Rant! Stihl wont start!

[ae_ted]

Finally gave up on trying to start mt Stihl 55 rototiller.
1st that stupid plastic priming bulb had rotted after few yrs. Bought new in 2004 and used maybe 3 hrs.
2nd replaced that bulb and made new gas and oil mixture and still did not start and run. Would start after a lot of pulling but would not take off and would just die. GRRRR
took out spark plug and gaped to spec and still same results.
going to have to take it to dealer to see if he can make this pos thing start and run.

Reason I'm so ticked is iv had a Huskie 240 chainsaw since 1977 and it ALWAYS HAS STARTED NO MATTER WHAT, even after setting for 6 yrs it starts and runs fine after no more than 5 or 6 pulls after 6 yrs, most time after 3 or 4 pulls. Point is that it has ALWAYS STARTED and worked perfict. 4 yrs ago I had the huskie tuned up and that was first and only spark plug it has ever had.

I thought I was getting a quality small tiller when i got the Stihl instead of a Mantis. I was wrong . I am not at all impressed with the so called quality of a Stihl. What i judge a small engine by is ... does it work!!!

HAHA and people wonder why i get grumpy. oh well mabey the dealer can fix this "thing"
This was my first experience with a Stihl and it WILL be the LAST!!
rant done....I feel all better now....

 

[Bird]

Can't say I blame you for being grumpy, but maybe it'll be something simple for the dealer to fix.:laughing: In this 95 degree temperature today, I worked my 6 year old Stihl FS55RC string trimmer hard to two and a half hours. Last week, a friend was startled when it started so easily the first time he pulled the cord, so I'm happy with Stihl. However, I do have a Mantis tiller.

 

[groundcover]

My bet is don't blame the Stihl , blame the gas ! Ethanol may be good for the corn lobbyists but it is deadly to small engines. I have switched to SEF94 fuel from VP racing fuels no ethanol ,end of problem. Good luck !

 

[ae_ted]

Took the ---- ---- to the dealer today. They are 2 to 3 weeks to get to it. haha I am starting to "love" this Stihl more and more. Good thing I don't really need it. I am considering chalking this lesson up to "stupid tax". I ask the dealer that if i pour the gas out after using and then run it dry could I expect it to run in a few yrs if i pour fresh gas in and start. They said I should expect that it would. we shall see. They also said to make sure and not run ethanol in it as that would surely mess it up. I don't run ethanol in any of my stuff. My outboard motor dealer already cautioned me about that.

 

[groundcover]

Good thinking ! Wish I could get ethanol free for the boat but everything here is 10% , can't wait till they kick it up to 15 ! :smiley_aafz:

 

[ultrarunner]

I don't have a choice either unless I buy the pre-mix at $5 a quart from the Saw Dealer.

 

[arsenix2001]

Sorry for your troubles... Ive got 5 stihls that have been bulletproof. My O24 farm boss is going 15 years, it sat for 4 years, took the carb apart and cleaned her up with carb cleaner and she fired right up! And yes, ethanol is the devil, stabil has special ethanol treatment ive been trying to remember to use.

 

[2manyrocks]

Many of these small engines were built when there was no ethanol and the rubber components can't handle it. Meaning primer bulbs, fuel lines, and fuel pump diapgrahms (sp?) turn to poo when exposed to ethanol.

You may just need to remove the carb, clean it, and install new carb kit along with a primer and fuel lines. Avoid the corn syrup gas if you can.

 

[ae_ted]

update:
after 3 weeks in shop(glad I was not in a hurry) and $65.00 to rebuild carburetor, I have it back at home and it works and starts fine. From now on when I get done using it , I will pour out the gas and then start and run it dry. The shop told me that if i do this procedure, then it should start even after prolonged storage. I am spoiled by the Husky 1977 240 model chainsaw that has started EVERY time, even after 5 to 7 years of storage. It works every time without hassle. I wish husky made a small commercial grade tiller. haha all i can say it's not a Husky! I was hoping better from Stihl. Oh just fyi, I do not have to run the husky dry, It will start and run on bad gas. It simply works and works every time in all conditions.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Many of these small engines were built when there was no ethanol and the rubber components can't handle it. Meaning primer bulbs, fuel lines, and fuel pump diapgrahms (sp?) turn to poo when exposed to ethanol.

You may just need to remove the carb, clean it, and install new carb kit along with a primer and fuel lines. Avoid the corn syrup gas if you can.

2many,

When I bought my Stihl FarmBoss and my trimmer, they said ABSOLUTELY run the tank dry and pull it a couple more time to make SURE it is dry because the "Corn syrup Gas" is heck on the carbs.

Somebody should tell USDA Corn is for whiskey and tortillas (in that order!).

David

 

[Gator6x4]

Many years ago, an elderly small engine repair person (in 70's at time) explained gasoline expansion to me. He advised on 2 cycle engines always loosen the gas tank cap after using and before storing for next use. He advised the small carbs on two cycles were not designed to handle pressure. He advised when the tank has gasoline in it and is stored it will expand in hot weather forcing the gas from the tank thru the carb. I started this and do not have a problem.

