Echo issues??

[varmint]

I bought an Echo cs-490 last year, and used it for perhaps 5 hours. Nice, saw, and with a replacement chain that was more aggressive than the "safety" chain it came with, it cut well.

I hadn't used it for maybe 4 months (stored with ethanol-free canned gas) and just tried to start it. I simply can't properly pull the starter! It's as if I lost half my muscle strength. I have checked it by removing the spark plug, and it pulls smoothly, easily, and turns over freely. Clutch and chain are fine, and removing the chain and bar doesn't change anything, but then, it shouldn't, either. I can get thru one compression stroke only, and that's with effort. What the heck is going on??? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. FWIW, my smaller Echo cs-360 still starts and runs just fine. I don't think I have a sudden muscle wasting disease.

 

[bcp]

I had a Snapper? string trimmer that did the same thing. After a winter storage, it was almost impossible to pull, but easy with plug out. Over 20 years old, so I got rid of it and bought an Echo.

Bruce

 

[roadhunter]

My 490 has a compression button on the motor to make it easier to pull start. I hope it turns out to be something minor as I"ve got over 100 hours on mine and it runs great. I did open up the exhaust a bit to help it breathe better.

 

[varmint]

Yah, Roadhunter, I did the exhaust opening procedure as well, and re-adjusted the mixture... Compression release???? I don't think mine has one, or if it does, maybe it's linked to the choke or something? Tell me about yours?

 

[Deere Dude]

The compression release on my Echo is simply a black button on top of the motor. Simply put, push it in and it opens something in the combustion department for easy pulling. As soon as ypu pull it over, the engine ignites and the compression will slam the button closed and the motor runs.

 

[roadhunter]

What he said ^

 

[s219]

Current model CS-490 doesn't have a decomp valve. Not sure why the saw won't pull over for you though -- seems odd to me. That is a good saw.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I've got a CS-6700 (30 years old), big engine...if it has set for a couple of weeks, it too has a lot of compression...but once it fires up (usually withing 3 pulls when cold) its much easier..suggest you put your right foot thru the handle floor plate to hold it down and pull the starter rope with your right hand...once its started, it will restart easily...I assume the coefficient of expansion on the piston/cyl walls has a lot to do with it...PS: I wouldn't trade that old Echo for any new saw...it cuts so fast its scary...BobG in VA

 

[varmint]

Bob, believe me, I stick my foot thru the handle and stand on it... I struggle to jerk the pull cord thru one compression stroke, and two seems un-obtainable! Like I am suddenly weak, but as I said, the CS 370 starts just fine. Sort of at a loss here what to do here. If I can't start it, maybe I will tear the cylinder/piston down to inspect it. But, it pulls thru so nicely when the spark plug is out- smooth and easy, I just can't imagine scoring or so other problem that is causing this.

 

[MossRoad]

If it pulls easily with the plug out, that probably eliminates cylinder/piston issues, doesn't it? Its most likely a compression issue. Pull the muffler and try it with the switch off. If you can pull it with the muffler off, but not with the muffler on, maybe the muffler's faulty? Just guessing. Good luck.

 

[s219]

Have you checked the exhaust port and muffler to make sure it's not blocked? I am grasping at straws here, as simple as two-strokes are, but you may as well check all the possibilities.

The only time you get full compression is when the piston goes up past the exhaust port. In every other position, you get at least some venting through the exhaust. Intake can only let stuff "in", so it's not a concern here. So if something is blocked up (as removing the spark plug has proved) my money is on the exhaust.

 

[varmint]

Guys, the blocked exhaust seems unlikely (a mouse crawled in??) but I appreciate the ideas, and I will check it! If that isn't it, I suppose I will need to spend money to have it looked at... sigh. When I used it last spring, it was a great saw.

 

[Deere Dude]

Guys, the blocked exhaust seems unlikely (a mouse crawled in??) but I appreciate the ideas, and I will check it! If that isn't it, I suppose I will need to spend money to have it looked at... sigh. When I used it last spring, it was a great saw.

The saw has a 5 year warranty if bought new. Take it back and let them see what the problem is.

Did you have a friend try pulling it over?

Maybe you are just turning into a puss and can't pull hard stuff anymore. I have a new Echo p620 with the same cu in. and it does pull hard because of the compression, but is manageable even without the compression release being used. But you used it for quite a few hours before so if the pulling difficulty changed it has to be the saw or your arm.

 

[MossRoad]

Guys, the blocked exhaust seems unlikely (a mouse crawled in??) but I appreciate the ideas, and I will check it! If that isn't it, I suppose I will need to spend money to have it looked at... sigh. When I used it last spring, it was a great saw.

Plugged screen. spark arrester. broken slipped gasket. dead mouse..... yeah, seems unlikely. but what the heck. if you remove the muffler, you can look into the cylinder with a flashlight and see if its scored up.

 

[varmint]

Deere Dude, I got the saw from an online eBay pawnshop... it was new, but no warranty, of course. The price was right, though- I probably wouldn't have it if I had to pay retail... I would still be sawing 28" trees with my 16" CS 370. It works, but not like the bigger saw. I still need to remove that muffler.

 

[Giles]

Deere Dude, I got the saw from an online eBay pawnshop... it was new, but no warranty, of course. The price was right, though- I probably wouldn't have it if I had to pay retail... I would still be sawing 28" trees with my 16" CS 370. It works, but not like the bigger saw. I still need to remove that muffler.

I would pull the fan cover and check starting mechanism, especially rope condition.

 

[varmint]

Muffler off, nice and smooth and shiny inside. Muffler nice and clean inside (well, for a 2-cycle, anyway). Plug out, pulls thru just like it should. Next stop: burly neighbor.

 

[varmint]

PROBLEM SOLVED! I visited my mechanic neighbor, who stoutly pulled many times without any firing... we both thought it was not getting fuel, and he gave it a short, quick spray of carb cleaner, and v'iola, it started. Every since, it has started and run like a champ. There must have been something preventing it from getting fuel, which is now history. A useful trick!

 

[sixdogs]

What did the neighbor think was the problem? Did he offer any comments?

 

[roadhunter]

So essentially the issue was you were not able to pull hard enough to turn the engine over but the neighbor was. LOL.