Cold natured Stihl ?

[om21braz]

Anyone else on here ever had a Stihl that flat had to warm up before running? I've got an 028 that is about 25 years old - used minimally over the years, but it has always been cold natured from day one. You get it started with choke on (even if it's 90 deg. outside), let it idle for 5 minutes or so, then and only then can you cut choke off and operate as normal. It's been adjusted on by many with no success. Not a big issue, just curious if anyone else has had this problem and managed to cure it. No other piece of Stihl equipment I have or have had is like this.

 

[teg]

I have the problem but no cure... had to buy my wife her own chainsaw because she could not start the 028 :thumbsup:

 

[deepNdirt]

they're ain't nothin makes me madder than a lawn mower or chainsaw that won't crank.....I have only owned but 1 Stihl chainsaw and it was the most difficult to ever startup, I've had other brands 1 homelite & 2 poulan's over the duration of 30 years and all would start up good with 1 pull on choke and 2nd pull to run. I never did know what all the fuss was about with the stihl's.... I was also given as a birthday gift from the in-laws a nice shiny new stihl weed edger it did good out of the box but then got dificult to start, so I went and purchased a Homlite, I still Have the stihl weed whacker hanging on the shed wall as wall art and been using 2 homlite for the past 20 years, I do have a stihl backpack blower that starts up easily,:thumbsup:

 

[om21braz]

The 028's cold nature did'nt bother me much until I got a Husky 372xp that starts far easier and is ready to go once started. Oh well, it runs like a champ once warm.

 

[RavensRoost]

Turn the "L" (low speed) screw on carb CCW 1/4 turn to richen it up a bit.

 

[beenthere]

Have owned two Stihl saws, an 041 that still starts great (new in '74), and an MS361 ('04) that is almost as good but still an easy starter.
I think a lot has to do with settings and fuel and how they have been treated over the years. Buddy has an 028 and it is the easiest thing to start of any saws I've been around.
Guess they all don't act the same and all have a particular mood about them. Maybe they are female?

 

[art]

Your carbs need adjustment. Stihl when cold is two pulls whith choke on and it should have fired, turn the choke of and with the third they are running. Husquvarna has been the same.

 

[BigE_]

Yep, the carb needs adjustment (or even a carb kit). Make sure the air filter is nice and clean. Oh, and you have a newer, correctly gapped, plug, right?

I'm assuming you are using the 92 octane gas, fresh within the last week, mixing with Stihl 2 stroke oil (and not TWC3).

Stihl starting procedure is to full choke until it pops, then take choke off and it should fire up the next pull. My old 036 may take up to 7 pulls to pop if it has been sitting for a while.

 

[Car Doc]

If it was mine I would back the low side out until it grabbed r's w/o stumble when it was cold and then turn it in slightly, it sounds awful lean to me adjustment wise or its got a air leak somewhere same symptoms.

Steve

 

[CWOSCSU]

I have a BG85 blower that does the same. Starts easy, but no top end for about 3 minutes. Been like that for years. Fuel mix and carb adjustment same as my other 7 Stihl items, and none of them have this condition.

Can't complain, purchased in 2003 and I stopped counting when it went over an estimated 1500 hours.

Mike

 

[Chilly807]

Your carbs need adjustment. Stihl when cold is two pulls whith choke on and it should have fired, turn the choke of and with the third they are running. Husquvarna has been the same.

You should take my Stihls and Huskies, I'll take yours...

Sean

 

[art]

You should take my Stihls and Huskies, I'll take yours...

Sean

We can work on that!

 

[Chilly807]

Any of the Huskys I have/had take at least a dozen pulls from cold unless they've been running that day, closer to 16 if it's freezing outside and they haven't been run for a week or two.

The Stihls are a little better, the 023 and 044 light off after maybe 6-8 pulls. The 023 was a real prince when it had the primer hooked up, two pulls and it was running.

So, I make sure the kill switch is "on", otherwise I'd be at it all day and just think they were being stubborn !

Sean

 

[om21braz]

Well RavensRoost and the rest of ya'll are on the right track. L screw ccw 1/4 turn certainly helped. Everything else looks pretty good (fuel, plug, filter). Still a little stumble, upon cutting the choke off for just a moment, but better. Ran it a couple hours and it did well as always once warmed up - but now I'm off and cutting once started instead. I now question if the screw is maybe the issue, as it seems to have moved slightly back to the original position. That would explain several Stihl techs claiming to have it fixed years ago only to have the issue reappear. I'll look into that further and report back. Thanks all!

 

[RavensRoost]

Well RavensRoost and the rest of ya'll are on the right track. L screw ccw 1/4 turn certainly helped. Everything else looks pretty good (fuel, plug, filter). Still a little stumble, upon cutting the choke off for just a moment, but better. Ran it a couple hours and it did well as always once warmed up - but now I'm off and cutting once started instead. I now question if the screw is maybe the issue, as it seems to have moved slightly back to the original position. That would explain several Stihl techs claiming to have it fixed years ago only to have the issue reappear. I'll look into that further and report back. Thanks all!

OK, glad that helped. If you are so inclined, a good way to set idle mixture is to turn "L" screw for highest steady idle (I am assuming still a bit CCW in your case), then adjust it CCW/richer until the RPMs drop just a bit. Then adjust the idle speed using "T" (Throttle), usually for about 2800 RPM, but definitely slower than clutch engagement speed so chain does not run at idle. Good luck and safe cutting!

 

[treefarmer391]

Have a 20 yr old 028 Super thats a bit 'fussy' also. Ran 35+ year old big McCullochs and HomeLites that were easier. Run all a tad rich. Never had any sieze up or break. Likes very fresh higher octane (91) mix with just the right ratio. Pull,Pull,Pull...burps...off with the choke & usually fires right up.

None of my other STIHL (FS76 Brushcutter or BR340 blower) are as fussy, and all mix gets Sta-Bil'd.

Really believe its the E15 crap gas thats getting us all....less 'pop'.

 

[Car Doc]

All my saws are Huskys I have 4 and only the 345 and the 346 will start on the second or third pull and that's because they have primer bulbs.

My 372 can be a bear at times unless I have it on the floorboard in front in my PU with the heater on when its real cold outside and it usually takes 7-10 pulls not a big deal knowing it will start without question its an utterly reliable saw.

Steve

 

[BigE_]

Carb turning procedure:
Chainsawr Adjustment and Tuning of a Chainsaw Carburetor

 

[Eagleview]

I now question if the screw is maybe the issue, as it seems to have moved slightly back to the original position. That would explain several Stihl techs claiming to have it fixed years ago only to have the issue reappear. I'll look into that further and report back. Thanks all!

Is the rubber boot still in the cover ? It is designed to work in conjunction with the springs under the screws to hold the mixture screw heads in place by way of friction to stop them turning with the Harmonics of the engine .

 

[om21braz]

Is the rubber boot still in the cover ? It is designed to work in conjunction with the springs under the screws to hold the mixture screw heads in place by way of friction to stop them turning with the Harmonics of the engine .

Yep, the rubber boot/springs are still intact. I marked the screw heads/adjacent area with a paint marker to be certain of the present setting. Now I'll know for certain if they manage to move. If there are any further developments I'll post them - until then Thanks again all!