I have an older 026 that won't idle, takes fifty pulls to start and won't run again after running...occasionally.

I sent it off to a respected chainsaw service shop and it idled a bit better. For a while. Still takes ages to start if at all and still won't start if you shut it off. If you get it running though it cuts and runs fine...because my Husqvarna 45 runs like a top it gets used. I can clean carbs and replace filters but doesn't make a difference to the stihl...spending another 150 bucks on a 180 dollar saw doesn't do it for me.

Hutchy,

Wish you lived closer I'd look at that saw for you. I have a couple ideas that could be the problem.



B

Shell premium and some sea foam

I got the similar issues with the ole 026 too. It is not the fuel filter or line, the impulse line, carb boot, the diaphragm in the carburetor, blown crank seals, plugged spark arrester, or compression. Nothing, pouring a little gas in the sparky hole don't fix each morning.

I'm gonna try the sea foam for giggles. Thanks!

For cutting up your firewood, they are fine. When you are lugging then all day through 3-4 feet of snow trying to keep ahead of cable skidders, every ounce matters. When you’re tired, you make mistakes. Not many guys walk away from mistakes in the logging profession.

Alex

What saw are ya lugging through the 3 or 4 feet of snow that puts a spring in yer step? I am a tall guy but 4 feet of snow I would need a shovel to find the bottom of the tree.

Zim

Husqvarna 562xp’s and 372xp’s. Kick with your feet, or maybe the Skidder man will be nice enough to clean out the butts for you with the blade of the Skidder. But usually it’s with your feet.

Alex

I ran a few Huskys back when and they are a great saw, I think they were 61 and 62 models. They seem like they had more rpm's than a Stihl but cannot say if there was a noticeable weight difference. I will say the 61 had a pee poor muffler placement design as in if you did not wear a heavy leather glove on your left hand you would have blisters on it at the end of the day.

Zim

Compared to most here I feel a bit over gunned. My brother and I cut together most of the time. I drop the trees and and cut the log, he cuts the branches and top. I use a stihl o64 and a Husqvarna 576xp. I don't mind cutting fire wood but I wont to get as much done in the time I have or I wont to get it done as fast as I can. My brother keeps the smaller stihl saws but does have an o64 for some bigger stuff he may get into. We cut 6-8 cords or hard wood and atleast that in slab wood a year. I like the o64 with the 3' bar for the slab wood.

We do have a top handle husky, that is the only saw that has come close to hurting one of us (for his sake I will not mention who it was). Be very mindful of were the tip is or will be in contact with.

Jerry Jr.

Thanks for the offer! I hope I figure it out one day.

And I use premium all the time and sea foam the crap out of it

Stihl bought the computer carb setup (auto tune) from husqvarna. I work on both brands. I hated the setup originally till I started working on them, and have access to the computer. They are amazing. I can plug in and tell you all kinds of amazing things. How many starts, hours, idel time, high rpms, test the carb, there is touble codes, misfires, and more. The read out tells saw model, serial, owner name. It's amazing.

I have a poulan 505 that is a beast of a saw! The old McCullough's are decent also

Picked it up today..

I bought a new MS180 a month ago . Main use is cutting shooting lanes and wood for my smoker. Haven’t even used it except to crank it when I got it home. Looked at it a few days ago and it is leaking bar oil.

OK I know we have a Stihl dealer/mechanic on here.

I have an 032AV vintage 1986. I love the thing ! I have probably cut 200 cords of wood with it. But.......the darn thing is getting hard to start because it is flooding itself.

Took the carb apart and cleaned everything out. Can't find anything wrong or worn. What kind of equipment doesn't last more than 32 years ??? Every part is original OEM. Never even changed the original mixture settings.

Any ideas why it is flooding ???

I'm no saw mechanic, but had the same issue with a saw like yours.

Took it to the saw guy and he knew right away that some hot glue they used to plug a passage in the carb came loose. Said the new gas eats at the glue. Couple minutes later, he said lookie here, there was the hot glue hanging loose.

He put me a new carb on that had lead plugging the passage instead of glue.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm... None of my gas has ethanol but that is interesting for sure !!

Might not be your problem then.

Funny thing. Not more than a couple months later, my weed eater of the same vintage, when i went to start it flooded. lol
Went walking in with it and asked him if he had another carb because this $%^&^$# is acting the same way. He laughed and fixed me up again.

Hmmmmmmmmm..... I might try a new carb if the cleaning doesn't work.

Good cleaning never hurts.

This glue was under a square cover on the side of the carb that is held on by 4 screws. I believe it's the fuel pump?