Chainsaw won't re-start when Hot

[Iplayfarmer]

But that's 40% of what he paid for it!!
Sorry - couldn't help it.

These are all good suggestions, BTW.

I actually bought a new spark plug and a new fuel filter the day I bought the saw. That was about two years ago. It may be the spark plug, but this saw has never run perfect.

I was just thinking about this thread yesterday. I need to get back out and try some of the suggestions to fix the saw, but I've been distracted with some other projects. Plus it's been raining here for a week straight. That kind of takes the ambition out of me when I don't have a heated shop.

 

[Tig]

I've got my dad's saw apart in the garage right now. After seeing how it it assembled I am a bit skeptical that vapour lock is the issue here. I will try to protect the fuel line and also check the carb settings.
There is nothing worse than an unreliable tool.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've got my dad's saw apart in the garage right now. After seeing how it it assembled I am a bit skeptical that vapour lock is the issue here. I will try to protect the fuel line and also check the carb settings.
There is nothing worse than an unreliable tool.

How likely is it to be carb settings? Could it just be a mixture screw setting or something?

 

[6string]

If it's yellow,give it to another fellow!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

If it's yellow,give it to another fellow!

It's kind of a greenish yellow. Does that count?

The thing is, I don't need a chainsaw enough to go out and replace this one. If I don't get this one fixed, I'll just do without. But, it's nice to have around.

 

[ToadHill]

I had the same problem on my saw and found that the fuel line had some pin holes in it and I guess when it heated up, it didn't deliver enough fuel to the carb.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I had the same problem on my saw and found that the fuel line had some pin holes in it and I guess when it heated up, it didn't deliver enough fuel to the carb.

I wonder if that's it. When it pulls the "won't start when hot" attitude with me, I can sometimes get it going by priming it a little with carb cleaner. It would make sense if there's a pin hole in the line that it would not prime the line at hand-pulling speeds, but that could be overcome at engine speed.

How much could a fuel line cost? It's got to be worth a try.

 

[Tig]

Well I'm done and three things came to my attention.
One, working on a McCulloch MacCat is like peeling an onion.
Two, the intake manifold was not installed properly The clamp that seals it to the cylinder head flange was doing nothing. Possible air leak there. Looks like it was like that for a long time.
Three, the air filter was over oiled. I'm surprised it ran as well as it did.
After I took care of the last two two details, it ran fine and started when hot. Carb adjustment was close as it was. Go figure, Dad always seems to tune things a bit rich in my opinion.
My dad is real proud of his chainsaw, it drives me crazy. Dad's gone till spring so I'll see if I can make peace with this machine. It still needs a fuel filter and a new spark plug wouldn't hurt either. Although changing the plug means peeling the onion again.

 

[bontai_Joe]

Sounds to me like it ran great as was for being a $5 saw, I'm lazy enough to have just lived with it that way, but I agree that it's nice to get it running better for minimal money.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It's done what I need it to do so far. It's just kind of a personal quest now. If it's a cheap and simple fix to get it running right it would sure be nice to have a dependable saw even if it's not a super big or powerful saw.