MS361 Hard to Start

[jhines]

I have run some 20 tanks of gas (or so) through my MS361 and have lately had a lot of problems with cold starting. Here's the deal: I live in SC, so the temps are always outrageous and there is sand everywhere. When I first bought the saw it started first or second pull everytime. As more gas went through, the cold starts got harder, but after it fired the first time, it would restart on one pull the rest of the day. My first thought was the air cleaner. I took it out and inspected. I don't know exactly what it should look like and I don't know how I should clean it, but it didn't really look too dirty but I sort of banged it out against a brick. My next thought was carb adjustments (I figured, maybe it has to be adjusted after breakin). The problem here is, if the problem is with cold starts, how do you appropriately adjust the carb? My last consideration (and this came to me late in the game) was that my father had the saw for a while doing some thinning work. It is more than possible that he filled the gas can (and subsequently the saw) with low grade gas and the Poulan synthetic, one-mix-works-for-all 2-cycle oil crap he keeps around for his weedeater. Is it possible that regular gas vs. premium and mediocre oil could case this? What about an overly rich oil mixture? Carb adjustments? Thanks for the help - I sure hate pulling the cord and fidgeting with the choke 15 or 20 times to get started.

Jon

 

[glens]

I'll loan out a lot of things, but never tools.  Never.  If the person needs help so much that they can't buy or rent the tool, I'll go use mine for them.  Now you'll never really know if that was the start of your problems or not.

Take the saw to the dealer and have him look it over; at least this time.  Before you take it in, read through the manual and thoroughly clean the filter according to the instructions.

Glen

 

[rmihalek]

Pull the muffler off and take a look at the piston. It may be scored (in other words, you'll see longitudinal gouges on the piston). This may be enough to cause low compression when cold, but when the engine warms up a bit, that may make the tolerances just a bit tighter and improve the compression enough to let it start a bit easier.

 

[jokers]

Originally posted by Mike Maas
Sounds like she had a tank of straight gas run through her.
Time for eBay.

Jeez Mike. Seems like you are reading alot into jhines post. I hope that before he eBays it he has a knowledgable person tweak the carb and take a look under the hood.

Russ

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Yeah, I was just tugging his chain.
He should take it to the joint he bought it from and have them take a look. It's probably something simple.
It's a good idea to have a new saw looked at after it's been run for a while. They can check it over, clean it out, adjust the carb, and be able to tell you how you're doing on chain sharpening and tension.
If you are having a problem like this on a 2 stroke, get it fixed right away, because a lean condition (air leak or carb adjustment) can ruin the motor.