Stihl D handle

[Jw5875]

Purchased one from fleebay to put on the old 038 mag.
Hope it improves starting effort that would pull the regular handle out of your hand with some pain.
Tried to start it last week and it kicked my butt when it was cold.
Time to find electric start saws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JW5875

 

[kthompson]

Do not know that model of Stihl but own two and did have one that was replaced. For me a farm type user of chain saw for years found Stihl was tough to crank. One thing that still gets me the switch goes down to be on full choke and up for off which is backwards of all other saws can remembers it in hurry much easier to push switch down than up, just natural muscle movement to me. I can attest if it is cut off you can not pull it enough nor fast enough to start. Makes me feel like a dummy when that happens.

Best thing I did was in bigger saw moved up to one with compression release for starting and also to have the dealer go over the starting procedure with me once while in the field on cell phone. If cold pull 2 or 3 times with full choke and then release to half choke. If that does try to start I may go back to full choke for 1 or 2 more pulls. If it does not fire then I have learn to set it down and catch my breath and just spend a couple of minutes looking over what is to be done and then go back to starting the saw. For ME if it is pulled over say 3 times with full choke when cold it will not start due to being flooded.

May not spell it correctly but best chainsaw I ever used to start was Shindawa. It was built in the 90's and they guaranteed in something like 3 pulls it would start and it did. Was told the EPA rules on small engines kill that great saw. Know reason I went to Stihl was Shindawa did not have chainsaws in the US then but other tools.

 

[xyz123]

Stihl 460 rescue handles the best D handle out there IMHO Most dealers $5 to $7

 

[ericm979]

My MS362 is much easier to start than the smaller 025 because the 362 has a compression release. With either cold I use full choke until it pops, usually 2-4 pulls. Then switch to half choke and it will start with two more pulls. That works on two stroke motorcycles too.

The D handles look nice but getting a grip isn't a problem for me, it's the sheer effort needed to pull the high compression 025 after a couple hours of cutting brush. I start and stop the saw every few minutes to pull brush out of the way and pile it. I'm getting an Echo 352 for brush, it's lighter and easier starting.

 

[dfkrug]

May not spell it correctly but best chainsaw I ever used to start was Shindawa.

I love my 90-something Shindaiwa 377, 37cc. Echo bought them out maybe 10y ago, and has just
brought the nameplate back to chainsaws this year. Our local favorite rental yard is at last retiring
their dozen old Shindaiwa 488s, 48cc saws.

Hard pulling is one thing; usually only a compression release can really help that. But kick-back on
a hard-starting older big saw may be helped with using hi-octane gas. Seems to help some with
an old Mac 795 and Stihl 084 that a friend is using in a chainsaw mill.

 

[FredH]

I can so relate to the original posters topic . Had 2 041's that were that way , even with D handles . Never tried to start by holding it up . Always had them on the ground with a foot in the handle . Have since sold both of them and upgraded to a 441 magnum with compression release :thumbsup: . Once warm , 1 pull and it is running .

Fred H.

 

[yomax4]

A lot of discussion on slow to start saws. I have 4 Stihl saws. 026 pro - 044 mag. They all seem to start the same. half dozen pulls on full choke and they pop. 1-2 pulls on half choke and away we go. 1-2 when warm. Now don't the saws with the bubble primers start better? Never had one but they are out there. Seems like the answer. My 026Pro has a compression release but i don't think it helps at all. i think it's harder to start using it.