MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Problem:
Previously great-running, chainsaw suddenly decided it would happily idle all day but would bog down and sometimes die when cutting.
Restarted fine immediately but bogged down again as soon as revs were raised for more than a few seconds.
Solution:
Try fitting a new fuel filter [in the tank in the case of a Stihl].
£3.00, or less, and 2 minutes very well spent.
I once knew a one handed farmer, who used to have 2 hands..... 😕
Result! Dunno if it works with chainsaws but the classic 2 stroke test is to take the plug out and drop a teaspoon of fuel in, try and fire it up - if it dies on it's arse, the problem is ignition, if it revs like it wants to die, the problem is fuelling.
aye, farmhands will be in shorter supply than ever, since brexit
Also don't process green birch when it’s below zero, the water in it freezes and makes it bloody hard work, give up and have a brew instead
aye, farmhands will be in shorter supply than ever, since brexit
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.
Anyway, the guy I knew was left handed but for some reason was using the saw in his right. He slipped (or something) & off came his left hand. Well, it was hanging on but he never used it again. Bit awkward for a farmer.
OP - my chainsaw does exactly this. Not sure where the filter is but I'll take a look tomorrow 🙂
[quote=pondo ]Result! Dunno if it works with chainsaws but the classic 2 stroke test is to take the plug out and drop a teaspoon of fuel in, try and fire it up - if it dies on it's arse, the problem is ignition, if it revs like it wants to die, the problem is fuelling.
Nice tip - will remember that next time my outboard plays up.
A daft one from a few weeks back. Cack handed moment tensioning chain, chain fell off. Back on and resumed cutting to much smoke.
I'd put the chain on the wrong way round. Derp
It's in the fuel tank, should be able to fish it out with your finger or a bit of wire.Not sure where the filter is...
It's a good idea to empty the tank occasionally, if you do it through a filter you'll see how much crap inadvertently accumulates. This vibrates into little pieces and blocks your filter. They're fairly simple tools and with a bit of maintenance should go for years.
aye, farmhands will be in shorter supply than ever, since brexit
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interestingly the Norwegian wood book says wood should be easier to split when it's frozen.Also don't process green birch when it’s below zero, the water in it freezes and makes it bloody hard work, give up and have a brew instead
Maybe some is and some isn't?
Anyway, the guy I knew was left handed but for some reason was using the saw in his right.
Chainsaws are right handed. The bar is off centre so if you rev it with your left hand the chain will be much closer to your leg. You should never use it that way. Not much consolation if you have taken your hand off instead.
Also don't process green birch when it’s below zero, the water in it freezes and makes it bloody hard work, give up and have a brew instead
interestingly the Norwegian wood book says wood should be easier to split when it's frozen.
Maybe some is and some isn't?
I think that the book is referring to splitting with an axe and Houns is talking about cutting with a saw?
Ben I was just about to say the same!
Cutting and Splitting are very different things. One is eased by freezing the other made more difficult 8)
The 10/10 solution would have been to change the air filter as well and check (I just change) the sparkplug, too.
The airfilter will not be in good shape if the fuel filter is that bad, and if it's been running off-colour the plug might not be in great form either.
So here's a puzzler for you - I've got a Stihl 023 that runs nicely, cuts well and will sit ticking over fine. Until you touch it! When you pick it up it stalls. Start it again, give it a few revs and no problem. Put it down and it continues to tick over. Pick it up and it stalls...
Changed the fuel filter last year as the rubber pipework had perished and was leaking so that should be all good. Air filter is clean and reasonably new as is the plug. Not sure what else to try?
It's also worth checking the condition of the fuel pipe from the tank/filter to the carb. Some fuels cause it to perish, in my case I think a mouse took a fancy to it. Most service kits include a fuel line.
It's also worthwhile routinely blowing all the saw dust away from around the air filter and carb as well as the throttle and choke linkages. It can sometimes foul the kill switch.
This thread reminded me of the guy on CTC forums with the username Tigerbiten. A tiger took his arm off below the elbow when he was working as a zookeeper.
I'm wary of chainsaws and tigers.
I'm wary of chainsaws and tigers
These days there's more chainsaws than tigers in the woods around Holmfirth, so I'm only wary of anything orange if it says Stihl or Husqvarna on the side.
Ahhh.... I presumed he meant splitting - as you were!I think that the book is referring to splitting with an axe and Houns is talking about cutting with a saw?
I cleaned the filter about 4 weeks ago so knew that was OK.The 10/10 solution would have been to change the air filter as well
If it literally stops [immediately] when you pick it up I'd be looking at the kill switch and then moving on the float.I've got a Stihl 023 that runs nicely, cuts well and will sit ticking over fine. Until you touch it! When you pick it up it stalls. Start it again, give it a few revs and no problem. Put it down and it continues to tick over. Pick it up and it stalls...
Does it do it when it's full of fuel? It may be a split in the fuel line that's sucking air if the tank isn't full. But even then there should be a delay between the saw being picked up and the bowl running dry.
Race to a stall like reaching end of the tank? Air leak pretty common on old saws due to perished fuel lines or bits popping out due to worn anti-vibe mounts.
Fuel filter can just be blown back on an airline, our tanks have a fair bit of detritus due to all the time spent in the woods.
Been chasing leaks and poor running and hot starting on a couple of our 357XP's, carbs, gaskets, ignitions etc. Oddly, all the oldest bits put onto the oldest saw seem to work best. Using the decompression button was the undoing of one I think, not used for years, but needed a quick start with only 1' of cord in sub-zero.
Just had delivery of a 562XP.
The 10/10 solution would have been to change the air filter as well
I cleaned the filter about 4 weeks ago so knew that was OK.
If one part is showing signs of requiring maintenance, its probably wise to do a full once-over, clean up, close inspect, grease-up etc. I find it a real pleasure of a job to potter at.
Worth only doing one thing at a time whilst fault finding so that you can rule things out. Do them all at once and you won't know what the issue was.
Not to sound arsey or sarcastic, but yeah didn’t mention the chainsaw bit as it’s a thread about chainsaws :p
If it literally stops [immediately] when you pick it up I'd be looking at the kill switch and then moving on the float.
Does it do it when it's full of fuel? It may be a split in the fuel line that's sucking air if the tank isn't full. But even then there should be a delay between the saw being picked up and the bowl running dry.
Yep, literally stops as though you've flicked the switch off, rather than the sort of coughing / dying thing it does when running out of fuel. Does it on a full tank as well as empty. Replaced the fuel line and filter recently (as it definitely did have a split in it as was dripping fuel everywhere!).
Might take it over to my old mans over Christmas - he loves a bit of a fettle with a 2 -stroke 😉
Doesn't sound like fuel does it - electrical system sounds like it might be grounding somewhere.Yep, literally stops as though you've flicked the switch off