Any small engine guys? Chainsaw issue

Got it running for a second like that. I’d say it’s getting way too much fuel

 

Or is it bad fuel? Maybe I should ditch the premix and grab some fresh gas and mix myself?

 

Took the coil out and metered it. Got .2 ohms on the primary. And 2k on the secondary. I’m pretty sure that’s good, although I can’t find factory specs.

Gonna clean up a few spots on the laminated core. Just in case it’s increasing the eddy currents (it’s not going to help). My electrician instructor will be proud!


Thanks to everyone giving me advice so far. If you have anymore I’ll take it lol

 

Some experience in going deep down this rabbit hole. You might have noticed some of my tools and extra parts left over after final assembly that I left at the bottom of it while you were down there. This is why I only buy a Stihl now. Have owned Poulan saws and Echo yard implements. Same results as you. Look at the time you have invested in it. Is it worth it? You are working on a engine built by the lowest bidder. Time is my most precious commodity. It is hard to admit defeat. Harder yet to see that Echo weedeater sticking out of your garbage can, mocking your existence until the garbage truck comes. But you get over it and move on. Here, have a beer...

 

Not sure if this is the original cause but the mesh cover that protects the coil wire was chaffed. I slide it back and there is a Knick in the coil wire. Pretty sure I did that trying to tuck it back taking it apart last week. I didn’t see any wire and it still looked good but when I put my fluke on it I was able to get some impedance so it’s telling me there is a slight hole and that could definitely mess with the spark. So I’m gonna order a new coil. If that doesn’t work I think I’m going to admit defeat. This damn saw has taken some of my blood and a lot of sweat. I’m not giving it any tears!

 

Damn, and here I thought Echo stuff was pretty decent. I thought they made their stuff. Well if I ever get a another saw, Stihl it is for sure.

 

Nothing wrong with a Sweden built Husky. Expect to pay the same as a Sthil and will have to buy from a saw shop.

Have them look at your's while buying a new one.

Ever notice how after a cheap saw goes to the shop it's first time, how it's not long 'til it's messed up again?
Because they wear out.

 

I have a 20 year old Echo weedeater that’s still running strong, done nothing but put gas & trimmer line in it since new.

Huskys are great but can be finicky, I’d probably go Stihl if I had to replace my 359. Pro line of course.

 

There are not many flies on Echo products. Like anything, they just require your attention to preventative maintenance for them to be problem free. Meaning constant attention to be problem free, whereas a Stihl just requires attention. The problem is usually not in any brands 2-stroke engine, unless you run it too lean. It's usually in the fuel system, including the reeds. Nobody has mentioned the reeds. If it has been running too rich you may have gummed up the reeds. The reeds and the reed block may need cleaning. Or one of the reeds may have split and need replacing.

The problem in getting one worked on with a Sears is you have to ship it off. You pay freight and repair. It's cheaper to just buy a new one. And that is what Sears is hoping you will do, buy THEIR new one. My church had a Sears yard care implement addiction I had to break. This ain't your granddad's Craftsman anymore. Same with anything you buy at Lowe's or Home Depot. They don't work on them. So buy a new one. It is expensive as hell to get a Stihl worked on too. However, you usually don't have to work on a Stihl. I own five Stihls: two saws, backpack blower, weedeater, pole saw/edger combitool. Finally had to have the carb rebuilt on the 1978 034WB Wood Boss. It's on its third bar, umpteenth chain. They last way longer than 80 hours. Live too far out in the woods to have something not start. It's gotta' work out here.

And the Stihl shop owner told me when I picked up the Wood Boss, "Don't ever sell this WB. Sell the MS460. Stihl doesn't build them like this anymore. And if you do want to sell it, bring it to me. I'll buy it." So if Stihl is building them cheaper and is still so far ahead of the competition, that speaks for just how cheap the others must be built.

 

I got tired of crappy chainsaws and bought a Stihl years ago and only use ethanol free gas in all outdoor equipment. Never a problem with either of my Stihl

 

Since it ran like shit from the factory it’s probably another example of Chinese manufacturing yield philosophies: pass on crap to consumers you’ll never meet built by people who can’t afford to own/use the product so don’t understand poor quality impact.

