Do You Warm Up Your Chainsaw?

[Parkanzky]

I have two saws. One is a Poulan 2800 and the other a new Stihl MS 261 C-M.

The Poulan won't run worth a darn unless I rev it for about 30 seconds. The Stihl, with its electronic engine management, is ready to cut wood in about the time it takes me to get my hands positioned properly after starting it.

 

[s219]

The Stihl, with its electronic engine management, is ready to cut wood in about the time it takes me to get my hands positioned properly after starting it.

That is one cool feature of the M-tronic Stihls, they are always tweaking the fuel/air mix for the perfect tune in any conditions.

 

[turnkey4099]

I've never considered running my saw at anything other than WOT. How does it cut better at lower RPMs?

Same here and that is a good question. Dealers will tell one that a saw is meant to run at WOT when cutting. The only time it shouldn't is when one is trying to 'ease out of a cut near the ground. If I absolutely HAVE to cut dirt it will be with the chain barely moving (blipping it).

Harry K 48 years of cutting 10+ cord/yr

 

[oosik]

I start & warm mine up on the porch of the shed where its stored. Then I put in back of the ATP and go out where I'm going to cut. Make start up - out in the field - go much easier. And if adjustments, etc are needed I find this out prior to being out in the field.

 

[RalphVa]

Lawn mowers (newer ones) don't have an idle setting on the throttle and are started full rpms.

On my old Stihl 009L, it needed a few blips of the throttle to make it get going. Otherwise, I started it and run it right away. Had to give it away a couple years ago at ago 20 or so because I'm not allowed to have ignition systems too close to my ICD for my heart. Guys who climb trees with saws on their belt certainly don't have the time to let them warm up before using them.

Ralph

 

[kco]

That is one cool feature of the M-tronic Stihls, they are always tweaking the fuel/air mix for the perfect tune in any conditions.

I agree. I got a Stihl trimmer this year and the dealer warned that it may sound like it is running incorrectly under light cutting conditions. However, I am amazed how it self-adjusts under varying conditions. In medium to fairly heavy going it keeps a steady speed. You can clear for long periods where the speed is constant despite changing grass/shrub/weed densities. I asked if it is OK to run like that at constant open throttle. He said it is required for proper lubrication from the oil/gas mixture. It is the 4-mix system (4 cycle using mixed fuel). It certainly is different than my 028 2-cycle saw.

Like some others, I warm my saw for a short time and then cut under full throttle, moderate load (through light pressure) for the first minute or so. Probably more important for long life is to not bog the saw down during normal use.