Decompression valve on Stihl - Got a question

[fabsroman]

That's all that can be accounted for right now. Each brand of saw has its "nuances"
If you use several brands, I suppose one could get a favorite as far as ergonomics. One cannot go by recommendations or reliability or durability or any other variable as they are all subjective. They only serve as starting points and not necessarily hold any water. You made the correct choice based on what you felt or even if you liked the color combination better. All anyone can do is learn their saw, cross their fingers and hope they get some use out of what they bought no matter what the brand or where it came from. Good luck with your new saws.
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Very well said.

 

[turnkey4099]

fabsroman....I wasn't marching into a brand war...I was trying to give you a comparison to another brand to show you Stihls don't start great. And 8 pulls or so is normal at least on 4 different model Stihls I use. Just trying to broaden the horizon.

I have 3 Stihls and a Husky. 361 - 3 puills, cough, off choke, 1 pull, run.

310 used to be the same but it has manyhours on it and now takes 4-6 pulls to get the cough.

210 - same as the 361.
Husky - I am the second or third owner, it has untold hours. Starts easy cold, doesn't like warm starts after it is hot.

My point is that starting characteristic is _NOT_ tied to brand. Mostly it is maintenance...one thing I am lax about.

As for brand preference. I run Stihls because it is the only dealer near me. Also I prefer Stihl over Husky due to the inboard clutch on the Stihl. Like the way the one Husky runs and cuts though.

Anyone for the Ford vs Chevy juvenile arguments?

Harry K

 

[yomax4]

I only have 1 Stihl with compression release. 026 Pro. Never use it. Tried it once and pulled 8 times and no start. Closed it and it popped right off. I also have an 034, 039 and a 441 and they always start on 3 - 4 pulls. Always. I use synthetic oil and non ethanol gas. I suppose if the saws sit for months, They may start hard. The gas now days is so crappy that in week or two it starts to go bad. The ethanol evaporates and takes some of the good gas with it. I cut with a couple neighbors and friends some times and the Husky's, Johnny's and Stihls all perform similar. Mostly, it's in the fuel mix and age as well as tuning. How does your saw cut? It's all about the size of the chip..

 

[fabsroman]

I only have 1 Stihl with compression release. 026 Pro. Never use it. Tried it once and pulled 8 times and no start. Closed it and it popped right off. I also have an 034, 039 and a 441 and they always start on 3 - 4 pulls. Always. I use synthetic oil and non ethanol gas. I suppose if the saws sit for months, They may start hard. The gas now days is so crappy that in week or two it starts to go bad. The ethanol evaporates and takes some of the good gas with it. I cut with a couple neighbors and friends some times and the Husky's, Johnny's and Stihls all perform similar. Mostly, it's in the fuel mix and age as well as tuning. How does your saw cut? It's all about the size of the chip..

How do you find gas without ethanol in it? If I had that option, that is what I would use with all the small engine garden tools I have, including the ones that don't need mix. Do I have to go to a specific gas station? I mix a gallon at a time and it will probably take me a month or more to go through that much mixed gas.

Haven't tried the MS660, but the MS261 cuts really well. Of course, it has a brand new chain on it that has only cut about a cord of wood. The chips are the biggest thing I have ever seen in all of the wood cutting I have done and I am using a semi-chisel chain. Just ordered a Stihl chisel chain for the MS261and two Stihl chisel chains for my dad's Craftsman chainsaw. I think he is going to be pleasantly surprised. Me, I cannot imagine the saw cutting any faster or throwing bigger chips than it is currently throwing, but if it does so with the chisel chain I too will be amazed.

 

[Wolfy]

Not sure about the no-ethanol....but after running low grade gas and seizing one saw, several dealers told me the answer. First, newer Stihls cant tolerate low grade, its listed in the O.M. Now I always buy premium gas. Second, using synthetic 2 stroke oil greatly reduces operating temperatures, resulting in a longer lasting saw.

 

[fabsroman]

Not sure about the no-ethanol....but after running low grade gas and seizing one saw, several dealers told me the answer. First, newer Stihls cant tolerate low grade, its listed in the O.M. Now I always buy premium gas. Second, using synthetic 2 stroke oil greatly reduces operating temperatures, resulting in a longer lasting saw.

Thanks for the reply. I already knew about the mid grade requirement from the owner's manual. Believe it or not, I actually read the entire owner's manual.

Had no clue about the synthetic 2 stroke. I am guessing that Stihl 2 stroke oil is synthetic. Would I be incorrect about that? If so, who makes synthetic 2 stroke oil.

On another note, I hit the dirt twice today and now the chain cuts about 1/2 as good as it did when it was new. I guess I should also mention that I have cut about 2 cords so far with that chain. I'm wondering how much longer I can use it before I have to put a new chain on. A topic for another thread. LOL

 

[Wolfy]

The synthetics I've seen have been clearly marked. Im sure Stihl makes it.... I don't mind coloring outside the lines....that being said, my dad is the best chain sharpener I know. He will run a chain until the teeth are just about gone. I mean like 1/16". I wish I could sharpen them half that good.

 

[Saxman]

I have lots of Stihl chainsaws with decomp valves. 260,261,361,362.441 and 660. I NEVER use it except on the 660. My method is full choke with the compression valve depressed, I crank it 3 times at full choke then switch to half choke. I have a dual port muffler on my 660 and sometimes you can miss the cough when it tries to start. By using this method I don't flood the saw. When it is at operating temperature I just turn the saw on with the compression release and only need to pull the rope six inches or so, just enough to roll the engine over one time and she runs. The easiest way to flood a saw is by using the decomp valve. I have a 056 Mag II that is the same engine size as the 660 and it, like other saws of the day. does not have a compression release. Back then you just had to man up and crank them.

Steve

 

[Wolfy]

Steve, that was an interesting reply. I might just try that.

 

[fabsroman]

I have lots of Stihl chainsaws with decomp valves. 260,261,361,362.441 and 660. I NEVER use it except on the 660. My method is full choke with the compression valve depressed, I crank it 3 times at full choke then switch to half choke. I have a dual port muffler on my 660 and sometimes you can miss the cough when it tries to start. By using this method I don't flood the saw. When it is at operating temperature I just turn the saw on with the compression release and only need to pull the rope six inches or so, just enough to roll the engine over one time and she runs. The easiest way to flood a saw is by using the decomp valve. I have a 056 Mag II that is the same engine size as the 660 and it, like other saws of the day. does not have a compression release. Back then you just had to man up and crank them.

Steve

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I stopped using the decompression valve on the 261. It isn't that hard to pull the cord without using it. Seems like just another feature to charge extra for.

Haven't run into any big wood yet, so I haven't had a need to start up the 660. Looking forward to using that saw though.