Chainsaw stalls

550Doug · Oct 9, 2010

I've got a cheapie Poulan that has worked satisfactorily for a couple of years, only doing light work a couple times a year. Today I start it up after 6 months (old fuel??) and it idles fine but as soon as its under load, it stalls. I changed the fuel filter, but same thing. Finally I get it to run fine for a few minutes then it starts stalling again under load. So is there much that can be done to the carb on these units? I've blown air in and around it but no improvement. Can these carbs be soaked?
I know new fuel will help but how can I get out the guck that may be already there?
Thanks

Don Hopf · Oct 9, 2010

I had the same problem today with a Sears Craftsman. It wouldn't run unless the choke was pull and would stall on load.

I just drop the old gas out of the tank and then put fresh gas in. It would run at idle when I first started it and then after about 2-3 mins it was running okay.

Galen Mitchell · Oct 9, 2010

Sounds like the old gas to me. I buy the Stihl oil mix with the fuel stabilzer already in it (when I can find it)and get along pretty good. Its my opinion that for any type of small engine the fuel stabilizer is the key if you aren't using it on a regular basis. I use the Seafoam brand the most and it works good for me

rvirgil_KS · Oct 9, 2010

I had a small Poulan that got to where it would not rev up like it should. I removed the muffler and it was carboned up. Cleaned it and performance was much improved.

Russ from MN · Oct 9, 2010

My son has one that acted like that and I opened up the high speed adjustment. I learned on here that you can use a piece of 1/4 brake line that has been squeezed flat just a little for a tool.

BCnT · Oct 9, 2010

pull the muffler and spark arrestor and knock the carbon and dirt dauber nests out of both.

Gerry....WI · Oct 9, 2010

Adding a couple of ounces of Seafoam to your gas will do wonders to smoothing our the chainsaws performance.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 10, 2010

In addition to what others have said, the new gas with ethanol is hard on gas lines, will make them brittle, and eventually crack. Check all gas lines for cracks/brittleness.

RodinNS · Oct 10, 2010

Sounds like the main jet is gummed up. Probably going to have to take the carb apart and clean it...
After that use a good quality mixing oil with a stabilizer. I know I haven't had a single carb problem since I switched to Stihl oil mixed at 50:1... Just make sure that the saw wants 50:1... or else mix at the recomended ratio.
We used cheap mixing oil for years and years, mixed at 25:1 and had no end of carb problems although the saws ran fine until they gummed up.

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Chainsaw stalls

550Doug

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Don Hopf

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Galen Mitchell

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rvirgil_KS

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Russ from MN

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BCnT

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Gerry....WI

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Anonymous-0

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RodinNS

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