Write the US office of the manufacturer a polite but clear note you expect a new one. Don’t give up, and don’t flame them on social media right away. If they make good, thank them and post a positive experience (without too many details of the problem). If after three attempts they fail you, hammer them and try another brand.

I have owned many many chainsaws.
Always use stable and fresh gas and always dump out the gas and run it until it stalls. Full Tune up every 50 hours, they are just finicky. Best one I had was a cast block Deere, but they don’t make them. It’s a tough engine to perfect, lightweight powerful air cooling at any angle and dust conditions. The cheap ones are simply single season backyard brush clean up toys.

I’m now using the dewalt battery powered one after a surprisingly good test on a huge tree. Takes getting used to the light weight and needs 3 batteries to always be ready so the cost is higher. But it is plug and play, no bad gas issues and you just press the button to drive.

 

The saw is pretty old now. That would be a lot more trouble than it’s worth. I probably should of took it back after I cut the tree down that I bought it for, years ago. Hell the sears store I got it from has been closed for a very long time now. It was a sears hardware store, not a full blown sears store. Honestly the 16” one I bought at first was pretty solid. I think that may have been a Poulan made saw or something. I even told my father in law at the time that I’d rather of kept that saw but the bar just wasn’t big enough. That saw fired on the first pull, and ran smooth and solid. I got divorced a few years ago now so not sure if he still has it and is using it or what. I at the time, and still don’t really know much about saws. I’ve heard of Husqvarna and knew they were a pretty big name. Also knew their saws where pricey and they had professional grade ones. So when I heard this craftsman was made by them I figured that it was going to be pretty solid. It looked a lot beefier that the previous craftsman I had originally bought, but after taking it out of the box I felt the design was pretty cheap. I thought the smaller craftsman was built better. And after trying to fire it up the first few times, that statement held true.

I just own a small house on a little lot. Was a huge pine tree in front of the house. ~ 60-70ft tall. Wind storm ended up snapping it in about half and it took out the power line. It hung over the neighbors driveway and they hated the tree. When I snapped I figured it would be best to take it down. Being a new homeowner at the time I didn’t have the money to pay someone. I’m also the type to not pay someone and do it myself. So I decided to buy a saw and take it down. Was also a smaller maple the lined the street. Every house on my street has a maple that lines the street. Over the years either previous home owners or the utility company chopped the tree to keep it out of the wiring. Turned it into half a tree and it had a section that was dying. Decided to take that down as well. So that was all the saw was really intended for. Since it worked getting them both down, I figure I got my money’s worth. I saved 1000’s vs having a profession crew come out and take them down.





New coil is on the way. I think it’s not coming until late next week. Next week I’m working all weekend, then the following week I have my final at school, then work the weekend again. Not sure when I’ll have time to get it thrown in and try and take final stab at it. I’ll keep you guys that have been following, posted!


Thanks all

 

Maybe take the limiter caps off the carb adjustment screws and try setting them from scratch. The limiters only let you adjust a tiny bit. If the screws are not starting at the right point, then a tiny adjustment amount won't make much difference.

Look up on line how many turns out the adjustment screws should be for that carb...I usually start at 1.5 turns for lo and hi. It might be worth taking the new carb apart and checking that the reeds haven't been turned/bent/cracked and the diaphram is in one piece. You never know until you look.

 

Ok so new coil came the other day.

I took it and ohm’d it out. Readings were very close to the old one, so I was thinking there was going to be no way in hell it was going to make any change.

Had some time this morning, tossed it in. Ended up folding the business card to get a little more space on the coil from the flywheel. Didn’t like how close it was to this new coil. Got it all back together and gave it a few pulls. On the second pull it seemed like it wanted to go. Gave it a few more and it fired up! New carb needs adjusted a little but I’ll figure that out.

My ears are ringing and I smell like gas... it’s been a long time since this damn thing has ran.

With the slight readings in the coil I’m surprised it fired up. Maybe it was the old carb and since I accidentally put a knick in the old could wire it was just losing spark afterwards?

Anyways happy it is running again. Hopefully it’ll fire up again the next time I try lol


Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

I had less problems with a pos Poulan and chunked it. Bought a stihl and no more headaches

 

Believe me, if I ever buy another property or have another need for a saw, I’m going to get a nice professional grade Stihl saw.

 

Hopefully what ya got can get ya down the road