Chainsaw Help

Everyone was so helpful when my rototiller wouldn't start. Now my chainsaw won't. Stihl 290 started good until two days ago. I set the choke and pull 2-3 times and it won't start. Sometimes I smell gas, but can't find a leak. I might pull the plug. Sometimes it sounds like it's not firing. It has always started good. Any advice or thoughts?

Larry

OK, We need more information.
How long has it been sitting before being started?
How old was the gas?
Have you checked/cleaned the air filter?
Have you looked at the fuel filter in the fuel tank?
Is the spark plug wet?

Let me know and we'll go from there.
Most problems are from old fuel and/or storing engines with fuel in the tank. The best procedure is always to drain the fuel and start the engine and let it run until it dies from fuel starvation.

I have one that the fuel pump? is leaking or cracked(they say) after sitting awhile you have to pull it 10 times at least then it is fine till the job is done. Fix it one of these days.

Larry,

Try giving it half choke, my MS 310 has this setting. The starting sequence for mine is:

1. squeeze throttle trigger and lock
2. full choke
3. pull till it fires
4. move choke up one click (half choke)
5. pull again till runs, may need to pull several times at half choke if it is flooded.

This has happened to me too when I first got the 310 as had never used the half choke setting with the old 031AV.

My 290 would not start and repair man said fuel line in tank had a crack in it,

Two or three pulls would be nothing for my Stihl saw. 20 or 30 would be more like it and then it will start and run for a few seconds and die. After starting a half dozen times like that I have to let the saw sit running for several minutes before trying to cut anything. I miss the McCulloch saw I had. It would start on the first pull.

I second the suggestion to check the fuel line. I"ve had to replace mine a few times, cracks right where it enters the tank.

What Dan said, is the usual cold start procedure.

I'm thinking you have a bad fuel line, my 390 would run, cut out and do odd things, but it ran enough to use, it. I took a deeper look, fuel line for sure, so I took it all apart, and that was not really a big deal, I am trying to remember the tools, I think it was a torx, or a metric socket. The fuel line was fractured in many places, so it was replaced and it does run well now. One thing I do not like on it is the sparkplug wire, the hardware use in it to clip to the plug and contact the wire, is odd in my opinion, its a sharp, spring steel stiff wire, but its pinned through the wire to make contact, I think its the cause of problems at times too, this saw while a fine saw to have, has had issues at times, fuel or I believe spark and could be a hard starter when warm, I have flooded it by over pulling before when cooled, but still warm. The 290 is not much different, mine is an '02 model year saw.

I have a Stihl saw and was taught this same proceedure as for your saw. It starts fine if I follow the proper sequence. It was hard to teach the help to carefully follow this method.

My 290 never pops till the seventh pull, usually rips the handle through your fingers, then after a you SOB, on the eighth hard pull with a super grip on the handle she's runnin. I like the saw. but it's a hard startin and kickin SOB!! I miss my old Mac, would cut circles around the 290. I wanted a bigger one with a comp. release but the dealer said this is the one to have.

Larry;

1. Gas and oil mix is brand new.

2. Last ran just a few days ago, right after I filled with the new mix.

Larry

One of the biggest issue I have with any of my 2-cycle stuff is stale fuel. If they have beens setting very long at all the fuel will be bad. If I have a 2-cycle motor not wanting to start the first thing I do is dump the gas and replace it with some freshly mixed fuel.

List of what I would do if it was my saw:
1) Check and make sure you have spark. I have had a small speck of carbon stick to the plug and make it not fire.
2) If I have fire I then replace the fuel with known fresh fuel. I bought a 1/2 gallon can just for 2-cycle gas as I was always dumping out much more when it got stale. I have seen it go bad in WEEKS not months.
3) With good spark and good fuel in the tank, I would then crank it with full choke on 3-4 times. The remove the spark plug. If it is not wet with fuel than you have another problem.
4) I would dump the gas back out and hook the filter/fuel line in the tank with a wire. Pull it out and see if the filter is plugged up. You can also look at the fuel line and see what condition it is in. If the saw is very old at all I would bet that the line will have cracks in it. The new gas eats them you in a few years anymore it seems. Replacing the fuel lines is not real hard to do. Just make sure you get the correct size as you have to pull it through the fuel tank grommet.


Something I have started doing is mixing a fuel conditioner/stabilizer in every can of 2-cycle gas I mix. It helps it to last better but it still will not last very long. I just got some fuel treatment from Stens that is supposed to also neutralize any ethanol issues in the fuel. Just got it Friday so I can tell you if it works yet. It is just about impossible to get gas without some ethanol in now.

The first thing I'd do after pulling the rope with no luck is take out the spark plug to see if it's wet or dry. If it's dry it ain't getting gas. If it's wet ignition is the culprit (assuming it has compression).

same with my 029 only it never kicks back. My 021 never starts til after the 12th pull. Both start easy & run fine after that.

those gas caps are air tight.


If you have a little bit of gas in them, or less than half a tank, and you leave it out in the sun, pressure builds up in the tank. Then the gas rushes into the carb when you pull the cord. It immediately floods the engine.

The best thing to do is not to leaveit in the sun, not in a hot black bedliner with less than a completely full tank.


I have a BRAND NEW MS391. It has less than 15 cuts on the chain. the other day, I drove it over to another farm, pulled it out and it flooded immediately. gas was hot, pressure built up. When they flood, they are almost impossible to start.



I have about 6 Stihl machines. chainsaws, pole saws, weedwhackers, etc...


That pressurized tank is a bear unless it is full and cold.


Don't think there is anything wrong with yours. It is just hot sun and vapors that cause pressure int eh tank.



Hope you get it started. Might have to change the plug. Once they get wet, they get real stubborn about firing up again.


That's why Stihl gives you a spark plug wrench toolld when you buy them! gotta keep some 800 grit sandpaper and a cigarette lighter on you... That will dry it out good.

Forgot to say...


Best thing you can do, if it has been sitting outside, before you pull the cord, open the gas cap. If you hear a hiss, you did good. If you pull it before opening the cap, it is too late. just get into the habit.


I do, and I don't have that problem anymore. I is smarterer nawh!

Hard starting saws are common. Start with the simple stuff- if it's got a primer bulb they can crack and you have problems, same for fuel lines. Check the filter. Beyond as cracked or deteriorating fuel line you can check spark as has been suggested. Sometimes you get a bad switch or tiny bare spot in a wire. After that you're into carb adjustments and rebuilds, loose heads or bad gaskets, bad rings, seals...the list goes on. You kind of need to take it one step at a time to diagnose these things.