Cannot start Stihl 009

[nancyk]

I have 2 Stihl 009 chainsaws, my husband bought them years ago as he had a bad back. He is no longer here to maintain the saws so I do my best to keep them going. They get non-ethanol fuel and Stihl oil. They are used lightly, only by me. Not often, but it is nice to have 2 running saws with me when I work on trails or a downed tree, in case one gets stuck. I bought a 40v battery powered saw last year, it is ok for small stuff but just does not have the power of a conventional saw. The one Stihl 009 has had a hard time starting for years now, once it starts it runs like a top but starting is a bear. Last week I did 20 pulls on it and finally gave up. Last year I took it into the local co-op and, after attempting a few pulls, the man looked at the sparkplug. He said "there is no gas on the sparkplug". He kept pulling and finally the saw started and sounded and ran great. I asked the man if there was anything he could do so that I can start it , even after it sits for 3-4 months. He said "the saw is old". Any ingenious ideas out there, for ease of starting? I do not mind getting a new lightweight saw but if I can keep using these two saws I would rather do that.

 

[5030]

The issue with the little Stihl's is the same as the Poulans. The intake stub / boot is too short and the carb is too close to the cylinder and it gets heated and the fuel vaporizes in the bowl too soon. If I were you, I'd get rid of them. The newer ones, Stihl has fixed with a better intake stub and insulation gaskets.

 

[JimRB]

Old is not an reason to not start harder than it did when new. The gaskets/diaphragm and parts in the carburetor can get stiff and not work properly. A good saw mechanic would replace the gaskets/diaphragm to see if that helps. There are a few hoses to inspect and replace. Many saws have an impulse line that helps the fuel pump in the carburetor work. Note that many shops replace a carb because they say it cost less to replace than to fix. Might be true if you can get a quality replacement. Here is a video that shows how easy it is to rebuild an 009 carb.

Picture of carb parts. The black gasket with the metal disk in the middle is the fuel pump. They get stiff sometimes and do not pump fuel like they should. New gasket for fuel pump can often fix a hard to start 2 cycle engine. https://www.amazon.com/LETAOSK-Chainsaw-Carburetor-Rebuild-Repair/dp/B07KHTQXHH

Checklist
Fuel line to tank and fuel filter is new?
Impulse line is new?
Carb parts new with quality parts?
Crankcase seals good? That is a bit more involved.

 

[nancyk]

For at least the first 15 years of their lives, they were both easy to start. One or two pulls at most. Even my husband had no concerns starting them. He would not like them now. Thanks for your input, I believe RuralKing sells Stihl, much as I dislike walking into that store.

To JimRB, thanks for your detailed thoughts on replacing parts. My husband would do that in a flash, and we have all the tools. I may take it to another local shop and talk with them. Or I may take it apart with your post as a guide. We'll see.

 

[JimRB]

By the way I have owned a Stihl 210 for 14 years. I know it is not old but it starts like new which is 2 or three pulls with full choke for it to pull fuel into the carb then it will pop and another pull or two after going to half choke to start. No primer bulb so it takes a bit more to start than other 2 cycle tools I have that have primer bulbs to get gas into the carb first.

 

[5030]

It's NOT the carb, it's the intake stub. Carb is fine. I'm not gonna argue. I'm done as usual.

 

[PILOON]

Also have a 009, my favorite.
Arborists love them.
Mine always starts on 2nd pull.
Suggest that a possible 'cure' might be replacing the 'in tank' fuel filter, they do get clogged up over time.

 

[nancyk]

2 years ago the saw got a new fuelfilter/sparkplug/air filter. Problem is, when it is at the shop and it does get started, once it starts it runs like a gem and re-starts easily. It is only when it sits for a while that is is so hard to start. It has been suggested to put a few drops, or spray, a bit of the fuel mixture into the carb before attempting to start.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

the 009 is a great little saw..... IMHO your issue is going to be cost of service versus saw value. Probably best they go to a new home or person with the skills and patience to keep them alive and thriving. They are getting long in the tooth for infrequent user who doesn't service themselves.

