Older Stihl getting hard to start

[WinterDeere]

All good things come to an end. Regular maintenance is one thing but rebuilding a machine a piece at a time don't compute. Ethanol in small engines is a death sentence. Use real high octane gas.

Not untrue, but I think we're miles from this on any reasonably maintained Stihl 180MS-C. They're just not that old.

Some of my saws are nearing 40 years of age, and I still put more hours on them every year than almost any other homeowner / DIY'er. Hell, my 064 is stamped "Made in West Germany". West Germany! West Germany ceased to exist in 1989!

 

[Page2]

Bad/ weak coil. Replace coil, sand rust from flywheel, set correct air gap.

 

[kenhar]

Not untrue, but I think we're miles from this on any reasonably maintained Stihl 180MS-C. They're just not that old.

Some of my saws are nearing 40 years of age, and I still put more hours on them every year than almost any other homeowner / DIY'er. Hell, my 064 is stamped "Made in West Germany". West Germany! West Germany ceased to exist in 1989!

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I have a Husqvarna 266 I bought new (1984 model) and it still screams. It seems to be heavier than it used to be but still runs almost like new. Several old guns from the 60's and 70's that are much better than new ones today, but they have been taken care of. Old don't mean junk if it has been taken care of regularly. Don't buy a new car because the ash tray is full. Neglect and lack of proper and regular maintenance is death on any machine. A grease gun makes any farmer money if it's used regularly.

 

[Hay Dude]

D

Did you read the post?

Do you know spark plugs can be defective right out of the box?

 

[charlessenf]

Guys, I have a 13 year old Stihl 180MS-C (easy start) When it was new it required 2 pulls to start.

Prostate?

 

[etpm]

Prostate?

After 2 years of chemo and hormone treatment plus radiation for stage 4 prostate cancer survivor I can relate.
Eric

 

[gckshea]

Guys, I have a 13 year old Stihl 180MS-C (easy start) When it was new it required 2 pulls to start. When it was 5 years it took 5 or 6 pulls. Now it's 13 years and I pull about 10-20 times. Sometimes I smell gas so it's flooded. I've changed plugs and run Staybil and Techron additives (always have) BTW, I've read that leaving rubber fuel lines dry will harden/crack them so I have always topped off the tank when it sits for 2-4 months.
Do I need a carb rebuild or a new saw? Thanks

Probably rubber carb/fuel parts need replacing, but before you go there, always start your diagnosis with compression check. If that's good then proceed.
The carb should either be rebuilt with a new diaphragm, or replaced (extreme, but carbs are cheap if you're ok with non-OEM).
Change out fuel lines, primer bulb. Check spark to assess if coil is producing.
New Air filter.

That pretty much covers what degrades over time: Fuel, Spark, Air. All three should be addressed. And....new fresh gas, non-ethanol!!!!

 

[CalG]

When I raced two stroke motorbikes, a "crisp" new piston ring always made for better starting.

Presently, my Mac 10-10 is starting hard. I can feel the softness on the starter rope. I may make a re-ring job part of the summer schedule.

I'm in process for a log truck load of fuel wood, and that Mac sure whittles through the big logs in a hurry.

 

[JRH02]

Two cycle engines that are losing compression are exactly the symptoms you complaining about.