Chainsaw starting/storage question

[Ricc Havens]

I have a Stihl MS275. It doesn't get regular use. Sometimes a month or two may pass before I come across some wood to cut into turning blanks. It seems like every time I get the saw out of the storage case the pull rope is very hard to pull - almost like something is frozen. It won't even hardly budge. After a few hard pulls it frees up enough to where I can finally start the saw.

Any ideas, advice, etc?

Thanks
Ricc

[Al Launier]

I'm assuming the safety bar is not in the forward "safe" position when you shut it off the last time you used it...right?
Are you adding enough oil to ensure the piston gets properly lubricated to prevent seizing up?

[Kyle Iwamoto]

My $0.02. First and most important, if ethanol is in your gas, dump it and find non ethanol gas. I personally do not believe in those gas additives that stabilize and neutralize ethanol gas. Ethanol and water from the air creates acids in the gas that dissolve the rubber in your carb. If you're not going to use the saw for a while, dump the gas in the tank back into your gas can, start the saw and run all the gas from the carb. Gas goes stale and turns gummy. There are tiny tiny passages in the carb that get get clogged up.

[Ricc Havens]

I'm assuming the safety bar is not in the forward "safe" position when you shut it off the last time you used it...right?
Are you adding enough oil to ensure the piston gets properly lubricated to prevent seizing up?


Al, I should have clarified in my original post and I'll edit it. But, yes I add the correct oil as I use the Stihl brand little bottles of 2cycle oil from the dealer and add the exact amount of non-ethonal gas. (growing up my dad had us mow the lawn with old Lawn Boy mowers and he never measured the oil added to gas he just estimated it. He would then complain about a mower that rn poorly! I learned from that!!) and yes the safety bar is disengaged.

[Ricc Havens]

My $0.02. First and most important, if ethanol is in your gas, dump it and find non ethanol gas. I personally do not believe in those gas additives that stabilize and neutralize ethanol gas. Ethanol and water from the air creates acids in the gas that dissolve the rubber in your carb. If you're not going to use the saw for a while, dump the gas in the tank back into your gas can, start the saw and run all the gas from the carb. Gas goes stale and turns gummy. There are tiny tiny passages in the carb that get get clogged up.

Kyle, thanks for the input. I do use non-ethonal fuel. Have to go across town to the one gas station near a lake marina that carries it in one pump. No other additives are used. proper Stihl oil in their little bottles to the exact amount of gas. My bro-in-law who has an outdoor woodfurning furnace and cuts all his own wood taught me about the non-ethonal fuel years ago.

It's not a matter of stale fuel and no spark when starting. it's more like the engine has seized within a couple weeks of non-use and you can't pull the rope. As a result you have to pull really hard to get it to move.

[Steve Nix]

I have a 290 that does the same thing after it sets for several days, but after the first couple of pulls it limbers up. I acts like it’s vapor locked. I use stihl oil and aviation gas. Next one I buy will have the easy start, if I out live the one I have now.

[david privett]

it might be that some fuel is leaking into the combustion chamber and puddling reducing the compression ratio making it harder to turn over, next time remove the plug then turn it over look at the spark plug hole for excessive fuel ,oil mist ( use no choke for this) .

[John K Jordan]

it might be that some fuel is leaking into the combustion chamber and puddling reducing the compression ratio making it harder to turn over, next time remove the plug then turn it over look at the spark plug hole for excessive fuel ,oil mist ( use no choke for this) .

Hey, while reading this thread I was about to make the same suggestion as one step in debugging - remove the plug and see if that made it easier to pull.

As for fuel leaking into the cylinder, I wonder if the the way the saw is stored makes a difference. I always store my chainsaws (all Stihl) tilted over, laying on the flat right side instead of the bottom. I don't remember why I do this. I don't have cases.

JKJ

[Edward Dyas]

I have a Stihl MS275. It doesn't get regular use. Sometimes a month or two may pass before I come across some wood to cut into turning blanks. It seems like every time I get the saw out of the storage case the pull rope is very hard to pull - almost like something is frozen. It won't even hardly budge. After a few hard pulls it frees up enough to where I can finally start the saw.

Any ideas, advice, etc?

Thanks
RiccMust be a Stihl thing. My MS280 does the same thing. Stihl is suppose to be the best but I won't be buying another. It's always been difficult to start and now the off switch doesn't work. I have to flood it to shut it off.

[Ricc Havens]

Thanks John and David for the ideas.

John - I do store it in a Stihl case sitting upright but I'll give your idea a try.

David, thanks for the idea on the possible fuel leaking into the cylinder. I went to the garage this morning to check it out but it didn't seem excessive. (but then I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like normally.) I'll recheck it again a couple times this weekend.

Ricc

[Roger Chandler]

Ricc...here's my experience, developed after having issues with one chainsaw starting... a big McCullugh. I now have 2 Husqvarna's and one Poulan Pro. Sounds like you have the gas correct by using non-ethanol.