As you know from your post #8 taking in for retail service is costly. Rebuild or replace a carb is going to cost you more than the used saw is worth UNLESS you can do it yourself or find someone who knows how to do carb rebuild or replacement plus fuel pickup line, etc...

I would suggest you sell them both and invest in a better quality battery saw. They have come a long way in last couple of years and much better for the very infrequent user like yourself. Or if battery out of the question I am going to guess what you can sell them for plus what a service would have cost you will buy you a brand new little gas Stihl which will be good for another 10 - 20 years with only minimal maintance.


IMHO going through my local shop I see alot of older saws that the service is going to cost more than the saw is worth.

 

[PILOON]

2 years ago the saw got a new fuelfilter/sparkplug/air filter. Problem is, when it is at the shop and it does get started, once it starts it runs like a gem and re-starts easily. It is only when it sits for a while that is is so hard to start. It has been suggested to put a few drops, or spray, a bit of the fuel mixture into the carb before attempting to start.

On my009 the 1st pull is always full choke.
Next pull is choke off and it always starts.

 

[calfal]

I have 2 Stihl 009 chainsaws, my husband bought them years ago as he had a bad back. He is no longer here to maintain the saws so I do my best to keep them going. They get non-ethanol fuel and Stihl oil. They are used lightly, only by me. Not often, but it is nice to have 2 running saws with me when I work on trails or a downed tree, in case one gets stuck. I bought a 40v battery powered saw last year, it is ok for small stuff but just does not have the power of a conventional saw. The one Stihl 009 has had a hard time starting for years now, once it starts it runs like a top but starting is a bear. Last week I did 20 pulls on it and finally gave up. Last year I took it into the local co-op and, after attempting a few pulls, the man looked at the sparkplug. He said "there is no gas on the sparkplug". He kept pulling and finally the saw started and sounded and ran great. I asked the man if there was anything he could do so that I can start it , even after it sits for 3-4 months. He said "the saw is old". Any ingenious ideas out there, for ease of starting? I do not mind getting a new lightweight saw but if I can keep using these two saws I would rather do that.

choke it.. pull the start rope until it pops,, then take it off choke,, and pull again should start..good luck

 

[nancyk]

"On my009 the 1st pull is always full choke.
Next pull is choke off and it always starts."
Do you wait until it sputters or just arbritrarily turn the choke off after the first pull? I keep the choke full until I hear the first sputter, which unfortunatly, on my easier starting saw, last time was 15 pulls.

 

[ljgordon]

OMG: 1994 009L. I cut 5 cords a year with mine for 9 years in New Mexico. Used it for 5 years in various parts of the USA while traveling in my motor home. Settled in KY. Used it about 5 years until the oil pump stopped working. Guess what?? Stihl no longer supports the 009. Could not get a new oil pump. I still use it by spraying oil on the chain because this is the absolutely best chainsaw I have ever owned. It will work next to the Stihl Farm Boss and the Husky 455 and beat hell out of them.

 

[nancyk]

"Could not get a new oil pump." I have two of these Stihl 009s. A few years ago the pump was rebuilt on one of them (the one that starts more easily) at a local shop, to the tune of $130. Probably should not have done it but I too like this little saw.

This morning sprayed two times into the carb opening with trigger locked "on". tried starting 10 pulls, no luck. Took out sparkplug, did one spray in the opening, put sparkplug back in, on second pull the saw started, then immediately died and will not start again. I will let it sit until this afternoon and try again.

 

[nancyk]

Update: siphoned out the fuel in the saw and put in fresher fuel made last fall. Saw started right up , with no putting any fuel mixture into the carb.

 

[ericm979]

Fresh fuel will do it. If you let the saw sit for more than a couple months dump the old gas out of the tank, start the engine, take it off the choke and let it idle until it uses up the fuel in the carburetor. That way the fuel in the carb won't dry up and form a varnish that clogs tiny passages in the carb. The old gas (use a clean container) can be run in your lawn mower or log splitter or similar engine. Some people run it in their truck but I'd hate to find out that it does not play nice with the emissions system.

I turn the choke off after two or three pulls even if the engine has not popped. I used to go until it popped but turning it off early seems to work a bit better.