Back to the OP's question, getting weaker with age is something we will all deal with at some point in our life. Several years ago, I noticed my dad getting so weak that he had a hard time starting a saw. I had a nice MS290 that I sold him for an all around saw he could handle. Then, he said it wouldn't start for some reason, but it started right up for me. He just can't pull fast enough to turn the engine over fast enough to start. To be truthful, the only saw he should be using now is a small one with ez-start. I would help him with the wood but he has just turned mean and is not nice to be around.