Stihl 046 Magnum hard starting

[SawMekanic]

Every few pulls this thing will snatch the rope out of my hand , just like a lawnmower would do when the keyway is sheared.

Sometimes it will start right up and run great. The next time I go to crank , it might snatch the cord , sometimes even breaking the pawl.

I've pulled flywheel , key is fine

Exhaust clean

Good compression

Called Stihl support , they said "oh yea we seen this , its carbon on piston , seafoam will cure it " I saturated it many times with seafoam by spraying into carb while running , smoke pouring out , and also sprayed into gas mixture in tank . Also let seafoam set on piston overnight.

Actually I have 2 saws doing this .... also a MS 390 , and its broken the starter pawl many times. One day I borrowed a coil from a 029 and it did the same thing. I cannot figure it out .

 

[Jacob J.]

Stihl technical support recommending Seafoam? I'm not sure I'm buying that one...

 

[Jacob J.]

Plus I've never heard of carbon build-up causing a timing issue. This smacks of Twilight Zone to me.

 

[Adirondackstihl]

Probably hydro-locking from that Sea Foam in the base.
Don't use SeaFoam on a saw dude.
Like JJ says, I'm not buyin the fact that STIHL Tech Support told you to do that

 

[SawMekanic]

Why wouldnt you suggest using seafoam ? Im all ears ....

well , I didnt make it up , the guy at stihl said seafoam will break up carbon. He said crank it up , spray it in carb until it quits , let it soak , crank it up and carbon will blow out the muffler. Well I did that like 10 times. No change to existing problem.

Im 44 years old and been turning wrenches since 14 yrs of age. I thought Id seen it all until these 2 kicked my butt

One is mine and i just gave up on it , but the other , 046 the guy needs

 

[Adirondackstihl]

SeaFoam will wash the oil film of the cylinder walls......
Not a good thing to do in a $900 saw

 

[Jacob J.]

Why wouldnt you suggest using seafoam ? Im all ears ....

well , I didnt make it up , the guy at stihl said seafoam will break up carbon. He said crank it up , spray it in carb until it quits , let it soak , crank it up and carbon will blow out the muffler. Well I did that like 10 times. No change to existing problem.

Im 44 years old and been turning wrenches since 14 yrs of age. I thought Id seen it all until these 2 kicked my butt

One is mine and i just gave up on it , but the other , 046 the guy needs

I worked in Stihl and Husqvarna dealerships for nine years...I've talked to my regional Stihl technical rep many a time on the phone and we've discussed Seafoam and J.D. (Fernstrom) was adamant that the company is against things like Seafoam and starting fluid for use on Stihl equipment...

It sounds like to me you're either having a stale fuel related issue or an ignition related issue. Again I've not seen carbon build-up cause a timing problem, unless the carbon was so thick that the saw simply can't fire at all.

 

[janesy]

Interesting that they would suggest Seafoam, when they have their own de-carbonizer product...

Was this a tech support line, or your local dealer?

 

[Jacob J.]

Interesting that they would suggest Seafoam, when they have their own de-carbonizer product...

Was this a tech support line, or your local dealer?

My point, exactly.

 

[SawMekanic]

So I called stihl again a few minutes ago. 1800 GO STIHL ,This last fella did tell me about the decarbon product they sell... tho he said he's never heard of one yanking the cord UNLESS it was a sheared key

 

[SawMekanic]

SeaFoam will wash the oil film of the cylinder walls......
Not a good thing to do in a $900 saw

its oil , its not going to wash anything

 

[Adirondackstihl]

its oil , its not going to wash anything

Okay

 

[Philip Wheelock]

Don't the 1128 series saws typically kick back sometimes on starting due to aggressive ignition timing? Mine sure do. Dealer says there's a way to avoid this by pulling through the compression stroke somehow. Anyone know how that works? The way I deal with it is press the decomp and pull like I'm mad at it.

 

[SawMekanic]

Don't the 1128 series saws typically kick back sometimes on starting due to aggressive ignition timing? Mine sure do. Dealer says there's a way to avoid this by pulling through the compression stroke somehow. Anyone know how that works? The way I deal with it is press the decomp and pull like I'm mad at it.

actually , every time the piston comes up IS a compression stroke on a 2 cycle ..... but .... what they meant to explain to you was , pull it slowly , and as you feel it get hard , keep pulling slowly until it begins to get easy , then STOP right there. It will now be at the end of the compression stroke. Now pull like mad one time. If it doesnt start , pull it slowly again .... etc

 

[Adirondackstihl]

.......also contains Naptha and Isopropanol. Which WILL wash the cylinder!!

 

[SawMekanic]

I worked in Stihl and Husqvarna dealerships for nine years...I've talked to my regional Stihl technical rep many a time on the phone and we've discussed Seafoam and J.D. (Fernstrom) was adamant that the company is against things like Seafoam and starting fluid for use on Stihl equipment...

It sounds like to me you're either having a stale fuel related issue or an ignition related issue. Again I've not seen carbon build-up cause a timing problem, unless the carbon was so thick that the saw simply can't fire at all.

Your rep is against seafoam because thats digging into his pocket .... of course hes going to suggest buying HIS product they sell ... no duh

Seafoam is a decarbonizer , says on the can , big letters , and its for 2 cycle and 4 , so someone is giving out false statements if they tell you its harmful.

I used it , works great , removed plug , shined a light into the cyl , and could read the writing on top of piston... so id say its pretty decarboned.

Does it still yank the cord , YES

im so stumped.

 

[Jacob J.]

Your rep is against seafoam because thats digging into his pocket .... of course hes going to suggest buying HIS product they sell ... no duh

Seafoam is a decarbonizer , says on the can , big letters , and its for 2 cycle and 4 , so someone is giving out false statements if they tell you its harmful.

I used it , works great , removed plug , shined a light into the cyl , and could read the writing on top of piston... so id say its pretty decarboned.

Does it still yank the cord , YES

im so stumped.

No, he's against the use of Seafoam, starting fluid, and other products that have the potential to damage the equipment- damage that the consumer will want Stihl to cover under warranty. Warranty issues relating to these products happen every week, costing dealers and the manufacturer big bucks.

 

[janesy]

Mine like to kick back a bit, but I wouldn't say it yanks the cord. Definitely likes to be started a bit differently. But once you figure it out it actually works great. And I have two. One stock one ported. The ported one has more compression and has a slightly stronger kick

 

[janesy]

Let's avoid the whole " does sea form work or not" debate. Love it or hate it who care...it won't help to OP at all.



Oh wait, it is the OP LOL...carry on.

 

[SawMekanic]

.......also contains Naptha and Isopropanol. Which WILL wash the cylinder!!

dude really ? They sell 4 different kinds , the two you listed are for TRANSMISSION and the other to add to GAS TANK ,
....try looking at the SEA FOAM SPRAY , its a decarbonizer and LUBE