help on new chain saw purchase

RICHARDG · Oct 28, 2004

Hickory,thanks,,,sounds like you know a thing or two about these little 2 strokes,,,,I think I will just put screens back on for now,,,,noticed when I took the weedeater screen off,[its an echo too],that it wasn't even close to being clogged,[hardly had any soot in it],,this is after about 3-4 gals of fuel ran through it this past spring and summer,,and ran great when I run it last last week,,,havn't done any adjustments to carb either,,,,yeah thats the thing about one of these echos or stihls,,,the place that sells them,,sevices them,,,here anyways,,thats why I wanted one of the two,,,when either start to run a little ragged,will take them to where I bought them and tell them it needs its first tune up,,,which ,now I know means a carb adjustment with,,a timing devise of somesort,,,[think the manual actually says this and gives model and discription of said tool],,,thanks again,,,thingy

HickoryNut · Oct 28, 2004

Hickory is tough on saws, my son and I make good pocket change as dependable suppliers to about a dozen local BBQ restaurants and often get a few ribs as a tip if we happen to look particularily derelict while delivering that day.

RICHARDG · Oct 29, 2004

Yeah,hickory makes good handles and canes,,the old timers used to cut a smaller one and than put it in a fixture and gradually bend it over time while it was still green,,[somehow],,,I've started experimenting with live ones,,,got a couple little ones,maybe two inches in dia.,back in the woods bent over and staked,,thought I would let them grow a couple years,and tighten them down next year,,in order to make a cane,,,a growing cane,,,we will see,,guess I got to much time on my hands,,,huh? Ate a lot of hickory nuts too...... Better go to bed,,,thanks for the help again,,,thingy

SkyPup · Oct 29, 2004

On a brand new Stihl, they gap the spark plug at 0.25 when new for the first 10+ hours of operation until you bring the saw back in for the first tune up, then they put the spark plug gap down to the standard 0.20. This is to help keep the saw running cooler and keep the top rpms down, although it is much more difficult to start. Once it has broken in, they regap the plug and set the carb. Only then will it start instantly and run like a bat out of ****. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

RICHARDG · Oct 31, 2004

Sounds pretty strange,,,the owners manuals on these things gives you the gap for plug,,,bet it don't say do that in any of them,,,I'll set my gap to owners manual,,,don't need anybody else,,,,and I'm sure,,won't be bringing it back for a 10 hr service,,,,unless of course,,it stops running,,,which,,as we all know,,,,,, thingy

eee · Nov 1, 2004

( On a brand new Stihl, they gap the spark plug at 0.25 when new for the first 10+ hours of operation until you bring the saw back in for the first tune up, then they put the spark plug gap down to the standard 0.20. This is to help keep the saw running cooler and keep the top rpms down, although it is much more difficult to start. Once it has broken in, they regap the plug and set the carb. Only then will it start instantly and run like a bat out of ****. )

I have had Stihl saws for years and that is the 1st I have ever heard of that.I dont believe it is a common practice.

GRUB · Nov 1, 2004

I took my MS310 back for an adjustment then picked it back up and went home. I ran into the same problem, started but would not run after warm. Took it back to the shop and the mechanics started looking into putting a new carberator on it. I asked for a whole new replacement saw about the same time on of the managers came into the shop suggesting the same thing. Took the new new saw home and it ran like a champ. A bit frustrating but I was well taken care of. Another thing I like about this dealer is that they take care of the product registration for you so that warrenty goes into effect rather than you going home and forgetting about it

SkyPup · Nov 1, 2004

Yup, it is standard practice. Be sure to check your own gap and then set your carb with your tach if you fail to bring it back it for the 1st tuneup, otherwise you'll have problems.

eee · Nov 1, 2004

( Yup, it is standard practice. )

2 different dealers and they have never said anything to me about it, I just bought a new Stihl 361 Saturday morning,nothing said about it to me.I bought a Stihl 36 back in January (different dealer) and nothing said then. I never have had a problem with a Stihl product starting (regardless of temperature?)
One dealer in Ohio and one in WVa.

RICHARDG · Nov 1, 2004

Well,just cause I didn't have anything else to do,,,checked the gap on plug of brand new echo,,it was .026",,,just what the book calls for,,,,like I said,,gapping plug different then that of books specs,and thus manufactor specs,,doesn't seem like anyway to accomplish any thing other than make it run worse,,,,I wouldn't trust whoever does this,,,,although,,,I don't trust anybody,,,as far as breaking them in,,,yeah,,it might not be the best to start cutting timber,,,and keep cutting timber for 6-8 hrs straight,,,but then again,,,I was always told to break them in,,like you run them,,,so,other than maybe just running it for an hour or so,,the first couple times,,,don't see any need to break a two cycle in,,thingy