Now additives.......this is honestly my personal experience. I use non-ethanol also. I used to use Stabil fuel stabilizer, and had a couple of minor issues. Now, I use STAR TRON brand additive. It has enzymes that do something in the gas to keep it from going rancid, gel, or other things. I have used the same 5 gallon can of fuel, with Star Tron in it to fuel my ATV 4 wheeler, which sits almost all the time in a trailer, and only gets cranked a couple times a year. Never a problem! I use it in my lawn mowers ......over the winter it sits, and I still have zero issues, and my mower cranks right up. I do think it is a good idea to run the mower out of fuel before storing for the winter, but sometimes I forget to do that.

I have a snow thrower, that I had to have the carb replaced once, and rebuilt once. Since using Star Tron, at the suggestion of my servicing dealer, it has not had gas go bad or gel up the works and just about 3 weeks ago, I cranked that thing up to see if it would be ready for the winter coming up......fired up like it was new! I have had the same gas in my 8000 watt Generac generator for almost 3 years. About a month ago, I pulled it out, fired it up and let it run for about 10 minutes. I do have a fuel line shut off, and use it, but the gas was just fine and the generator ran perfectly.

I use Husqvarna oil in my gas mixture 50:1 ratio like Stihl in my chainsaws, and they crank right up. Also in my Husqvarna leaf blower. From your description, my saws sit more than yours do, and I am not sure what difference there is in our storage. Sometimes I lay mine on their sides, oil cap up, and sometimes they sit upright like we use the saw. My Poulan Pro rarely gets out of the case, and it still cranks after several years with gas in the tank......go figure! :)

[Alex Zeller]

I don't own a Sthil saw (use their chains exclusively) but does it have a decompressor? My Huskys and Dolmar have them. If so it shouldn't be a compression problem but maybe the piston sticking to the cylinder or fuel collecting in the crank case. The safety brake shouldn't be an issue because it clamps the outside of the clutch. You might want to take it to a dealer just to make sure nothing is going bad. If there's cylinder damage a new piston and jug isn't the end of the world. But if you get metal shavings in the crank bearings it'll most likely be a parts saw. One thing you can do is remove the muffler and see inside the cylinder and the side of the piston that lines up with the exhaust port. Usually that's the part of the piston that gets damaged.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

Sounds very unusual. My Farmboss sits sometimes for 6 months between uses. When I use it, I use it for a couple hours, but (knock on wood) no problems yet.

[Tom M King]

Some fuel may be leaking into, or staying in the crankcase. It has to circulate through there to keep the main bearings lubricated in a 2-stroke. No problem starting any of my Stihl saws, and a couple are at least 20 years old. Sorry if I missed it, but did you say taking the spark plug out made any difference in how easy it pulls?

[John K Jordan]

Must be a Stihl thing. My MS280 does the same thing. Stihl is suppose to be the best but I won't be buying another. It's always been difficult to start and now the off switch doesn't work. I have to flood it to shut it off.

Mileage apparently varies. I have three gasoline powered Stihl saws and never experienced this problem. I use only non-ethanol hi-ocatane gas and the Stihl oil (which contains a stabilizer). No problems starting even if one is left unused for several months. I've been pleased with the brand; also bought a Stihl electric for use just outside and inside the shop.

JKJ

[tom lucas]

My $0.02. First and most important, if ethanol is in your gas, dump it and find non ethanol gas. I personally do not believe in those gas additives that stabilize and neutralize ethanol gas. Ethanol and water from the air creates acids in the gas that dissolve the rubber in your carb. If you're not going to use the saw for a while, dump the gas in the tank back into your gas can, start the saw and run all the gas from the carb. Gas goes stale and turns gummy. There are tiny tiny passages in the carb that get get clogged up.


I've been using startron additive for about 14 years now. I have 12 gasoline machines. some 2-stroke some 4. All of them start and run great. I never drain the carbs. But I treat 100% of my fuel with startron. Swear by it. It really works. Some of my machines might not get started for nearly 2 years sometimes. When I pull them out, with the old gas, they just start on first or second pull and purr with no issues. Don't waste your money on that expensive ethanol-free fuel. Just put startron in and forget about it. Now if you've already let ethanol ruin a carb, you'll have to deal with that first. Though startron can "repair" some pulsating, over time if not too bad.

Seafoam can help restore carb function too. As will half a can of carb cleaner mixed in the fuel tank. But there is no easy cure for a badly gummed carb or damaged float.

[Jason Mikits]

Must be a Stihl thing. My MS280 does the same thing. Stihl is suppose to be the best but I won't be buying another. It's always been difficult to start and now the off switch doesn't work. I have to flood it to shut it off.


Edward,
The off switch problem is very easy to fix. Take the cover off and you will find the grounding wire is either disconnected or has some crud on it not letting it ground out to stop the engine. Using the choke to stop it can lead to a build up in the cylinder. Trust me, it's super easy to fix. It will take less than 5 minutes, and the 280 is a nice little saw.