(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Chainsaw Question

D

DRussell

Well-known Member
I have a Stihl 029 chainsaw. It runs good, has lots of power, and idles well. It can sit for several months and I choke it and pull maybe 5-6 times till it fires once, then choke off and one pull and it starts. If it sits overnight, maybe only two pulls till the first fire with the choke on.

My problem is when it is warm. After it gets warmed up, if I shut it off and try to restart very soon, like 5 minutes or less it will start right up. If longer, I can't get it to start till it cools back off for probably an hour or more. When warm I start it with no choke, like I said if very soon after shut down it fires on one pull. I've tried holding the throttle to max, I've tried choking it, partially choking it, loosening the fuel cap, nothing seems to work. It just does not want to start unless the motor is very warm or cold. Any ideas?
 
I have an older JD saw. The carb needs some fine tuning but it is such a booger to get off due to hard rubber part on the intake side. Meanwhile I have found that if in that kind of mid warmed up range it needs some choke to start but will also flood easy. I leave the ignition off and choke it, but only pull the rope out half to 3/4 of the stroke. Then with the throttle locked to the start position, no choke and ignition on it starts right up.
 
There is probably an issue with the carburetor flooding it. When you shut it off try loosening the cap on the gas tank. The tank builds pressure and that pressure might be feeding gas to the carb.
 
Find a parts diagram and see if that saw has an in-tank vent. Good chance it is plugged, and doing weird things to the pressure inside your tank, as the saw warms and cools.
 
Sounds like fuel tank vent but you don't have to guess. Next time you use it when you shut it off lay it on its side and loossen the fuel cap. Then tighten it just before you try to start it. If it fixes the starting problem Z2 the tank vent is the culprit.
 
I'm going to say it's your ignition coil. I had a stihl top handle saw do the same thing and also a stihl hedge shear. The coil works fine cold and as long as the engine is running and moving air over it. Once you shut it off, it sits there and heat soaks to the point it quits working. Thats why it wil start after a few minutes, but not after sitting longer. Then you have to wait for it to cool off and start over.
 
I have trouble with mine. Basically does the same thing. Cold start and using choke for initial fire, and then it starts right up once choke is off. Same with immediate start back up without using the choke at all.

I've never really checked into it mechanically. But I know this saw has done this ever since it was a new saw. So, ... I just attributed it to the thing being finicky about the choke when it is half warm. I came to this conclusion partly because it makes no difference at all what the circumstances are, you can't get the thing to run at all when choke is set at half choke. The half choke setting, might as well be the off button. Because you won't get the thing to fire over no way no how with the choke set at half choke. No matter how cold, hot, or warm the saw is. Now you'd think that a half choke setting would work if the saw was at some sort of in-between temp. But it makes no difference. This half choke issue is what got me to thinking the choke itself is just a finicky choke.
 
There is no half choke position on a Stihl 029 or any other Stihl. All the way down is 'choke'. next notch up is 'wide open throttle; next up is 'Idle', then 'off'.
 
I changed/cleaned the fuel tank vent. Didn't change how it started. Also loosening the fuel cap makes no difference on how it starts.
 
Is this a design flaw with the saw, i.e., a new coil won't fix it, or indicative of needing a new coil?
 
I changed coils on both of mine and they worked fine afterwards.

Try checking for spark on your saw next time its hot and wont start..
 
Well, it's not a 029, but it is a Stihl. The settings are indicated by symbols. The middle setting appears to be a half cocked butterfly. The choke setting is the same symbol, only butterfly is closed. Regardless of it being a choke setting, or wide open setting, it will not start and run in that setting. Never has. Even when new.
 
Not saying he's right or not; but Jeff from the Buckeye state does raise as a valid possibility. We just ran into the same issue on a Husqvarna. Finally left it idling on a log until it quit running on it's own accord, checked: no spark. New pick-up coil and it works fine now.
 
Similar with rant
have a 25 YO O36. Most always when cold fired after 3 or 4 easy slow pulls (on choke) then would "Catch". Next hard pull fired and was ready to run full throttle. And always restarted first hard pull after sitting a while.

Replaced with MS362. Disappointing. One, two, or three hard pulls on full choke to catch, next hard pull on full throttle no choke and runs, but have to gently squeeze throttle for 15-30 Secs to warm up.

After it sits for 20 Mins or longer, have to choke for it to fire. Won't start first pull after sitting for a short while after being used. Disappointing.

I wouldn't mind ranting about stupid flip caps but won't.
 
I tend to agree with you. His reasoning related to too much heat coil
makes sense. I'm going to look into a new coil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RedMF40
Chainsaw is high-speed "dieseling"
Replies
5
Views
593
RedMF40
RedMF40
stevieb49829
MS carb choke plate question
Replies
11
Views
511
stevieb49829
stevieb49829
S
1715 Ford
Replies
11
Views
379
bc
B
E
1971 Ford 4000 3cyl gas has starting and stopping issue(fickle)
Replies
6
Views
195
sotxbill
S
super99
Disappointing afternoon
Replies
10
Views
2K
Tgrasher
Tgrasher
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top