 

[Grant1994]

I bought a new stihl FarmBoss earlier this week and when I wa their the dealer who is a good friend told me that I have to get this mix that stihl sells that once your gonna store the saw you run it dry them put a little of this stuff in run it for a minute and then leave it in the tank and it is supposed to help clean the saw and keep it fresh and running good

 

[grsthegreat]

For about $1.00/gallon more, you can still get ethanol free premium gas. I get a 5 gal jug of it for small engines. After rebuilding 3 carbs this season, I'm thru with cheeping out on the basic unleaded with that crap ethanol. Green my butt. they will convert the planet to green by destroying ALL small engines

 

[3BPercherons]

I had a problem similar to the OP's with my Stihl MS170. Further investigation after cleaning/replacing the carb didn't fix the problem revealed that the fuel line had split in an almost impossible to notice location.

Sometimes it's the simplest problems that are the hardest to diagnose....

 

[Cpjlube]

I think Stihl calls their stuff Motomix. It's just non ethanol (rv gas) mixed 50:1. My dealer swears by it for storage. I have started using it for long term storage. Over a month. Dont really want to replace the carbs on my two strokes. Seems like I can't find non ethanol gas sold nearby.

Chuck

 

[Dargo]

update:
after 3 weeks in shop(glad I was not in a hurry) and $65.00 to rebuild carburetor, I have it back at home and it works and starts fine. From now on when I get done using it , I will pour out the gas and then start and run it dry. The shop told me that if i do this procedure, then it should start even after prolonged storage. I am spoiled by the Husky 1977 240 model chainsaw that has started EVERY time, even after 5 to 7 years of storage. It works every time without hassle. I wish husky made a small commercial grade tiller. haha all i can say it's not a Husky! I was hoping better from Stihl. Oh just fyi, I do not have to run the husky dry, It will start and run on bad gas. It simply works and works every time in all conditions.

Interesting. I've had the exact OPPOSITE experience. I literally threw my last Husky string trimmer out with the trash. I only kept the funky tools needed to adjust the carbs on them. It should be a hint to me that you can now buy Husky about everywhere except the 7-11 store. Heck, maybe they sell them too. In my book, Husky has been nothing but total and complete junk! I own probably 10-12 Stihl products and have never had a single issue with a single one of them. Oh, I forgot, I do have 1 Husky product left; a backpack blower. It starts and runs fine, but it's because it has a Kawasaki engine. The only thing "Husqvarna" about it is the name on it. However, it's about as powerful as blowing through a straw when compared to my Stihl BR600 backpack blower.

I'm guessing that earlier posts about that stinking ethanol in your gas has caused your problem. Ask anyone who makes a living out of repairing small engines, or even boat engines for that matter, will tell you the same thing. This adding ethanol crap to our gas destroys your engines and runs the price up on food to the point where poor people have to decide whether to pay their utility bills or eat, since corn is so high priced due to our totally foolish government putting it towards fuel. Besides, it's been proven beyond any debate that it takes 1.3 gallons of fossil fuel to make 1 gallon of ethanol that only has about 70% the BTU's per gallon as the fuel that was burned to make it. Ethanol is so bad that I'd buy a diesel chain saw if I had a choice! Oh, BTW, you do know what rotted out your pump bulb, don't you? Guaranteed, ethanol in your fuel. That's the first thing it destroys as it begins to destroy your engine. I pay the $0.26 more per gallon and buy from one of the 3 local gas stations we have left that offer 100% gasoline. I have no problems with my small engines and I get about 4 mpg better fuel mileage in my car with it.

 

[Dargo]

Green my butt. they will convert the planet to green by destroying ALL small engines

I completely agree with you and have to wonder if destroying all older 2 cycle engines isn't a goal of the government tree huggers anyway. Nobody can convince me that the government cares that they destroy a lot of equipment with their ethanol laced gas that people can't afford to replace right now. It doesn't effect those at the top. If Obama can afford to have his busses that cost a couple million each flown around the country for photo ops, the government isn't concerned about cost containment.

 

[Gator6x4]

Dargo:
1.3 gallons of fossil fuel to make 1 gallon of ethanol that only has about 70% the BTU's per gallon as the fuel that was burned to make it.

Was not aware gasoline was used to make ethanol. I thought it was being made from corn and sugar cane with sugar cane being the best producer of ethanol. Since American farmers don't grow large acres of sugar cane but do grow large acres of corn ethanol in the US is being produced from corn. I am aware that it takes 1.5 gallons of ethanol to produce the same BTU's as one gallon of gasoline.

 

[Dargo]

Dargo:
1.3 gallons of fossil fuel to make 1 gallon of ethanol that only has about 70% the BTU's per gallon as the fuel that was burned to make it.

Was not aware gasoline was used to make ethanol. I thought it was being made from corn and sugar cane with sugar cane being the best producer of ethanol. Since American farmers don't grow large acres of sugar cane but do grow large acres of corn ethanol in the US is being produced from corn. I am aware that it takes 1.5 gallons of ethanol to produce the same BTU's as one gallon of gasoline.

How do you think the corn was planted, harvested, dried, transported, processed etc. Ethanol is not a naturally occurring substance. It has to be made. The generally agreed upon figure is that it takes 1.3 gallons of fossil fuel (mostly diesel, not gasoline) to produce 1 gallon of lower energy per gallon and highly corrosive ethanol.

 

[SpringHollow]

I have seen numbers ranging from 0.95 gallons - 1.3 gallons of diesel per gallon of ethanol produced. Even at 0.95, it makes no sense, especially with what it does to small engines, how it affects food prices, etc.

The only real reason we do ethanol is political.

Ken