of the term "stealership" is offensive and highlights your ignorance. If you had a clue as to what it costs to be in business, you would not make comments like that. The dealership where I am employed pays more than 10,000 a month for health insurance and nearly that for liability, 600 a month to be in the phone book, 4 phone lines and an electrical line the size of your arm. At that 67.50 an hour is cheep.

 

[klickitatsacket]

OSA, The use of the term "stealership" is offensive and highlights your ignorance. If you had a clue as to what it costs to be in business, you would not make comments like that.

One other thing to ad to this; for every billable hour you can charge for you have 1.5 hours of other work to preform: stocking parts, paper work, clean up, research, tool repair or replacement, phone calls, building maintenance. There are only 2 full timers and 2 part timers in my little shop. If I can get 8 billable hours billed in a day, it's been a good day.

 

[turnkey4099]

I'm back from the dealer. Very simple problem that I should have been able to fix in the field. As soon as it was on the bench I saw it.

To the left of center there is a spring that fits over the top of the master link, very obvious were it goes. When the master link pops out of the slot on the left (pop in fit), the spring winds up under the link. Only takes a screwdriver to lift it over the link before re-houseing the link in the slip in hole on right and snap-in on left. Did find out that with the cover off, it is very easy (at least on mine) to snap the link out just by squeezing the trigger.

Ah well, a nice 50 mile (round trip) drive when I wasn't planning on doing anything any how.

Total bill for showing me how to fix, minor carb adjust, showed me the air cleaner snaps apart so I can blow it out from the inside, 6 pack 2 cycle mix, 1 gal bar/chain oil - $19.64. Can't complain. Can't see how they make any money at that rate seeing they fooled with it and me for 1/2 hour.

Harry K

 

[Chris J.]

Paul, is the $67.50 per hour the Chrysler rate or the power tool shop rate? I realize that brick & mortar stores have a real overhead that that has to be paid for, but $67.50 per hour? So going strictly by the book, the shop where you work would've charged Harry K. $33.75 for the work, plus the regular prices for the other items that he purchased. It is, of course, possible that the shop he goes to is in a much different situation from the shop where you work.

I'm not trying to flame you, the shop, or anyone else, but if you combine the labor rate with the cost of OEM parts (yes, Stihl comes to mind), a trip to the dealership will hit a lot of people pretty hard. Of course charging too little will hit some shops pretty hard. Maybe some shops HAVE to charge by the book to stay in business while other shops have some more wiggle room financially.

Just trying to present a customer's perspective.

 

[Marco]

For that 67.50 do you charge out real time or the flat rate guide you get for warranty work? I am suprised some dealers don't have a counter fee when someone comes in for ONE bottle of 2-cycle oil. Paperwork to sell that oil should be close to the paperwork to put his watchamacallit back in place. It really shouldn't have to get to the shop. If a parts counterman or salesman don't know their product at least good enough to do something that simple and get it out the door with no fuss what are they doing there?

 

[sedanman]

Chris, $67.50 is for either side, the electric company doesn't charge us any less for running the lights and compressor to work on saws. The techs have to be paid and the liability insurance is HIGHER for the power equipment side. Some local car dealers here get $80 an hour. The cost of the counterman is figures as a fixed expense like a utility bill so the single oil bottle sale is ano biggie. Before anyone gets huffy about prices, do some research into the costs involved in doing business. A guy comes into the shop and says " I do a lot of business here, it wouldn't kill you to sell me a saw at cost once in a while". We answer, "no problem, if you do a takedown for us at cost, you know a chain or two, a gallon or so of pre-mix and a gallon of bar oil" Guy answers "Come on now, I have to make some money to pay my bills and earn a living" We answer "EXACTLY".

 

[stihltech]

you got it

Amen, Sedanman, Amen.

 

[Chris J.]

Paul, Dean, Stihltech, & others: I understand what you are saying, & I can understand the need to cover the overhead while making a profit.

Consider this, from a customer's perspective. If Authorized Repair Shop A goes by the book for whatever reason (has to in order to stay in business, or wants to rake in maximum stealership profit) while Authorized Repair Shop B is willing to cut the customer some slack (less overhead, or is willing to reduce his profit margin), who do you think will get the repeat business? If your shop has a stellar reputation, & your customers are willing to pay full price for your service & products, that's fine. Just understand that there are customers who aren't in that position.

Different dealers have different situations that affect their bottom lines, right? Well, so do logging companies, tree service companies, landscaping services, etc., right down to Joe Homeowners.

 

[Mike mandry]

I have to jump in here.

I repair/rebuild industrial control valves for a living.

We started our valve dept 7 years ago from nothing & were just a "little" part of the company

This year, we will break 1 million in sales.

We have plentey of customers complain about paying $4k to get a 6" valve rebuilt.

Consider that a new one is around 7-10K

Our building lease is 17k a month & I wont get into the rest of the overhead.

I dont make a ton of money, but I cant complain either. Hell it cost the company over 600 a month for my familys health insurance.

We are doing pretty good right now, but it aint been easy.

Some people have no clue what it takes to make money & provide a decent living for your employees.

Hell, I just spent $30 to fill up my Toyota with a 13 gallon tank & then people ????? about $50 an hour shop rates.

I have a wife & four kids to suport..........

I guess I'll get off my soap box now.