"hard to start"

[Rustyiron]

In my case with an Echo CS370, it's anything over4 pulls. 3 shots with the primer + choke, 2 pulls and it'll pop, push in the choke and 2 more and she's going. Pretty much same with my PAS 266 weedeater and my hedgetrimmer.

I'm guessing that it's largely operator error. Learning what the saw likes (like you described above) in certain temperatures and listening for the first "pop" and generally switching to no choke is really the key.