Super EZ spasms

[asharrow]

I did a tune up on a Super EZ and got it running quite well. I used it for a couple of half days felling maples and cutting them into firewood. Then the saw began having coniptions at anything over 3/4 throttle, then 1/2 throttle, then it wouldn't keep running.

Acts like the ignition is cutting in and out, except that it happens at the instant I try to give more throttle--every time. It's not when the engine gets revved up, it's when the throttle is cracked a little more. Is it sucking air?

I pulled the carb and put a new gasket between it and the reed valve block because I knew the one in it had a break that someone had tried to seal with silicon (haven't had that apart and I'm assuming it's reed valve). Didn't help.

Kinda frustrating because I'd like to finish this firewood job real soon (it's my wood for next winter.)

Help please.

Jim in Maine

 

[woodshop]

Maybe a silly question, but are you keeping your air cleaner clean? Reason I ask, couple weeks ago was cutting oak with my ancient 034, it started acting exactly as you say, wanted to die as soon as I give it throttle, wouldn't rev up cleanly, sputtered, intermittent power. Pulled the air cleaner off and cleaned it, put back on and ran like a charm. Assumed it just wasn't getting enough air. But you said "cutting out"... as if electrical problem.

 

[JimL]

seems like I remember the, points were mounted on a plate and when it got hot the plate would warp and throw it out of time.
it was either the super ez's or the 150 autos. not sure.

 

[galde]

Jim: Check the muffler for possibility of a clogged spark-arrestor screen. I have had string trimmers act like your EZ when the muffler screen was clogged with carbon. Sometimes I have seem mud-daubers clog mufflers after the screen was removed.

Darrell Galde

 

[asharrow]

galde, I'll check the muffler. It's really wierd. If I didn't know better, I'd think the throttle link was shorting the ignition. But I don know better--it isn't and couldn't.

A I said, just the beginning of movement of the trigger and it tries to die--suddenly. Let off and it would go again.

Even without specific remedy info, I guess I've got to admit, it can only be fuel/air or spark. So far, I can't see how it could be spark, but ...

Thanks for the input all,

Jim in Maine

 

[asharrow]

Problem solved. I didn't think about one feature of the EZ when I first posted the problem: The EZ has a compression release.

When I started it, then touched the trigger to gun it, it would quit. What happens in that sequence? The compression suddenly increases. How can that make the saw cut out? The spark plug had developed a gap of about .100".

Compression increases when trigger is pulled, spark can't jump gap, ingition dead, in the practical sense.

I restored the proper gap and it runs like new again. Now I just have to figure out why the center electrode eroded so fast.

Any ideas on that?

Jim in Maine

 

[Pioneer]

Hard to believe the center electrode eroded that fast. What kind of plug was it? I switched over to NGK's in my saws and have been happy with them. Do you have electronic or points ignition? I have only heard of short plug life in very high energy ignitions or extreme usage such as racing.

 

[asharrow]

Saw has points. Will have to watch it to see if it erodes fast or if maybe somehow the ground electrode got bent. Can't imagine that though, because I don't think I had the plug out after I got the saw running.

It was a surprise to me to see that huge gap.

Jim in Maine

 

[Pioneer]

The only reason I can see a points style ignition doing that is a bad condenser, and it would wind up frying your points. Maybe you should check them too if you have a flywheel puller.

 

[asharrow]

Pioneer,
I was coming to that conclusion myself. I can get the flywheel off, so I'll check. It started showing symptoms again today after a couple tanks of gas.

Jim in Maine

 

[asharrow]

Been better to have eaten the egg that is on my face. The reason the sparkplug gap was so huge is that the insulator had loosened in the plug base and slid part way out the base. It was totally loose in there! Replaced the plug and all is well again.

Jim in Maine

 

[Stumper]

Quick! Send that plug to Mike Mass. He was offering $20 each for bad plugs but I think that he got his collection started and pulled the offer.

 

[ol'homey]

I've got a CJ-8 that blew completely out of my old Homelite. The insulator was dangling in the air off the plug wire.

 

[Pioneer]

We depend on spark plugs every day, and this little piece of modern technology is usually 100% reliable. I think this would make another good pole- the plug failures or poor performance you have had from different brands.

 

[asharrow]

Glad to know I'm not totally alone on this. Saw does still tend to bog down if pushed and come back sluggishly after getting out of the cut. Have to ease off on the trigger and bring it up slowly sometimes. Then as long as I don't bear down and keep the rpms up, it goes OK.
Jim in Maine